PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Thiago Junior (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chaz Michaels (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Junior
vs
Michaels

190 cm
27
209 lbs
15 - 16 - 0

186 cm
27
218 lbs
7 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Thiago Junior!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Chaz Michaels!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Stewart Dunkirk and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Michaels defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Junior.

A jab-cross combination lands for Michaels and sends Junior crashing to the mat! Michaels follows him down to the mat - Junior regains half guard but he's not out of trouble yet!

It looks like Thiago Junior has been cut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Michaels lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Junior is rocked!

Michaels is looking for a kimura but Junior is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Michaels to get the leverage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Michaels trying to pass the guard but Junior defending well.
Michaels is keen to just control but Junior is a slippery customer.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
It looks like Michaels is going to stand back up.
Michaels working Junior over with strikes.
Michaels working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Junior is in trouble now - Michaels has advanced to mount!
Michaels landing shots from mount.
Poor strikes thrown by Michaels there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Junior really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Junior takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

Thiago Junior's cut is getting worse.
Michaels trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Michaels has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Junior is wriggling around trying to escape.

Michaels is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Junior has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Junior is trying desperately to improve position.

Michaels is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Junior can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Michaels looks gassed!
Michaels dominating with strikes here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Michaels cracks Junior with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Junior bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

Michaels working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Junior has passed into half guard!

Michaels actively working from the bottom here.

Michaels looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Junior looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Michaels tries to get to full guard but Junior has control of the leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Michaels is defending against the submission attempts here by Junior.
Michaels wants to control but Junior is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Michaels is pressing down on Junior's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Michaels wants to get back to his feet but Junior is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Junior stands and throws Michaels's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Michaels wants to get back to his feet but Junior drags him back down.
Michaels is trying to improve his position.

Junior is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Michaels knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Michaels sneaks back into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chaz Michaels dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Thiago Junior's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Michaels rushes Junior and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Michaels breaks the clinch.
Junior shoots for a takedown but Michaels saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Michaels closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Michaels lands in his opponent's guard.
Michaels preventing the sweep.
Michaels stands and throws Junior's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Michaels is looking to take a break and control but Junior is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Junior tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Junior takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.

Thiago Junior's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Michaels passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Junior!

Michaels has control of Junior's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Junior regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Chaz Michaels has got the better of the ground game so far.
Junior is looking to get to half guard.
Michaels trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Michaels gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
Michaels connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

Michaels shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Michaels with good strikes from the mount here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Junior manages to regain half guard. Good work.

Junior is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Michaels pulls his head out easily.
Michaels is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Junior!
Junior working to try and regain half guard.
Michaels lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Junior hang on?
Michaels has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Junior's face.
Michaels is landing with some decent strikes but Junior is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Junior is in all sorts of trouble here.
Michaels scores with a couple of good head shots there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Michaels working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Junior is looking to get to half guard.

Michaels throws some shoulder strikes here and then postures up. Oh, he's gone for an armbar! Junior has his hands clasped together but Michaels breaks the hold and Junior is forced to tap! This one is aaaaaaaaaaall over! That was lightning fast by Michaels!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:31 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Chaz Michaels! Chaz Michaels retains his light heavyweight title!