PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Josh Michaels (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alex Pierce (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Michaels's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Alice In Chains - Man In The Box. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Michaels
vs
Pierce

178 cm
20
177 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

185 cm
22
172 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Determined

5th Round

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Josh Michaels!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Alex Pierce!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Cecil Peabody and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Michaels fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

Michaels drops Pierce with a nice combination! Michaels dives into Pierce's guard, looking to finish!

Pierce is rocked!

Pierce has his feet on Michaels's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Pierce defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Michaels.
Michaels lands a slapping body shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Michaels tries to score a power double leg takedown but Pierce sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Michaels somewhat.
Pierce plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Pierce tries to clinch up.
Michaels shoots in for a takedown but Pierce shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Josh Michaels. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pierce doesn't manage to clinch there - Michaels circles away.
Pierce tries to clinch but Michaels moves out of range.
Michaels avoids the head kick by Pierce.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Pierce.
Pierce is looking to clinch but Michaels is avoiding it.
Pierce is looking to clinch but Michaels is avoiding it.
Pierce fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pierce rushes Michaels and presses him up against the cage.
Michaels is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Pierce pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Michaels drops down looking for an ankle pick but Pierce pulls his leg out and moves away.
Michaels scores with a jab. Pierce acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Pierce defending well as Michaels loads up on a big left hand.
Michaels scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Pierce doesn't seem bothered though.

Michaels looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Michaels controlling the action here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Michaels wants to lay and pray for a moment but Pierce keeps working.
Pierce wants to control but Michaels is keeping busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pierce is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Michaels's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Michaels's back!
Michaels rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Pierce is pressing down on Michaels's thigh, looking to free his foot. Michaels is holding on for now.
Michaels works his way to full guard. Good work.
Pierce looking to sit in guard and control but Michaels gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Pierce looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Michaels keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Pierce's head.
Michaels won't allow Pierce to get back to his feet.
Michaels trying to control the position from guard on top but Pierce is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pierce can't keep his opponent in guard - Michaels advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Pierce regains full guard. Nicely done.
Pierce wants to sweep here but Michaels controlling him for the moment.
Michaels wants to pass the guard but Pierce is keeping the position.
Michaels pushes down on Pierce's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Pierce is refusing to be controlled, as Michaels sits in half guard.

Pierce is defending against the submission attempts here by Michaels.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Michaels content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Michaels thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Pierce's head.
Michaels is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Pierce looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Pierce trying to get back to full guard but Michaels takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Michaels can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Pierce is looking to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Michaels dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Pierce is looking to clinch but Michaels is avoiding it.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Michaels.
Michaels scores with a sloppy right hand. Pierce should have avoided that one.
Michaels swats away the attempt to clinch by Pierce.
A lazy left from Michaels finds it's target.
Michaels shoots in for a takedown but Pierce shows good takedown defense.
Pierce tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Michaels shoots in and bounces Pierce off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Michaels tries to free his leg and advance position but Pierce is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pierce trying to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Michaels preventing the sweep.
Michaels throws a big right hand that misses.
Michaels stops Pierce from standing up.
Michaels trying to control but Pierce is working from the bottom.
Michaels has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Michaels trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Pierce fails in his attempt to clinch.
Michaels takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Alex Pierce is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Pierce clinches.
Stalling in the clinch from Pierce.
Michaels tries to score a body lock takedown but Pierce shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Josh Michaels. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Michaels is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Pierce pulls him back up using the underhooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Pierce throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Michaels blocks it with crossed arms.
Michaels is trying to drag Pierce to the mat but Pierce just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Pierce tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Pierce is looking to control Michaels's arms but Michaels gets an underhook and turns him. Now Pierce has his back to the cage.
Michaels drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Michaels is trying to drag Pierce to the mat but Pierce just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Pierce with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Pierce with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Pierce connects with a knee to the head.
Michaels effectively controlling the action here.
Pierce lands a knee to the head.
Michaels has Pierce pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Pierce manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Pierce using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Michaels has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Michaels takes a knee to the side of the body.
Pierce unloads a knee to the mid-section. Michaels lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Michaels goes for a takedown in the clinch but Pierce prevents it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pierce with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Michaels is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Pierce can't fight it off and eventually Michaels manages to take the fight to the floor. Pierce looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Michaels passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Michaels tries to move to mount but Pierce blocks the move with his legs.
Pierce is pushing Michaels's head away, looking to escape. Michaels manages to hold on to the position though.

Michaels stands up and beckons Pierce to his feet.

Pierce gets caught flat footed, as Michaels shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Michaels slips nicely into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Michaels is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Pierce defends it well.
Michaels seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Michaels prevents Pierce from standing back up.
Pierce tries to roll over but Michaels keeps him under control.
Pierce has a hand on Michaels's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Michaels takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Pierce is working to get back to half guard.

Michaels is going olschool here, as he tries to force Pierce to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Pierce shrugs it off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Michaels dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Nice cross by Michaels.
Pierce fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Michaels manages to avoid it.
Pierce moves in looking to clinch but Michaels pushes him off.
Michaels misses with a wild body shot.
Michaels lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Pierce circles away quickly and effectively.

Michaels drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Pierce is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Michaels off and has taken his back!
Michaels is really stuck here.
Pierce trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Michaels trying to control the action but Pierce just sinks the hooks in.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Michaels is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Michaels tries to escape the position.
Pierce avoiding Michaels 's attempts to control his hands.
Michaels holding both Pierce 's hands and preventing any damage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Pierce looking to break Michaels's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Michaels remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Pierce will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
You can see the frustration on Michaels's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Pierce avoiding Michaels 's attempts to control his hands.
Michaels is really stuck here.
Michaels covering up well under a series of strikes from Pierce.

Michaels showing good submission defense here.
Michaels covering up well under a barage of strikes.
Michaels manages to reverse the position and now he's in Pierce's guard. Nice work there by Michaels.
Pierce is trying to control the position but Michaels postures up.
Michaels showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Michaels sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Pierce's guard.
Michaels working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Pierce's thigh. Pierce counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Pierce is trying to keep Michaels in close.
Pierce keeping moving, preventing Michaels from controlling successfully.

Pierce looking for subs off his back but Michaels has passed one foot through into half guard.
Michaels controlling the action here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Michaels passes the guard and advances to mount!
Michaels trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Josh Michaels is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Michaels controlling the position easily from mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Michaels swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Pierce is now in Michaels's guard. A big mistake from Michaels there, giving up the dominant position!

And that's the end of the fight!
Josh Michaels showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Michaels, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Josh Michaels!