PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Tao Laos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Christian Michaels (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Laos
vs
Michaels

174 cm
22
170 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

181 cm
25
173 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Tao Laos!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Christian Michaels!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Laos moves to clinch but Michaels breaks away
and Michaels connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Laos avoids a low kick by using good footwork.

Michaels closes the distance and pushes Laos back into the cage.
Michaels has Laos pressed against the cage.
Michaels scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Michaels gets underhooks to prevent Laos's takedown attempt.
Laos trying to land knees to the body.
Michaels scores with a hook to the body.
Laos is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Michaels is defending well for now.
Laos landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Laos can't get the takedown.
A short right from Michaels.
Michaels is trying to stall.
Laos crunches a lovely knee into Michaels's ribcage.
Michaels is trying to stall.
Laos unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Michaels looks gassed!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Michaels blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Laos utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Laos drops down looking for an ankle pick but Michaels pulls his leg out and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tao Laos. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laos tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Michaels paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Laos closes this distance looking for a takedown but Michaels circles away.
Michaels circles away from the clinch attempt
and Michaels counters with a three punch combo that has Laos backing up. Laos nods at Michaels to acknowledge the strikes.
Michaels circles away from the clinch attempt.
Michaels bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Laos's head.
Michaels wants to slow Laos down by chopping away at his legs.

That's two 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.
Michaels clobbers Laos with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Michaels throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A combination from Michaels does no damage.
Michaels stuffs the takedown attempt from Laos. Laos gets slowly back to his feet.
Laos fails with a takedown attempt.
Laos wants to clinch but Michaels slips to the side
enabling Michaels to counter with a crisp jab.
Michaels misses with a two punch combination.
Michaels circles away from the clinch attempt
and Laos takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laos takes one to the chin there.
Michaels goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

Michaels has Laos up against the cage in a clinch.
Michaels managing to block the knees to the body from Laos.
Laos missing with knees to the body.
Laos misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Michaels.
Laos crunches a lovely knee into Michaels's ribcage.
Laos missing with knees to the body.
Laos trying to land knees to the body.
Good body shot from Michaels.
Michaels lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Michaels misses with a short punch on the inside.
Michaels just leaning against Laos, taking a breather.
A head punch on the inside from Michaels fails to land.
Laos unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Michaels trying to control the position but instead, Laos has worked for underhooks and has pushed Michaels into the cage.
Laos trying to land knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laos lands a good knee to the midsection. Michaels won't want to take too many of those.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Laos misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Michaels.
Laos trying to land knees to the body.
Laos tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Michaels avoids it.
Laos blocks an uppercut.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Michaels avoiding damage as Laos throws knees to the body.
Michaels on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Laos lands a nice knee to the body.
Michaels blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
A bit of stalling here from Laos.
Laos missing with knees to the body.
Laos lands a knee to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Michaels is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Michaels avoiding damage as Laos throws knees to the body.
Laos putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Michaels in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Laos is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Michaels is defending well for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tao Laos dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Laos tries to clinch
and Michaels counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Christian Michaels seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Michaels lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Laos circles away quickly and effectively.
Michaels has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Michaels throws a combination. Laos tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Michaels scores with a sloppy right hand. Laos should have avoided that one.

Michaels has taken the fight to the clinch.
Laos misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Michaels.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Laos takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Michaels blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Michaels blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Laos has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Michaels regains guard immediately.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Laos missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Laos works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laos wants to lay and pray for a moment but Michaels keeps working.
Laos is taking a breather. Michaels says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Michaels won't allow Laos to pass to mount.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Michaels blocking the ground and pound attempt from Laos.
Michaels trying to control here.
Michaels is refusing to be controlled, as Laos sits in half guard.

That's two 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.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Laos seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Laos passes the guard and advances to mount!
Laos landing strikes from the mount.
Michaels is breathing heavily.
Laos lands a heavy elbow.
Laos with good strikes from the mount here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laos wants to control the pace but Michaels is squirming around nicely.
Laos fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Laos controlling his opponent.
Laos cracks Michaels with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Michaels is squirming around, avoiding Laos's attempts to control the action.
Laos knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Michaels on the ground.
Laos connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laos trying to control but Michaels is having none of it.
Laos controlling the pace for now.
Michaels is squirming around, avoiding Laos's attempts to control the action.
Laos controlling from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tao Laos dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Laos dodges the punch combination from Michaels.
Michaels fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Michaels punishes Laos's body with a nice straight punch.
Michaels lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Laos shoots for a double leg takedown but Michaels sprawls well. He's pushed Laos's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Laos gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Danga de danga de dang - Michaels scores with a four punch combination!

Michaels drives through and clinches with Laos against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laos missing with knees to the body.
Michaels lands a hook to the side of the head.
Laos is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Michaels working aggressively here.
Michaels lands a body shot in the clinch.
Laos trying to control the position but instead, Michaels has worked for underhooks and has pushed Laos into the cage.
Michaels lands an uppercut.
Tao Laos has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Laos tries to land knees in the clinch but Michaels avoids the damage to the body.
Michaels pushes Laos back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Michaels lands a shoulder strike.
Laos landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Michaels takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Laos missing with knees to the body.
Michaels swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A nice right hand lands inside from Michaels.
A shot in the inside from Michaels.
Laos using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Laos lands a nice knee to the body.
Laos is struggling to control the position.
Michaels managing to block the knees to the body from Laos.
Michaels on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Michaels misses with a punch to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laos missing with knees to the body.
Laos lands a good knee to the midsection. Michaels won't want to take too many of those.
Laos lands a good knee to the midsection. Michaels won't want to take too many of those.
Laos missing with knees to the body.
Laos tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Michaels avoids it.
Laos scores a nice knee to the body.
Michaels looking to slow down the pace here.
Michaels blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Laos is pushing Michaels up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Laos utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Laos is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Michaels gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Michaels takes a knee to the side of the body.
Michaels avoiding damage as Laos throws knees to the body.
Laos tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Michaels avoids it.
Laos misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Michaels.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Michaels.
Laos tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Michaels avoids it.
Michaels lands with a right to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Good body shot from Michaels.
Laos missing with knees to the body.
Michaels lands a body shot in the clinch.
A left hand lands to the body for Michaels.
Michaels blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Michaels scores with a shot to the side of Laos's head.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Michaels trying to control the position but instead, Laos has worked for underhooks and has pushed Michaels into the cage.
Michaels on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Michaels on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Laos missing with knees to the body.
Michaels lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Laos misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Michaels.
Laos trying to land knees to the body.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Michaels as Laos tries to tie him up.
Michaels makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
A short left from Michaels.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Michaels.

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.
Michaels lands with a right to the head.
A hook to the body from Michaels.
Michaels avoiding damage as Laos throws knees to the body.
Michaels lands with a short shot to the head.
Laos utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Michaels taking a breather.
Laos blocking some punches.
Laos goes for a takedown in the clinch but Michaels prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tao Laos. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Michaels lands with a short head shot on the inside.
A nice left hand lands by Michaels.
Michaels lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Laos backwards.
Michaels is trying to stall.
Laos is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Michaels is defending well for now.

Laos has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Michaels regains guard immediately.
Laos trying to control the position from guard on top but Michaels is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tao Laos clearly takes that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Laos has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Laos moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Danga de danga de dang - Michaels scores with a four punch combination!
Michaels throws a right hand that Laos ducks under and follows up with a left that Laos also avoids with ease.

Michaels rushes Laos and presses him up against the cage.
Laos looking to stall.
Laos blocking some punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Laos lands a nice knee to the body.
Laos is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Michaels is keeping busy.
Laos misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Michaels.
Laos blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Michaels is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Laos using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Michaels is trying to maintain a safe position but Laos gets an underhook and turns Michaels into the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Michaels takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Laos trying to land knees to the body.
Laos changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Michaels fights it off and pushes away nicely.
A big left from Michaels misses.
Laos fails with an attempt to clinch.
Laos tries to clinch up but Michaels circles away and keeps his distance.
Laos looks to clinch
and Michaels counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Michaels circles away from the clinch attempt.

Laos takes the fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
A short uppercut from Michaels.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Laos obliges.
Laos misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Michaels.
Michaels blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Laos is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Michaels is defending well for now.
Michaels avoiding damage as Laos throws knees to the body.
Laos is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Laos just leaning against Michaels, taking a breather.
Michaels avoiding damage as Laos throws knees to the body.
Laos is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Michaels is defending well for now.
Laos is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Laos crunches a lovely knee into Michaels's ribcage.

Laos ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Laos no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Laos on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Laos tries to get out of the position.
Laos controlling the position.

Laos kicks Michaels off and gets to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laos tries to clinch but Michaels is having none of it.
Michaels bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Laos's head.
Laos takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Michaels lands a head shot.
Michaels looks to land a combination. Laos sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Michaels lands with an overhand left.
Laos tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Michaels paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Michaels's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Michaels duly obliges.
Michaels keeps the fight on the outside.

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.
Michaels scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Michaels circles away from the clinch attempt

and Michaels counters by moving into the clinch.
Laos tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Michaels avoids it.
Michaels misses with a punch on the inside.
Laos tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Michaels avoids it.
Laos tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Michaels avoids it.
Laos is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Michaels is defending well for now.
Laos trying to land knees to the body.
Michaels lands with a short shot to the head.
Laos tries to land knees in the clinch but Michaels avoids the damage to the body.
Laos tries to land knees in the clinch but Michaels avoids the damage to the body.
Laos is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Michaels is defending well for now.
Michaels blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Michaels on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Michaels misses with a short punch on the inside.
Laos missing with knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tao Laos had his way with Christian Michaels in that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Michaels lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Laos moves to clinch but Michaels breaks away
and Michaels connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Michaels works over Laos's head and body with a nice combination.
Laos tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Michaels connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Laos darts in trying to clinch
and Michaels counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Michaels scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Michaels uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Michaels misses with a two punch combination.
Michaels fails to land with a series of punches.
Michaels lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

Michaels pushes Laos up against the cage in a clinch.
Michaels softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Laos missing with knees to the body.
Laos scores a nice knee to the body.
Michaels is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Michaels blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Michaels managing to block the knees to the body from Laos.
Michaels misses with some punches.
Laos tries to land knees in the clinch but Michaels avoids the damage to the body.
Laos blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Laos slows down the pace here.
Laos working Michaels over with knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laos is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Michaels is defending well for now.
Laos is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Michaels on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Laos drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Still in the clinch, Michaels scores with a nice short uppercut.
Michaels lands a right hand.
Laos is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Michaels is defending well for now.
Laos is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Laos misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Michaels.
Michaels lands a shoulder strike.
Michaels avoiding damage as Laos throws knees to the body.
Michaels on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Michaels scores with a shoulder strike.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Laos content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Laos misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Michaels.
Laos is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Michaels scores with an uppercut up the middle.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Michaels.
Michaels managing to block the knees to the body from Laos.
Laos missing with knees to the body.
Michaels lands a hook that snaps the head of Laos backwards.
Laos is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Michaels is defending well for now.
Michaels taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Laos tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Michaels smiles and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tao Laos. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Michaels clinches with his opponent.
Michaels lands a hook to the side of the head.
Laos wants a takedown but no success here.

Laos lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Laos not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Laos stops Michaels from getting back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laos is just content to waste time from the top position. Michaels takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Laos throws a strike but Michaels rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Michaels trying to control the position from guard on top but Laos is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Christian Michaels.
I think Laos 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 50:45
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 49:46
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tao Laos!
Tao Laos is the new welterweight champion!