PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mario Nicks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Max Michaels (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Michaels has chosen Hillbilly Deluxe as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Nicks
vs
Michaels

192 cm
23
220 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

185 cm
23
215 lbs
10 - 5 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Powerful

White Gorilla Nutrition

RIOT Fightwear
RIOT Fightwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mario Nicks!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 1, fighting out of New York, Max Michaels!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, Eddie Farnsworth and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nicks lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Michaels throws a combination that misses
and Nicks counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Michaels fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Nicks looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Nicks throws a combination that misses
and Michaels counters with a one-two to the body.
Nicks misses with a right hand
and Michaels counters with a one-two to the body.
Nicks swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Michaels counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Nicks's guard now.
Michaels working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Michaels throws and elbow that misses. Nicks uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Michaels's guard. Nice move by Nicks!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Michaels keeping moving, preventing Nicks from controlling successfully.

Michaels has his foot on Nicks's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Nicks works his way back into a safe position though.
Nicks trying to stand up but can't free himself from Michaels's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Michaels is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Nicks won't allow Michaels to sweep him here.

Michaels looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Nicks has picked Michaels up and slammed him! Michaels can't keep hold of the triangle and Nicks manages to pass to side control!
Nicks tries to move into full mount but can't pass Michaels's legs.
Michaels tries to improve position but can't.
Nicks has control of an arm but Michaels manages to advance to Nicks's back!
Nicks holding both Michaels 's hands and preventing any damage.
Nicks tries to escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Nicks is working hard here to advance position.
Nicks covering up well under a barage of strikes.
What can Nicks do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Oooh a big shot gets through from Michaels. Many more shots like that and the referee will have to think about stepping in!
Nicks covering up well and avoiding damage.
Michaels somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.

Michaels tightening his grip on Nicks, looking for the choke.
Michaels is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Nicks trying to get back to his feet but Michaels is in full control for now.
Nicks tries to break free.
Nicks covering up well under a barage of strikes.
Michaels missing with punches from the back.
Michaels scores with strikes from the back.
Nicks tries to escape but Michaels has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Michaels throwing sloppy strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Michaels lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Michaels lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Michaels somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.
Nicks covering up well under a series of strikes from Michaels.
Nicks covering up well under a barage of strikes.
Nicks trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Michaels has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Michaels doesn't have the hooks in and Nicks manages to turn into his guard.

Michaels looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Nicks passes into half guard.
Michaels is looking for a sweep. Nicks is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Nicks connects with an inside leg kick.
Michaels takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Michaels misses with a body kick.
Nicks keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Nicks scores with a decent looking hook.
Michaels misses with a wild combination.
Nicks throws a leg kick that is checked
and Michaels counters with a body kick that stops Nicks in his tracks momentarily.
Michaels lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Michaels throws a body kick that misses.
Nicks throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Nicks changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Nicks looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Michaels misses with a two punch combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nicks scores with a punch to the head.
Nicks darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Nicks darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
A lazy body kick from Nicks
and Michaels counters with an inside leg kick.
Nicks tests Michaels's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Nicks throws a shot to the body.
A low kick from Nicks misses
and Michaels counters with a solid body kick.
Michaels throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Nicks counters with a lovely straight right hand!
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Michaels.
Mario Nicks seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nicks thuds his right hand into Michaels's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Michaels pushes Nicks away with a front kick.
Michaels misses with a combination
and Nicks counters with a three punch combo that has Michaels backing up. Michaels nods at Nicks to acknowledge the strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nicks swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Michaels counters with a two punch combo.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Michaels scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Nicks doesn't seem bothered though.
Nicks is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nicks throws a big shot that misses.
Nicks misses with a body punch
and Michaels counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Max Michaels is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A thudding body kick lands there by Michaels!
Michaels tries for a takedown but Nicks sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
The fight stays on the outside here - Michaels looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Michaels has managed to clinch.
Michaels's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Michaels with an attempt at a knee that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nicks's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Michaels doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
The referee calls for Michaels to work.
Nicks managing to block the knees to the body from Michaels.
Nicks blocking some punches.
A short right from Nicks on the inside.

Michaels's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Michaels throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Michaels drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Michaels slips a straight right by Nicks.
Michaels misses with a double jab.
Nicks swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nicks throws a lazy uppercut
and Michaels counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Nicks misses with a looping right.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nicks throws a one two combo.
Michaels looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Nicks throws a right and a left that Michaels avoids nicely.
A looping hook to the body misses from Nicks. Michaels does a little dance to reset his feet.
Michaels thows a body kick. Nicks tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Mario Nicks is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nicks lands with a thumping leg kick.
Nicks fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Michaels is out of range.
Nicks misses with a lunging right hand
and Michaels counters with an inside leg kick.
Nicks misses with a shot to the body
and Michaels counters with a stiff right hand.
Michaels throws a left and a right that both miss
and Nicks cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Michaels rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Nicks moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Michaels has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Nicks finds it's way round the side to connect with Michaels's head.
Michaels is looking to slow Nicks down with leg kicks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Max Michaels showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Michaels blocks a head kick by Nicks.
Michaels throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
A punch lands to the side of Nicks 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Michaels lands a head shot.
Michaels closes the distance and clinches up with Nicks, looking for a takedown. Michaels pushes Nicks against the cage but Nicks circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Nicks dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
No joy there for Michaels, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Nicks attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Michaels steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Nicks.
A head kick misses from Michaels.
A head kick by Nicks misses
and Michaels counters with a straight right hand.
Nicks throws a lazy right hand but Michaels sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Nicks lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nicks throws a looping overhand right but Michaels ducks down to avoid it.

Michaels closes the distance and pushes Nicks back into the cage.
Michaels lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Nicks is trying to break free.
Michaels tries a knee to the head but Nicks blocks it.
Nicks prevents the takedown attempt.

Nicks's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Nicks throws a lazy uppercut
enabling Michaels to counter with a crisp jab.
Nicks dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
A shot to the liver by Nicks. Beautiful body shot.
Nicks swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Michaels counters with a left to the body.
Max Michaels seems to be getting the better of the standup.
No joy there for Michaels, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Michaels slips under a jab from Nicks.
Michaels throws a jab when Nicks was well out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nicks misses with a double jab
and Michaels counters with a leg kick.
Michaels throws the kick towards the body but Nicks avoids it.
Nicks misses with a lunging right hand

and Michaels counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Michaels sitting and controlling from the half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Michaels wants to take a breather but Nicks is having none of it.
Nicks is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Michaels jumps into side control!
Michaels lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Michaels trying to control the position but Nicks is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nicks manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Nicks is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Michaels moves into full guard.
Nicks is looking to stand up but Michaels won't let him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Michaels is looking to sweep but instead, Nicks has passed into half guard.
Nicks controlling the action here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Michaels holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Nicks tries to stand but his arm is trapped.

Michaels actively working from the bottom here.
Nicks trying to control the action but Michaels is working from the bottom.

Nicks decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nicks falls off balance throwing a combination
and Michaels counters with a nice body kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Michaels tries to work over Nicks's front leg with a kick but Nicks checks it.
Michaels fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Michaels throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Michaels throws a sloppy head kick
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Nicks rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Michaels misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Nicks thumps Michaels with a low kick.
Michaels tries to close the distance and clinch up but Nicks swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Nicks falls off balance throwing a combination

and Michaels counters by clinching up.
Nicks fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Michaels prevents Nicks from breaking the clinch.
Michaels lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Nice body punch from Michaels.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Michaels lands a nice knee to the body.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Michaels throws an elbow that misses.
Michaels lands a left hand.
Michaels misses with a knee to the head.
Michaels lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Nicks or not.
Nicks misses with a hook from the clinch.

Michaels breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Nicks misses with a few strikes there.
Michaels throws a nice looking combination but Nicks bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Michaels throws a head kick that misses.
Nicks swings widly with a right hand
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
A low kick from Nicks is predictable there
and Michaels counters with a right hand to the body.
Nicks throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Michaels counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Nicks blocks a head kick by Michaels.
Nicks lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nicks throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Michaels counters with a two punch combo.
Michaels fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Michaels throws a head kick that misses.
Nicks throws a leg kick
and Michaels counters with a stiff right hand.
Nicks lands a leg kick that knocks Michaels off balance momentarily.
Nicks misses with a double jab
and Michaels counters with a series of strikes. Nicks will be more careful next time no doubt.
Michaels looks to land a combination but Nicks avoids it well.
Nicks is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Michaels connects with a body shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nicks throws an off balance right hand
and Michaels counters with a lovely shot to the body.
That kick from Michaels tenderised Nicks's leg. Nicks is trying to keep his angry face on.
Michaels misses with the combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Michaels misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Michaels doesn't manage to clinch there - Nicks circles away.
Michaels lands with a straight right. Nicks didn't see that one coming.
A low kick from Nicks is predictable there
and Nicks takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Michaels shoots in looking for a takedown but Nicks manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Michaels's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Nicks lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Nicks.
Michaels slips a jab and a cross from Nicks.
Nicks misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Michaels.
Nicks takes a kick to the side of the head.
Michaels throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Nicks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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.
Nicks's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Nicks duly obliges.
Michaels feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Nickss jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Michaels throws a body kick that misses.
Nicks swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Michaels counters with a head kick. That will keep Nicks thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Nicks misses with a body shot
and Michaels counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Nicks connects with a single shot there.
Nicks throws a poor cross that misses
and Michaels counters with a big head kick but Nicks shrugs it off.
Nicks blocks a head kick by Michaels.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Michaels throws a nice looking combination but Nicks bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Michaels throws a nice head kick!
Nicks connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Max Michaels dominated that fourth round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Michaels swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Nicks counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Michaels misses with a double jab
and Nicks connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Nice straight punches there by Nicks. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Nicks.
Michaels throws a quick inside leg kick.
Michaels misses with a head kick.
Nicks scores with a kick to the midsection.
Nicks misses with a series of wild punches.
Michaels misses with an uppercut
and Nicks counters with a three punch combo that has Michaels backing up. Michaels nods at Nicks to acknowledge the strikes.

Michaels clinches.
Michaels is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Michaels lands a body shot in the clinch.
A knee to the head by Michaels.
Michaels slows down the pace here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Michaels is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Nicks is defending well for now.

Nicks breaks the clinch.
Nicks turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
A telegraphed right hand from Michaels misses the target.
Michaels on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Nicks blocks a low kick nicely.
Nicks throws an overhand right that lands on Michaels's shoulder, as Michaels tries to avoid the shot.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Nicks, as that shot connected.
Nicks scores with a nice strike.
Nicks sizes up Michaels with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Michaels has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
An inside leg kick lands from Nicks.
Michaels throws an off balance right hand
and Nicks counters with a slapping leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Michaels throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Nicks counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Nicks scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Michaels throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Nicks counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Mario Nicks has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Michaels walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Nicks checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Nicks will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Nicks misses with an uppercut
and Michaels counters with a nice body kick.
Nicks fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Michaels looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Nicks lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Nicks's jab looks to have found its range, popping Michaels under the eye.
Nicks fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Nicks misses with a double jab
and Michaels counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nicks misses with a right hand
and Michaels counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Nicks scores with a nice right hand.
Michaels throws a half hearted mid kick.
Nicks fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Michaels manages to avoid it.
Nicks misses with a left hand
and Michaels counters with a big head kick but Nicks shrugs it off.
Nicks lands an overhand right.
Nicks misses with a right hand
and Michaels counters with a low kick, right behind Nicks 's knee.
Nicks scores with a one two! Michaels had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Nice uppercut lands for Nicks. That snapped Michaels's head back.
Nicks misses the shot to the body.
Nice shot lands for Nicks.
Nicks throws a body punch but Michaels moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Michaels gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Nicks slips a jab and a cross from Michaels.
Nicks's corner calls for a 1-2. Nicks obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Max Michaels is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Michaels takes one to the side of the head.
Michaels throws a head kick but Nicks moves out of range.
Nicks moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Michaels, right into the meat.
Nicks misses with a looping left.
Nicks misses with an uppercut
and Michaels counters with a nice leg kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nicks misses with a left hand
and Michaels counters with a nice body kick.
Nicks rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Michaels counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Nicks throws a right hand that misses
and Michaels counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mario Nicks showed his dominance in that final round.
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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 46:49
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 46:49
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 46:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Max Michaels!
Max Michaels is the new light heavyweight champion!