PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Bruce Macfee (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bruce Ko (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.

Macfee
vs
Ko

185 cm
18
184 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
20
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Bruce Macfee!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Bruce Ko!
The judges for this bout are Skip Squint, Donatello Bradman and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ko shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ko fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Macfee avoids it really well and circles away.
Nice sprawl there from Macfee as Ko shoots in.
Bruce Macfee has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bruce Ko.
Macfee tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ko paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Ko scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Macfee is looking to improve his position.
Macfee tries to kick Ko off but Ko keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Macfee is staying active underneath Ko, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Ko is looking for a kimura but Macfee is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Ko to get the leverage.
Ko looks gassed!
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Ko lands a nice short elbow.
Ko has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Macfee is trying to get back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Macfee is trying to stand back up but Ko is controlling him

That's one minute gone in the round.

Macfee looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ko tries to pass to full mount but Macfee defends it.

Ko is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Ko thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Macfee's head.
Macfee missing with punches from the bottom.
Macfee is trying to control but Ko manages to pass to mount!

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.
Ko postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Macfee looks a forlorn figure.

Ko is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Macfee is surviving well by controlling Ko's body position as best he can.
Macfee is wriggling around trying to escape.
Macfee tries to lock up and control but Ko gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Ko prevents Macfee from getting the reversal.
Ko avoids the attempt from Macfee to control.
Macfee wants to get back to his feet.
Macfee working to try and regain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ko trying to control but Macfee is having none of it.
BOOM! Ko connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Ko dominating with strikes here.
Macfee tries to hold on but Ko postures up.
Ko looking to control but Macfee is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Macfee keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Ko looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.

Ko is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Macfee to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Macfee shrugs it off.
Macfee tries to lock up and control but Ko gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Ko working for a submission but Macfee is keeping him at bay.
Ko trying to control but he's not successful this time.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Ko is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Macfee is surviving well by controlling Ko's body position as best he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bruce Ko dominated that round.
That's time! Macfee's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Ko leaves Macfee with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Ko gets a clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Macfee creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Macfee jumps guard but Ko stands there with Macfee around his waist. Macfee gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Ko wants a takedown.
Ko has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Macfee avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Ko goes for a takedown in the clinch but Macfee prevents it.
Bruce Macfee has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bruce Ko.
A nice right hand lands inside from Macfee.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Macfee.
Ko has Macfee pressed against the cage, preventing Macfee from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Macfee lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Ko backwards.
A short uppercut from Macfee.
Macfee jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Ko walks away with a smile on his face. Macfee gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ko circles away from the clinch attempt

and Ko moves into the clinch.
Macfee working some nice short punches in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ko tries to score a body lock takedown but Macfee shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Macfee has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Ko avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Macfee trying to control the position but instead, Ko has worked for underhooks and has pushed Macfee into the cage.
Macfee dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Macfee scores with a shot to the side of Ko's head.
Macfee using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
A frustrated look appears on Macfee's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Macfee working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

Ko gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Macfee looking for a sweep. Not yet Macfee, not yet.
Ko pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Macfee is keeping the position for now.
Macfee is trying to keep Ko in close.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Macfee keeping moving, preventing Ko from controlling successfully.

Ko drops back looking for a leg! Macfee is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Macfee manages to kick Ko off! Ko jumps back into Macfee's guard.
Macfee keeping moving, preventing Ko from controlling successfully.
Macfee trying to keep a closed guard but Ko is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Ko avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Ko tries a head kick but it misses.
Macfee shoots in for a takedown but Ko shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Ko shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Macfee as he jumps to the side.
Ko fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Macfee clinches but Ko breaks the clinch

and Ko counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Macfee!

Ko is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Macfee has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Ko working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Macfee tries to hold on but Ko pushes him away.

Ko stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nice sprawl there from Macfee as Ko shoots in.
Macfee tries to close the distance and clinch but Ko swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Macfee doesn't manage to clinch there - Ko circles away.
Ko fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Macfee moves in looking to clinch but Ko pushes him off.

Ko closes the distance and clinches.
Macfee stops a takedown attempt from Ko.
Ko jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Macfee walks away with a smile on his face. Ko gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Macfee tries to clinch

and Ko counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Ko is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Macfee not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bruce Ko showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Macfee wants to clinch.
Macfee looks to clinch

and Ko counters with a shoot takedown. Macfee fights it but they end up in guard.
Macfee keeping moving, preventing Ko from controlling successfully.
Macfee 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.

Ko gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Macfee tries to clinch but Ko moves away

and Ko counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Ko.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ko works over Macfee with some ground and pound from guard.
Macfee utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Ko drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Ko jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ko is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ko missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Ko trying to control but Macfee is working from the bottom.
Ko is stalling in the full guard.
Macfee trying to control the position.
Ko keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Macfee's head.

Ko is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Macfee looking for a guillotine here but Ko defends easily.
Macfee knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Ko on the ground.

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.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Macfee displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Ko.
Macfee rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Ko moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Ko closes this distance looking for a takedown but Macfee circles away.

Ko scores with a takedown into Macfee's guard.
Ko stands and throws Macfee's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Ko working the head with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Check out the look on Ko's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!

Ko working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Ko has control of an arm but Macfee manages to advance to Ko's back!
Macfee is trying to stick to Ko's back but Ko is turning into Macfee. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Macfee's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Ko.
Ko trying to control but Macfee is working from the bottom.
Ko postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Ko throwing strikes from guard but Macfee blocks nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Ko drops back looking for a leg! Macfee is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Macfee manages to kick Ko off! Ko jumps back into Macfee's guard.
Macfee is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Bruce Ko is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Ko showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Ko in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bruce Ko comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Ko 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 Skip Squint scores the fight 27:30
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 27:30
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bruce Ko!