PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Mike Angelo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yodsaenklai Fairtex (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Yodsaenklai Fairtex will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Angelo
vs
Fairtex

176 cm
25
158 lbs
11 - 3 - 0

181 cm
21
171 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Basic striking
Insanely flexible

ADCC Champion
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mike Angelo!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Yodsaenklai Fairtex!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Alan Glass and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Angelo closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Fairtex tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Angelo working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Fairtex prevents Angelo from moving into mount.

Angelo wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Fairtex, who protects the arm well.
Fairtex is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Angelo off and has taken his back!

Angelo defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.

Angelo is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Fairtex gets his way!

Fairtex looking for the choke but no joy.
Angelo tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Angelo is wriggling around trying to escape.
Angelo sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Fairtex is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Fairtex looks gassed!

Angelo looking for submissions off his back.
Angelo is pressing down on Fairtex's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Angelo is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Fairtex moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Angelo passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Angelo tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Angelo has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Angelo is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Fairtex has escaped the position, nice work there.
Fairtex is looking to regain half guard here but Angelo keeps moving and retains side control.

Angelo tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Angelo tries for a kimura but Fairtex is defending well.

Angelo looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Angelo is trying to get an arm triangle but Fairtex is defending well.
Fairtex regains half guard.

Angelo is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Fairtex sees it coming and defends easily.

Angelo is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Fairtex defends it well.
Fairtex is pressing down on Angelo's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Fairtex 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.
Fairtex lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Angelo!

Fairtex looking to secure an arm triangle but Angelo defends it well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Fairtex has hold of Angelo's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Angelo manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Angelo keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Angelo gets back to half guard.
Angelo moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Angelo is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Fairtex defends well.

Angelo working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Fairtex doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Fairtex manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Angelo dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Angelo.

Angelo tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Fairtex struggling a bit here.

Angelo tries for a kimura but Fairtex is defending well.
Angelo tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Fairtex tries to improve position but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Angelo is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Fairtex has escaped the position, nice work there.

Angelo thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Fairtex tries to buck Angelo off but Angelo is having none of it.

Angelo is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Fairtex knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Fairtex manages to get back to half guard.
Fairtex is trying to maintain the position but Angelo is very close to passing his half guard.
Angelo wants to pass the guard but Fairtex is defending well.

Angelo is trying to work for a kimura but Fairtex is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Fairtex is trying to control but can't.
Angelo prevents Fairtex from improving his position.
Fairtex is trying to maintain the position but Angelo is very close to passing his half guard.

Fairtex is defending against the submission attempts here by Angelo.
Angelo passes the guard and advances to mount!
Fairtex working to try and regain half guard.
Fairtex gets back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Fairtex is defending against the submission attempts here by Angelo.

Angelo seems to be looking for submissions.
Fairtex is pressing down on Angelo's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Angelo drops back looking for a leg! Fairtex is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Fairtex manages to kick Angelo off! Angelo jumps back into Fairtex's guard.

Angelo drops back for a leg here. A bit of a high risk move... He's looking for a kneebar by the looks of things. Now both of them are looking for submissions. Angelo seems to have locked his on tight now - Fairtex screams in pain and taps out furiously! It certainly was a high risk move but it's paid off for Angelo, as he picks up the win!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:56 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kneebar). Mike Angelo!
Mike Angelo is the new lightweight champion!