PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Urijah Faber (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jesse Michaels (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Faber's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, California Love. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Faber
vs
Michaels

168 cm
28
130 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

170 cm
23
130 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Heavy handed

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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Urijah Faber!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Jesse Michaels!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Don Winkell and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Michaels doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Faber counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Michaels!
Faber controlling from mount.
Faber forces the positional change into back control.

Michaels defends a prolonged rear naked choke attempt and turns nicely into his opponent's guard.
Michaels wants to control from the top but Faber keeps moving.
Michaels pushing down on Faber's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Michaels stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Faber to get to his feet.
Faber looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.

Michaels gets caught napping as Faber dives in and scores a takedown. Michaels manages to retain guard.
Faber sitting in guard here, content to control.

Michaels looking for a guillotine here but Faber defends easily.
Faber sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Michaels is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Michaels escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Faber gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Faber is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Faber postures up.

Michaels escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Faber gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Faber has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Michaels can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Faber controls the pace.
Faber has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

Faber is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Michaels is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Michaels has escaped and now he's on top!
Michaels wanted to stand there but Faber had control of the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Michaels works Faber's body with a nice hook.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Michaels misses with a takedown attempt

and Faber counters with a nice double leg into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Michaels fails with the takedown

and Faber counters with a shoot takedown. Michaels fights it but they end up in guard.
Faber content to stall in guard here.

Michaels has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Faber can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Faber sitting in guard here, content to control.
Faber's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Urijah Faber wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Faber dives in and scores a takedown into Michaels's guard.
Faber content to stall in guard here.

Michaels has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Faber can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Faber not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Urijah Faber just wasn't active enough.

Faber gets the takedown into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Faber is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Michaels has escaped the position, nice work there.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Michaels is letting Faber control him for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Urijah Faber.
Michaels works over Faber's head and body with a nice combination.
Michaels lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Michaels misses with a takedown

and Faber counters with a single leg into guard. Michaels didn't expect that.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Faber is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Faber preventing the sweep.
Michaels is breathing heavily.

Faber has gone for a leg lock! Michaels slips out almost immediately though and dives into Faber's guard.

Michaels drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Faber dives on top into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Urijah Faber dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Michaels shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Faber counters with a nice double leg into side control. Michaels won't be happy with that.
Faber controlling the position from side mount.
Faber seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Michaels for as long as he can get away with.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Urijah Faber has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Michaels throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Faber.
Michaels with a lazy takedown attempt

and Faber counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Michaels!
Michaels takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Faber looking to secure an arm triangle but Michaels defends it well.
Faber controlling his opponent.
Urijah Faber overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Michaels has given up his back - I don’t know if this is a deliberate ploy to try and escape or if he is just struggling down there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Faber has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Michaels's body.

Faber is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Faber working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.

Faber looking to finish the fight with a rear naked choke. Michaels is controlling Faber 's left arm and he spins nicely into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Michaels drops back, looking for a kneebar! Faber looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Faber looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Faber!
Michaels is looking for a sweep.

That's four 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.
Michaels is trying to escape the position but Faber is controlling the position.

Faber thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Michaels is looking for a sweep.
Faber tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Faber content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Faber is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Michaels is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Jesse Michaels has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Urijah Faber is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Faber controls the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Urijah Faber showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Faber, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Urijah Faber!
Urijah Faber decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.