PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Billy Caige (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ross Michaels (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Caige comes to the ring accompanied by Silverchair- israel's Son. Michaels has chosen Eminem - So Bad as his entrance music. Ross Michaels will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Caige
vs
Michaels

173 cm
19
205 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

173 cm
20
185 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Heavy handed

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 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Billy Caige!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ross Michaels!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, Steve Erwin and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Caige tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
The fight stays on the outside here - Michaels looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Michaels throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Caige is breathing heavily.

Michaels shoots in and gets a takedown into Caige's guard.
Michaels postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Michaels postures up in Caige's guard and throws a big left but Caige blocks it.
Michaels connects with a couple of short punches.
Michaels is looking to work some ground and pound but Caige has wrist control.
Caige wants to get back to his feet but Michaels is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Michaels with a flurry of punches that miss.
Caige could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Michaels loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

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

Michaels drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Michaels jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Michaels drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Michaels jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Michaels loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Michaels landing with the ground and pound.
Michaels advances to half guard.

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

Michaels is looking for a kimura here.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Michaels stops Caige from getting back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Caige is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Michaels scores with a couple of nice shots.
Michaels working Caige over with strikes.
Michaels throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Michaels throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Michaels is looking for a kimura but Caige is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Michaels to get the leverage.
Michaels working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

Michaels is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Caige sees it coming and defends easily.
Michaels drops an elbow to the side of Caige's head.

Michaels wants to work for an arm triangle but Caige is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Caige tries to kick Michaels off but Michaels keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Michaels is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Michaels lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Michaels lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Michaels working over Caige with some ground and pound. Caige looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Michaels works his way into full mount!
Caige trying desperately to get to his feet.
Michaels lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Michaels fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Michaels punishing his opponent with strikes.

Michaels looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Michaels landing strikes, looking to finish!

That's six minutes gone in the round.

Michaels working for a submission but Caige is keeping him at bay.
Michaels punching from mount but Caige doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Caige is bucking up trying to escape but Michaels cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Caige trying desperately to get to his feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Michaels lands a big shot there that rocks Caige but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Michaels looking to finish Caige with some ground and pound. This is bad for Caige!

Michaels looking to secure an arm triangle but Caige defends it well.
Caige wants to use the ropes to get back to his feet here.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Michaels throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.

Michaels has hold of Caige's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Caige manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Caige avoids a series of strikes thrown by Michaels.
Michaels thowing shots but they're missing.
Michaels lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Caige hang on?

Michaels working for a submission but Caige is keeping him at bay.

Michaels moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Caige has worked his arm free - good work by Caige!
Michaels has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.

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

Michaels is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Caige knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

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

That's nine minutes gone in the round.

Michaels is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Caige is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Michaels swings around for an armbar but Caige sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Michaels's guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

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

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

Caige pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Caige tries a head kick but it misses.
Caige sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Billy Caige is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Caige blocks a head kick by Michaels.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Caige sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.

Michaels rushes Caige and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Caige prevents the takedown attempt.
Michaels looking for a takedown.
Caige gets underhooks to prevent Michaels's takedown attempt.
Billy Caige has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ross Michaels.
Caige can't break the clinch.
Caige has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Michaels is working for a takedown up against the ropes. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Michaels gets a trip takedown into half guard.

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.

Michaels is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Caige defends it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Michaels sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Caige defending well though.
Michaels is nestled in close to Caige, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

Michaels seems to be looking for submissions.
Michaels tries to pass the half guard into mount. Caige knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Michaels seems to be looking for submissions.
Michaels missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Michaels is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Michaels has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Caige pushes Michaels off looking to stand but Michaels dives back in and keeps control.
Michaels throwing shots but Caige is blocking nicely.

Michaels is trying to work for a kimura but Caige is defending well.

Michaels is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Michaels wants to work for an arm triangle but Caige is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Michaels prevents Caige from standing back up.

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

Michaels is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Caige avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Michaels.

That's five minutes gone in the round.

Michaels wants to work for an arm triangle but Caige is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Michaels seems to be looking for submissions.

Michaels is looking for a kimura here.
Caige pushes Michaels off looking to stand but Michaels dives back in and keeps control.

Michaels is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Michaels throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Michaels with the ground and pound but Caige uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Michaels throwing strikes but missing.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Michaels accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Caige pushes Michaels off and scrambles back to his feet.
Billy Caige is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Caige misses with a body kick.
Billy Caige seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Caige.
Michaels tried to score with a low kick but Caige checks it.
Michaels blocks the body kick.
Caige blocks a head kick by Michaels.
Caige throws a sloppy head kick
and Michaels counters with a series of strikes. Caige will be more careful next time no doubt.
A head kick by Caige misses

and Michaels holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Michaels is working for a takedown up against the ropes. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Michaels has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Caige is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Michaels tries to score a body lock takedown but Caige shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Caige is trying to break the clinch but Michaels has him pressed against the ropes.
Caige wants to break the clinch but can't.

Michaels has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Caige uses from the top position.

Caige gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Michaels blocks a head kick by Caige.
Michaels scores with a head kick. Caige tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Nice jab there from Caige.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Caige, right into the meat.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Michaels throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Caige's waist but Caige gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Michaels off to one side.
Michaels scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Caige wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Michaels tries to clinch up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Caige is looking to land body kicks.

Michaels closes the distance and pushes Caige back into the ropes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ross Michaels showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Caige takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Michaels throws a head kick that Caige semi-blocks.
Caige misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A head kick misses from Caige.
Caige misses with a jab to the body
and Michaels counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Michaels fails with an attempt to clinch.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Caige enables Michaels to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Caige manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Michaels missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Michaels passes into half guard.
Caige looks like he's trying to stand up.
Michaels missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Michaels is looking to advance position but Caige won't allow it.

Michaels is looking for a kimura here.

Michaels seems to be working for a kimura but Caige defends the submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Michaels.

Michaels is looking for a kimura here.
Michaels stops Caige from getting back to his feet.
Michaels not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Caige wants to get back to his feet.

Michaels is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Michaels throws a strike but Caige avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Caige is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Michaels is controlling him.
Michaels scoring with punches to the head and body.
Michaels postures up in Caige's guard and throws a big left but Caige blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Michaels forces his way into half guard.
Caige is trying to stand back up but Michaels is controlling him

Michaels wants to work for an arm triangle but Caige is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Michaels working over Caige with some ground and pound. Caige looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

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

Michaels is looking for a kimura here.
Caige avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Michaels.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Michaels thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Caige's head.
Caige is trying to stand back up but Michaels is controlling him

Michaels is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Ross Michaels has got the better of the ground game so far.
Caige pushes Michaels off looking to stand but Michaels dives back in and keeps control.

Michaels is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Michaels throwing shots but Caige is blocking nicely.

Caige kicks off Michaels and gets to his feet.
Caige misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Caige stuffs the takedown attempt from Michaels. Michaels gets slowly back to his feet.
Nice sprawl there from Caige as Michaels shoots in.
A head kick misses from Caige.

Michaels takes the fight into the clinch.
Caige gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Michaels.
Billy Caige has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ross Michaels.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.

Caige breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A head kick misses from Caige.
Michaels shoots in but no luck this time.
Caige scores with a head kick.
Caige scores with a leg kick.
Michaels fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Caige avoids it really well and circles away.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Caige blocks a head kick by Michaels.
Michaels avoids the head kick by Caige.
Michaels takes a kick to the side of the head.
Michaels throws a head kick that misses.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Michaels throws a sloppy head kick and Caige moves out of range easily.
A left and a right from Caige both land. Nice combination.
Michaels throws a half hearted mid kick.
Ross Michaels is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Michaels tries a head kick but it misses.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Caige throws a sloppy head kick and Michaels moves out of range easily.
Billy Caige has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A head kick misses from Michaels.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ross Michaels comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Michaels 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 Bruno Hogan scores the fight for Ross Michaels!
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight for Ross Michaels!
Judge John Mangel scores the fight for Ross Michaels!

Ross Michaels wins by unanimous decision!