PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Michel Ford (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nate mg (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Ford
vs
mg

210 cm
19
193 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

150 cm
22
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Tends to cut

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Michel Ford!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Nate mg!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Thiago Cunha and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
mg tries for a takedown but Ford circles away easily

and Ford decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in mg's guard.

mg is looking for a triangle but Ford pushes his legs off easily.
Ford missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Ford stopping the sweep attempt from mg.
Ford wants to control from the top but mg keeps moving.
Ford will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

mg throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Ford escapes and throws mg's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Ford wants to stand but mg has his arm trapped.
Ford working the head with strikes.
mg should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ford trying to control the action but mg is working from the bottom.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - mg has eaten all the pies!
mg regains half guard.
Ford tries to stand and escape but mg actually recovers to full guard.
mg wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Ford wanted to stand there but mg had control of the position.

Ford stands up and waves to mg to follow him.
Nate mg seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ford defends well against a solid takedown attempt from mg.
Nice sprawl there from Ford as mg shoots in.
Michel Ford has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nate mg.

Ford gets tackled into the cage by mg. mg maintains the clinch.
mg stops a takedown attempt from Ford.

Ford jumps guard and drags mg to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Ford is trying to hold mg in close to prevent damage but mg has managed to pass into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
mg seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Ford does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Ford wants to improve his position but mg is controlling well.

mg seems to be working for a kimura but Ford defends the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
mg is thwarting Ford's attempts to control the position.
Ford is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because mg is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
mg is looking to take a break and control but Ford is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nate mg has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

mg clinches up with Ford and pushes him back against the cage.

mg breaks the clinch.
Ford closes the distance but mg moves to the side

and mg counters by moving into the clinch.

mg breaks from the clinch.
Ford tries to clinch but mg moves out of range.
mg shoots in but no luck this time.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

mg darts in and clinches Ford up against the cage.
Ford trying to land knees to the body.
mg tries to score a body lock takedown but Ford shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
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 Michel Ford will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

A really sloppy takedown attempt there from mg.
Ford really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
mg rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Ford moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
mg goes for a double leg but Ford avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Ford continues to drive forward.
mg is trying to pull guard but Ford has him pressed against the cage.
Michel Ford has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nate mg.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Ford looking for a takedown.

Ford manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Ford wants to stand up but mg is controlling him.
mg wants to get up but he can't break Ford's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Ford trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ford keeping moving, preventing mg from controlling successfully.

Ford is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
mg is breathing heavily.
mg wants to get back to striking at distance but Ford won't allow it.
mg jumps guard but Ford stands there with mg around his waist. mg gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
mg changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Ford fights it off and pushes away nicely.

mg clinches up against the cage.

Ford gets control of mg's arms and successfully pulls guard. Ford will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Ford is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. mg presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

mg escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ford tries to clinch but mg moves out of range.
Horrible takedown by Ford or perhaps it was just good defense by mg which made him look bad.

Ford gets a clinch.
mg is trying to pull guard but Ford turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
mg jumps guard but Ford turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
mg blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Ford jumps into guard, dragging mg to the mat.
Ford is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
It looks like Ford is going to stand back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ford is sneakily working for an arm triangle but mg sees it coming and defends easily.
mg is pressing down on Ford's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

mg is looking for a triangle but Ford pushes his legs off easily.
Ford preventing the sweep.
Ford has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of mg is proving hard to escape from.
Ford content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Ford decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on mg, up you get!

mg takes the fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

mg escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ford misses the body punch

and mg holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
mg looking for a takedown.
Ford can't get the takedown.

Ford pulls guard effortlessly.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ford working a defensive guard here.

mg stands and steps away. Ford gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ford stuffs the takedown.

Ford gets in close and instigates a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michel Ford dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Ford closes the distance and clinches.

mg pulls guard successfully.
mg is trying to control the position but Ford postures up.
Ford trying to control but mg is working from the bottom.
mg seems keen to control Ford's posture.

mg looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Ford has picked mg up and slammed him! mg can't keep hold of the triangle and Ford manages to pass to side control!

Ford decides to stand back up. Ford steps back and let's mg get back to his feet.
mg throws a head kick but Ford moves out of range.

mg darts in and clinches Ford up against the cage.

Ford manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
mg takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ford is looking to stand up but mg isn't so interested in that idea.
mg looking to pass the guard.
Ford controlling mg's posture.
Ford can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as mg controls the pace.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Nate mg was stalling too much, according to the referee.
No luck for mg with that takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

mg gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Ford jumps guard but mg turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Ford jumps guard but mg turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Ford jumps into guard, dragging mg to the mat.
Ford is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
mg stopping the sweep attempt from Ford.
Ford is controlling mg's posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
mg trying to control but Ford is working from the bottom.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Ford not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Michel Ford wasn't doing enough on the ground.
mg will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
mg misses with a takedown attempt

and Ford counters with a nice double leg into side control. mg won't be happy with that.

Ford tries for a kimura but mg is defending well.

Ford is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, mg has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
mg is looking to regain half guard here but Ford keeps moving and retains side control.
Ford wants to stand but mg has his arm trapped.
Check out the look on Ford's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!

Ford decides to stand up, so the ref orders mg to his feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

mg moves into range and clinches up with Ford.
Nate mg has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Michel Ford is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Ford jumps guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michel Ford showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Ford, 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michel Ford!