PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Taylor Michaels (ranked 4119 p4p, 4128 weight class) and Conner Briggs Bonton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Michaels
vs
Bonton

200 cm
25
135
0 - 0 - 0

156 cm
25
145
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Taylor Michaels !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Conner Briggs Bonton!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Josh West and Roger Salmon.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Michaels pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Michaels gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Bonton counters with a left and a right that stings Michaels .

Bonton has closed the distance and engaged Michaels in a clinch.
Michaels fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Michaels breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Michaels gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Bonton counters with a two punch combo.

Michaels is rocked!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Taylor Michaels . That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bonton misses with a two punch combination.
Oh Michaels is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Michaels will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Bonton ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Bonton goes for a double leg but Michaels avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Michaels continues to drive forward.
Michaels seems to have got his legs back now.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Michaels is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Bonton's half guard.
Michaels will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Bonton trying to control here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bonton is trying to get back to full guard.
Michaels looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Bonton tries to roll over but Michaels keeps him under control.
Bonton wants to get back to full guard but Michaels has passed into side control.
Michaels creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Michaels working the ground and pound but Bonton is defending the strikes.
Bonton is looking to regain half guard here but Michaels keeps moving and retains side control.
Michaels wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bonton keeps working.
Bonton can't do much from the bottom here.
Michaels is looking to take a break and control but Bonton is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Michaels creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Michaels moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Michaels wants to control but Bonton is keeping him busy.

Michaels tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Michaels wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bonton keeps working.

That's four 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.
Michaels advances nicely into full mount.
Bonton is working to get back to half guard.
Michaels wants to control the pace but Bonton is squirming around nicely.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Michaels goes for an armbar but Bonton turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Bonton.
Michaels trying to strike off his back.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Conner Briggs Bonton dominated that round.
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.

Michaels tries to clinch but Bonton is having none of it.
Bonton throws a big counter head kick but Michaels avoids it with no problem.
Michaels shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Bonton but Bonton pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Bonton unleashes a big counter combination but Michaels bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Michaels takes a shot to the body in his stride.
The fighters circling - Michaels throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Bonton changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Michaels tries to avoid it but Bonton manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Michaels to the ground. Michaels escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Bonton is looking to clinch.
Bonton shoots for a double leg takedown but Michaels sprawls well. He's pushed Bonton's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Taylor Michaels is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bonton looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Taylor Michaels has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Conner Briggs Bonton.
Bonton tries for a takedown but Michaels circles away easily

and Michaels counters by clinching up.

Michaels manages to pull guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Michaels looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Michaels holds on and takes a little breather.
Taylor Michaels overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Bonton throws a strike but Michaels rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Michaels controlling from the top position.
Michaels wanted to stand there but Bonton had control of the position.
Michaels won't allow Bonton to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Michaels trying to control but Bonton is working from the bottom.
Bonton looking to hit a scissor sweep but Michaels is one step ahead there.
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 wants to get up but he can't break Bonton's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Bonton really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Michaels . If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Michaels advances to half guard.
Michaels trying to control the action but Bonton is working from the bottom.
Bonton trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Michaels lands with some strikes.
Michaels with good strikes from the mount here!
Michaels thowing shots but they're missing.
Bonton takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Michaels trying to control but Bonton is having none of it.
Bonton wants to hold on but Michaels pushes him away.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Taylor Michaels dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Bonton shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Bonton showed some decent athleticism there.
Bonton thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Michaels 's head.
Bonton wants to free his trapped foot but Michaels is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Bonton is thwarting Michaels 's attempts to control the position.
Bonton is looking to take a break and control but Michaels is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bonton not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Michaels is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Bonton's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Bonton's back!
Bonton looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Michaels has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Bonton's body.
Will Michaels go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Michaels really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Michaels working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Michaels misses with an elbow to the head.

Michaels looking for the RNC.
Bonton wants to escape the position.
Bonton trying to get back to his feet but Michaels is in full control for now.
Michaels is looking to control Bonton but Bonton is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Michaels is hanging on to Bonton's back as he tries to escape.
Bonton looking very determined here, making life difficult for Michaels .

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Michaels cracks Bonton with a big shot to body and one to the head - really punishing Bonton from the back mount here, looking to soften him up.
Bonton covers up after that shot from Michaels .
Michaels has the hooks in. Bonton is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.

Michaels is persistently looking for the submission but Bonton is defending it well.
Bonton trying to control the position but Michaels manages to sink in the hooks.
Bonton tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Michaels trying to control but Bonton is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Michaels with the ground and pound from mount.
Michaels misses with a head shot.
Michaels is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Bonton can do to turn this around?
Michaels controlling the pace for now.

Michaels looking for a guillotine from mount but Bonton is having none of it.
Bonton wants to hold on but Michaels pushes him away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Michaels lands a nice shot to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Taylor Michaels showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Michaels 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 Chris Saunders scores the fight 29:28
Judge Josh West scores the fight 29:28
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Taylor Michaels !