PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Edward Phelps (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chris Michaels (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chris Michaels has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Phelps
vs
Michaels

166 cm
19
161 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

179 cm
21
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

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 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Edward Phelps!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Chris Michaels!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Daniel Franklin and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Michaels.
Michaels tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Phelps keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Phelps keeps the fight on the outside.

Phelps shoots in and gets a takedown into Michaels's guard.
Michaels wants to sweep here but Phelps controlling him for the moment.
Phelps throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Michaels works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Phelps throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Michaels works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Michaels throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Phelps with a flurry of punches that miss.
Phelps could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Phelps throws a strike but Michaels rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Phelps looking to control.
Phelps has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Michaels pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Phelps is keeping the position for now.
Michaels advances position into side control!
Phelps prevents Michaels from moving into mount.
Michaels working away.
Phelps tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Phelps is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Michaels off and has taken his back!

Michaels showing good submission defense here.
Michaels looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.

Phelps looking to break Michaels's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Michaels remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Phelps will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Michaels covering up well and avoiding damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Michaels tries to roll but Phelps sticks to his back.
Phelps not allowing Michaels to control his hands.

Phelps has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Michaels has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Michaels wants to escape the position.
Michaels breaks Phelps's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
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!
Michaels throwing strikes from guard but Phelps blocks nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Michaels prevents Phelps from getting back to his feet.
Michaels throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Phelps works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Phelps manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Michaels shoots in for a takedown but Phelps shows good takedown defense.
Edward Phelps has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chris Michaels.
Michaels looks winded!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Phelps finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Michaels with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Phelps throws a leg kick but Michaels sees it coming and moves out of range.
Phelps slaps away a takedown attempt from Michaels, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Phelps looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
Michaels stalks Phelps and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Phelps's face. Phelps staggers backwards, shaken.
Phelps avoids the head kick by Michaels.
Phelps misses with a looping left.
Michaels changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Phelps lands with a kick to the temple. Michaels shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Phelps throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Michaels's waist but Michaels gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Phelps off to one side.
Michaels tries to counter with a clinch but Phelps shakes him off and moves away.
Michaels fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Phelps manages to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Phelps throws a low kick but Michaels avoids it.
Chris Michaels seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Michaels doesn't manage to clinch there - Phelps circles away.

Michaels moves into the clinch.

Michaels manages to break the clinch.
Michaels uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Phelps.
Phelps misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Phelps throws a leg kick

and Michaels moves into the clinch.
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!
Phelps wants a takedown.
Phelps tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Michaels smiles and moves away.
Phelps avoids the head kick by Michaels.
Michaels tries to clinch up.
Phelps changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Edward Phelps will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Phelps shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Michaels steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Phelps.
Michaels is trying hard to land a takedown here. Phelps sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Phelps slaps away a takedown attempt from Michaels, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Phelps is looking to clinch but Michaels is avoiding it.
Phelps on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Michaels slaps away a takedown attempt from Phelps, before circling back to the center of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Michaels blocks a leg kick.
Michaels shoots in and drives through. Phelps sprawls well.
Edward Phelps has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chris Michaels.
Michaels fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Michaels is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phelps will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Michaels tries to counter with a clinch but Phelps shakes him off and moves away.
Michaels shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Phelps counters with a nice double leg into side control. Michaels won't be happy with that.

Michaels sneaks out the side door and pushes Phelps away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Michaels tries to clinch but Phelps moves out of range.
Michaels shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Michaels shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Phelps defends it nicely.
Edward Phelps is winning the standup battle so far.
Phelps pivots, looking for a leg kick but Michaels is out of range and Phelps settles back down.
Phelps tries a head kick but it misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Phelps throws a sloppy head kick and Michaels moves out of range easily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Horrible takedown attempt by Michaels or perhaps it was just good defense by Phelps, which made it look bad.
Michaels tries to clinch up but Phelps circles away and keeps his distance.
Phelps tries to counter by clinching up but Michaels breaks away and moves out of range.
Michaels shoots in but no luck this time.

Phelps gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Phelps stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Phelps as Michaels tries to tie him up.
Phelps is trying to pull guard but Michaels has him pressed against the cage.

Michaels drags the fight down to the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Phelps works over Michaels with some ground and pound from guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Phelps accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Michaels preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Michaels will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Phelps in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Phelps throws a big right hand that misses.
Michaels wants to sweep here but Phelps controlling him for the moment.
Phelps with a flurry of punches that miss.
Phelps postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Phelps gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Michaels has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Phelps misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Michaels.
Phelps lands with a shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Michaels shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Phelps defends it nicely.
Phelps lands a nice looking body shot.
Michaels shoots for a double leg takedown but Phelps sprawls well. He's pushed Michaels's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Phelps slaps away a takedown attempt from Michaels, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Michaels gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Phelps to score an easy takedown into full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Edward Phelps dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Phelps shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Phelps takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Phelps thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Michaels's head.

Phelps looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Phelps with the ground and pound but Michaels uses the opportunity to regain guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Michaels looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Michaels trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

Phelps decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Phelps shoots in but Michaels avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Chris Michaels is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Michaels closes the distance and clinches up with Phelps, looking for a takedown. Michaels pushes Phelps against the cage but Phelps circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Michaels takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Phelps shoots in and gets a takedown into Michaels's guard.

Michaels kicks Phelps off and gets to his feet.
Michaels tries for a takedown but Phelps sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Phelps changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Michaels checks a leg kick.
Nice takedown defense from Michaels. No joy for Phelps on that attempt.
Phelps throws a leg kick
and Michaels counters with a series of strikes. Phelps will be more careful next time no doubt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
Phelps shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Michaels as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Edward Phelps. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Michaels goes for a double leg but Phelps avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Phelps continues to drive forward.

Phelps is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Michaels's half guard.

Michaels manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Phelps fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Michaels lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.

Michaels moves into the clinch.
Michaels has Phelps pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Phelps manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Phelps drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Michaels tries for a takedown but Phelps manages to get underhooks.

Phelps ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Phelps no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Phelps has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Michaels must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Michaels decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Phelps, up you get!
Phelps keeps the fight on the outside.
Michaels looks to land a combination but Phelps avoids it well.
Michaels shoots in but no luck this time.
Michaels is looking to clinch but Phelps is avoiding it.

Phelps closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Michaels to the mat! Michaels manages to get full guard.

Michaels pushes Phelps off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Michaels tries to clinch but Phelps moves out of range.
Michaels blocks a low kick nicely.
No joy there for Michaels, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Phelps throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Phelps closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Michaels's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Michaels utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Phelps stopping the sweep attempt from Michaels.
Phelps keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Michaels's head.
Michaels has momentary wrist control but Phelps slips an elbow through the middle.
Chris Michaels has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Edward Phelps is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Michaels looking for a guillotine here but Phelps defends easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chris Michaels comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Phelps has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 George Francis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Edward Phelps!