PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Joe Swanson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jermaine Michaels (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Swanson
vs
Michaels

190 cm
23
195 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

175 cm
18
181 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Joe Swanson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jermaine Michaels!
The judges for this bout are , Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Michaels scores with a head kick.

It looks like Joe Swanson has been cut.
Swanson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Michaels.
Swanson avoids the head kick by Michaels.
Michaels fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

Swanson shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Swanson was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Swanson trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Michaels is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Michaels is squirming around, avoiding Swanson's attempts to control the action.
Swanson is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Michaels is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Swanson tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Swanson can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Michaels is looking to escape.
Michaels is in all sorts of trouble here.
Michaels is squirming around, avoiding Swanson's attempts to control the action.

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.
Swanson unloading with bombs!
Swanson controlling his opponent.
Michaels is wriggling around trying to escape.
Swanson can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Michaels is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Michaels is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Michaels is desperately trying to improve his position but Swanson has a good base and remains in mount.
Swanson will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Michaels regains half guard.
Swanson passes to side control.
Michaels wants to get back to his feet but Swanson drags him back down.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Michaels tries to control but Swanson manages to take his back.
Swanson trying to control momentarily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Michaels is trying to stand back up.
Michaels trying to control the action but Swanson just sinks the hooks in.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jermaine Michaels will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Joe Swanson's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Michaels tries to clinch but Swanson moves out of range.
Michaels tries to clinch but Swanson moves out of range.
Michaels throws a nice inside leg kick.
Michaels throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Michaels misses with a kick to the body.

Swanson moves into the clinch.
Michaels lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Swanson looking to stall.
Michaels tries a knee to the head but Swanson blocks it.
Michaels misses with a knee strike.
Michaels tries to land a knee to the head but Swanson blocks with his arms.
Michaels with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Swanson pressing his opponent against the cage.
Michaels is trying to maintain a safe position but Swanson gets an underhook and turns Michaels into the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Swanson leaning his opponent against the cage.
Michaels with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Swanson stalling the fight.
Michaels misses with an elbow over the top.

Swanson has clasped his hands together around Michaels's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Swanson trying to control the action but Michaels is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Swanson controlling the position from side mount.
Swanson tries to move to mount but Michaels blocks the move with his legs.

That's two 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.
Swanson is looking to take a break and control but Michaels is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Michaels tries to improve position but can't.
Swanson working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Swanson trying to control the action but Michaels is working from the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Michaels closes the distance but Swanson moves to the side

and Swanson counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Michaels is looking to stand up but Swanson isn't so interested in that idea.
Michaels trying to control the position.
Swanson chips away with some ground and pound.
Michaels is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Michaels keeping moving, preventing Swanson from controlling successfully.
Michaels wants to get back to his feet but Swanson is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Michaels being controlled here, momentarily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Michaels manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Swanson dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Joe Swanson's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Swanson moves into the clinch.
Swanson trying to land knees to the body.
Stalling in the clinch from Swanson.
Michaels tries to stall but Swanson uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Michaels scores a nice knee to the body.
Michaels lands an elbow just above Swanson 's eye.
Michaels misses with a knee to the head.
The is referee keeping an eye on Swanson - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Swanson tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Michaels using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Swanson has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Swanson tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Swanson takes a knee right on the jaw!

Swanson gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Swanson is keen to just control but Michaels is a slippery customer.
Michaels is looking to control Swanson's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Michaels avoid being mounted?

That's one minute gone in the round.

Swanson stands up and beckons Michaels to join him on the feet.

Michaels closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Swanson takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Michaels landing knees to the body.

Swanson works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.

Michaels has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Swanson can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Michaels keeping moving, preventing Swanson from controlling successfully.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Michaels wants to stand but Swanson is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Michaels is looking to stand back up but Swanson counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Michaels.
Michaels defending against the ground and pound.

Michaels throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Michaels tries a head kick but it misses.

Swanson looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Swanson trying to control but Michaels is working from the bottom.
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.
Swanson sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Michaels is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Swanson is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joe Swanson showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Swanson 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 Suge Night scores the fight 29:28
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joe Swanson!