PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Johnny Carlton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ross Michaels (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Carlton comes to the cage accompanied by In Waves. Michaels has chosen Eminem - So Bad as his entrance music. 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.

Carlton
vs
Michaels

184 cm
25
190 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

173 cm
19
185 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Johnny Carlton!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ross Michaels!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, Skip Squint and Damien Edna.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Michaels is trying hard to land a takedown here. Carlton sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Carlton slaps away a takedown attempt from Michaels, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Carlton pushes Michaels up against the cage in a clinch.
Michaels has Carlton pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Carlton manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Johnny Carlton has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ross Michaels.
Michaels keeps control of Carlton as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Michaels tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Carlton is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Michaels gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Carlton tries to stall but Michaels uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Michaels drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Michaels wants a takedown but no success here.
Michaels stops a takedown attempt from Carlton.
Michaels is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Carlton gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Carlton wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Carlton breaks from the clinch.

Michaels closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Carlton quickly recovers to half guard.

Michaels is looking for a kimura but Carlton is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Michaels to get the leverage.
Michaels looks gassed!
Carlton is trying to control but can't.

Michaels is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Michaels looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carlton trying to control from the bottom.
Carlton wants to get back to his feet.

Michaels is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Carlton doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Michaels.

Michaels is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Carlton sees it coming and defends easily.
Carlton wants to get back to his feet.

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 looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Carlton pushes Michaels off and gets back to his feet.

Carlton closes the distance and clinches.
With the fighters up against the cage, Carlton throws an elbow but misses.
Carlton connects with a nasty looking knee right to Michaels's face.

Carlton breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Carlton throws a one two combo.

Carlton forces Michaels back against the cage and clinches.
Carlton lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

It looks like Ross Michaels has been cut.
Carlton stops a takedown attempt from Michaels.
Michaels prevents Carlton from breaking the clinch.
Carlton lands a good knee to the midsection. Michaels won't want to take too many of those.

Carlton escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Carlton keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Michaels takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Michaels with a lazy takedown attempt
and Michaels takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Carlton goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

Carlton closes the distance and clinches.
Carlton lands a body shot in the clinch.
Michaels is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Carlton gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Carlton pulls guard.
Carlton is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Michaels drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Carlton dives on top into guard.

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

Michaels escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Carlton gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Michaels looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Michaels working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Carlton doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Carlton manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Michaels working for a triangle but Carlton defends it easily.
Carlton 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.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Carlton slips nicely into half guard.

Carlton gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny Carlton dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ross Michaels's cut.
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 shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Carlton but Carlton pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Michaels shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Carlton as he jumps to the side.
Johnny Carlton is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Carlton throws a head kick but Michaels moves out of range.
Michaels fails with a takedown attempt.
Johnny Carlton has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ross Michaels.
Carlton lands a two punch combo.
Carlton throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Carlton pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Carlton stuffs the takedown.
Carlton wants to clinch up but Michaels keeps it at a distance.
Michaels has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Carlton leaves Michaels with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Carlton throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Michaels wants to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carlton throws a right hand that Michaels ducks under and follows up with a left that Michaels also avoids with ease.
Carlton scores with a kick to the body.
A left and a right from Carlton both land. Nice combination.
Ross Michaels seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Michaels drives through with a takedown into guard.

Michaels thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Michaels is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Michaels thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Michaels throwing strikes from guard but Carlton blocks nicely.

Michaels is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Carlton is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Carlton has escaped and now he's on top!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Michaels being controlled here, momentarily.
Michaels should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

Michaels is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Carlton defends well.
Michaels being controlled here, momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Michaels has his foot on Carlton's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Carlton works his way back into a safe position though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Michaels has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Carlton is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Michaels.
Michaels tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Carlton wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Carlton working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Michaels is looking to reverse the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Carlton is chipping away with strikes.
Carlton will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Michaels tries to bench press Carlton off him but Carlton keeps the position.

Carlton stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Carlton lands a two punch combo.
Carlton throws a head kick but Michaels moves out of range.
Michaels fails with the takedown.
Carlton connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Michaels fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Carlton avoids it really well and circles away.
Carlton stuffs the takedown.
Carlton feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Michaelss jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Michaels keeps the fight on the outside.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Michaels.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny Carlton dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Ross Michaels's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Carlton has Michaels up against the cage in a clinch.
Carlton prevents a takedown attempt there.
Michaels is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Carlton pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Michaels prevents Carlton from breaking the clinch.
Carlton prevents the takedown attempt.
Johnny Carlton has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ross Michaels.
Carlton with a knee to the head.
Carlton tries to break the clinch but Michaels is controlling the position.
Carlton has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Michaels is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Carlton tries a knee to the head but Michaels blocks it.
Carlton prevents a takedown attempt there.

Michaels gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Carlton looks like he's trying to stand up.
Michaels missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Michaels is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Michaels is looking for a kimura but Carlton is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Michaels to get the leverage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Michaels is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Michaels wants to work for an arm triangle but Carlton is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Michaels stops Carlton from getting back to his feet.
Carlton trying to control from the bottom.

Michaels is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Carlton doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Michaels.

Michaels is working for a submission of some sort.
Michaels throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's two 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.
Carlton tries to roll over but Michaels keeps him under control.
Carlton trying to control but Michaels postures up.
Carlton wants to get back to his feet.

Michaels is trying to work for a kimura but Carlton is defending well.
Michaels throwing shots but Carlton is blocking nicely.
Michaels throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Carlton tries to get to full guard but Michaels has control of the leg.

Michaels seems to be looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Michaels is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Carlton doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Michaels.

Michaels is looking for a kimura here.
Carlton blocking the ground and pound attempt from Michaels.

Michaels is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Carlton has managed to free his arm - good work.
Carlton tries to kick Michaels off but Michaels keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Michaels is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Carlton is just riding it out for now. Michaels eventually gives up the hold.

Michaels is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Carlton sees it coming and defends easily.
Ross Michaels has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Carlton is trying to stand up here but Michaels is controlling him well.
Johnny Carlton is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Carlton has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Michaels is working away from the top position though.
Michaels throwing shots but Carlton is blocking nicely.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Michaels is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Michaels is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ross Michaels comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Carlton has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Steve Erwin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 29:28
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Johnny Carlton!
Johnny Carlton is the new middleweight champion!