PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Berry Madden (ranked 25281 p4p, 0 weight class) and Darren Michaels (ranked 7786 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Madden
vs
Michaels

169 cm
18
193 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

188 cm
22
190 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite 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 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Berry Madden!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Darren Michaels!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Lou da Vinci and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Michaels.
Madden takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Madden appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

Michaels has taken the fight to the clinch.
Michaels lands an elbow that stopped Madden in his tracks for a moment.

It looks like Berry Madden has been cut.

Michaels pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Michaels looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Madden is fending him off so far but Michaels persists. Nope, Madden circles away and we're back to standing.
An attempted straight right counter from Madden misses the target.

Michaels clinches up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Madden tries to circle away but Michaels has him pinned against the cage.
Michaels stalling in the clinch.

Madden manages to break the clinch.
Madden blocks the body kick.

Madden closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Michaels's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Madden landing with the ground and pound.
Madden tries to stand but Michaels is controlling from the bottom.
Madden throwing strikes from guard but Michaels blocks nicely.
Madden tries to stand but Michaels is controlling from the bottom.
Michaels keeping moving, preventing Madden from controlling successfully.
Michaels is trying to control the position but Madden postures up.

That's two 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.
Michaels trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Madden is looking to stand up but Michaels won't let him.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Madden could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Michaels darts in and clinches Madden up against the cage.
Michaels managing to block the knees to the body from Madden.
Michaels softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Madden has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Madden tries to break free but Michaels pushes him back against the cage.
Madden wants to break the clinch but can't.
Michaels has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Madden avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Berry Madden has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Darren Michaels.
Madden is looking to take this one to the mat.

Michaels manages to break the clinch.
Madden fails to land the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Michaels looking to score a takedown here. Madden is defending well but Michaels drives through and ends up in Madden's guard.
Michaels is stalling in the full guard.
Michaels postures up.
Madden tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Madden is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Michaels defends well.
Madden is trying to keep Michaels in close.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Michaels missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Michaels postures up.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Madden looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

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

Madden tries to keep at a distance but Michaels has taken the fight into the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Madden is trying to force a seperation but Michaels has the dominant position.
Madden is looking for a takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Darren Michaels dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Berry Madden's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Michaels shoots in and gets a takedown into Madden's guard.
Madden might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Michaels slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Michaels has control of an arm but Madden manages to advance to Michaels's back!
Michaels has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Madden doesn't have the hooks in and Michaels manages to turn into his guard.

Madden working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Michaels has passed into half guard!
Nice strikes from Michaels there.
Well, if Michaels is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Michaels is keen to just control but Madden is a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Madden tries to kick Michaels off but Michaels keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Michaels slows the pace down in half guard.
Madden on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Michaels looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Michaels is trying to work for a kimura but Madden is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Michaels stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Madden to get to his feet.
Michaels throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Madden seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Darren Michaels seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Madden drives through with a takedown into guard.

Michaels wriggles free and stands up.
Michaels is breathing heavily.
Michaels looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

Michaels has closed the distance and engaged Madden in a clinch.
Madden wants a takedown but no success here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Madden is trying to force a seperation but Michaels has the dominant position.

Madden breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Michaels moves into the clinch.
Madden is trying to force a seperation but Michaels has the dominant position.

Michaels breaks the clinch.
Michaels tries to bum rush Madden with a series of wild strikes but Madden uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Madden tries to counter by clinching up but Michaels breaks away and moves out of range.
Michaels fails with a takedown attempt.
Michaels goes for a double leg but Madden avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Madden continues to drive forward.
Madden 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.
Michaels misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Berry Madden has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Darren Michaels.
Madden avoids the body shot from Michaels.
Michaels tries to score a power double leg takedown but Madden sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Michaels somewhat.
As Michaels looks to move away, Madden throws a big counter combo but Michaels just gets out of the way.
Madden fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Madden blocks a low kick nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Darren Michaels showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Berry Madden's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Madden slaps away a takedown attempt from Michaels, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Madden tries to counter by clinching up but Michaels breaks away and moves out of range.

Madden tries to sprawl but Michaels drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Madden landing strikes from the bottom.
The fighters are battling for position here. Madden manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Madden looking to control.
Michaels takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Madden had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Michaels defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Michaels is working Madden over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Madden had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Michaels defends it easily.
Madden keeping full guard, as Michaels tries to pass.
Michaels is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Michaels stands up and waves to Madden to follow him.

Michaels looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Michaels controlling the pace.
Michaels throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Madden tries to get to full guard but Michaels has control of the leg.
Madden is working hard here to advance position.
Michaels performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Madden is looking to improve his position.
Michaels winds up and cracks Madden with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

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.
Madden is not content to let Michaels control the position.
Michaels is thwarting Madden's attempts to control the position.
Madden tries to get to full guard but Michaels has control of the leg.
Michaels seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Berry Madden is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Michaels bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Madden's head backwards.

And that's the end of the fight!
Darren 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 Jorge Garcia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Darren Michaels!
In his post fight interview, Darren Michaels started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.