PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Darth Vader (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brandon Michaels (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Brandon Michaels enters the cage!

Vader
vs
Michaels

193 cm
18
205 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

150 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Prefers standup

GREEN!160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Darth Vader!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Brandon Michaels!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, James Atkins and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Michaels looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Vader looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Michaels wants to clinch.
Michaels throws a push kick but Vader slaps the foot to one side.
Vader avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
As Michaels looks to move away, Vader throws a big counter combo bu Michaels just gets out of the way.

Michaels rushes Vader and presses him up against the cage.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Michaels tries for a takedown but Vader manages to get underhooks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Vader has Michaels pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Vader pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Michaels tumbling to the mat - Vader dives into Michaels's guard.

Michaels working for a triangle but Vader defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Michaels is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Vader is aware though and is defending well.
Vader trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Michaels looking to control.
Michaels has control of Vader's left arm, preventing Vader from doing any damage.
Vader wants to control from the top but Michaels keeps moving.

That's two 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.
Vader postures up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Michaels should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

Vader dives in and scores a takedown into Michaels's guard.
Michaels is trying to keep Vader in close.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Michaels has control of Vader's left arm, preventing Vader from doing any damage.

Michaels escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Vader gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Vader will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Michaels avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Michaels pulls Vader in close to prevent any damage.
Vader is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Vader trying to control the position from guard on top but Michaels is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Vader swats away the attempt to clinch by Michaels.
Vader swats away the attempt to clinch by Michaels.
It looked like Vader was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.

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.

Michaels drives through and clinches with Vader against the cage.

Vader has clasped his hands together around Michaels's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Michaels tries to improve position but can't.
Michaels really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Vader. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Michaels is trying to control Vader's posture but Vader avoids it.
Michaels is looking to reverse the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Vader working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Michaels can't do much from the bottom here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Darth Vader dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Michaels pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Michaels darts in trying to clinch
and Vader counters with a nice uppercut.
Michaels lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Michaels tries to close the distance and clinch up but Vader swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Vader is looking to counter the offense by Michaels and move into the clinch.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Michaels has eaten all the pies!
Michaels throws a half hearted mid kick.
Darth Vader is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Michaels tries to clinch up but Vader circles away and keeps his distance.
Michaels looking to land some kicks to the body here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Michaels moves in looking to clinch but Vader pushes him off.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Michaels moves into the clinch.
Vader looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.

Michaels escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Michaels misses with a body kick.
Vader seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Michaels looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Michaels fails with an attempt to clinch.
Vader tries to counter with a takedown but Michaels is quick to defend against it.
Michaels tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Vader makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

Michaels closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Vader gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Michaels is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Vader looking to pass the guard.

Michaels has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Vader can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Michaels is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Michaels has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Vader can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Michaels can't keep his opponent in guard - Vader advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Michaels wants to control but Vader is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Michaels has hold of Vader's hands but Vader slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Vader is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Michaels has managed to free his arm - good work.
Vader trying to control from half guard but Michaels is working away.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Vader shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Michaels's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vader postures up.
Vader sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Michaels's guard.
Michaels is trying to control but can't.
Darth Vader overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Vader controlling the action here.
Vader is looking to take a break and control but Michaels is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Michaels tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Vader has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Darth Vader dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Michaels is looking to clinch but Vader is avoiding it.
The fight stays on the outside here - Michaels looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Vader gets tackled into the cage by Michaels. Michaels maintains the clinch.
Michaels avoiding damage.

Michaels breaks the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Michaels looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Michaels misses with a kick to the body

and Vader counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Vader.

Michaels is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Michaels trying to control the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vader trying to control but Michaels is working from the bottom.
Vader slips nicely into half guard.
Michaels keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Vader is thwarting Michaels's attempts to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Michaels is staying active underneath Vader, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Michaels is trying to stand back up but Vader is controlling him

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Michaels looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Michaels tries to clinch up.
Michaels tries to clinch up
and Vader counters with a right hand to the body.
Michaels tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Vader manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Vader has taken the fight to the clinch.
Vader blocks a body shot from Michaels.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vader keeps control of Michaels as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Michaels is trying to pull guard but Vader has him pressed against the cage.

Vader gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Vader trying to control the position from guard on top but Michaels is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Michaels is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Michaels looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Vader slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vader landing strikes.

Vader wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Michaels, who protects the arm well.
Michaels is looking to reverse the position.
Vader is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Michaels can do to turn this around?
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Michaels can't do much from the bottom here.
Brandon Michaels has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Darth Vader is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Michaels throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.

And that's the end of the fight!
Darth Vader showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Vader, 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Darth Vader!