PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Christian Magnier (ranked 5397 p4p, 536 weight class) and Michael Jai White (ranked 4154 p4p, 468 weight class). Michael Jai White will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Magnier
vs
Jai White

176 cm
20
210 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

190 cm
20
199 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Good kicks
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Christian Magnier!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Michael Jai White!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Gwen Towbar and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Magnier fakes high and swings low for a body shot but White manages to avoid it.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Magnier.
White throws a body punch but Magnier moves out of range.
White jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Magnier attempts a counter takedown but White avoids it well and moves away.
White jabbing away but nothing is landing.
White sizes up Magnier with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Magnier throws a shot from downtown. White moves away and avoids it.

Magnier looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for White!
White manages to work his way to half guard, despite Magnier's best efforts.
White taking some punishment here, with Magnier in his half guard.
White is looking for a sweep. Magnier is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Magnier is sneakily working for an arm triangle but White sees it coming and defends easily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Magnier trying to control from half guard but White is working away.
White wants to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Magnier working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Magnier lands strikes from half guard.
Magnier winds up and cracks White with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Magnier wants to take a breather but White is having none of it.
White regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Magnier.
Magnier missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Magnier throwing strikes but missing.
Magnier wants to control from the top but White keeps moving.
Magnier passes White's left leg - he's now in half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Magnier connects with a nice short shot to White's temple.

Magnier is trying to work for a kimura but White is defending well.
White told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Magnier not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Magnier missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
White blocking the ground and pound attempt from Magnier.
Magnier slips a nice elbow through White's hands, connecting with White's forehead.
Magnier stalling away here and it's allowed White to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Magnier throwing strikes from guard but White blocks nicely.
Magnier working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

White has his foot on Magnier's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Magnier works his way back into a safe position though.

White isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Magnier stacks White on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Magnier!
Magnier is looking to take a break and control but White is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
White is trying to get back to half guard.
White struggling a bit here.
White taking a bit of punishment here - Magnier scoring with strikes.
White takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
White is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Magnier's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Magnier wants to control but White is keeping him busy.

Magnier seems to be looking for submissions.
Magnier wants to lay and pray for a moment but White keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
White trying to control here.
White might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Magnier haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Magnier landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Magnier looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Magnier working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
White wants to control but Magnier is keeping busy.
Magnier missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Magnier not doing much here.
White is refusing to be controlled, as Magnier sits in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Christian Magnier dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Magnier shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in White's guard.
Magnier is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that White can do to turn this around?

Magnier got a little sloppy there for a moment and White has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Magnier has managed to get both his arms back between White's legs - danger averted.
Magnier has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Magnier tries to free his leg and advance position but White is retaining full guard.

White is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Magnier is aware though and is defending well.
White keeping moving, preventing Magnier from controlling successfully.
Magnier trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Magnier scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Magnier cracks White with a solid left hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Magnier looking to pass the guard.

White had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Magnier defends it easily.
White trying to keep a closed guard but Magnier is proving a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
White avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Magnier trying to control but White is working from the bottom.

White has his foot on Magnier's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Magnier works his way back into a safe position though.
Magnier landing some decent shots from guard.
Magnier preventing the sweep.
Magnier scoring with punches to the head and body.
Magnier wants to control from the top but White keeps moving.
White is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Magnier wants to pass the guard but White is keeping the position.
White looking to hit a scissor sweep but Magnier is one step ahead there.
Magnier working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

White is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
White keeping full guard, as Magnier tries to pass.
White has momentary wrist control but Magnier slips an elbow through the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Magnier looking to pass the guard.

White is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Magnier is aware though and is defending well.
Magnier might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Magnier stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. White swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Magnier preventing the sweep.
Magnier looking to pass the guard.
White is trying to control the position from the bottom.

White had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Magnier defends it easily.
Magnier is looking to work some ground and pound but White has wrist control.

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.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Magnier accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

White is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Magnier is aware though and is defending well.

Magnier got a little sloppy there for a moment and White has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Magnier has managed to get both his arms back between White's legs - danger averted.
Magnier distracts White with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Christian Magnier overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Magnier postures up and lands a big shot to White's brow.
Magnier throws a strike but White rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Magnier is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
White wants to pass the guard but Magnier is keeping the position.

Magnier throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Magnier looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Christian Magnier dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Magnier shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. White is trying to defend but Magnier finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Magnier is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. White doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Magnier.
Magnier sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. White defending well though.
White blocking the ground and pound attempt from Magnier.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Magnier thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed White's head.
White is looking for a sweep. Magnier is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
White is not content to let Magnier control the position.

White looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Magnier takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
White slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Magnier trying to control the position from guard on top but White is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Magnier passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Magnier scores with punches from side control.
Magnier working the ground and pound from side control.
Magnier in side control, throwing shots but White defends.
White takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
White takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
White tries to bench press Magnier off him but Magnier keeps the position.
Magnier working the ground and pound.
White is not content to let Magnier control the position.
Magnier creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Magnier tries to move into full mount but can't pass White's legs.
White is trying to control Magnier's posture but Magnier avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Magnier thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
White is looking for a sweep.
Michael Jai White has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Magnier wants to control but White is keeping him busy.
Magnier working the head with strikes.
White defending against the ground and pound.
An elbow from Magnier crashes against the mat.
Magnier misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
White manages to work his way to half guard, despite Magnier's best efforts.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
White pushes Magnier off looking to stand but Magnier dives back in and keeps control.
Magnier working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
White on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
White trying to control but Magnier postures up.
White moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Magnier landing some decent shots from guard.

White looking for a guillotine here but Magnier defends easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
White keeping moving, preventing Magnier from controlling successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
Christian Magnier showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Magnier, 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:27
Judge George Francis scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Christian Magnier!