PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Michael Sulag (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yodsaenklai Fairtex (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Sulag
vs
Fairtex

177 cm
23
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

181 cm
21
171 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Cuts easily

ADCC Champion
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Michael Sulag!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Yodsaenklai Fairtex!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Tiny Johnson and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sulag swats away the attempt to clinch by Fairtex.
Sulag throws a hook to the side of Fairtex's head but Fairtex sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Sulag managing to block the knees to the body from Fairtex.
Fairtex trying to land knees to the body.
Fairtex prevents Sulag from breaking the clinch.
Fairtex keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Sulag's efforts to push away.
Fairtex tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Fairtex using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Sulag has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Sulag is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fairtex tries to land a knee to the head but Sulag blocks with his arms.
Sulag wants to break free but Fairtex has control.
Sulag is trying to break the clinch but Fairtex is controlling him.
Fairtex misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Sulag.
Fairtex looking to throw knees to the head but Sulag is blocking nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Fairtex.
Fairtex tries to land a knee to the head but Sulag blocks with his arms.
Fairtex tries a knee to the head but Sulag blocks it.
Sulag tries to circle away but Fairtex has him pinned against the cage.
Fairtex looking to slow down the pace here.
Sulag blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Sulag is trying to break the clinch but Fairtex is controlling him.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Fairtex tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Fairtex tries to land a knee to the head but Sulag blocks with his arms.
Fairtex tries to land knees in the clinch but Sulag avoids the damage to the body.
Sulag digs a right hand underneath Fairtex's ribcage. Fairtex let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Fairtex tries a knee to the head but Sulag blocks it.
Fairtex trying to control the position but instead, Sulag has worked for underhooks and has pushed Fairtex into the cage.
Sulag tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Fairtex misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Sulag.
Sulag is trying to break the clinch but Fairtex is controlling him.
Fairtex throws a knee to the head but misses.
Fairtex prevents Sulag from breaking the clinch.
Sulag avoiding damage as Fairtex throws knees to the body.
Fairtex tries to land a knee to the head but Sulag blocks with his arms.
Fairtex landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Fairtex is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Fairtex stalling in the clinch.
Fairtex tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Fairtex blocks a body shot from Sulag.
Fairtex with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Fairtex throws a knee to the head but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sulag avoiding damage as Fairtex throws knees to the body.
Fairtex tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Fairtex tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Sulag misses with a punch on the inside.
Fairtex connects with a knee to the head.
Fairtex keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Sulag's efforts to push away.
Fairtex misses with a knee to the head.
Fairtex using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Sulag has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Fairtex looking to throw knees to the head but Sulag is blocking nicely.
Fairtex tries to land a knee to the head but Sulag blocks with his arms.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Fairtex manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Fairtex lands a knee to the body.

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.
Fairtex with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Fairtex tries to stall but Sulag uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Sulag wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Fairtex has him pressed against the cage.
A bit of stalling here from Fairtex.
Fairtex misses with a knee to the head.
A frustrated look appears on Sulag's face as he tries to break the clinch.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Fairtex takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Yodsaenklai Fairtex.
Fairtex throws a nice outside leg kick.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Fairtex throws a leg kick but Sulag sees it coming and moves out of range.
Fairtex explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Fairtex moves away from the strike by Sulag.
Sulag tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Fairtex explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yodsaenklai Fairtex dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Fairtex throws a head kick that half lands.
Fairtex slips a jab and a cross from Sulag.
Fairtex pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Fairtex is looking to clinch but Sulag is avoiding it.
Sulag is looking to clinch.
Fairtex throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Fairtex throws out a loose jab but Sulag uses good head movement to avoid it.
Fairtex slips a straight right by Sulag.

Fairtex closes the distance and pushes Sulag back into the cage.
Sulag has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Sulag tries to break the clinch but Fairtex is controlling the position.
Fairtex tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Fairtex looking to throw knees to the head but Sulag is blocking nicely.
Fairtex tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Fairtex with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Fairtex tries to stall but Sulag uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Sulag on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fairtex looking to stall.
Sulag has a couple of punches blocked by Fairtex.
Fairtex unloads a knee to the mid-section. Sulag lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Sulag is trying to break the clinch but Fairtex has him pressed against the cage.
Fairtex with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

It looks like Michael Sulag has been cut.
Fairtex throws a knee to the head but misses.
Fairtex working Sulag over with knees to the body.
Fairtex lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Fairtex using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Sulag has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Fairtex tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Fairtex trying to land knees to the body.
Fairtex tries to land a knee to the head but Sulag blocks with his arms.
Fairtex tries a knee to the head but Sulag blocks it.
Sulag wants to break free but Fairtex has control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fairtex is trying to maintain a safe position but Sulag gets an underhook and turns Fairtex into the cage.
Fairtex with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Fairtex tries a knee to the head but Sulag blocks it.
Fairtex with an attempt at a knee that misses.
A right hand to the body from Sulag.
Fairtex wants to stall.
Fairtex manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Fairtex throws a knee to the head but misses.
Sulag wants to break free but Fairtex has control.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Sulag as Fairtex tries to tie him up.
Fairtex misses with a knee strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fairtex trying to land knees to the body.
Fairtex throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Sulag blocks it with crossed arms.
Fairtex avoiding damage.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Sulag on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Fairtex blocking some punches.
Fairtex keeps control of Sulag as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Sulag is looking to break free of the clinch but Fairtex has double underhooks.
Fairtex prevents Sulag from breaking the clinch.
Fairtex is trying to stall.

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.
Sulag misses with a hook from the clinch.
Fairtex using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Sulag has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Fairtex just leaning against Sulag, taking a breather.
Fairtex tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Fairtex is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Sulag is defending well for now.
Fairtex with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Sulag as Fairtex tries to tie him up.
Sulag is trying to break the clinch but Fairtex is controlling him.
Fairtex trying to land knees to the body.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Fairtex is trying to stall.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Yodsaenklai Fairtex.
Fairtex scores with a push kick.
An inside leg kick lands from Fairtex.
Fairtex scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yodsaenklai Fairtex showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Michael Sulag's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Fairtex throws a head kick that misses.

Sulag fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Fairtex, pushing him back against the cage.
Fairtex tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Fairtex blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Fairtex is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Fairtex throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Sulag blocks it with crossed arms.
Fairtex holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Sulag lands a body punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Sulag tries to break free but Fairtex pushes him back against the cage.
Fairtex trying to land knees to the body.
Come on Fairtex - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Yodsaenklai Fairtex.
Sulag takes a swing at Fairtex's ribcage but misses.
Sulag tries to close the distance and clinch but Fairtex swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Fairtex throws a head kick but Sulag moves out of range.
Fairtex fails with an attempt to clinch.
Jab by Sulag.
Sulag lands a right hook to the body.
Fairtex feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Sulag's calf.
Sulag thuds his right hand into Fairtex's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
An inside leg kick from Fairtex misses.
Sulag looks to land a right hand but Fairtex moved out of range.
Sulag throws out a loose jab but Fairtex uses good head movement to avoid it.
Fairtex lands a head kick. Sulag smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

Sulag pushes Fairtex up against the cage in a clinch.
Fairtex taking a breather.
Fairtex unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Fairtex lands a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fairtex using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Sulag has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Fairtex just leaning against Sulag, taking a breather.
Fairtex misses with a knee strike.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Fairtex obliges.
Fairtex takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A knee to the head by Fairtex.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Fairtex tries to land knees in the clinch but Sulag avoids the damage to the body.
Fairtex unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Fairtex misses with a knee to the head.
Fairtex tries to land a knee to the head but Sulag blocks with his arms.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Sulag as Fairtex tries to tie him up.
Sulag scores with an uppercut up the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sulag lands a right hand that snaps the head of Fairtex backwards.
Fairtex throws a knee to the head but misses.
Sulag can't break the clinch.
Sulag is trying to force a seperation but Fairtex has the dominant position.
Fairtex looking to throw knees to the head but Sulag is blocking nicely.
Sulag is trying to force a seperation but Fairtex has the dominant position.
A short uppercut from Sulag.
Fairtex taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Fairtex throws a knee to the head but misses.
Sulag misses with a hook to the ribs.
Sulag tries to break the clinch but Fairtex is controlling the position.
Fairtex tries to land a knee to the head but Sulag blocks with his arms.

Sulag breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's four 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.
A clash of legs there as Sulag blocks the low kick.

Sulag moves into the clinch.
Sulag wants to break free but Fairtex has control.
Fairtex throws a knee to the head but misses.
Fairtex connects with a knee to the head.
Fairtex trying to control the position but instead, Sulag has worked for underhooks and has pushed Fairtex into the cage.
Fairtex with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Fairtex throws a knee to the head but misses.
Fairtex throws a knee to the head but misses.
Fairtex misses with a knee strike.
Fairtex unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Michael Sulag has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sulag misses with a hook from the clinch.
Sulag misses with a punch on the inside.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Yodsaenklai Fairtex.
Well Fairtex has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yodsaenklai Fairtex!