PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jared Michael (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Karl Bezuidenhout (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Michael
vs
Bezuidenhout

187 cm
16
201 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

197 cm
19
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

GREEN!

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jared Michael!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Karl Bezuidenhout!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Wesley Smith and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bezuidenhout misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Michael misses with a wild combination.
Bezuidenhout misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Bezuidenhout shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Michael defends it nicely.
Jared Michael has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Karl Bezuidenhout.
Bezuidenhout tries to score a power double leg takedown but Michael sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Bezuidenhout somewhat.
Michael stuffs the takedown attempt from Bezuidenhout. Bezuidenhout gets slowly back to his feet.
Bezuidenhout moves out of range of the body kick from Michael.

Bezuidenhout drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Bezuidenhout swings around for an armbar but Michael sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Bezuidenhout's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bezuidenhout looking to hit a scissor sweep but Michael is one step ahead there.
Bezuidenhout trying to keep a closed guard but Michael is proving a slippery customer.
Bezuidenhout keeping moving, preventing Michael from controlling successfully.
Bezuidenhout is trying to hold Michael in close to prevent damage but Michael has managed to pass into half guard.
Bezuidenhout trying to hold on to Michael's head to control him but Michael postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bezuidenhout is refusing to be controlled, as Michael sits in half guard.
Michael has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Michael wants to control the pace but Bezuidenhout is squirming around nicely.
Michael controlling from mount.
Bezuidenhout is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bezuidenhout is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Bezuidenhout sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Michael prevents Bezuidenhout from improving his position.
Michael is looking to take a break and control but Bezuidenhout is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Michael not doing much here.

Michael stands up from half guard.
Jared Michael is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Bezuidenhout shoots in for a double leg but Michael sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bezuidenhout has his takedown stuffed
and Michael counters with a left to the body.
Bezuidenhout looks winded!
Bezuidenhout takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Michael lands with a thumping leg kick.
Michael swings for the body but Bezuidenhout moves out of range.
Michael stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Michael wants it to stay on the feet.
Michael throws a front kick aimed at Bezuidenhout's knee but Bezuidenhout avoids it well.
Bezuidenhout shoots in looking for a takedown. Michael tries to sprawl out of it but Bezuidenhout keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Michael manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Michael misses the shot to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Michael throws a front kick aimed at Bezuidenhout's knee but Bezuidenhout avoids it well.
Michael defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Bezuidenhout.
Michael thows a left - swing and a miss!
Bezuidenhout is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Bezuidenhout avoids a kick to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jared Michael dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Michael lands a leg kick that knocks Bezuidenhout off balance momentarily.
Bezuidenhout takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Bezuidenhout checks a leg kick.
Michael lands with a thumping leg kick.
Michael looks to score with a jab to the body but Bezuidenhout is just out of range.
Good work by Bezuidenhout as he checks the leg kick.
Bezuidenhout fails with an attempt to clinch.
Bezuidenhout chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Michael can pounce on him.
Michael fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Bezuidenhout manages to avoid it.
Bezuidenhout fails in his attempt to clinch.
Michael throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Michael misses with a body kick.
Michael misses with a kick to the body.
Bezuidenhout misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Michael takes a swing at Bezuidenhout's ribcage but misses.
Bezuidenhout is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Michael throws a half hearted mid kick.
No luck for Bezuidenhout with that takedown attempt.
Michael wants to land a leg kick but Bezuidenhout is out of range.
Bezuidenhout keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Michael clinches up with Bezuidenhout and pushes him back against the cage.
Bezuidenhout blocks an uppercut.
Michael tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Bezuidenhout has picked Michael up - he's going for a ride! Bezuidenhout dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Michael moves into full guard.
Bezuidenhout throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Bezuidenhout throws a strike but Michael rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Michael got a little sloppy there for a moment and Bezuidenhout has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Michael has managed to get both his arms back between Bezuidenhout's legs - danger averted.
Karl Bezuidenhout has got the better of the ground game so far.
Michael stopping the sweep attempt from Bezuidenhout.
Bezuidenhout manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Michael manages to get himself to full guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Michael looking to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bezuidenhout drops back, looking for a kneebar! Michael looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Michael looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Michael!
Michael working the ground and pound from side control.
Michael wants to control but Bezuidenhout is keeping him busy.
Michael staying calm.
Bezuidenhout is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Michael's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bezuidenhout trying to control but Michael postures up.
Michael stalling.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Jared Michael just wasn't active enough.
Bezuidenhout takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Michael closes the distance and pushes Bezuidenhout back into the cage.
Michael lands a body punch in the clinch.
A bit of stalling here from Michael.
Michael misses with a short punch on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jared Michael dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Michael swings for the body but Bezuidenhout moves out of range.
Bezuidenhout fails with a takedown attempt.
Bezuidenhout shoots in but Michael avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Karl Bezuidenhout is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Michael displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Bezuidenhout.
Jared Michael has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Karl Bezuidenhout.
Michael misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Bezuidenhout.
Bezuidenhout fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Bezuidenhout moves to clinch but Michael breaks away
and Michael counters with a good low kick that Bezuidenhout was not able to check.
Bezuidenhout takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Bezuidenhout takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Bezuidenhout ducks under a wild hook from Michael.
Bezuidenhout has a takedown stuffed.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Michael scores with a decent looking hook.
Michael throws a head kick that misses.
Michael goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Bezuidenhout shoots in and drives through. Michael sprawls well.
Michael swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Michael looks to land a left hand but Bezuidenhout moved out of range nicely.
A shot to the liver by Michael. Beautiful body shot.
Michael throws a head kick but Bezuidenhout moves out of range.
Michael throws a right hand that Bezuidenhout ducks under and follows up with a left that Bezuidenhout also avoids with ease.
Michael tries a low kick but Bezuidenhout avoids it.
Michael throws the kick towards the body but Bezuidenhout avoids it.
A solid body kick from Michael.
Jared Michael is winning the standup battle so far.
Michael misses the shot to the body.
Michael is looking to wear down Bezuidenhout with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Michael fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Bezuidenhout has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bezuidenhout tries to close the distance and clinch but Michael swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Michael lands a nice looking body kick.
Michael throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Michael scores with a kick to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Michael changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Some bone on bone action there as Bezuidenhout checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Nice body kick from Michael.
Michael ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Michael throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Bezuidenhout sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Bezuidenhout uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Michael.

Michael moves into range and clinches up with Bezuidenhout.
Michael throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Michael misses with a punch to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Michael manages to break the clinch.
Michael misses with a wild body shot.
Michael throws a right and a left that Bezuidenhout avoids nicely.
Michael misses with an uppercut

and Bezuidenhout counters with a takedown into side control.
Michael defending against the ground and pound.
Michael manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Jared Michael is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Bezuidenhout is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Michael has managed to free his arm - good work.
Bezuidenhout throws a strike but Michael avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Bezuidenhout won't allow Michael to sweep him here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Michael is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Bezuidenhout is controlling him.
Michael avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Bezuidenhout postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
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!
Michael trying to keep a closed guard but Bezuidenhout is proving a slippery customer.
Michael is really struggling to control Bezuidenhout but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Karl Bezuidenhout has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Michael looking to hit a scissor sweep but Bezuidenhout is one step ahead there.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bezuidenhout is looking to work some ground and pound but Michael has wrist control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jared Michael showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Michael, 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:27
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jared Michael!
Jared Michael thanked the fans post fight for their support.