PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Blake McThai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lucciano Becchio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

McThai
vs
Becchio

186 cm
18
212 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

186 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Blake McThai!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Lucciano Becchio!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Matti Vanhoillinen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Becchio tries to close the distance and clinch up but McThai swats him away and circles back towards the center.
McThai is trying hard to land a takedown here. Becchio sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
McThai bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

Becchio lands a left and a right that send McThai crashing to the mat, dazed. Becchio thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

It looks like Blake McThai has been cut.
Becchio misses with the combination.
McThai has a takedown stuffed.
Becchio scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Becchio throws a jab when McThai was well out of range.
Becchio misses with a few strikes there.
McThai shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Becchio defends it nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Blake McThai. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Becchio drops McThai with a beautiful combination! McThai stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Becchio is looking for the KO!

McThai is rocked!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Becchio throws a right and a left that both miss.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for McThai. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
Becchio swinging wildly here.
Becchio slips a jab and a cross from McThai.
Becchio throws a jab but it's blocked by McThai.
Lucciano Becchio seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Becchio lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but McThai circles away quickly and effectively.
McThai scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Becchio tries to score a power double leg takedown but McThai sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Becchio somewhat.
McThai will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Becchio throws a combination but it was largely blocked by McThai.
McThai looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Becchio is fending him off so far but McThai persists. Nope, Becchio circles away and we're back to standing.
Becchio moves in looking to clinch but McThai pushes him off.
Becchio tries to clinch but McThai is having none of it.
McThai fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
A solid body kick from McThai.
Becchio looks gassed!
McThai tries a head kick but it misses.
Becchio misses with a combination

and McThai counters by moving into the clinch.
Becchio is trying to break the clinch but McThai has him pressed against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A frustrated look appears on Becchio's face as he tries to break the clinch.
McThai is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Becchio pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Becchio wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
McThai tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Becchio smiles and moves away.
McThai shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Becchio defends it nicely.
A nice inside leg kick there by McThai. That's going to slow Becchio down.
McThai fails with a takedown attempt.
Becchio misses with the combination.
Becchio throws a right and a left that both miss.
McThai misses with a takedown attempt
and Becchio counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McThai swats away the attempt to clinch by Becchio.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from McThai.
McThai takes one on the chin but seems OK.

Blake McThai's cut is getting worse.
Becchio throws a left and a right that both miss
and McThai counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
McThai shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Becchio defends it nicely.
McThai fails in his attempt to clinch.
Becchio fails to land with a series of punches.
McThai bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Becchio throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
McThai fails with a takedown attempt.
McThai keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Becchio.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Becchio tries to bum rush McThai with a series of wild strikes but McThai uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Becchio swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and McThai counters by clinching up.
Becchio tries to break free but McThai pushes him back against the cage.
McThai is working for takedown but Becchio is calmly controlling the position for now.
Becchio is trying to break the clinch but McThai is controlling him.
McThai keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Becchio's efforts to push away.

McThai manages to break the clinch.
McThai shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Becchio throws a series of punches but McThai avoids them all with ease.
McThai shoots in for a double leg but Becchio sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Becchio throws a combination but it was largely blocked by McThai.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Becchio misses the shot to the body.
Becchio fails in his attempt to clinch.
McThai throws a half hearted mid kick.
Becchio avoids a punch combination nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lucciano Becchio dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Blake McThai's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

McThai shoots in looking for a takedown. Becchio tries to sprawl out of it but McThai keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Becchio manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
McThai throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Becchio's waist but Becchio gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing McThai off to one side.
McThai wants to clinch but Becchio slips to the side

and Becchio counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Becchio.
Becchio can't break the clinch.
McThai prevents Becchio from breaking the clinch.
Becchio wants to break the clinch but can't.
McThai is trying to maintain a safe position but Becchio gets an underhook and turns McThai into the cage.
Becchio is pushing McThai up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
McThai tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Becchio avoids it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McThai can't get the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Blake McThai. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Becchio working hard to break the clinch.
McThai wants to stall.

Becchio escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
McThai fails to land the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McThai with a poor takedown
and Becchio counters with a nice body shot.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Becchio instigates a clinch.
Becchio wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Becchio tries to circle away but McThai has him pinned against the cage.
McThai has had enough of the clinch but Becchio keeps him there for the moment.
Becchio is looking to break free of the clinch but McThai has double underhooks.
Becchio is looking to break free of the clinch but McThai has double underhooks.

Becchio's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
McThai tries a head kick but it misses.
Becchio falls off balance throwing a combination
and McThai counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
A combination from Becchio does no damage.
Becchio throws a series of punches but McThai moves out of range.
Becchio misses with a jab, cross combination.
McThai showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Becchio.
McThai shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Becchio but Becchio pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Becchio drives through and clinches with McThai against the cage.
McThai tries for a takedown but Becchio manages to get underhooks.
Becchio prevents a takedown attempt there.

Becchio escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
McThai closes this distance looking for a takedown but Becchio circles away.
McThai tries to clinch but Becchio moves out of range.
Becchio misses with a double jab.
McThai pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Becchio fails to land with a series of punches.
Becchio misses with a series of wild punches.
Becchio stuffs the takedown.
Lucciano Becchio seems to be getting the better of the standup.
McThai is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Some wild striking there from Becchio.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McThai shoots in for a takedown but Becchio shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Becchio throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and McThai counters with a body kick.
Becchio misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Becchio tries to clinch up.
Becchio swinging wildly here.
Becchio will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Nice sprawl there from Becchio as McThai shoots in.
Becchio throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Blake McThai is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
McThai shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Becchio as he avoids it easily.
McThai closes this distance looking for a takedown but Becchio circles away.
Becchio looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Becchio looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
McThai doesn't manage to clinch there - Becchio circles away.
McThai changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Becchio tries to avoid it but McThai manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Becchio to the ground. Becchio escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
McThai looks for the body kick but Becchio saw that one coming.
McThai dives in and grabs Becchio's left leg, looking for a takedown. Becchio pushes down on McThai's head and hops out.
Becchio misses with a jab, cross combination.
Some wild striking there from Becchio.
Horrible takedown by McThai or perhaps it was just good defense by Becchio which made him look bad.
Becchio misses with a double jab.
McThai shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Becchio as he jumps to the side.
Becchio misses with a double jab.
McThai is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lucciano Becchio showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Blake McThai's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

No joy there for Becchio, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
McThai pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Becchio has McThai up against the cage in a clinch.
Becchio is trying to break free.
Becchio has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
McThai prevents Becchio from breaking the clinch.
Becchio is trying to break free.
Becchio is trying to break the clinch but McThai has him pressed against the cage.
McThai jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Becchio walks away with a smile on his face. McThai gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
McThai shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Becchio as he jumps to the side.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Becchio throws a combination but it was largely blocked by McThai.
McThai slips under a jab from Becchio.
No luck for McThai with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Blake McThai. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Becchio throws an overhand right that lands on McThai's shoulder, as McThai tries to avoid the shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McThai slips a jab from Becchio.
Nice shot lands for Becchio.
Becchio misses with a combination
and McThai counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.

Becchio tries to keep at a distance but McThai has taken the fight into the clinch.
Becchio can't break the clinch.
McThai is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Becchio gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Becchio wants to get back to striking at distance but McThai won't allow it.
McThai keeps control of Becchio as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Becchio wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
McThai has Becchio pressed against the cage, preventing Becchio from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Becchio working hard to break the clinch.
McThai jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Becchio walks away with a smile on his face. McThai gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
McThai fails with the takedown.
Nice body kick there by McThai.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McThai is looking to score with low kicks.
Becchio works over McThai's head and body with a nice combination.
Becchio might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
McThai misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Becchio swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
No luck for McThai with that takedown attempt.
Becchio tries to clinch but McThai is having none of it.

Becchio moves into range and clinches up with McThai.
McThai tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Becchio smiles and moves away.
Becchio tries to close the distance and clinch up but McThai swats him away and circles back towards the center.
McThai tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Becchio misses with the combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McThai gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Becchio counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Becchio is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Becchio tries to break free but McThai pushes him back against the cage.
McThai can't break the clinch.
Becchio is trying to force a seperation but McThai has the dominant position.
McThai prevents Becchio from breaking the clinch.
McThai looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
McThai tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Becchio is trying to break the clinch but McThai has him pressed against the cage.
McThai tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Becchio smiles and moves away.
No luck with that takedown attempt from McThai.
Becchio misses with a two punch combination.
Becchio throws a nice looking combination but McThai bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Lucciano Becchio is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

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.
McThai shoots in looking for a takedown. Becchio tries to sprawl out of it but McThai keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Becchio manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
McThai uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Becchio.
McThai moves in looking to clinch but Becchio pushes him off.
Becchio defends well against a solid takedown attempt from McThai.

Becchio clinches with his opponent.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Becchio avoids the elbow strike from McThai, against the cage.
McThai has Becchio pressed against the cage, preventing Becchio from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

McThai escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Becchio lands with a good body shot.
McThai misses with a body kick.
Becchio looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Blake McThai has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
McThai dodges the punch combination from Becchio.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lucciano Becchio comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Becchio has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lucciano Becchio!