PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lawrence Finley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shawn Michaels (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lawrence Finley had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Finley
vs
Michaels

184 cm
21
278 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
22
225 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Lawrence Finley!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Shawn Michaels!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Steven Brown and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Michaels closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Finley is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Finley could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Michaels drops an elbow to the side of Finley's head.
Michaels lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Michaels drops an elbow to the side of Finley's head.
Finley holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Michaels tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Finley.
Michaels prevents Finley from improving his position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Michaels connects with a nice short shot to Finley's temple.
Finley trying to control from the bottom.
Michaels content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Finley tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Michaels has advanced to mount. Uh oh.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Michaels looking to control but Finley is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Finley is flailing around like a fish out of water, trying to land strikes.
Finley tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Michaels scores with a couple of good head shots there.

It looks like Lawrence Finley has been cut.
Finley holds on, trying desperately to control.
Finley is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Finley sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Michaels stalling.
Michaels looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Michaels trying to control the pace.
Finley is trying to control but can't.
Finley moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Finley is trying to control the position but Michaels postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Michaels tries to free his leg and advance position but Finley is retaining full guard.
Finley is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Michaels thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Finley is trying to keep Michaels in close.

Finley looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Michaels landing some decent shots from guard.
Finley is trying to keep Michaels in close.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Finley keeping full guard, as Michaels tries to pass.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Michaels throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Michaels gets the takedown into side control.
Michaels just content to control the position.
Finley tries to improve position but can't.
Finley is breathing heavily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Michaels wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Finley, who protects the arm well.
Finley manages to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shawn Michaels dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Lawrence Finley's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Michaels has managed to clinch.
Finley is trying to maintain a safe position but Michaels gets an underhook and turns Finley into the cage.
Michaels looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Finley has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Michaels has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Finley is trying to keep an underhook but Michaels manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Michaels trying to control the action but Finley is working from the bottom.
Finley wants to control the action here but instead Michaels manages to pass to full mount!
Finley wants to hold on but Michaels pushes him away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Finley is working to get back to half guard.
Michaels tries to control but Finley wriggling away.
Michaels lands with some strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Michaels gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!

Michaels shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Finley's guard.
Michaels missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Michaels controls from within his opponent's guard.
Michaels must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Finley is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Finley is trying to control the position but Michaels postures up.
Finley is adopting a defensive guard.
Michaels really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Finley. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Michaels postures up in Finley's guard and throws a big left but Finley blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Michaels stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Michaels misses with an uppercut.
Finley thinks about countering with a head kick.

Michaels has taken the fight to the clinch.

Michaels manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Michaels. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Finley in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Michaels is on top in guard.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Michaels controlling from the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Finley throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Finley not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Michaels is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Finley striking off his back but it's not causing Michaels any problems.
Michaels tries to free his leg and advance position but Finley is retaining full guard.
Finley preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Finley is trying hard to land a takedown here. Michaels sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Michaels changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Finley looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Michaels is trying to get an arm triangle but Finley is defending well.
Michaels in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Finley is looking for a sweep.

Michaels decides to stand back up.

Michaels closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Michaels working away.
Finley prevents Michaels from improving position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shawn Michaels showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Lawrence Finley's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Michaels shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Michaels showed some decent athleticism there.
Shawn Michaels has got the better of the ground game so far.
Finley trying to control here.
Michaels not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Michaels seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Finley has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Michaels is working away from the top position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Finley makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Finley.
Finley looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Michaels tries to stand but Finley is controlling from the bottom.
Finley controls Michaels momentarily but Michaels frees himself.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Finley keeping full guard, as Michaels tries to pass.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Michaels has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Michaels gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's two 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 pulls guard effortlessly.
Finley won't allow Michaels to sweep him here.
Finley postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Michaels has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Finley can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Michaels has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Finley has passed into side control.
Michaels manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Finley tries to get to full guard but Michaels has control of the leg.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Michaels trying to control the action but Finley is working from the bottom.
Finley wants to get back to full guard.
Michaels looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Michaels is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Finley has his hands clasped together around Michaels's back. He's all about the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Finley has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Michaels is working away from the top position though.
Michaels slows the pace down in half guard.
Lawrence Finley has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Shawn Michaels is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Michaels lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shawn Michaels comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Michaels 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 James Glass scores the fight 26:30
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 26:30
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shawn Michaels!