PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Uncle Rico (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sandy McSouthers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). McSouthers has chosen VNV Nation - Anthem as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Rico
vs
McSouthers

174 cm
25
190 lbs
11 - 5 - 0

183 cm
27
200 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

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 11 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Uncle Rico!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sandy McSouthers!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Ivan Kurochkin and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McSouthers throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
McSouthers swinging wildly here.
Rico keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
McSouthers works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

McSouthers moves into the clinch.
McSouthers scores with a nice hook to the head.
A right hook to the body lands for Rico.
Rico working aggressively here.
Rico tries to score a body lock takedown but McSouthers shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
McSouthers scores with a hook to the body.
Rico is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Rico is working for takedown but McSouthers is calmly controlling the position for now.
McSouthers is pressed up against the cage. Rico has hold of a leg and is looking to drag McSouthers down to the mat. McSouthers avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Uncle Rico. That's going to take a lot out of him.
McSouthers tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rico paws at him with a jab and circles away.

McSouthers throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Rico was covering up waiting for the punch and McSouthers finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Rico 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McSouthers is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Rico wants to sweep but no luck.
McSouthers trying to control but Rico is working from the bottom.
McSouthers stopping the sweep attempt from Rico.
Rico trying to keep a closed guard but McSouthers is proving a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Rico looking to hit a scissor sweep but McSouthers is one step ahead there.
McSouthers must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
McSouthers trying to control but Rico is working from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
McSouthers ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rico moves away.

McSouthers gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McSouthers pushes Rico back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
McSouthers has a couple of punches blocked by Rico.
McSouthers blocking some punches.
McSouthers lands a body punch.
Rico blocking some punches.
McSouthers misses with a hook to the ribs.
Rico works on McSouthers's body with a couple of short punches.
Rico tries a body shot but McSouthers blocks it.
McSouthers leaning his opponent against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for McSouthers.
Rico tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. McSouthers just stands there and leans against the cage.
Rico struggles to land a body shot inside as McSouthers controls his hands.
McSouthers gets through Rico's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rico throws a punch but it's blocked by McSouthers.
Rico wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but McSouthers has him pressed against the cage.
Rico's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
McSouthers doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
McSouthers tries to work over Rico's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Rico misses with a punch on the inside.
Rico lands a right hand.

Rico's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
McSouthers wants to clinch.
Rico throws a body punch but McSouthers moves out of range.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rico misses with a straight right.
Rico misses with a telegraphed body shot

and McSouthers counters with a single leg into guard. Rico didn't expect that.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Rico tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Rico not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sandy McSouthers dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Rico swings for the body but McSouthers moves out of range.
Rico swings for the body but McSouthers moves out of range.
Rico misses with an uppercut.
A big right from McSouthers misses.
Rico misses with a shot to the body
and McSouthers counters with a left and a right that stings Rico.
A big left from Rico misses.
Rico throws a hook but McSouthers blocks it.
McSouthers uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rico.
McSouthers tries to clinch up but Rico circles away and keeps his distance.
Rico doesn't succeed with the takedown

and McSouthers counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
McSouthers holding his opponent close, against the cage.
McSouthers lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Rico scores with a nice hook to the head.
McSouthers lands with a right to the head.
McSouthers's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rico blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Rico jumps guard but McSouthers stands there with Rico around his waist. Rico gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Rico blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Rico misses with the head strike.
Rico can't find room to land a body shot as McSouthers controls the action.
McSouthers tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
McSouthers tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Rico blocks an uppercut.
McSouthers scores with a hook to the body.
McSouthers stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
A frustrated look appears on Rico's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Rico escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rico. McSouthers does a little dance to reset his feet.
Rico just misses with a punch to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Rico lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
McSouthers keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rico thows a body shot but no joy.
Rico lands a body shot.
Rico misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from McSouthers.
A shot to the body from McSouthers misses
and Rico counters with a right hand to the body.
Rico looks to score with a jab to the body but McSouthers is just out of range.
Rico is looking to wear down McSouthers with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
McSouthers looks to land a left hand but Rico moved out of range nicely.
McSouthers wants to clinch up but Rico keeps it at a distance.
Rico throws a hook to the side of McSouthers's head but McSouthers sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
McSouthers uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rico.
McSouthers with a nice cross.
Rico looks to land a left hand but McSouthers moved out of range nicely.
McSouthers drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Rico ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Rico thows a body shot but no joy.
Sandy McSouthers seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McSouthers looks to land a right hand but Rico moved out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rico throws a body punch but McSouthers moves out of range.
Rico cracks a nice hook into McSouthers's ribs.
McSouthers lands a nice hook to Rico's body. Rico takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
A big right from Rico misses.
McSouthers throws a right hand that Rico ducks under and follows up with a left that Rico also avoids with ease.
Rico throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
McSouthers misses with a hook to the body
letting Rico counter with a right hand.
McSouthers looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Rico looks to score with a jab to the body but McSouthers is just out of range.
Rico connects with a body shot.
Rico throws a predictable looking body shot

and McSouthers counters by moving into the clinch.
McSouthers misses with a hook to the ribs.
McSouthers fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Rico takes a shot to the head.
McSouthers gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Rico.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Uncle Rico. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rico tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A short left from McSouthers.
The referee calls for McSouthers to work.
Rico has a couple of punches blocked by McSouthers.
Rico prevents a body shot from McSouthers.
Rico misses with a punch on the inside.
McSouthers lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Rico lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
McSouthers tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
McSouthers is pushing Rico up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
McSouthers looking to stall.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Sandy McSouthers will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

McSouthers clinches up against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by McSouthers.
McSouthers swings away with an uppercut that misses.
McSouthers tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Rico's elbow.
Rico struggles to land a body shot inside as McSouthers controls his hands.
McSouthers blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Rico wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but McSouthers has him pressed against the cage.
McSouthers tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Rico prevents a body shot from McSouthers.
McSouthers swings wildly with an uppercut but Rico uses good head movement to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McSouthers is pressed up against the cage. Rico has hold of a leg and is looking to drag McSouthers down to the mat. McSouthers avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Rico takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Rico staying out of range there.
McSouthers doesn't manage to clinch there - Rico circles away.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rico. McSouthers does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McSouthers uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rico.
McSouthers misses with the combination.
McSouthers takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Rico keeps the fight on the outside.
Rico lands a nice looking body shot.
Rico misses the body punch

and McSouthers moves into the clinch.
Rico lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down McSouthers.
McSouthers misses with some punches.
Rico goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Rico misses with the head strike.
Rico blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Rico has McSouthers pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. McSouthers manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
McSouthers tries to work over Rico's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Rico misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Rico lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Sandy McSouthers is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A short right from Rico.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Rico creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
McSouthers works on Rico's body with a couple of short punches.
Rico scores with a shoulder strike.
McSouthers is leaning against Rico and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Rico misses with a body punch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rico.
McSouthers lands with a short shot to the head.
Rico can't find room to land a body shot as McSouthers controls the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rico has a couple of punches blocked by McSouthers.
Rico pushes McSouthers back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Rico is looking to break free of the clinch but McSouthers has double underhooks.
Rico can't find room to land a body shot as McSouthers controls the action.
Rico is trying to break the clinch but McSouthers has him pressed against the cage.
McSouthers lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Rico backwards.
Rico misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Rico has a couple of punches blocked by McSouthers.
Rico blocks an uppercut.

That's four 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.
Stalling in the clinch from McSouthers.
McSouthers is working Rico over against the cage.
Rico tries a body shot but McSouthers blocks it.
Rico wants to get back to striking at distance but McSouthers won't allow it.
Rico drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Uncle Rico has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Uncle Rico. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rico lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt McSouthers or not.
Rico tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Rico scores with a hook to the body.
Sandy McSouthers seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Rico presses McSouthers against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Uncle Rico showed his dominance in that final round.
I think McSouthers 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sandy McSouthers!