PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ken Monsoon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Saint Michaels (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Monsoon
vs
Michaels

178 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

190 cm
22
215 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Dangerous knees
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ken Monsoon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Saint Michaels!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Chris Downing and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Michaels shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Monsoon is trying to defend but Michaels finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Monsoon is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Monsoon trying to hold on to Michaels's head to control him but Michaels postures up.
Monsoon pushes Michaels off looking to stand but Michaels dives back in and keeps control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Michaels wants to pass to mount but Monsoon is defending the position.
Ground and pound from Michaels.
Monsoon is trying to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Michaels is looking to take a break and control but Monsoon is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Monsoon wants to get back to full guard but Michaels has mounted him!
Monsoon wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Michaels.
Michaels with shots to the head and body - Monsoon looks very uncomfortable down there.
Monsoon is trying desperately to improve position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Michaels moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Monsoon has worked his arm free - good work by Monsoon!
Monsoon is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Michaels is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Monsoon working to try and regain half guard.
Monsoon might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Michaels takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Michaels cracks Monsoon with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Michaels tries to control but Monsoon wriggling away.
Michaels avoids the attempt from Monsoon to control.
Monsoon is in all sorts of trouble here.

Michaels working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Michaels looks gassed!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Monsoon tries to hold on but Michaels pushes him away.
Michaels looking to control but Monsoon is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Monsoon is in all sorts of trouble here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Monsoon wants to hold on but Michaels pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Saint Michaels dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Michaels swats away the attempt to clinch by Monsoon.

Michaels closes the distance and clinches.

Monsoon pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Michaels tries to clinch but Monsoon moves out of range.

Michaels looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Monsoon 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!
A lull in the action here.
Michaels tries to escape but Monsoon has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Monsoon missing with strikes.
Monsoon is looking to finish with some ground and pound!
Monsoon is working the ground and pound. Can Michaels escape?
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Monsoon lands a shot to the head.
Monsoon scores with punches and elbows.

Monsoon is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Michaels is defending well though. Monsoon let's go of the attempt for now.
Monsoon trying to control.
Michaels just trying to survive but Monsoon is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Monsoon loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Michaels hold on?
Michaels tries to break free.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Michaels is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Monsoon tries to keep control of the position but Michaels is staying busy.
Michaels wants to control his opponent's hands but Monsoon gets his hands free.
Monsoon gets his hooks in and is throwing strikes.
Monsoon lands a shot to the body.
Monsoon throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
Monsoon missing with strikes.
Monsoon is working the ground and pound. Can Michaels escape?
Michaels breaks Monsoon's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Monsoon trying to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Michaels trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Michaels wants to control from the top but Monsoon keeps moving.

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

Michaels fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Monsoon, pushing him back against the cage.
Monsoon dodges an elbow strike from Michaels.

Michaels decides to pull guard.
Monsoon pushing down on Michaels's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Michaels regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Monsoon.
Michaels will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Michaels keeping moving, preventing Monsoon from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Michaels is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Monsoon trying to control but Michaels is working from the bottom.
Michaels is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Monsoon wants to get up but he can't break Michaels's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Michaels doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Nice takedown defense from Michaels. No joy for Monsoon on that attempt.
Michaels takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Michaels.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Saint Michaels will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Michaels forces Monsoon back against the cage and clinches.

Monsoon escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Michaels misses with a takedown attempt
and Monsoon counters with a big head kick but Michaels shrugs it off.

Monsoon rushes Michaels and presses him up against the cage.

Monsoon breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Nice takedown defense from Monsoon. No joy for Michaels on that attempt.

Monsoon closes the distance and pushes Michaels back into the cage.
Monsoon displaying some good clinch control by pressing Michaels up against the cage.

Monsoon has clasped his hands together around Michaels's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Michaels is looking for a sweep.
Monsoon looks up at the clock and then as Michaels takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Monsoon smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Michaels tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Monsoon wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Monsoon tries to score with some ground and pound. Michaels controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Michaels can't do much from the bottom here.
Monsoon throws an elbow but Michaels slips to the side and avoids it well.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Michaels circles away from the clinch attempt
and Michaels counters with a head kick. That will keep Monsoon thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Monsoon has his takedown stuffed

and Michaels counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Monsoon!
Michaels landing strikes from the mount and Monsoon is in trouble!

Michaels is standing up, even though he is in mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Monsoon darts in trying to clinch
and Michaels counters with a body kick.

Michaels closes the distance and clinches.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Monsoon's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Monsoon breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Monsoon fails to land the takedown.
Monsoon tries to clinch but Michaels moves away
and Michaels counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.

Michaels shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Monsoon is trying to maintain the position but Michaels is very close to passing his half guard.
Monsoon knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Michaels on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Michaels is looking to advance position but Monsoon won't allow it.
Michaels trying to control the action but Monsoon is working from the bottom.
Monsoon regains full guard. Nicely done.
Michaels not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Michaels looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Michaels won't allow Monsoon to sweep him here.
Michaels controls from within his opponent's guard.
Michaels stopping the sweep attempt from Monsoon.
Ken Monsoon has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Saint Michaels is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Monsoon is looking for a triangle but Michaels pushes his legs off easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Saint Michaels.
I've got Michaels winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30

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