PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Vitor Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josh Michaels (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Michaels has chosen Alice In Chains - Man In The Box as his entrance music. The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Gracie
vs
Michaels

185 cm
26
201 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

178 cm
26
167 lbs
15 - 2 - 1

Powerful takedowns
Good kicks
Very strong

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Vitor Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Josh Michaels!
The judges for this bout are Patrick Alders, Paul Aken and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Left hook, right uppercut from Michaels.
Josh Michaels seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gracie fails with the takedown.
Michaels shoots in for a takedown but Gracie shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Michaels swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Gracie decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Michaels's guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Michaels trying to keep a closed guard but Gracie is proving a slippery customer.
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.
Gracie throws a big elbow that misses.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Michaels throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Michaels is trying to keep Gracie in close.
Gracie trying to control but Michaels is working from the bottom.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie with a nice head shot there.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Michaels keeps moving.

Michaels throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Gracie escapes and throws Michaels's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Gracie working away.
Gracie throws a strike aimed at the side of Michaels's head but Michaels avoids it well.
Michaels can't do much from the bottom here.
Gracie is chipping away with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie trying to control the position but Michaels is working away.
Michaels gets back to half guard.
Michaels on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Michaels moves into full guard.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Michaels is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Michaels not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Michaels looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Gracie wants to control from the top but Michaels keeps moving.

Michaels throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Michaels is looking for a triangle here but Gracie uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Michaels tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Gracie tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Michaels is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

Michaels looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Michaels actively working from the bottom here.
Gracie wants to pass the guard but Michaels is defending well.

Gracie 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.

Gracie is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gracie trying to control from half guard but Michaels is working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Vitor Gracie will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Michaels stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Michaels wants it to stay on the feet.
Josh Michaels is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Michaels drops Gracie with a left right combo! Michaels follows him down to the ground into side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gracie is looking for a sweep.
An elbow from Michaels crashes against the mat.
Michaels throws an elbow but Gracie slips to the side and avoids it well.
Michaels grinds an elbow into Gracie's temple.
Gracie is looking to regain half guard here but Michaels keeps moving and retains side control.
Vitor Gracie overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Michaels tries for a kimura but Gracie is defending well.
Michaels working the ground and pound from side control.

Gracie is rocked!
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Gracie takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Oh Gracie is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Michaels tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

Michaels wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Gracie, who protects the arm well.
Gracie seems to have got his legs back now.
Sloppy strikes there by Michaels.
Gracie is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Gracie manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Gracie tries to get to full guard but Michaels has control of the leg.
Gracie manages to get to full guard.
Michaels trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Michaels throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Gracie works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Michaels. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Gracie preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Gracie working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Michaels.
Michaels working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Gracie's head.

Gracie looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Michaels chips away with some ground and pound.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Michaels in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Michaels throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Michaels works over Gracie with some ground and pound from guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Michaels.
Michaels must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Michaels throwing strikes but missing.
Michaels in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Michaels missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Michaels throws a big elbow that misses.
Michaels postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Gracie looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Michaels makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Michaels is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Gracie keeping moving, preventing Michaels from controlling successfully.
Gracie is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Michaels trying to control the position from guard on top but Gracie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gracie utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Michaels makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Gracie working for a triangle but Michaels defends it easily.
Michaels with a flurry of punches that miss.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Gracie can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Michaels controls the pace.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Michaels is looking to work some ground and pound but Gracie has wrist control.
Gracie avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Michaels showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Gracie's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Gracie takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Michaels throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Gracie.
Gracie shoots for a double leg takedown but Michaels sprawls well. He's pushed Gracie's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Gracie shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Gracie showed some decent athleticism there.
Michaels is pressing down on Gracie's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Michaels had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Gracie defends it easily.

Michaels looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Michaels keeping full guard, as Gracie tries to pass.
Michaels working a defensive guard here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Michaels throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Michaels looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Michaels not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Michaels keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Michaels is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Gracie defends well.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Michaels is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Michaels is actively looking for submissions from his back. He's worked himself a little space on the bottom and seems to be going for a triangle. No, he's switched into an armbar! That was slick! Gracie rolls with it to try and escape but Michaels cranks on the arm and Gracie is forced to tap out! This one is aaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Josh Michaels!