PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Michael Angel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tim Finnigan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Finnigan is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Finnigan's wake. This should be a great matchup!

Angel
vs
Finnigan

200 cm
20
283 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

200 cm
20
280 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Michael Angel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Tim Finnigan!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Finnigan clinches up with Angel and pushes him back against the cage.

Angel gets control of Finnigan's arms and successfully pulls guard. Angel will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Angel preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Finnigan throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Angel works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Finnigan looking to pass the guard.
Angel is trying to control the position but Finnigan postures up.
Finnigan throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Finnigan trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Angel utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Angel shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Angel was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Angel content just to control the position here.
Finnigan tries to lock up and control but Angel gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Finnigan really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Angel controlling from the full mount.
Finnigan tries to reverse the position but Angel maintains control.
Finnigan is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Angel wants to finish this one by submission but Finnigan is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Angel.
Finnigan wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Angel.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Finnigan takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Angel is trying to take his opponent's back.

Angel with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

Angel is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Finnigan is surviving well by controlling Angel's body position as best he can.

Angel goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Finnigan is on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Finnigan missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Finnigan throws a strike but Angel rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Angel works a leg free and moves into half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Finnigan manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Angel stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Finnigan swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Angel passes into half guard.
Angel wants to pass the guard but Finnigan is defending well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Finnigan wants to control but Angel is keeping busy and won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Angel dominated that round.
That's time! Angel's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Angel lands a head kick!

It looks like Tim Finnigan has been cut.
Angel avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Finnigan stuffs the takedown attempt from Angel. Angel gets slowly back to his feet.
Angel tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Finnigan paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Angel lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Finnigan looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Angel bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Michael Angel is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Angel looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Finnigan is trying to keep Angel in close.
Finnigan is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Angel wants to control from the top but Finnigan keeps moving.
Finnigan not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Angel passes into half guard.
Finnigan is looking for a sweep. Angel is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Finnigan wants to control but Angel is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Angel is pressing down on Finnigan's thigh, looking to free his foot. Finnigan is holding on for now.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Finnigan fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Angel has a takedown stuffed.
Finnigan is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Angel throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Finnigan's waist but Finnigan gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Angel off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael Angel. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Angel throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Finnigan's waist but Finnigan gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Angel off to one side.
Finnigan throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Angel.
Finnigan pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Angel avoids the head kick by Finnigan.

Angel has taken the fight to the clinch.
Angel tries for a takedown. No joy.

Angel pulls guard.
Finnigan pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Angel is keeping the position for now.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Finnigan accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Finnigan is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Finnigan throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Angel works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Finnigan stopping the sweep attempt from Angel.
Finnigan wants to stand but Angel has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Angel working for a triangle but Finnigan defends it easily.
Finnigan working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Angel's head.
Finnigan won't allow Angel to sweep him here.
Finnigan must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Finnigan slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Angel parries the strikes from Finnigan easily there. Finnigan is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Angel to escape.
Finnigan throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Angel works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Finnigan thows a huge punch but Angel dodges it nicely.
Angel is pressing down on Finnigan's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Finnigan is in close to Angel's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Angel bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Finnigan's guard.
Michael Angel overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Angel slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Angel wants to lay and pray for a moment but Finnigan keeps working.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Angel dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Tim Finnigan's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

The crowd cheers as Angel lands an impressive looking overhand right. Finnigan doesn't seem phased though.

Angel shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Angel wants to take a breather but Finnigan is having none of it.
Finnigan is trying to control but can't.
Angel takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Finnigan is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Angel is trying to control. Finnigan wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Finnigan takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Angel trying to pass the guard but Finnigan defending well.
Finnigan tries to roll over but Angel keeps him under control.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Finnigan tries a head kick but it misses.
Finnigan tries to clinch up but Angel circles away and keeps his distance.
Angel blocks a head kick by Finnigan.

Angel shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Angel was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Finnigan prevents Angel from taking his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Angel lands a big elbow.

Angel jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Finnigan manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Finnigan tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Angel presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Finnigan tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Angel working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Finnigan can't escape the position.
Angel controlling his opponent.
Tim Finnigan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Angel with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.

Angel looking to secure an arm triangle but Finnigan defends it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Finnigan is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Angel trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Angel lands with some strikes.

The cut above Tim Finnigan's eye is starting to cause him problems now.

Angel looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Angel pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Angel showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Angel, 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 30:26
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 30:26
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Angel!