PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nate MacRally (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marcus Phoenix (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). MacRally comes to the cage accompanied by Red Rider - Lunatic Fringe. Phoenix has chosen Dream Big - Crooked I feat Akon as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

MacRally
vs
Phoenix

191 cm
27
224 lbs
10 - 10 - 0

192 cm
27
218 lbs
17 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Nate MacRally!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Marcus Phoenix!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Elvis Blanc and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Phoenix avoids a punch combination nicely.
MacRally takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Phoenix throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
MacRally swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Phoenix counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Phoenix misses with a jab, cross combination.
Phoenix feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits MacRallys jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
MacRally throws a right and a left that both miss.
Phoenix just misses with a punch to the body.
MacRally checks a low kick from Phoenix.
MacRally throws a leg kick that is checked
letting Phoenix counter with a right hand.
Phoenix throws a series of punches but MacRally avoids them all with ease.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Phoenix avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Left hook, right uppercut from MacRally.
MacRally misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Phoenix.
Phoenix misses with a looping left.
A big left from MacRally misses.
Phoenix shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Phoenix misses with an uppercut. MacRally saw that one coming.
Phoenix ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
MacRally uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Phoenix.
MacRally uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Phoenix.
Phoenix throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
MacRally fails to land with a series of punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Phoenix misses with a two punch combination.
Phoenix throws a jab when MacRally was well out of range.
Phoenix misses with a jab, cross combination.
Phoenix missing with a left hand there. MacRally was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
MacRally will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
MacRally takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nice jab there from Phoenix.

MacRally gets in close and instigates a clinch.
The referee is keeping an eye on Phoenix - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Good body shot from Phoenix.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Phoenix is pushing MacRally up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Phoenix tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Phoenix leaning against his opponent.
MacRally stalling against the cage.
Phoenix lands a nice uppercut.
Phoenix lands with a light punch inside.
Phoenix digs a right hand underneath MacRally's ribcage. MacRally let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Phoenix tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Phoenix has had enough of the clinch but MacRally keeps him there for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Phoenix working some nice short punches in the clinch.
MacRally taking a breather.
Phoenix tried to land a shot to the body but connects with MacRally's elbow.
Phoenix lands with a short shot to the head.
Phoenix displaying some good clinch control by pressing MacRally up against the cage.

Phoenix breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Phoenix throws a big shot that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcus Phoenix dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Phoenix showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from MacRally.
Phoenix lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Phoenix misses with a body shot.
MacRally misses with an uppercut.
MacRally uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Phoenix.
Phoenix swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A swing and a miss from Phoenix.
Phoenix misses the shot to the body.
Phoenix lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Phoenix is looking to land body kicks.
Phoenix scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. MacRally doesn't seem bothered though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
MacRally throws a body punch but Phoenix moves out of range.
MacRally tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Phoenix was well out of range. Poor timing from MacRally.
MacRally closes this distance looking for a takedown but Phoenix circles away.
Phoenix changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Phoenix bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps MacRally's head backwards.
Phoenix moves out of range as MacRally strikes.
Phoenix scores with a kick to the midsection.
Phoenix misses with a body shot.
MacRally dives in and grabs Phoenix's left leg, looking for a takedown. Phoenix pushes down on MacRally's head and hops out.
MacRally throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Phoenix lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Marcus Phoenix is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Phoenix looks to land a combination but MacRally avoids it well.
MacRally on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Phoenix takes a swing at MacRally's ribcage but misses.
Phoenix misses the shot to the body.
A swing and a miss from MacRally.
Nice defenses there by MacRally.
Phoenix throws a low kick, looking for MacRally's leg but MacRally calmly moves out of range.
Marcus Phoenix seems to be getting the better of the standup.
MacRally looks to land a combination but Phoenix avoids it well.
Phoenix throws a predictable looking body shot
and MacRally counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
A big right from Phoenix misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

MacRally closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Phoenix to the mat! Phoenix manages to get full guard.
Phoenix utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Phoenix has control of MacRally's left arm, preventing MacRally from doing any damage.
Phoenix wants to stand up but MacRally is controlling him.
Phoenix can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as MacRally controls the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Nate MacRally.

MacRally scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
MacRally is looking to take a break and control but Phoenix is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Phoenix wants to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Phoenix struggling a bit here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcus Phoenix 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!

Good exchange - Phoenix coming out on top.
MacRally misses with a double jab.
Phoenix cracks MacRally with an open hand slap.
Nice defenses there by MacRally.
MacRally looks to land a combination but Phoenix avoids it well.
Phoenix scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Phoenix throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Phoenix throws a one two combo.
MacRally avoids the body shot from Phoenix.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
MacRally misses with a double jab
and Phoenix counters with a two punch combo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
MacRally bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A jab from Phoenix finds it's way through MacRally's defenses.
MacRally shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Phoenix as he avoids it easily.
Phoenix keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
MacRally misses with a combination
and Phoenix counters with a low kick, right behind MacRally 's knee.
Phoenix connects with a body shot that sends MacRally's belly button to the back.
Phoenix swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Phoenix misses with a hook.
Phoenix looks to score with a jab to the body but MacRally is just out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
MacRally steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Phoenix.
Phoenix just misses with a punch to the body.
MacRally keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A big right from Phoenix misses.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
MacRally throws a combination that misses
and Phoenix counters with a nice uppercut.
Phoenix fails to land with a series of punches.
Phoenix slips a jab and a cross from MacRally.
MacRally takes one on the button.
Phoenix lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Phoenix throws a body punch but MacRally moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
MacRally misses with a jab, cross combination.
MacRally uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Phoenix.
Nice cross by Phoenix.
MacRally goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Phoenix throws a combination but it was largely blocked by MacRally.
Phoenix connects with a looping right hand.
Phoenix has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Phoenix slips a straight right by MacRally.
Phoenix keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
The fight stays on the outside here - MacRally looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
MacRally shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Phoenix avoids a punch combination nicely.
Phoenix throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Phoenix lands with an uppercut that bounces MacRally off the cage and back into range.
MacRally looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Phoenix connects with a right hand. MacRally shakes it off.

MacRally is rocked!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nice straight punches there by Phoenix. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Phoenix.
Oh MacRally is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Phoenix knocks out MacRally with a massive right hand! The ref tackles Phoenix before he can follow up with any more strikes and that's it everyone. Phoenix picks up the big W with a huge KO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:51 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Marcus Phoenix! Marcus Phoenix retains his light heavyweight title!