PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Michael Kairuz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nelson Preto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Michael Kairuz has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Kairuz
vs
Preto

154 cm
25
135 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

173 cm
18
144 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Very quick

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Can Moonwalk

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Michael Kairuz!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Nelson Preto!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Ron Honeybunn and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Preto tries to clinch up but Kairuz circles away and keeps his distance.
Preto doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Kairuz counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Kairuz could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Preto is looking to improve his position.

Kairuz is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Preto sees it coming and defends easily.
Preto is trying to control but can't.
Kairuz prevents Preto from standing back up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kairuz thows a huge punch but Preto dodges it nicely.
Preto looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Preto is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Kairuz pulls his head out easily.
Kairuz not doing much here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Preto slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Preto throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Kairuz working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Kairuz sitting in guard, not really doing much.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Preto is on top in guard.

Kairuz knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Preto on the ground.
Kairuz wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kairuz controlling Preto's posture.
Preto stands and throws Kairuz's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Preto wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Kairuz, who protects the arm well.
Kairuz is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Preto's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Kairuz is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Kairuz is doing well to control the position and prevent Preto from advancing to side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kairuz continues to stall.
Kairuz might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kairuz is looking for a sweep. Preto is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Kairuz definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.

Preto is working for a submission of some sort.

Preto is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Preto wants to pass to mount but Kairuz is defending the position.
Kairuz wants to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Kairuz gets full guard.
Kairuz looking for a sweep. Not yet Kairuz, not yet.
Preto missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Kairuz has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Kairuz's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Kairuz wants to sweep here but Preto controlling him for the moment.
Kairuz working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Preto.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Preto trying to control but Kairuz is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Nelson Preto will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Kairuz just misses with a punch to the body.
Kairuz sets himself, and Preto steps forward looking for the clinch! Kairuz avoids it this time.

Kairuz closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Preto to the mat! Preto manages to get full guard.
Kairuz content to stall in guard here.
Kairuz prevents Preto from getting back to his feet.
Kairuz slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Preto controls Kairuz momentarily but Kairuz frees himself.
Kairuz stands up over Preto, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kairuz avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Kairuz 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.
Kairuz is in close to Preto's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Kairuz avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Kairuz controlling from the top position.

Preto has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Kairuz can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Preto wants to sweep but no luck.

Preto looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Preto tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Michael Kairuz overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kairuz is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Kairuz scoring with punches to the head and body.
Kairuz content to stall in guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Preto controls Kairuz momentarily but Kairuz frees himself.
Kairuz postures up and lands a big shot to Preto's brow.
Kairuz showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Preto is looking for a triangle but Kairuz pushes his legs off easily.
Kairuz not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Kairuz has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Nelson Preto seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Preto darts in looking for a takedown but Kairuz gets double underhooks and turns Preto into the cage.
Preto throws an ugly left hook that misses

so Kairuz counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Kairuz working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Kairuz controls from within his opponent's guard.
Kairuz passes into half guard.
Kairuz drops an elbow to the side of Preto's head.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Preto actively working from the bottom here.
Preto wants to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Kairuz dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Preto fails with the takedown

and Kairuz counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Preto looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Preto is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Kairuz scores with a couple of nice shots.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Kairuz in particular looking to stall.
Preto tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Preto is looking to improve his position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kairuz working the head and body with strikes.

Preto actively working from the bottom here.
Kairuz stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kairuz is looking for a kimura here.
Kairuz working over Preto with some ground and pound. Preto looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Kairuz with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Further stalling from Kairuz.
Preto tries to get to full guard but Kairuz has control of the leg.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Kairuz looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Preto with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

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.
Kairuz is taking a breather. Preto says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Kairuz lands with a punch from half guard.

Preto looking for submissions off his back.

Preto is defending against the submission attempts here by Kairuz.
Kairuz slips a nice elbow through Preto's hands, connecting with Preto's forehead.

Preto is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Kairuz pulls his head out easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Preto looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Kairuz is taking a breather. Preto says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Preto flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Preto is looking to control Kairuz's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Preto avoid being mounted?
Kairuz controlling the action here.
Kairuz lands with a punch from half guard.
Kairuz slips a nice elbow through Preto's hands, connecting with Preto's forehead.
Preto manages to get to full guard.
Kairuz controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kairuz working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Preto's head.
Preto can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Kairuz controls the pace.

Preto has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Kairuz can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Kairuz controlling from the top position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Kairuz avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Kairuz clearly takes that round.
That's time! Kairuz's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Kairuz throws a body kick that misses.
Preto throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kairuz scores with a spinning back kick!

Kairuz looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Preto!
Preto is working to avoid the ground and pound but Kairuz connects with a decent elbow.
Kairuz taking a breather here.
Kairuz looks up at the clock and then as Preto takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Kairuz smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Preto takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Kairuz just content to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Preto is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Preto manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Kairuz tries to get to full guard but Preto has control of the leg.
Preto thows a huge punch but Kairuz dodges it nicely.
Preto missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Kairuz wants to get back to full guard.
Kairuz makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Kairuz.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kairuz pulls Preto in close to prevent any damage.
Preto wants to stand but Kairuz has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Kairuz looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Kairuz has Preto pulled in close to control his posture.
Preto wants to control from the top but Kairuz keeps moving.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Preto tries to free his leg and advance position but Kairuz is retaining full guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Preto has a takedown stuffed.
Kairuz is looking for a counter combo.
Preto throws a left and a right that both miss

and Kairuz counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Preto!
Kairuz landing a few strikes.
Kairuz just content to control the position.
Kairuz seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Preto for as long as he can get away with.
Kairuz scores with punches from side control.
Preto wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kairuz scoring with punches and elbows.
Kairuz taking a breather here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Preto is trying to control Kairuz's posture but Kairuz avoids it.
Kairuz working the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Kairuz had his way with Nelson Preto in that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Kairuz shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Preto napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Kairuz tries to advance to mount but can't.
Kairuz slows the pace down.
Preto tries to bench press Kairuz off him but Kairuz keeps the position.
Kairuz taking a breather here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kairuz in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Preto on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Kairuz is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.

Kairuz tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Preto gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Preto punching from the bottom.

That's two 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.
Kairuz content to control rather than advance.
Preto is trying to stand.

Preto looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Kairuz winds up and cracks Preto with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Preto has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Kairuz is working away from the top position though.
Kairuz drops an elbow to the side of Preto's head.
Preto is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Kairuz's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Kairuz's back!
Preto is trying to stick to Kairuz's back but Kairuz is turning into Preto. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Preto's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Kairuz.
Kairuz not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Kairuz has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
This is a sustained period of stalling by Kairuz.
Preto is trying to control the position from the bottom.

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.

Preto is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Preto has his foot on Kairuz's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kairuz works his way back into a safe position though.
Kairuz sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Preto escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Kairuz gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Preto is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?

Preto has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Kairuz can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kairuz scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Kairuz showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Kairuz has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Damien Edna scores the fight 49:46
Judge Ron Honeybunn scores the fight 50:46
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Kairuz!
Michael Kairuz is the new featherweight champion!