PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Quintin Hess (ranked 24841 p4p, 0 weight class) and Darren Michaels (ranked 6453 p4p, 0 weight class). Darren Michaels will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Hess
vs
Michaels

191 cm
25
194 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

188 cm
22
190 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Quintin Hess!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Darren Michaels!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Anthony Taglia and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Michaels decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Michaels wants to take a breather but Hess is having none of it.
Hess gets full guard.
Michaels wants to control from the top but Hess keeps moving.
Michaels looking to pass the guard.
Hess lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Hess scoring with some ground and pound.
Hess distracts Michaels with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hess decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Michaels, up you get!
Michaels tries to land a body kick

and Hess counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Michaels!

Michaels throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Michaels shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Hess napping and manages to drive through into side control!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hess tries to buck Michaels off but Michaels is having none of it.
Hess gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Hess wants to get back to full guard.

Hess actively working from the bottom here.
Hess wants to improve his position but Michaels is controlling well.
Michaels is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Hess is not content to let Michaels control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
The fighters are battling for position here. Hess manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Hess bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Michaels's guard.

Michaels working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Hess doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Hess manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Michaels looks winded!
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hess accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Michaels is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Hess presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.

Michaels jumps guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hess makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Hess in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Hess is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Hess wants to stand but Michaels is controlling his posture from full guard.
Hess scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Hess landing some decent shots from guard.
Hess distracts Michaels with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hess accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hess lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Hess's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Hess decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Hess tries to keep at a distance but Michaels has taken the fight into the clinch.
Hess fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Michaels looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

Michaels breaks from the clinch.

Michaels closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Hess to the mat! Hess manages to get full guard.
Hess looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
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 Quintin Hess will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Michaels misses with a jab to the body
and Hess counters with a left to the body.

Michaels instigates a clinch.
Michaels missing with knees to the body.
Hess is trying to pull guard but Michaels turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Hess dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Hess stalling in the clinch.

Michaels jumps guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Michaels escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Hess gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Hess has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Michaels is proving hard to escape from.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hess throws a big elbow that misses.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Michaels is on top in guard.

Hess is pulling down on Michaels's head. It's preventing any offense from Michaels, at least for the moment.
Michaels preventing the sweep.
Michaels missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Michaels trying to control the position from guard on top but Hess is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Michaels is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Michaels might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Hess haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Hess is trying to keep Michaels in close.
Hess looking to hit a scissor sweep but Michaels is one step ahead there.
Hess controls Michaels momentarily but Michaels frees himself.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Hess looking for a sweep. Not yet Hess, not yet.

Hess has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Michaels off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jab, jab by Hess - just one landing.

Michaels shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Hess is trying to defend but Michaels finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Hess tries to get to full guard but Michaels has control of the leg.
Hess keeping hold of Michaels's head, controlling as best he can.
Hess is pressing down on Michaels's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Michaels working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Hess has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Michaels has passed into side control.
Michaels in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Hess struggling a bit here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Michaels stands up.

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

Hess wriggles free and stands up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Darren Michaels will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Hess tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Michaels manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Michaels looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Hess looking for a sweep. Not yet Hess, not yet.
Hess is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Michaels stands up from Hess's guard - Michaels perhaps looking for a knockout.

Michaels shoots in and gets a takedown into Hess's guard.
Michaels takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Michaels preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hess managing to control the position.

Michaels decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Michaels rushes Hess and presses him up against the cage.

Michaels ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Michaels no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Michaels wants to get back to his feet but Hess is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Hess with a nice head shot there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Hess's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Michaels pulls Hess in close to prevent any damage.
Hess working some strikes from top position.
Hess postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Michaels has momentary wrist control but Hess slips an elbow through the middle.
Hess connects with a couple of short punches.
Hess with a nice head shot there.
Hess throwing strikes from guard but Michaels blocks nicely.
Hess content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Michaels has momentary wrist control but Hess slips an elbow through the middle.
Hess distracts Michaels with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Michaels trying to keep a closed guard but Hess is proving a slippery customer.
Hess loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Hess postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hess accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Hess lands a couple of elbows.
Michaels working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hess.
Hess postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Michaels trying to control the position here.
Hess makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Hess scoring with some ground and pound.
Michaels has momentary wrist control but Hess slips an elbow through the middle.

Hess gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Michaels shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Hess is trying to defend but Michaels finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Hess flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Quintin Hess showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Hess 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 Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 29:28
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 29:29
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Quintin Hess!