PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between John McNamara (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ba Lil IV (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ba Lil IV told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

McNamara
vs
Lil IV

180 cm
26
200 lbs
9 - 7 - 1

185 cm
24
204 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

ADCC Champion
Counter striker
Good gas tank

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 9 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, John McNamara!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ba Lil IV!
The judges for this bout are Summer Carpenter, Hugh Johnson and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McNamara throws a sloppy body shot
and Lil IV cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
McNamara tries to bum rush Lil IV with a series of wild strikes but Lil IV uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A head kick misses from Lil IV.
Lil IV throws a hook to the side of McNamara's head but McNamara sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Lil IV uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by McNamara.
McNamara keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
A swing and a miss from Lil IV.
McNamara throws an overhand right that lands on Lil IV's shoulder, as Lil IV tries to avoid the shot.
A big left from Lil IV misses.
Lil IV throws a head kick but McNamara moves out of range.
McNamara swings for the body but Lil IV moves out of range.
McNamara scores with a hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lil IV fakes high and swings low for a body shot but McNamara manages to avoid it.
McNamara's corner calls for a 1-2. McNamara obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Lil IV misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Lil IV closes this distance looking for a takedown but McNamara circles away.
Lil IV misses with a right hand
and McNamara counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
McNamara swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A jab from Lil IV does it's job there.
Lil IV moves away from the strike by McNamara.
McNamara connects with the punch.
Lil IV throws a series of punches but McNamara avoids them all with ease.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lil IV throws a hook but McNamara avoids it easily.
A slow jab from McNamara misses its intended target.
Lil IV throws an uppercut from half a mile away. McNamara sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Lil IV throws a predictable looking body shot
and McNamara connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
McNamara swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Lil IV.
McNamara slips under a jab.
McNamara misses with a two punch combination.
Lil IV fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
McNamara throws a looping overhand right but Lil IV ducks down to avoid it.
Lil IV throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Lil IV uses good head movement to avoid the hook from McNamara.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McNamara throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
McNamara is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Lil IV slips under a jab.
McNamara fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Lil IV on the side of the head.
A jab from McNamara misses.
McNamara throws a hook to the side of Lil IV's head but Lil IV sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Lil IV keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from McNamara.
McNamara swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Lil IV swings away with a body shot that misses
enabling McNamara to counter with a crisp jab.
Lil IV swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
McNamara avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McNamara lands with a nice body punch.
Lil IV misses the body punch
and McNamara counters with a lovely straight right hand!
McNamara throws a lazy right hand but Lil IV sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Lil IV with a poor takedown
and McNamara counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
McNamara keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A slow jab from Lil IV misses its intended target.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Lil IV gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Lil IV throws a leg kick but McNamara moved away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lil IV displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as McNamara throws out the jab.
McNamara bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John McNamara dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Lil IV takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
McNamara stuffs the takedown.
Nice defenses there by Lil IV.
Lil IV closes this distance looking for a takedown but McNamara circles away.
McNamara connects with the punch.
McNamara connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Lil IV walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.

Lil IV is rocked!
McNamara loads up on a big right hand but Lil IV slips the punch.
Lil IV does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
A telegraphed right hand from Lil IV misses the target.
McNamara fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Lil IV manages to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McNamara jabbing away but nothing is landing.
McNamara sizes up Lil IV with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Lil IV shoots in for a takedown but McNamara shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
John McNamara has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ba Lil IV.
McNamara swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Lil IV.
McNamara scores with a decent looking hook.
Lil IV is still on wobbly legs! Can McNamara finish him?
McNamara ducks under a wild hook from Lil IV.
Lil IV seems to have recovered his senses.
Lil IV throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Lil IV moves away from the strike by McNamara.
Ba Lil IV seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lil IV staying out of range there.
McNamara throws a series of punches but Lil IV avoids them all with ease.
Lil IV pivots, looking for a leg kick but McNamara is out of range and Lil IV settles back down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lil IV swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Lil IV bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
McNamara connects with a jab.
Lil IV is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Lil IV takes one to the side of the head.
Nice sprawl there from McNamara as Lil IV shoots in.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Lil IV misses with a hook
and McNamara counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
McNamara keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Lil IV cracks a nice hook into McNamara's ribs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McNamara keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Lil IV.
McNamara swings for the body but Lil IV moves out of range.
McNamara throws a jab but it's blocked by Lil IV.
McNamara comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Lil IV walks into a stiff left hand from McNamara.
Lil IV shoots for a double leg takedown but McNamara sprawls well. He's pushed Lil IV's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Lil IV uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by McNamara.
McNamara keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Lil IV throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
McNamara works Lil IV's body with a nice hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lil IV throws an uppercut from half a mile away. McNamara sees it coming and avoids it easily.
No joy there for McNamara, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Lil IV throws an overhand right that lands on McNamara's shoulder, as McNamara tries to avoid the shot.
Lil IV on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Lil IV throws a hook but McNamara avoids it easily.
Lil IV misses with a jab to the body
and McNamara counters with a nice body shot.
McNamara lands with a nice body punch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Lil IV changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. McNamara tries to avoid it but Lil IV manages to keep hold of a leg and drag McNamara to the ground. McNamara escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lil IV defending well as McNamara loads up on a big left hand.
Lil IV gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and McNamara counters with a stiff right hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John McNamara dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

McNamara bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Lil IV's head backwards.
Lil IV has a takedown stuffed.
McNamara throws the left hand but Lil IV avoids the punch easily.

Lil IV shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
McNamara is in a horrible position here. Lil IV smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
McNamara knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Lil IV on the ground.
Lil IV avoids the attempt from McNamara to control.

Lil IV wants to finish this one by submission but McNamara is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Lil IV.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lil IV lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Lil IV lands a nice shot to the head.
McNamara can't escape the position.
McNamara is squirming around, avoiding Lil IV's attempts to control the action.
Lil IV unloads with some shots from mount but McNamara bucks and avoids them well.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Lil IV is in the full mount, landing strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lil IV throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Lil IV trying to control but McNamara is having none of it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Lil IV throws some wild stikes that McNamara manages to avoid easily.
McNamara holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Lil IV tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
McNamara wants to hold on but Lil IV pushes him away.
McNamara avoids a series of strikes thrown by Lil IV.
McNamara avoids a series of strikes thrown by Lil IV.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lil IV thowing shots but they're missing.
Lil IV has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Lil IV throwing strikes here but McNamara is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Lil IV sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Lil IV punching from mount but McNamara doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Lil IV looking to ground and pound but McNamara is blocking nicely.
McNamara wants to control but Lil IV is having none of it.
A nice elbow there by Lil IV.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lil IV looking to ground and pound but McNamara is blocking nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
McNamara wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Lil IV.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Lil IV throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Lil IV thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Lil IV throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for McNamara because Lil IV loaded up on that one.
Ba Lil IV has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Lil IV looking to control and managing it successfully.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lil IV tries to control but McNamara wriggling away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ba Lil IV comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think McNamara 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 Summer Carpenter scores the fight 29:28
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John McNamara!
John McNamara thanked the fans post fight for their support.