PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Saint Michaels (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jim Reaper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Saint Michaels had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 206.2lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Michaels
vs
Reaper

190 cm
22
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

186 cm
22
208 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Decent elbows
Big heart

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Saint Michaels!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jim Reaper!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Tiny Johnson and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Michaels throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Reaper leaves Michaels with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Reaper swats away the attempt to clinch by Michaels.
Michaels tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Reaper swivels and escapes.

Reaper closes the distance and pushes Michaels back into the cage.
Michaels tries to score a body lock takedown but Reaper shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Saint Michaels. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Reaper gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.

Reaper drops back, looking for a kneebar! Michaels looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Michaels looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Michaels!
Reaper tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Michaels wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Michaels wants to control but Reaper is keeping him busy.
Michaels tries to advance to mount but Reaper denies him.
Michaels wants to stand but Reaper is controlling his arm.
Michaels is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Reaper manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Reaper tries to get to full guard but Michaels has control of the leg.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Reaper shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Michaels tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Reaper landing strikes from the mount.
Michaels taking shots to the head.
Reaper really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Michaels. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Reaper lands a nice shot to the head.
Reaper landing punches.

Reaper wants to finish this one by submission but Michaels is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Reaper.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Michaels is wriggling around trying to escape.

Michaels defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Reaper.
Reaper with a couple of short strikes.
Reaper won't let Michaels get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Michaels taking shots to the head.
Reaper scoring with strikes but Michaels is staying in there.
Michaels is looking to improve his position but Reaper isn't that keen on the idea.
Reaper landing strikes, looking to finish!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Michaels tries to hold on but Reaper pushes him away.

Michaels bucks Reaper off and manages to get back to his feet!
Saint Michaels seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Michaels tries to clinch up

and Reaper counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Michaels!
Reaper has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Michaels's face.
Reaper unloading with bombs!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Reaper cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Reaper landing strikes from the mount and Michaels is in trouble!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Reaper lands a big shot there that rocks Michaels but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jim Reaper dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Michaels lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

Reaper shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Michaels is trying to defend but Reaper finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Reaper is nestled in close to Michaels, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Reaper scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Reaper trying to control the action but Michaels is working from the bottom.
Reaper throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Reaper not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Michaels works his way to full guard. Good work.
Reaper preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reaper with a nice head shot there.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Reaper with a nice head shot there.
Reaper scoring with punches to the head and body.
Jim Reaper has got the better of the ground game so far.
Reaper landing some decent shots from guard.
Reaper lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Michaels keeping moving, preventing Reaper from controlling successfully.
Michaels looking to control.
Reaper with a nice head shot there.
Reaper working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Reaper controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Michaels is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Reaper postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Michaels trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Michaels doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Reaper counters with a shoot takedown. Michaels fights it but they end up in guard.
Reaper missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Michaels is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Reaper trying to control the position from guard on top but Michaels is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reaper trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Reaper wants to control from the top but Michaels keeps moving.
Reaper stands up over Michaels, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Reaper cracks Michaels with a solid left hand.
Michaels manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Reaper manages to get himself to full guard.
Reaper pulls Michaels in close to prevent any damage.
Michaels won't allow Reaper to sweep him 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 easily into side control. Nice work.
Reaper trying to control but Michaels flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!
Michaels is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Reaper tries to escape the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jim Reaper showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Michaels tries to clinch but Reaper moves away

and Reaper counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Michaels wants to sweep here but Reaper controlling him for the moment.
Michaels keeping moving, preventing Reaper from controlling successfully.
Reaper looking to pass the guard.
Michaels looking to hit a scissor sweep but Reaper is one step ahead there.
Michaels is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Reaper is controlling him.
Reaper is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reaper chips away with some ground and pound.
Reaper working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Michaels is trying to control the position but Reaper postures up.
Michaels wants to sweep but no luck.
Reaper is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Reaper lands a couple of digs.
Reaper is in close to Michaels's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Michaels trying to control the position.
Michaels tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Michaels bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Reaper's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Michaels stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Reaper swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Michaels trying to control but Reaper is working from the bottom.

Michaels decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Michaels scores with a kick to the body.
Reaper circles away from the clinch attempt

and Reaper counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Michaels's guard now.
Reaper must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Reaper working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Michaels's head.
Reaper trying to control the position from guard on top but Michaels is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Reaper wants to pass the guard but Michaels is keeping the position.
Michaels looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reaper is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Reaper lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Michaels striking off his back but it's not causing Reaper any problems.
Reaper trying to control the position from guard on top but Michaels is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Michaels shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Reaper counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Michaels's guard now.
Michaels trying to control the position.
Reaper landing with the ground and pound.
Michaels avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jim Reaper really dominated that round.
That's time! Michaels's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Reaper is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Michaels's half guard.
Ground and pound from Reaper.
Reaper scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Michaels gets back to full guard.
Reaper trying to control the position from guard on top but Michaels is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Reaper throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Reaper stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Michaels swivels though and keeps the full guard.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Reaper passes Michaels's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reaper working Michaels over with strikes.
Reaper is trying to control. Michaels wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Reaper is looking for a kimura here.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Reaper connects with a nice short shot to Michaels's temple.
Michaels keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Reaper lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Michaels moves into full guard.
Reaper stopping the sweep attempt from Michaels.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Reaper chips away with some ground and pound.
Michaels keeping full guard, as Reaper tries to pass.
Michaels tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Michaels working a defensive guard here.
Reaper wants to control from the top but Michaels keeps moving.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Reaper shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Reaper was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reaper prevents Michaels from getting the reversal.
Michaels sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Reaper scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Michaels is trying to get back to full guard.
Reaper working Michaels over with strikes.
Nice strikes from Reaper there.
Reaper lands with a punch from half guard.
Michaels on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Reaper is working for a submission of some sort.
Reaper slips a nice elbow through Michaels's hands, connecting with Michaels's forehead.
Michaels missing with punches from the bottom.
Michaels wants to get back to his feet.
The fighters are battling for position here. Michaels manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Michaels has managed to work for a loose triangle. I think Reaper should be able to defend this one pretty easily though. Oh, Michaels has tightened it up now! Reaper should have reacted faster there - he's in big trouble and yes, he's tapped out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 4, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Saint Michaels!