PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tony Dante (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brett Michaels (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Dante
vs
Michaels

190 cm
22
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
22
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid 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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tony Dante!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Brett Michaels!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Daniel Franklin and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Dante moves into the clinch successfully.
Michaels tries to score a body lock takedown but Dante shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Dante is pressed up against the cage. Michaels has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Dante down to the mat. Dante avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Dante stuffs the takedown attempt from Michaels. Michaels gets slowly back to his feet.
Tony Dante has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brett Michaels.
Michaels fails to land the takedown.
Dante stuffs the takedown attempt from Michaels. Michaels gets slowly back to his feet.

Michaels shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Dante's guard.
Michaels passes into half guard.
Michaels is pressing down on Dante's thigh, looking to free his foot. Dante is holding on for now.
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.
Michaels is tying to control. Dante wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Dante trying to control from the bottom.
Michaels is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

Michaels is looking for a kimura here.
Michaels looks gassed!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Michaels is thwarting Dante's attempts to control the position.
Michaels seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Dante does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Dante feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Dante can do anything to dispel that myth.
Dante pushes down on Michaels's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Dante perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Dante is just content to waste time from the top position. Michaels takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Dante won't allow Michaels to sweep him here.
Dante trying to control the position from guard on top but Michaels is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dante wants to stand but Michaels has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Michaels tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Michaels is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Michaels keeping full guard, as Dante tries to pass.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Dante avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Brett Michaels seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Dante darts in and clinches Michaels up against the cage.
Dante will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Michaels up against the cage.
Dante wants to break free but Michaels has control.

Michaels has picked Dante up - he's going for a ride! Michaels dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Michaels throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Dante keeping hold of Michaels's head, controlling as best he can.
Dante wants to control but Michaels is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Dante flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Michaels lands with a punch from half guard.
Michaels working over Dante with some ground and pound. Dante looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Michaels scoring with strikes to the body and head.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Dante gets caught flat footed, as Michaels shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Michaels avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Dante looking to hit a scissor sweep but Michaels is one step ahead there.
Michaels passes Dante's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Michaels not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Michaels trying to pass the guard but Dante defending well.
Dante has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Michaels is working away from the top position though.
Dante wants to get back to full guard.
Michaels perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Dante is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Michaels scores with a couple of nice shots.
Dante trying to control but Michaels postures up.
Dante tries to get to full guard but Michaels has control of the leg.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Michaels gets the takedown into side control.
Michaels lands a few punches from side control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Michaels landing a few strikes.
Dante taking punishment in the form of punches.
Michaels controls the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Michaels shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Dante tries to reverse the position but Michaels maintains control.
Michaels controlling the pace for now.
Dante is looking to improve his position but Michaels isn't that keen on the idea.
Michaels landing shots from mount.
Dante looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!

Dante is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Dante is taking damage to the body and head.

Michaels is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Dante has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Michaels trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Michaels is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Dante knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Dante for a finish.
Dante wants to control his opponent's hands but Michaels gets his hands free.
Michaels lands with a nice looking elbow that stuns Dante.
Dante turns into Michaels and is now in his guard.
Dante preventing the sweep.
Dante seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Dante pushing down on Michaels's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Brett Michaels has got the better of the ground game so far.
Michaels is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Michaels trying to hold on to Dante's head to control him but Dante postures up.
Michaels gets full guard.
Dante trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Michaels tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Michaels keeping moving, preventing Dante from controlling successfully.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Michaels doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Dante counters with a straight right hand.
Dante displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Michaels misses with a jab, cross combination.

Michaels closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Dante manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Dante is tying to control. Michaels wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Michaels is trying to stand up here but Dante is controlling him well.
Michaels is looking to control Dante's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Michaels avoid being mounted?

Dante is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Michaels doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Dante.
Michaels tries to get to full guard but Dante has control of the leg.
Michaels is not content to let Dante control the position.
Dante slows the pace down in half guard.
Dante scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Dante slows the pace down in half guard.
Michaels is staying active underneath Dante, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Michaels is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Michaels wants to control but Dante is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Dante content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Dante trying to pass the guard but Michaels defending well.
Dante works his foot free and advances to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Brett Michaels will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Dante has Michaels up against the cage in a clinch.
Dante tries to stall but Michaels uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Michaels drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Dante gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Michaels lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

Michaels has hold of one of Dante's legs. Dante is fighting the takedown attempt but Michaels gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Dante preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Dante avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Dante controls Michaels momentarily but Michaels frees himself.
Dante tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Michaels wants to control from the top but Dante keeps moving.
Dante controls Michaels momentarily but Michaels frees himself.
Michaels trying to control but Dante is working from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Dante has his takedown stuffed

and Michaels counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Dante is staying active underneath Michaels, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Dante tries to roll over but Michaels keeps him under control.
Dante preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Michaels is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Dante works his way to full guard. Good work.
Michaels landing with the ground and pound.
Dante keeping moving, preventing Michaels from controlling successfully.
Michaels is looking to work some ground and pound but Dante has wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Michaels wants to stand but Dante has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Dante looking for a guillotine here but Michaels defends easily.
Michaels controls from within his opponent's guard.
Michaels throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Dante works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Michaels keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Dante's head.
Michaels sitting in guard here, content to control.
Michaels thows a big elbow that misses.
Dante wants to sweep here but Michaels controlling him for the moment.
Michaels passes Dante's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Michaels with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Michaels not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Michaels tries to pass the half guard into mount. Dante knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Michaels wants to take a breather but Dante is having none of it.
Dante gets back to full guard.

Dante looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Dante is trying to keep Michaels in close.
Dante keeping moving, preventing Michaels from controlling successfully.
Dante pulls Michaels in close to prevent any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Michaels is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Michaels avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Michaels keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Dante's head.
Michaels wants to control from the top but Dante keeps moving.
Michaels scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Dante not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Michaels trying to control the position from guard on top but Dante is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Michaels content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Tony Dante has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Michaels controlling from the top position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Brett Michaels comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Michaels winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brett Michaels!