PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Elvis Bridges (ranked 25111 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anthony Michaels (ranked 5940 p4p, 577 weight class). Anthony Michaels has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Bridges
vs
Michaels

151 cm
18
193 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

185 cm
21
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Elvis Bridges!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Anthony Michaels!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Andrew Berry and James Glass.

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.
Michaels keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Bridges is looking for a sweep. Michaels is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Michaels content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Bridges avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Michaels.
Bridges is holding on to half guard well.
Still in half guard, Michaels seems content to control.
Bridges might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bridges is trying to maintain the position but Michaels is very close to passing his half guard.
Michaels is controlling the pace.
Bridges trying to control but Michaels postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Michaels slows the pace down in half guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Bridges dives in and scores a takedown into Michaels's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bridges won't allow Michaels to sweep him here.
Michaels keeps trying to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Michaels trying to control the position here.
Bridges has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Bridges preventing the sweep.

Michaels is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Bridges is aware though and is defending well.
Bridges works over Michaels with some ground and pound from guard.
Bridges really is a fat lump.
Bridges lands a couple of elbows.
Bridges trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Bridges connects with a couple of short punches.
Michaels utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Bridges scoring with punches to the head and body.
Michaels managing to control the position.
Michaels's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Bridges landing some decent shots from guard.
Michaels is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bridges content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Michaels controlling the position.
Michaels looking for a sweep. Not yet Michaels, not yet.
Michaels looks winded!
Bridges is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Bridges postures up.
Bridges throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Bridges with a flurry of punches that miss.
Bridges with a flurry of punches that miss.
Bridges working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Michaels's head.
Bridges throws a big elbow that misses.

Michaels escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Bridges gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Bridges trying to control but Michaels is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Michaels lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Michaels being controlled here momentarily.
Michaels won't allow Bridges to get back to his feet.
Michaels loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Michaels preventing the sweep.
Michaels throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Bridges works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Bridges pulls Michaels in close to prevent any damage.
Michaels wants to pass the guard but Bridges is keeping the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bridges seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Bridges trying to control the position.
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 Elvis Bridges will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Michaels shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Bridges can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Michaels controls the pace.
More stalling from Michaels.
Bridges is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Michaels stops Bridges from standing up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Michaels keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Bridges's head.
Bridges keeping full guard, as Michaels tries to pass.
Bridges looking to control.
Michaels sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bridges is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Michaels slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Bridges clinches.

Bridges ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Bridges no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Bridges trying to keep a closed guard but Michaels is proving a slippery customer.

Michaels drops back looking for a leg! Bridges is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Bridges manages to kick Michaels off! Michaels jumps back into Bridges's guard.
Bridges wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bridges is controlling Michaels's posture.
Michaels controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Bridges looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Michaels sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Michaels pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Bridges is keeping the position for now.
Michaels controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Michaels pushing down on Bridges's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Michaels trying to mount his opponent but Bridges defends it.
Michaels perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Bridges is looking to improve his position.
Michaels controlling the action here.
Let's hope that Michaels has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Michaels trying to mount his opponent but Bridges defends it.
Bridges pushes Michaels off looking to stand but Michaels dives back in and keeps control.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Michaels seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Bridges has Michaels up against the cage in a clinch.

Michaels jumps guard.
Bridges works over Michaels with some ground and pound from guard.
Bridges working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Bridges in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Anthony Michaels has got the better of the ground game so far.
Bridges stopping the sweep attempt from Michaels.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bridges being controlled here momentarily.
Bridges throws a big right hand that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anthony Michaels showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Michaels instigates a clinch.
Bridges jumps guard but Michaels stands there with Bridges around his waist. Bridges gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Michaels escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Michaels closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Bridges's guard.
Michaels showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Michaels with more of the same as he continues to hold on.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Michaels trying to control the position from guard on top but Bridges is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
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.
Michaels looking to sit in guard and control but Bridges gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Bridges accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Bridges keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Michaels's head.
Michaels controlling Bridges's posture.
Michaels controls Bridges momentarily but Bridges frees himself.
Michaels utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bridges loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Bridges throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Michaels works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Michaels is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Bridges is aware though and is defending well.
Michaels is trying to keep Bridges in close.
Michaels takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Michaels controlling the position.

Michaels working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Bridges doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Bridges manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Michaels not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Michaels might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Bridges haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Bridges is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Bridges's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Bridges postures up.
Bridges scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bridges throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Bridges connects with a couple of short punches.
Bridges lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Bridges is looking to work some ground and pound but Michaels has wrist control.
Bridges scoring with some ground and pound.
Bridges lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Michaels is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Bridges trying to stand up but can't free himself from Michaels's guard.
Michaels wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Michaels utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Michaels trying to keep a closed guard but Bridges is proving a slippery customer.
Bridges missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Bridges in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Michaels wants to sweep here but Bridges controlling him for the moment.
Bridges landing some decent shots from guard.
Michaels is trying to keep Bridges in close.
Bridges missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Michaels is trying to keep Bridges in close.
Bridges postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Bridges with a nice head shot there.
Bridges wants to get up but he can't break Michaels's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bridges scoring with punches to the head and body.
Michaels controls Bridges momentarily but Bridges frees himself.
Bridges scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

And that's the end of the fight!
Elvis Bridges showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Bridges 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Glass scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Elvis Bridges!