PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ming Xin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Max Michaels (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Xin's entrance music is Jiào tiānxià 教天下. A fine choice. Michaels has chosen Hillbilly Deluxe as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Max Michaels acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Xin
vs
Michaels

180 cm
29
218 lbs
27 - 11 - 1

185 cm
27
215 lbs
16 - 11 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Conviction
Convicted Trap House

TFP Graphics - Pit Inc

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 27 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ming Xin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Max Michaels!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Xin with a poor takedown
and Michaels counters with a head kick. That will keep Xin thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Michaels moves away from the strike by Xin.
Xin throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Michaels connects with an inside leg kick.

Xin shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Michaels looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Xin trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Michaels looking to hit a scissor sweep but Xin is one step ahead there.
Xin trying to control the position from guard on top but Michaels is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Xin slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Michaels is looking for a triangle but Xin pushes his legs off easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Xin trying to control but Michaels is working from the bottom.

Michaels looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Xin loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Xin throws a big right hand that misses.

Michaels has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Xin can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Xin trying to control but Michaels is working from the bottom.
Xin looking to pass the guard.
Xin working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Michaels's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Michaels is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Xin defends well.
Xin working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Xin postures up in Michaels's guard and throws a big left but Michaels blocks it.
Xin throws a strike but Michaels rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Michaels working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Michaels postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Xin preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Xin bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Michaels's guard.

Michaels is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Xin defends well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Michaels looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Xin stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Michaels swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Xin passes into half guard.
Michaels has a hand on Xin's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Xin takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Xin trying to control but Michaels is having none of it.
Michaels working to try and regain half guard.
Michaels manages to regain half guard. Good work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Michaels looking for submissions off his back.
Xin has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Michaels is not content to let Xin control the position.
Michaels is looking for a sweep. Xin is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Michaels wants to control but Xin is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Michaels is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Xin pulls his head out easily.

Michaels actively working from the bottom here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Michaels works his way to full guard. Good work.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Xin wants to control from the top but Michaels keeps moving.

Xin got a little sloppy there for a moment and Michaels has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Xin has managed to get both his arms back between Michaels's legs - danger averted.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Max Michaels will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Xin tries to land a front kick but Michaels steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Xin scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
A jab lands there for Xin.
Xin just misses with a punch to the body.
Michaels throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Xin closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Michaels to the mat! Michaels manages to get full guard.
Xin stands and throws Michaels's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Michaels is trying to improve his position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Xin tries to move to mount but Michaels blocks the move with his legs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Michaels is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Xin's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Xin is working for a kimura but Michaels is defending it quite comfortably.
Xin wants to take a breather but Michaels is having none of it.
Michaels is looking to control Xin's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Michaels avoid being mounted?
Michaels has his hands clasped together around Xin's back. He's all about the action.
Michaels trying to control here.
Xin is trying to control the action in half guard but Michaels is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Michaels wants to control but Xin is keeping busy.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Max Michaels wasn't active enough on the ground.
Xin looks to land a combination but Michaels avoids it well.
A thudding body kick lands there by Michaels!
Xin misses with a hook. Michaels ducked under it nicely.

Michaels rushes Xin and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Xin stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
A shot in the inside from Xin.
Michaels misses with a body punch.
Xin tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Michaels with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Xin tries to pull guard but Michaels holds him up against the cage and eventually Xin drops back down to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Michaels throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Xin blocks it with crossed arms.
Xin throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Xin stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Xin blocks an uppercut.
Michaels lands with a short shot to the head.
Michaels is trying to maintain a safe position but Xin gets an underhook and turns Michaels into the cage.
A shot in the inside from Xin.
Michaels tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Xin avoids it.
Michaels blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Michaels avoids a wild elbow strike from Xin.
Xin goes for a takedown attempt but Michaels pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Michaels explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Michaels fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Xin swings widly with a right hand
and Michaels counters with a head kick.
Xin throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Michaels misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Xin looks to score with a jab to the body but Michaels is just out of range.
Xin misses with a wild body shot.
Xin is looking to chop away at Michaels's legs.
Xin avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A head kick misses from Michaels.
Michaels moves in looking to clinch but Xin pushes him off.
Xin looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Ming Xin will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Michaels tries to clinch up but Xin circles away and keeps his distance.
Ming Xin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Michaels feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Xin's calf.
Michaels connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Xin momentarily.
Xin swings for the body but Michaels moves out of range.
Michaels throws a right and a left that both miss.
Xin throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Michaels.
Xin jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Michaels digs a good body shot into Xin's ribs.
Xin looks to score with a jab to the body but Michaels is just out of range.
Michaels swinging wildly here.
Left hook, right uppercut from Michaels.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Xin misses with a low kick.
Xin throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Michaels misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Max Michaels is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Michaels avoids a punch combination nicely.
Michaels uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Xin.
Xin throws a leg kick that is checked
and Michaels counters with a head kick. That will keep Xin thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Xin jabs Michaels right on the nose. Michaels blinks but takes it well.
Michaels throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Xin counters with a nice low kick that buckles Michaels's knee momentarily.
Xin scores with a shot to the body.
Michaels misses with a low kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Michaels just misses with a punch to the body.
Xin keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Nice defenses there by Michaels.
A nice inside leg kick there by Xin. That's going to slow Michaels down.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Xin loads up on a big right hand but Michaels slips the punch.
Michaels uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Xin.
Xin shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Michaels but Michaels pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Michaels crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Xin - the referee stops the clock and Michaels gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Xin. Michaels manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Michaels tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Xin paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Michaels connects with a crisp jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Michaels.
A left and a right from Michaels both land. Nice combination.
Michaels tries to clinch but Xin moves out of range.

Michaels closes the distance and clinches.
Michaels trying to land knees to the body.
Michaels misses with a knee strike.
Michaels takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Michaels tries a body shot but Xin blocks it.
Michaels is trying to stall.
Michaels with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Michaels trying to land knees to the body.
Xin lands a body punch in the clinch.
Xin is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Michaels takes an elbow to the temple.
Xin blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Michaels misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Xin goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Michaels stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
A bit of stalling here from Michaels.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Michaels.
Michaels missing with knees to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Michaels is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Xin is keeping busy.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Michaels blocks a body shot from Xin.
A nice right hand lands inside from Michaels.

And that's the end of the fight!
Max Michaels comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Michaels has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Max Michaels!
Max Michaels thanked the fans post fight for their support.