PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Michael Michaels (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Samu Voutilainen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Voutilainen has chosen Girls wanna have fun as his entrance music. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Michaels
vs
Voutilainen

170 cm
19
160 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

180 cm
18
160 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Michael Michaels!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Samu Voutilainen!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Michaels shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Voutilainen as he jumps to the side.

Michaels decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Voutilainen regains full guard. Nicely done.
Michaels works over Voutilainen with some ground and pound from guard.
Michaels preventing the sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Michaels working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Michaels pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Voutilainen is keeping the position for now.
Michaels postures up and lands a big shot to Voutilainen's brow.

Voutilainen working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Michaels doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Michaels manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Michaels stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Voutilainen swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Voutilainen trying to strike off his back.

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

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Voutilainen gets the takedown into side control.
Voutilainen wants to stand but Michaels has his arm trapped.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Michaels is not content to let Voutilainen control the position.
Voutilainen in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Michaels tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Michaels wants to control but Voutilainen postures up.
Michaels parries the strikes from Voutilainen easily there. Voutilainen is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Michaels to escape.
Voutilainen working the ground and pound but Michaels is defending the strikes.
You can see the frustration on Michaels's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

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

Voutilainen drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Michaels has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Voutilainen can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Voutilainen stopping the sweep attempt from Michaels.
Michaels is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Voutilainen wants to pass the guard but Michaels is keeping the position.
Michaels 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.
Michaels keeping full guard, as Voutilainen tries to pass.
Voutilainen wanted to stand there but Michaels had control of the position.
Voutilainen slips nicely into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Voutilainen seems to be working for a kimura but Michaels defends the submission attempt.
Michaels trying to control here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Michaels throws a body punch but Voutilainen moves out of range.
Michaels shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Voutilainen finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Michaels has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael Michaels. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Voutilainen connects with the punch.
Voutilainen circles away from the clinch attempt
and Voutilainen counters with a nice leg kick.

Voutilainen drives through with a takedown into guard.
Michaels looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Voutilainen wants to pass the guard but Michaels is keeping the position.
Michaels is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Voutilainen taking some punishment here, with Michaels in his half guard.
Michaels seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

Voutilainen looking for subs from the bottom but Michaels mounts him!
Michaels lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Voutilainen hang on?
Michaels looking to finish Voutilainen with some ground and pound. This is bad for Voutilainen!
Voutilainen is squirming around, avoiding Michaels's attempts to control the action.
Voutilainen is wriggling around trying to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Samu Voutilainen dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Voutilainen tries to score a body lock takedown but Michaels shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Michaels tries for a takedown. No joy.
Michaels prevents a takedown attempt there.
A right handed body shot lands from Michaels.

Voutilainen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Voutilainen wants to clinch
and Michaels counters with a stiff right hand.
Michaels avoids the head kick by Voutilainen.
Michaels throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Voutilainen on the side of the head.

Michaels looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Michaels is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Michaels is looking to advance position but Voutilainen won't allow it.
Voutilainen wants to improve his position but Michaels is controlling well.
Michaels winds up and cracks Voutilainen with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Voutilainen has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Michaels is working away from the top position though.
Voutilainen missing with punches from the bottom.
Voutilainen is looking for a sweep. Michaels is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Voutilainen is breathing heavily.
Voutilainen works his way to full guard. Good work.

Voutilainen looking for a guillotine here but Michaels defends easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Voutilainen trying to strike off his back.
Michaels stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Voutilainen swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Michaels lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Michaels stopping the sweep attempt from Voutilainen.

Voutilainen has an active guard here but Michaels has managed to pass into half guard.
Voutilainen is trying to stand back up but Michaels is controlling him
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. Michaels connects with a nice short shot to Voutilainen's temple.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Voutilainen is pressing down on Michaels's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Michaels sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Michaels wants to control from the top but Voutilainen keeps moving.

Voutilainen is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Michaels is in close to Voutilainen's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Michael Michaels overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Voutilainen is trying to keep Michaels in close.
Michaels with a nice head shot there.
Michaels is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Michaels being controlled here momentarily.
Michaels trying to control the position from guard on top but Voutilainen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Michaels wants to pass the guard but Voutilainen is keeping the position.
Voutilainen is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
The fight stays on the outside here - Michaels looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nice body kick from Voutilainen.
Voutilainen chopping away at his opponent's legs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Michaels dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Voutilainen tries to clinch but Michaels moves out of range.

Michaels 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.

Voutilainen has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Michaels can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Michaels postures up.
Michaels stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Voutilainen swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Voutilainen working a defensive guard here.
Michaels is looking to work some ground and pound but Voutilainen has wrist control.
Michaels trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Michaels stopping the sweep attempt from Voutilainen.
Michaels wants to pass the guard but Voutilainen is keeping the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Michaels misses with a takedown attempt

and Voutilainen counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Voutilainen.

Voutilainen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Michaels closes the distance but Voutilainen moves to the side
and Voutilainen counters with a good, hard body kick but Michaels shrugs it off.
Michaels scores with a one two! Voutilainen had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

It looks like Samu Voutilainen has been cut.
Michaels is looking to clinch but Voutilainen is avoiding it.
Michaels misses with a takedown attempt - Voutilainen sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Michaels is looking to clinch.
Michaels moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Voutilainen swinging wilding here.
Michaels throws a nice looking combination but Voutilainen bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Michaels throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Voutilainen's waist but Voutilainen gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Michaels off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael Michaels. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Michaels tries to clinch but Voutilainen moves out of range.
Voutilainen fails with an attempt to clinch.
Voutilainen fails with a takedown attempt.

Michaels shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Michaels controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Michaels being controlled here momentarily.
Voutilainen controls Michaels momentarily but Michaels frees himself.
Voutilainen wants to sweep here but Michaels controlling him for the moment.
Voutilainen controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Voutilainen working for a triangle but Michaels defends it easily.

Voutilainen looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Michaels stopping the sweep attempt from Voutilainen.

Voutilainen looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Michaels forces his way into half guard.
Michaels trying to mount his opponent but Voutilainen defends it.
Voutilainen looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Michaels is trying to control the action in half guard but Voutilainen is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Voutilainen gets full guard.
Voutilainen tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Voutilainen throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Michaels shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Voutilainen has taken the fight to the clinch.
Michaels gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Voutilainen.
Voutilainen wants to break the clinch but can't.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Michaels showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Michaels has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 29:28

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