PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Lucas Matos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Darien Michaels (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Matos comes to the cage accompanied by Linkin Park - New Divide. This should be fireworks!

Matos
vs
Michaels

186 cm
21
184 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

170 cm
20
183 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Good gas tank

Popeye’s Spinach - 159 + 158 Proof Supps

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Lucas Matos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Darien Michaels!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Paulo Santos and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Michaels throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Matos misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Michaels.
Michaels uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Matos.
Matos uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Michaels.
Matos ducks under a wild hook from Michaels.
Michaels throws a series of punches but Matos avoids them all with ease.
Matos misses with a hook.
A telegraphed right hand from Matos misses the target.
Matos moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Matos throws a shot from downtown. Michaels moves away and avoids it.
Michaels bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Michaels throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Matos stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Michaels cracks Matos with an open hand slap.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matos throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Michaels avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Matos lands with a right hand.
Matos ducks under a wild hook from Michaels.
A swing and a miss from Michaels.
Michaels fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Matos manages to avoid it.
Matos shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Michaels pinned against the cage. Michaels gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Michaels throws an off balance right hand
and Matos counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Matos tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Michaels was well out of range. Poor timing from Matos.
Matos misses with a series of wild punches.
Michaels tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Matos was well out of range. Poor timing from Michaels.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matos stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Michaels connects with a body shot.
Michaels tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Matos was well out of range. Poor timing from Michaels.
Matos misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Michaels.
Matos moves forwards but Michaels connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Michaels just misses with a punch to the body.
Good exchange - Matos coming out on top.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Matos misses with a few strikes there.
Matos throws a looping overhand right but Michaels ducks down to avoid it.
Darien Michaels is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Michaels throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Michaels throws a shot from downtown. Matos moves away and avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matos keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Matos throws a hook to the side of Michaels's head but Michaels sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Michaels ducks under a wild hook from Matos.
Matos misses with an uppercut. Michaels saw that one coming.
Nice takedown defense from Michaels. No joy for Matos on that attempt.
Michaels swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Michaels needs to keep his hands up - Matos had a free shot at his head there.
Nice cross by Matos.
Michaels looks to land a right hand but Matos moved out of range.
Matos throws an off balance right hand
and Michaels counters with a right hand to the body.
Matos throws a right hand that misses
and Michaels cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matos throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Michaels defending well as Matos loads up on a big left hand.
Matos looks to throw the jab but Michaels is out of range.
Matos misses with a wild combination.
Matos dips to his left and cracks Michaels with an uppercut!
Matos takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Matos closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Matos keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Matos keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Matos shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Michaels sprawls well. Michaels wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Matos gets slowly back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Darien Michaels dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Michaels lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Matos at a distance.
Michaels looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.

Michaels rushes Matos and presses him up against the cage.
Michaels lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Matos backwards.
Michaels prevents a takedown attempt there.
Matos is working for takedown but Michaels is calmly controlling the position for now.
Michaels lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
A hook to the body from Michaels.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Michaels lands a nice shot to the body.
Matos is looking to take this one to the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lucas Matos. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Michaels is working Matos over against the cage.
Michaels manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Michaels gets through Matos's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
A right hand to the body from Michaels.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Michaels lands a right hand.
Michaels pushes Matos back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Michaels digs a right hand underneath Matos's ribcage. Matos let out a lung full of air as it connected.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Michaels is working Matos over against the cage.
Michaels pressing his opponent against the cage.
Michaels prevents the takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A short right from Michaels on the inside.
Michaels has Matos pushed against the cage.
A short uppercut from Michaels.
Michaels lands with a short punch from the clinch.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Michaels takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Michaels softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Michaels holding his opponent close, against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Darien Michaels.
Michaels doesn't manage to clinch there - Matos circles away.
Michaels takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Michaels bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Matos misses with an uppercut. Michaels saw that one coming.
Matos throws a shot from downtown. Michaels moves away and avoids it.
Michaels tries to clinch but Matos is having none of it.

Michaels clinches up with Matos and pushes him back against the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Michaels slowing the pace effectively.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Darien Michaels showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Michaels cracks Matos with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Matos uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Michaels.
Matos misses with a jab, cross combination.
Matos looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Matos with a lazy takedown attempt
and Michaels counters with a right hand to the body.

Michaels moves into the clinch.
Michaels softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Michaels lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
A short body shot lands from Michaels as the two fighters clinch.
A hook to the body from Michaels.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Michaels is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
A short body shot lands from Michaels as the two fighters clinch.
Michaels softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
A right hand to the body from Michaels.
A right hook to the body lands for Michaels.
Michaels has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Michaels working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Michaels is leaning against Matos and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Michaels stalling against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Michaels gets through Matos's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Michaels lands a body punch in the clinch.
Michaels scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Darien Michaels seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Michaels lands a body punch in the clinch.
Good body shot from Michaels.
Michaels working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Michaels slows down the pace here.
Michaels working some nice short punches in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Michaels stalls.
Michaels lands a left hand that snaps the head of Matos backwards.
Michaels manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Matos tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Michaels smiles and moves away.
Darien Michaels is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lucas Matos. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matos moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Lucas Matos has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Michaels has closed the distance and engaged Matos in a clinch.
Good body shot from Michaels.
Matos changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Michaels fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Matos throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Matos looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

And that's the end of the fight!
Darien Michaels comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Michaels 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Darien Michaels!
A very excited looking Darien Michaels made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.