PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Riku Noitalahti (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shaq Michaels (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Michaels's choice of entrance music: SEXY BOY. Shaq Michaels has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Riku Noitalahti's chin.

Noitalahti
vs
Michaels

192 cm
22
267 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

185 cm
26
225 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
KO power

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Riku Noitalahti!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Shaq Michaels!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Arvi Lind and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Michaels misses with an uppercut. Noitalahti saw that one coming.

Noitalahti drops Michaels with a hook right on the temple. He thinks about going to the ground but Michaels looks back up at him and smiles so Noitalahti waves him back to his feet - he obviously thinks he can knock him out after that shot landed.

It looks like Shaq Michaels has been cut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Noitalahti is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Michaels.
Noitalahti throws a jab but it's blocked by Michaels.
Noitalahti fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Michaels is out of range.
Noitalahti takes a swing at Michaels's ribcage but misses.
Noitalahti throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Noitalahti ducks under a wild hook from Michaels.
Noitalahti uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Michaels.
Noitalahti is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Noitalahti dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Michaels. That did some damage!
Noitalahti misses with a straight right.
Noitalahti stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Noitalahti wants it to stay on the feet.
Noitalahti tried to score with a low kick but Michaels checks it.
Noitalahti throws a right and a left that both miss.
Noitalahti moves away from the strike by Michaels.
Michaels avoids a punch combination nicely.
Michaels blocks a jab.
Noitalahti uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Michaels.
Michaels fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Noitalahti manages to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Michaels thows a body shot but no joy.
Noitalahti throws a hook but Michaels avoids it easily.
Noitalahti throws a big shot that misses.
Michaels throws a big shot that misses.
Michaels avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Noitalahti displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Michaels throws out the jab.
Noitalahti uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Michaels.
Michaels is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Noitalahti misses with a low kick.
Noitalahti takes a swing at Michaels's ribcage but misses.
Michaels throws a jab but it's blocked by Noitalahti.
A jab from Noitalahti misses.

Noitalahti gets caught flat footed, as Michaels shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Noitalahti keeping full guard, as Michaels tries to pass.
Michaels with a flurry of punches that miss.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Michaels wants to pass the guard but Noitalahti is keeping the position.
Michaels throwing strikes from guard but Noitalahti blocks nicely.

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.
Noitalahti lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Michaels!
Michaels can't escape the position.
Noitalahti can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Michaels is looking to escape.
Noitalahti lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Michaels hang on?
Noitalahti has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Michaels's face.
Michaels holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Noitalahti tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Michaels tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Noitalahti lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Michaels hang on?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Noitalahti scoring with strikes but Michaels is staying in there.
Noitalahti with a couple of short strikes.

Michaels is rocked!
Noitalahti lands a big elbow - Michaels is in trouble! More strikes from the mount and Michaels is forced to tap out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:27 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Riku Noitalahti!