PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Cole Michaels (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Merrick Kane (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Kane's choice of entrance music: Blood Sugar - Pendulum. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Michaels
vs
Kane

225 cm
21
322 lbs
9 - 0 - 0

200 cm
23
290 lbs
7 - 2 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Non-Stop Nutrition
Resistance

Convicted Trap House
Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the super heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Cole Michaels!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Merrick Kane!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, George Francis and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Michaels throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Kane misses the jab.

Kane shoots in and bounces Michaels off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Kane wants to control from the top but Michaels keeps moving.
Kane tries to free his leg and advance position but Michaels is retaining full guard.
Michaels not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Kane loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kane is looking to advance position but Michaels has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Kane regains half guard.
Michaels wants to take a breather but Kane is having none of it.
Michaels wants to stand up but Kane has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Michaels not doing much here.
Kane is looking for a sweep. Michaels is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Michaels is figuring out what he wants to do next.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Kane manages to get to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kane looking for a guillotine here but Michaels defends easily.
Kane is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Kane throwing shots but Michaels is blocking nicely.
Kane controlling the pace.
Michaels wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kane passes to full mount!
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Kane looking to land elbow strikes but Michaels uses the position to regain half guard.
Michaels is staying active underneath Kane, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Kane missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Kane seems to be looking for submissions.
Michaels won't allow Kane to pass to mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Kane not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Kane looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Michaels regains full guard. Nicely done.
Kane pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Michaels is keeping the position for now.
Kane trying to control but Michaels is working from the bottom.
Kane throwing strikes but missing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Merrick Kane will probably get the nod.
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 lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Kane circles away quickly and effectively.
A cross from Kane lands.
Kane shoots in for a double leg but Michaels sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Michaels looks to land a combination but Kane avoids it well.
Michaels works the jab nicely.
Michaels slips a straight right by Kane.
Michaels takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Kane throws the left hand but Michaels avoids the punch easily.
Kane misses with a wild body shot.
Kane ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Michaels missing with a left hand there. Kane was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Michaels walks into a left hand.
Michaels looks to score with a jab to the body but Kane is just out of range.
Kane ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Michaels moves away.
Michaels misses with a wild body shot.

Kane throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Michaels tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Kane is in Michaels's guard.
Kane controls from within his opponent's guard.
Kane throwing strikes from guard but Michaels blocks nicely.
Michaels is trying to control the position but Kane postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kane looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

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

Kane feints and as Michaels raises his hands in defense, Kane changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Kane working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Michaels looking for subs off his back but Kane has passed one foot through into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kane throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Kane not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Kane is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Michaels is just riding it out for now. Kane eventually gives up the hold.
Kane prevents Michaels from improving his position.

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.
Kane trying to control the action but Michaels is working from the bottom.
Kane looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Kane wants to take a breather but Michaels is having none of it.
Kane performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Ground and pound from Kane.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Merrick Kane showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Michaels's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Kane swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kane is looking to clinch.
Kane lands a jab to the nose.
Michaels misses with a low kick.
Michaels lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Kane circles away quickly and effectively.

Kane looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Kane has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Kane missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Kane trying to pass the guard but Michaels defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Kane is looking for a kimura here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Michaels wants to control but Kane is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Kane is trying to control. Michaels wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Kane is thwarting Michaels's attempts to control the position.
Kane looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

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.
Kane is trying to control. Michaels wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Kane trying to advance position but Michaels counters by regaining guard.
Kane pushing down on Michaels's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Kane throwing shots but Michaels is blocking nicely.
Kane not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Michaels is not content to let Kane control the position.
Kane throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kane is trying to control. Michaels wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Kane is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Michaels defends it well.
Kane not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Kane has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Kane misses with a head shot.

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.
Kane sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Kane punishing his opponent with strikes.
Kane with shots to the head and body - Michaels looks very uncomfortable down there.
Kane raining down shots from the mount!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Michaels has worked his way to half guard, taking advantage of Kane's lack of action.
Michaels is in trouble now - Kane has advanced to mount!
Kane thowing shots but they're missing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Merrick Kane really dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Kane connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Michaels's hands.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Kane. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Kane lands a jab to Michaels's midsection.
Kane misses with a wild body shot.

Kane looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Kane missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Kane is looking to stall here but Michaels recovers full guard.
Kane throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Michaels looking for a sweep. Not yet Michaels, not yet.
Kane slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Michaels preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Kane is in close to Michaels's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Kane sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kane is in close to Michaels's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Kane looking to sit in guard and control but Michaels gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Michaels trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Kane manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Kane throws a strike but Michaels rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kane punching to the body, from the bottom.
Kane tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Kane controls Michaels momentarily but Michaels frees himself.
Michaels pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kane is keeping the position for now.
Kane 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.
Michaels postures up.
Michaels will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Kane is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Kane passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Michaels!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kane goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Michaels is on top in guard.
Kane tries to land a sweep but no joy.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Kane is on top in guard.
Michaels is trying to keep Kane in close.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Merrick Kane dominated that fourth 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. This is the final round!

Kane tries to clinch but Michaels is having none of it.
Michaels throws a lazy right hand but Kane sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Michaels throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Nice body punch from Kane.
Kane throws a left and a right that both miss
and Kane takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Kane throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Michaels's waist but Michaels gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Kane off to one side.

Kane shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Kane was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Kane misses with a head shot.
Kane trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Michaels tries to hold on but Kane postures up.
BOOM! Kane connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Kane scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Michaels?
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.

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

Kane is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Kane wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kane manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Michaels manages to get himself to full guard.
Kane throwing strikes but missing.
Kane throws a strike but Michaels rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Kane wants to sweep here but Michaels controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kane controls Michaels momentarily but Michaels frees himself.
Michaels pushing down on Kane's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Kane tries to roll over but Michaels keeps him under control.
Kane regains full guard. Nicely done.
Kane is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Michaels has his hands clasped together around Kane's back. He's all about the action.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Kane lands a nice short elbow.
Cole Michaels has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kane has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kane trying to control from half guard but Michaels is working away.
Kane is just content to waste time from the top position. Michaels takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Merrick Kane is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Kane looking to sit in guard and control but Michaels gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Michaels postures up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Merrick Kane comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Kane has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 45:50
Judge George Francis scores the fight 45:50
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 46:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Merrick Kane!
Merrick Kane is the new super heavyweight champion!