PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Michael Lewis (ranked 5138 p4p, 5689 weight class) and Bo Duran (ranked 569 p4p, 601 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Lewis
vs
Duran

190 cm
20
210
1 - 1 - 0

190 cm
20
210
0 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Michael Lewis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Bo Duran!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Trevor Gratis and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lewis closes this distance looking for a takedown but Duran circles away.
Lewis takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Lewis changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Duran tries to avoid it but Lewis manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Duran to the ground. Duran escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Duran connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Duran stuffs the takedown attempt from Lewis. Lewis gets slowly back to his feet.
It seemed like Duran was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael Lewis. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Duran is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Duran lands with a nice body punch.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Lewis.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Duran controls the position for a moment.
Lewis throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lewis working the ground and pound from side control.
Duran parries the strikes from Lewis easily there. Lewis is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Duran to escape.
Duran regains half guard, as Lewis was trying to land strikes.
Lewis not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Lewis misses with a head shot. Duran uses the momentum to regain guard.
Lewis wants to pass the guard but Duran is keeping the position.
Lewis with a flurry of punches that miss.
Lewis throwing strikes but missing.
Lewis scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Duran avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Lewis trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Lewis working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Duran avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Lewis definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Lewis in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Lewis trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Lewis stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Duran swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Duran preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Duran has Lewis pulled in close to control his posture.
Lewis loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Duran working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Lewis.
Duran utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Duran preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lewis throws a big elbow that misses.
Lewis pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Duran is keeping the position for now.
Lewis throws a big right hand that misses.
Lewis is pushing down on Duran's leg trying to pass to half guard. Duran is fighting to maintain full guard but Lewis has managed to sneak the leg through.
Duran keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Let's hope that Duran 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.
Duran wants to control but Lewis is keeping busy.
Ground and pound from Lewis.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Duran has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Lewis is working away from the top position though.
Lewis throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Duran tries to get to full guard but Lewis has control of the leg.
Lewis thows a huge punch but Duran dodges it nicely.
Lewis looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Duran felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Lewis not landing any meaningful shots this time.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Duran can do anything to dispel that myth.
Lewis is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Lewis trying to advance position but Duran counters by regaining guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lewis pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Duran is keeping the position for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lewis throws a strike but Duran rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Lewis dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Nice takedown defense from Duran. No joy for Lewis on that attempt.
A nice side step and Duran releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Lewis fails to land the takedown.
Lewis is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Duran lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Lewis fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael Lewis. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Duran misses the body punch

and Lewis counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lewis scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Lewis with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Lewis throws a big elbow that misses.
Lewis throws a strike but Duran rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Lewis is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lewis throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Duran sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Lewis is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Duran stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Lewis swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Lewis is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Duran defends well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Duran not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Lewis working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Duran doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Duran manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Lewis looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Duran puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lewis is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Duran pulls his head out easily.
Duran takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Lewis tries to roll over but Duran keeps him under control.
Duran content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Michael Lewis overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Lewis gets back to full guard.

Lewis has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Duran is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Lewis.
Lewis is looking to reverse the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lewis is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Duran off and has taken his back!
Lewis is hanging on to Duran's back as he tries to escape.
Lewis is working the ground and pound. Can Duran escape?
The referee is taking a good look at Duran as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Lewis!
Lewis throwing sloppy strikes.
Lewis is throwing punches to the body, looking to soften Duran up.
Lewis missing with punches from the back.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lewis misses with punches from the back.
Lewis is looking to finish with some ground and pound!
Lewis connects with a big shot to the side of Duran's head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Lewis dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Lewis fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Lewis darts in looking for a takedown but Duran gets double underhooks and turns Lewis into the cage.
Duran stops a takedown attempt from Lewis.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael Lewis. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Duran manages to break the clinch.

Lewis looking to score a takedown here. Duran is defending well but Lewis drives through and ends up in Duran's guard.
Lewis lands a couple of elbows.
Lewis preventing the sweep.
Lewis is looking to pass into half guard but Duran pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Duran is in guard.

Lewis is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Duran is aware though and is defending well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Duran sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Lewis is looking for a triangle here but Duran uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lewis is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Lewis is working hard here to advance position.
Duran gets to mount! Lewis was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Lewis is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Bo Duran has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Lewis looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
Lewis wants to escape the position.
Lewis is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Duran can do to turn this around?
Lewis breaks Duran's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Lewis throwing strikes from guard but Duran blocks nicely.
Lewis throws a big right hand that misses.
Lewis is looking to work some ground and pound but Duran has wrist control.
Lewis trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Lewis has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Duran seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Michael Lewis is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lewis trying to control the position from guard on top but Duran is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Lewis looking to sit in guard and control but Duran gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Lewis has his foot on Duran's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Duran works his way back into a safe position though.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Lewis is on top in guard.

Lewis trying to control but Duran is working from the bottom.
Duran has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lewis wants to control from the top but Duran keeps moving.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Michael Lewis.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Lewis, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Alec Ball scores the fight for Michael Lewis!
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight for Michael Lewis!
Judge William Peck scores the fight for Michael Lewis!

Michael Lewis wins by unanimous decision!
Michael Lewis seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.