PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Niklaus Michaelson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paul Phoenix (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Phoenix's choice of entrance music: Roy Jones - Can't be touched. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Michaelson
vs
Phoenix

185 cm
25
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
25
212 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight 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, Niklaus Michaelson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Paul Phoenix!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Gwen Towbar and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Michaelson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Phoenix but Phoenix pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Michaelson throws a right and a left that both miss.
Phoenix tries to clinch but Michaelson is having none of it.
Michaelson fails with the takedown.

Phoenix gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Michaelson tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Phoenix just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Niklaus Michaelson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Phoenix is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Phoenix has a couple of punches blocked by Michaelson.
Michaelson tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Phoenix just stands there and leans against the cage.
Phoenix has Michaelson pressed against the cage, preventing Michaelson from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Phoenix fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phoenix lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Michaelson backwards.
Phoenix misses with a punch on the inside.
Phoenix doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Phoenix throws a head punch that misses.
Michaelson changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Phoenix fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Phoenix fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Michaelson, pushing him back against the cage.
Michaelson wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Michaelson's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Phoenix effectively controlling the action here.
Still in the clinch, Phoenix scores with a nice short uppercut.
Phoenix misses with the head strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Phoenix softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Phoenix makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Still in the clinch, Phoenix scores with a nice short uppercut.
Michaelson looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Phoenix effectively controlling the action here.
Phoenix is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Phoenix prevents Michaelson from breaking the clinch.
Phoenix lands an uppercut.
Phoenix is stalling here.

Michaelson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Michaelson moves into range and clinches up with Phoenix.
Phoenix keeps control of Michaelson as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Phoenix stalling.
Phoenix lands a hook that snaps the head of Michaelson backwards.
Michaelson being controlled against the cage.
Phoenix prevents the takedown attempt.

Michaelson breaks the clinch.
Michaelson darts in looking for a takedown but Phoenix gets double underhooks and turns Michaelson into the cage.

Phoenix rushes Michaelson and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Michaelson fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Michaelson wants a takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Michaelson has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Phoenix uses from the top position.
Michaelson is breathing heavily.
Michaelson is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Phoenix is controlling him.
Phoenix wants to get up but he can't break Michaelson's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Phoenix is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Phoenix looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Phoenix really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Michaelson. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Michaelson is looking to stand up but Phoenix isn't so interested in that idea.
Phoenix wants to stand but Michaelson is controlling his posture from full guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Phoenix dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Phoenix rushes Michaelson and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Michaelson manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Michaelson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Michaelson pulls Phoenix in close to his closed guard and prevents Phoenix from doing any damage or advancing position.
Phoenix wants to stand but Michaelson is controlling his posture from full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Michaelson tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Phoenix trying to stand up but can't free himself from Michaelson's guard.
Michaelson wants to sweep here but Phoenix controlling him for the moment.

Michaelson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Phoenix has managed to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Phoenix content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Phoenix working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Phoenix leaning against his opponent.
Michaelson drops down looking for an ankle pick but Phoenix pulls his leg out and moves away.

Michaelson gets tackled into the cage by Phoenix. Phoenix maintains the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Phoenix.
Phoenix gets underhooks to prevent Michaelson's takedown attempt.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Phoenix takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Michaelson being controlled against the cage.
The crowd are getting on Phoenix's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
Phoenix lands with a light punch inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Phoenix swings wildly with an uppercut but Michaelson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Phoenix slowing the pace effectively.
Michaelson has Phoenix pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Phoenix manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Niklaus Michaelson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Phoenix misses with a hook from the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Phoenix.
Michaelson blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Phoenix throws a punch but it's blocked by Michaelson.
Nice body punch from Phoenix - that landed with a thud.
Phoenix stalling.
Michaelson is trying to pull guard but Phoenix has him pressed against the cage.
Phoenix lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Michaelson.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Michaelson drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Phoenix gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Phoenix lands a right hand that snaps the head of Michaelson backwards.
Phoenix scores with a nice hook to the head.
Michaelson tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Phoenix just stands there and leans against the cage.
Phoenix pushes Michaelson back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Phoenix scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Michaelson has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Phoenix lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Michaelson jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Phoenix walks away with a smile on his face. Michaelson gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Michaelson misses with the body kick
and Phoenix counters with a left right combination that sends Michaelson crashing to the mat - Phoenix wastes no time in diving on top of him and pounding Michaelson out for a TKO! Devastating finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Paul Phoenix!
A very excited looking Paul Phoenix 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.