PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Joseph Michaels (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Juan Torres (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Michaels
vs
Torres

178 cm
18
190 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

183 cm
25
185 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

KAISER
Sun-Tzu

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Joseph Michaels!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Juan Torres!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Roger Salmon and Jeff Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Michaels looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
A right-left combo lands from Torres.
Torres scores with a jab to the body.
Nice uppercut lands for Torres. That snapped Michaels's head back.
Nice jab there from Torres.
Torres connects with a jab.
Juan Torres seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Torres works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Torres misses with the combination.
Torres lands a glancing blow to the side of Michaels's head.

Michaels closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Torres to the mat! Torres manages to get full guard.
Michaels trying to control but Torres is working from the bottom.
Torres tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Michaels thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Michaels is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Michaels working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Torres can do anything to dispel that myth.
Torres working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Michaels.
Michaels is looking to work some ground and pound but Torres has wrist control.
Michaels seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Michaels trying to control the position from guard on top but Torres is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Michaels looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Torres cracks Michaels with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Torres connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Michaels momentarily.
Michaels has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Michaels there as he acknowledges the shot.

Michaels drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Michaels trying to control the action but Torres is working from the bottom.

Michaels is working for what looks like an arm triangle here. Torres is trying to escape and Michaels transitions quickly into an armbar! He's slapped it on tight and Torres is forced to tap! Nice work there by Michaels! Very nice indeed!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:44 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Joseph Michaels!
Joseph Michaels managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, Sun-Tzu, into his post fight interview.