PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rashad Michaels (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rico Sanchez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Michaels comes to the cage accompanied by Forever. Rico Sanchez is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Michaels
vs
Sanchez

181 cm
21
167 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

183 cm
20
179 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Rashad Michaels!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Rico Sanchez!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Trevor Gratis and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Michaels blocks a head kick by Sanchez.
Michaels throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Sanchez's waist but Sanchez gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Michaels off to one side.

Sanchez has managed to clinch.
Michaels dodges an elbow strike from Sanchez.
Michaels is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Sanchez lands an elbow inside.
Sanchez lands an elbow just above Michaels 's eye.
Sanchez lands a nice elbow.
Sanchez scores a nice knee to the body.
Michaels takes an elbow to the temple.
Michaels takes an elbow to the forehead.
Sanchez creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Michaels's defenses.
Sanchez landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Michaels is breathing heavily.
Sanchez lands an elbow just above Michaels 's eye.
Sanchez lands a knee to the body.
Sanchez lands an elbow that stopped Michaels in his tracks for a moment.
Sanchez comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Knees in the clinch landing for Sanchez.
Sanchez lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Sanchez lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Sanchez lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Nice elbow from Sanchez.
Sanchez crunches a lovely knee into Michaels's ribcage.
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!
Sanchez comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Sanchez lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Sanchez gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Michaels takes an elbow to the forehead.
Knees to the body from Sanchez.
Sanchez lands a knee to the body.
Sanchez lands an elbow just above Michaels 's eye.
Sanchez pushes Michaels back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Sanchez lands a nice elbow.
Michaels takes an elbow to the temple.
Sanchez scores with a knee to the head.
Sanchez lands an elbow just above Michaels 's eye.
Michaels takes an elbow to the forehead.
Sanchez lands an elbow that stopped Michaels in his tracks for a moment.
Sanchez lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Sanchez scores a nice knee to the body.
Sanchez creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Michaels's defenses.
Sanchez lands a nice elbow.
Sanchez landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Sanchez landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Sanchez lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Sanchez comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Sanchez creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Michaels's defenses.
Sanchez lands a damaging elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez lands an elbow inside.
Sanchez lands a nice elbow.
Sanchez lands an elbow inside.
Michaels takes an elbow to the temple.
Sanchez lands a hook to the side of the head.
Sanchez is stalling here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sanchez unloads a knee to the mid-section. Michaels lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Sanchez scores a nice knee to the body.
Sanchez lands an elbow just above Michaels 's eye.
Sanchez lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Michaels takes an elbow to the temple.
Sanchez comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Sanchez unloads a knee to the mid-section. Michaels lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Sanchez landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Sanchez lands an elbow just above Michaels 's eye.
Knees to the body from Sanchez.

Michaels has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Sanchez uses from the top position.
Sanchez must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Sanchez loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Sanchez throws a big right hand that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sanchez stands up and waves to Michaels to follow him.
Michaels closes this distance looking for a takedown but Sanchez circles away.
Sanchez is looking to clinch but Michaels is avoiding it.
Michaels shoots in for a double leg but Sanchez sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rashad Michaels. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sanchez scoring well with a low kick there.

Sanchez has taken the fight to the clinch.
Sanchez with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Sanchez just leaning against Michaels, taking a breather.
Sanchez using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

Sanchez breaks the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice body kick from Sanchez.
Sanchez tries to clinch up.
Rashad Michaels seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Michaels has a takedown stuffed.
Sanchez throws a head kick but Michaels moves out of range.

Sanchez closes the distance and clinches.
Sanchez gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Michaels takes an elbow to the temple.

Sanchez breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Sanchez throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sanchez ducks under a wild hook from Michaels.
Michaels throws a right hand that Sanchez ducks under and follows up with a left that Sanchez also avoids with ease.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Sanchez lands a head kick!

Sanchez gets a clinch.
Sanchez creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Michaels's defenses.
Michaels wants to break the clinch but can't.
A knee to the head by Sanchez.
Nice elbow from Sanchez.
Michaels dodges an elbow strike from Sanchez.
Sanchez lands a nice knee to the body.
Sanchez looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Sanchez landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Sanchez lands an elbow that stopped Michaels in his tracks for a moment.
Rico Sanchez seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Sanchez landing some nice looking knees to the body.

Sanchez manages to break the clinch.
Sanchez throws a head kick but Michaels moves out of range.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Sanchez rushes Michaels and presses him up against the cage.
Sanchez lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Michaels is trying to break the clinch but Sanchez has him pressed against the cage.
Michaels tries a knee to the head but Sanchez blocks it.
Sanchez gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Sanchez comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Sanchez crunches a lovely knee into Michaels's ribcage.
Sanchez lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

Sanchez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Sanchez lets loose with a powerful body kick. Michaels will feel that in the morning.

Michaels tries to keep at a distance but Sanchez has taken the fight into the clinch.
Michaels is working for takedown but Sanchez is calmly controlling the position for now.
Sanchez lands an elbow that stopped Michaels in his tracks for a moment.
Sanchez creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Michaels's defenses.
Sanchez lands an elbow just above Michaels 's eye.
Sanchez creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Michaels's defenses.
Sanchez lands an elbow just above Michaels 's eye.
Sanchez lands a damaging elbow.
Sanchez unloads a knee to the mid-section. Michaels lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Michaels can't break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Sanchez lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Michaels is trying to break free.
Michaels has had enough of the clinch but Sanchez keeps him there for the moment.
Sanchez comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Sanchez lands an elbow just above Michaels 's eye.
Nice elbow from Sanchez.
Sanchez gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Sanchez lands a body punch.
Sanchez lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Sanchez crunches a lovely knee into Michaels's ribcage.
Sanchez avoiding damage.
Michaels goes for a takedown in the clinch but Sanchez prevents it.
Michaels wants a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rashad Michaels. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Michaels takes an elbow to the forehead.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Michaels takes an elbow to the temple.
Sanchez lands a left hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice elbow from Sanchez.
Sanchez tries to land knees in the clinch but Michaels avoids the damage to the body.
Sanchez with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Sanchez missing with knees to the body.
Sanchez lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Michaels wants to get back to striking at distance but Sanchez won't allow it.
Sanchez lands a damaging elbow.
Sanchez keeps control of Michaels as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Sanchez breaks the clinch.
Michaels closes the distance looking to clinch
and Sanchez counters with a slapping leg kick.
Michaels looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Michaels has his takedown stuffed
and Sanchez counters with a series of strikes. Michaels will be more careful next time no doubt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Michaels wants to clinch
and Sanchez counters with a flying knee. Nice.

Sanchez has closed the distance and engaged Michaels in a clinch.
Sanchez pushes off an throws an elbow but Michaels leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

Michaels escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Sanchez throws a leg kick which misses Michaels's front leg but catches the back leg as Michaels tries to avoid it.

Sanchez instigates a clinch.
Sanchez landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Sanchez with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Michaels avoids a wild elbow strike from Sanchez.
Sanchez lands a damaging elbow.
Sanchez lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Sanchez lands a nice elbow.
Michaels tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Michaels breaks from the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rico Sanchez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Michaels blocks a head kick by Sanchez.
Michaels shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Sanchez counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Michaels is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Sanchez moves in looking to clinch but Michaels pushes him off.
Sanchez misses with a head kick.
Rashad Michaels is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Michaels shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Sanchez pinned against the cage. Sanchez gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Sanchez doesn't manage to clinch there - Michaels circles away.
Sanchez tries to clinch there but Michaels circles away.
Michaels drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez tries to clinch but Michaels moves out of range.
Michaels shoots in and drives through. Sanchez sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rashad Michaels. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Sanchez clinches up against the cage.
Sanchez gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Sanchez lands an elbow inside.

Sanchez manages to break the clinch.
Rico Sanchez is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sanchez throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Michaels shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Sanchez as he jumps to the side.
Michaels avoids the head kick by Sanchez.

Sanchez closes the distance and clinches.

Michaels pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Sanchez tries to clinch there but Michaels circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez scores with a head kick.
Michaels shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Sanchez but Sanchez pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Sanchez misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Michaels throws a sloppy head kick
and Sanchez counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Michaels is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Michaels fails with the takedown.
Sanchez lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Michaels circles away from the clinch attempt.
Sanchez tries to clinch up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Sanchez. No joy for Michaels on that attempt.
Sanchez throws a head kick that misses.
Michaels darts in trying to clinch

and Sanchez counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Sanchez.
Sanchez lands an elbow inside.
Sanchez using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Michaels has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Sanchez.
Sanchez gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Michaels.
Sanchez connects with a nasty looking knee right to Michaels's face.
Sanchez prevents Michaels from breaking the clinch.
Michaels can't get the takedown.
Sanchez lands an elbow that stopped Michaels in his tracks for a moment.
Rico Sanchez is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Sanchez breaks the clinch.

Sanchez takes the fight into the clinch.
Michaels blocks the elbow strike.
Michaels is trying to drag Sanchez to the mat but Sanchez just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Sanchez lands an elbow just above Michaels 's eye.
Sanchez lands an elbow that stopped Michaels in his tracks for a moment.
Sanchez lands a knee to the body.
Sanchez creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Michaels's defenses.
Michaels takes an elbow to the temple.
Sanchez lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Nice elbow from Sanchez.
Sanchez creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Michaels's defenses.
Sanchez lands an elbow just above Michaels 's eye.
Rashad Michaels has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sanchez comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Michaels blocks an elbow strike from Sanchez.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rico Sanchez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Sanchez has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 26:30
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 26:30
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rico Sanchez!