PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Parker Michaels (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chen Long (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Long has chosen Boss Mode as his entrance music. Chen Long told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Michaels
vs
Long

175 cm
22
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
162 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Parker Michaels!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Chen Long!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fray, Paul Gruel and Chris Saunders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Michaels shoots in but Long avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Michaels will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Long goes for a double leg but Michaels avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Michaels continues to drive forward.
Michaels fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Parker Michaels. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Michaels throws a head kick that misses.
Michaels shoots for a double leg takedown but Long sprawls well. He's pushed Michaels's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Michaels is breathing heavily.
Long fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Long drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Michaels tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Long looking for the RNC.

Long is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Michaels wants to control his opponent's hands but Long gets his hands free.
Long trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Long lands with a nice looking elbow that stuns Michaels.
Long has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Michaels's body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Michaels looking very determined here, making life difficult for Long.
You can see the frustration on Michaels's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Long trying to control.
Long punches Michaels on the ear.

Long is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Michaels has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Michaels trying to get back to his feet but Long is in full control for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Long is looking to control Michaels but Michaels is wriggling around and keeping busy.

Long is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Michaels knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Michaels for a finish.
I really don't envy Michaels right now.
Michaels trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Long controlling well, preventing Michaels from escaping the position.

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.
Long lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.
Long struggling to keep hold of the position.
Michaels looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Long's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.

Long patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Long has the hooks in. Michaels is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Michaels wants to get back to his feet.

Michaels is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Long gets his way!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chen Long dominated that 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.

Long has Michaels up against the cage in a clinch.

Michaels pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Michaels leaves Long with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Michaels tries to clinch but Long moves out of range.
Long dives in for a single leg takedown but Michaels sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Michaels gets a double leg takedown into Long's guard.
Long keeping moving, preventing Michaels from controlling successfully.
Long utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Chen Long has got the better of the ground game so far.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Long is trying to keep Michaels in close.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Long is working an open guard so Michaels takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Michaels keeps the fight on the outside.
Long shoots for a double leg takedown but Michaels sprawls well. He's pushed Long's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Parker Michaels has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chen Long.
Long shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Michaels as he avoids it easily.

Michaels fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Long, pushing him back against the cage.
Michaels tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Long's elbow.

Michaels breaks from the clinch.
Michaels keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Michaels fails to land the takedown.
Michaels fails with the takedown.
Long tries a quick counter leg kick but Michaels is wise to it.
Michaels tries to clinch but Long moves out of range.
Long replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Michaels blocks it well.
Long is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Long.
Michaels tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Long wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

Long wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Michaels, who protects the arm well.
Michaels is looking for a sweep.
Michaels is working hard here to advance position.
Michaels is not content to let Long control the position.

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.
Long takes a little break here. Michaels wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Michaels is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Long working away.
Long scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Michaels to see if he's OK.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Long is looking to take a break and control but Michaels is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Parker Michaels will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Long has managed to clinch.

Long escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Michaels slaps away a takedown attempt from Long, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Michaels drops down looking for a counter takedown but Long sprawls and moves away.
Long fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Michaels avoids it really well and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Michaels throws an off balance right hand
and Long counters with a left and a right that stings Michaels.
Michaels fails with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Michaels with a lazy takedown attempt

and Long holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Michaels is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Parker Michaels has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chen Long.

Long has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Michaels is trying to keep an underhook but Long manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Long has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Michaels is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Long takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Michaels is looking to improve his position.
Long wants to lay and pray for a moment but Michaels keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Long controlling the pace.
Long trying to control the action but Michaels is working from the bottom.
Michaels is concentrating on defense, preventing Long from advancing position.
Long is keen to just control but Michaels is a slippery customer.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Chen Long seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Michaels has his takedown stuffed
and Long counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Long fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Long lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Long fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Michaels avoids it really well and circles away.
Long fails with the takedown.
Long tries to clinch but Michaels is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Michaels misses with the combination.
Long shoots in looking for a takedown but Michaels manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Long's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Long closes the distance and pushes Michaels back into the cage.
Michaels is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Long is defending well for now.

Long manages to break the clinch.
Long scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

Long looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Michaels!
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!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Long scores with a couple of short elbows.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chen Long comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Long 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 Colin Fray scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chen Long!
Our winner, Chen Long, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.