PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Shawn Michaels (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chad Mendes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Michaels comes to the cage accompanied by Sexy Boy. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Michaels
vs
Mendes

174 cm
20
135 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

168 cm
30
137 lbs
12 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

New World Order Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Shawn Michaels!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Chad Mendes!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Robert Twigg and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Michaels shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Mendes looking for submissions off his back.

Mendes actively working from the bottom here.
Michaels wants to stand but Mendes has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

Mendes looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Mendes looking for submissions off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mendes is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Michaels pulls his head out easily.

Mendes with the active half guard here but Michaels passes nicely into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Michaels wants to stand but Mendes has his arm trapped.
Mendes is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Michaels is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.

Mendes looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendes works his way to full guard. Good work.

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

Mendes is looking for a triangle but Michaels pushes his legs off easily.

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

Mendes is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Mendes looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Michaels passes into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Michaels seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.

Mendes looking for submissions off his back.

Mendes actively working from the bottom here.

Mendes looking for submissions off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mendes is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Michaels pulls his head out easily.
Mendes moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Mendes is looking for a triangle but Michaels pushes his legs off easily.
Michaels wants to get up but he can't break Mendes'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.

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

Mendes is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chad Mendes dominated that round.
That's time! Michaels's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Mendes gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Michaels to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Mendes looking for a guillotine here but Michaels defends easily.

Mendes looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Michaels passes into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendes tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Michaels wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Mendes is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

Mendes looking for a kimura from the bottom but Michaels passes into side control!
Michaels wants to stand but Mendes is controlling his arm.
Mendes is trying to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Michaels decides to stand up, so the ref orders Mendes to his feet.

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

Mendes has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Michaels can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Michaels wants to get up but he can't break Mendes's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mendes is looking for a triangle but Michaels pushes his legs off easily.

Mendes working for a triangle but Michaels defends it easily.

Michaels avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Mendes has a closed guard, preventing Michaels from standing up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

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

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

Mendes is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Mendes looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Chad Mendes will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Horrible takedown by Mendes or perhaps it was just good defense by Michaels which made him look bad.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Michaels.
Mendes tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Michaels tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Mendes is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Michaels off and has taken his back!

Michaels defends a prolonged rear naked choke attempt and turns nicely into his opponent's guard.

Mendes working for submissions but it's allowed Michaels to get to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Michaels tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Mendes.

Mendes actively working from the bottom here.

Mendes with the active half guard here but Michaels passes nicely into side control.
Mendes tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Michaels wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mendes is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Michaels's leg. Oh but that's left an opportunity for Michaels! He's got an arm triangle... it looks tight! He's rotating and Mendes has tapped! This one is allllll over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:06 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Shawn Michaels!
Shawn Michaels is the new bantamweight champion!
Shawn Michaels took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, ANABOLIC **160** and LAUNDRY for their support in the buildup to the fight.