PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Gareth Familin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vernon Michaels (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.

Familin
vs
Michaels

165 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

176 cm
22
147 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Attliction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Gareth Familin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Vernon Michaels!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Vladimir Khabensky and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Familin throws and low kick but Michaels moves out of range easily.

Michaels scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Michaels looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Michaels really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Familin. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
The fighters are battling for position here. Familin manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Familin is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Michaels slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Michaels must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Michaels passes Familin's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Familin tries to roll over but Michaels keeps him under control.
Familin is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Michaels's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Michaels's back!
Michaels tries to roll but Familin sticks to his back.

Familin looking for the RNC.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Michaels trying to get back to his feet but Familin is in full control for now.
Michaels manages to reverse the position and now he's in Familin's guard. Nice work there by Michaels.
Michaels won't allow Familin to sweep him here.

Michaels stands and steps away. Familin gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Familin gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Michaels looks gassed!
Familin is trying to keep Michaels in close.
Familin might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Familin is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Familin looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Familin throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Michaels trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Michaels is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Michaels wants to control from the top but Familin keeps moving.
Familin working a defensive guard here.

Familin had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Michaels is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Familin Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Michaels's back instead.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Familin is persistently looking for the submission but Michaels is defending it well.
Familin tries to get the hooks in deep but Michaels pushed the leg off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Michaels is trying to get back to his feet but Familin has full control of the position and if anything, Michaels has just worked his way into a worse spot.

Michaels showing good submission defense here.

Familin working for the choke.
Michaels trying to get back to his feet but Familin is in full control for now.

Familin has the rear naked choke here! This is very bad for Michaels! Can he survive? No! He's out! Familin gets to his feet and celebrates with his cornermen. He looks absolutely delighted. In the post fight interviews he takes time to thank his parents and everyone who has believed in him from the start. How sweet.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:05 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Gareth Familin!