PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kair Drogo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Darien Michaels (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Drogo
vs
Michaels

172 cm
27
182 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

170 cm
19
183 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Kair Drogo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Darien Michaels!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Alexandre Firmino and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Drogo misses with a takedown
and Michaels connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Michaels thows a left - swing and a miss!
Drogo avoids the body shot from Michaels.
Darien Michaels seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Drogo doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Michaels counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Michaels takes a swing at Drogo's ribcage but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drogo gets cracked there but stands up to it.

It looks like Kair Drogo has been cut.
Drogo with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Michaels to score with a decent uppercut.
Michaels lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Michaels dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Michaels fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Drogo manages to avoid it.
Michaels changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Drogo with a poor takedown
and Michaels counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kair Drogo. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Michaels closes the distance and clinches.
Michaels's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Michaels digs a right hand underneath Drogo's ribcage. Drogo let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Drogo tries to pull guard but Michaels forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Drogo tries to score a body lock takedown but Michaels shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Drogo wants to take the fight to the mat but Michaels manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
A right hand to the body from Michaels.
Drogo wants to take the fight to the mat but Michaels manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Michaels scores with a nice hook to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A right hook to the body lands for Michaels.
Drogo is breathing heavily.
Michaels scores with a nice hook to the head.

Michaels gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Drogo regains guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Michaels sitting in guard here, content to control.
Drogo utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Michaels trying to control but Drogo is working from the bottom.
Drogo is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Michaels works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Drogo trying to control from the bottom.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Michaels looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Drogo blocking the ground and pound attempt from Michaels.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Drogo blocking the ground and pound attempt from Michaels.
Michaels perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Drogo tries to kick Michaels off but Michaels keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Michaels wants to lay and pray for a moment but Drogo keeps working.
Drogo is trying to maintain the position but Michaels is very close to passing his half guard.
Drogo is looking for a sweep. Michaels is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Drogo is not content to let Michaels control the position.

Darien Michaels has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Drogo shoots and misses

and Michaels counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Drogo's guard now.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Drogo is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Michaels won't allow Drogo to sweep him here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Darien Michaels dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Kair Drogo's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Michaels lands a nice shot that snaps Drogo's head back.

Drogo tries to keep at a distance but Michaels has taken the fight into the clinch.
Drogo is working for takedown but Michaels is calmly controlling the position for now.
Michaels lands a shot to the body.
Michaels lands a nice uppercut.
Michaels scores with a nice hook to the head.
Michaels stops a takedown attempt from Drogo.
Michaels scores with a shoulder strike.
Michaels controlling the action here for a moment.
Michaels lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

Kair Drogo's cut is getting worse.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Michaels lands a nice shot to the body.
Michaels pushes Drogo back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Darien Michaels seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Drogo can't get the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kair Drogo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Michaels is stalling here.

Michaels lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Michaels controlling the pace.
Drogo is pressing down on Michaels's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
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!
Michaels sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Drogo's guard.

Michaels is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Drogo has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Michaels is looking to take a break and control but Drogo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Drogo wants to improve his position but Michaels is controlling well.
Drogo looks like he's trying to stand up.

Michaels is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Drogo is just riding it out for now. Michaels eventually gives up the hold.
Drogo on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Drogo tries to get out of the position.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Michaels in particular looking to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drogo is trying to get back to full guard.
Drogo avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Michaels.
Michaels stalling away here and it's allowed Drogo to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Michaels trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Drogo keeping full guard, as Michaels tries to pass.
Drogo wants to sweep but no luck.
Michaels trying to control but Drogo is working from the bottom.
Drogo is trying to keep Michaels in close.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Michaels throws a big right hand that misses.
Drogo could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Drogo bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Michaels's guard.
Drogo trying to control but Michaels is working from the bottom.
Michaels tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Drogo trying to control but Michaels is working from the bottom.
Drogo is looking to advance position but Michaels has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Michaels prevents Drogo from getting the reversal.
Michaels looking to finish with strikes here!
Michaels has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Michaels can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Drogo is looking to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Darien Michaels showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Kair Drogo's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

Michaels catches Drogo with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Drogo gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Michaels counters with a straight right hand.
Michaels wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The crowd cheers as Michaels lands an impressive looking overhand right. Drogo doesn't seem phased though.
Michaels misses the shot to the body.
Michaels throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Drogo gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Michaels counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Michaels misses with a wild body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Michaels tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Drogo was well out of range. Poor timing from Michaels.
Michaels fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Drogo misses with a takedown
and Michaels counters with a right hand to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kair Drogo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Michaels scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Drogo keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Michaels throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Drogo.
Drogo on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
A shot to the liver by Michaels. Beautiful body shot.
Michaels takes a swing at Drogo's ribcage but misses.
Michaels scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Drogo doesn't seem bothered though.
Darien Michaels is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Michaels tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Drogo was well out of range. Poor timing from Michaels.
Michaels lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Kair Drogo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A jab from Michaels finds it's way through Drogo's defenses.
Michaels is looking to clinch but Drogo is avoiding it.
Michaels ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Michaels swings for the body but Drogo moves out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
Darien 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 27:30
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Darien Michaels!
A very excited looking Darien Michaels made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.