PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rory Mccall (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Halil Akhi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Mccall
vs
Akhi

219 cm
24
279 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

190 cm
22
280 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Rory Mccall!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Halil Akhi!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Skip Squint and Steve Erwin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mccall is trying hard to land a takedown here. Akhi sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Akhi tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Mccall swivels and escapes.
Akhi should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Mccall throws the kick towards the body but Akhi avoids it.
Akhi scores with a jab to the jaw.
Mccall avoids the head kick by Akhi.

Akhi gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Akhi has eaten all the pies!
A bit of stalling here from Mccall.

Akhi breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Akhi avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Mccall tries to clinch but Akhi moves out of range.

Mccall moves into the clinch successfully.
Akhi blocks an uppercut.
A frustrated look appears on Akhi's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Mccall is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Akhi gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Akhi tries to score a body lock takedown but Mccall shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mccall escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Akhi thows a body shot but no joy.
Akhi moves to clinch but Mccall breaks away
and Mccall connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Mccall looks for a takedown but Akhi sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rory Mccall. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Akhi wants to clinch up but Mccall keeps it at a distance.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Akhi.

Mccall instigates a clinch.

Mccall pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Akhi shoots in but Mccall avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Akhi tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Mccall defends well and Akhi ends up having to push Mccall into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mccall escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Akhi clinches up against the cage.
Mccall blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mccall gets underhooks to prevent Akhi's takedown attempt.
Akhi jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Mccall walks away with a smile on his face. Akhi gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Akhi stuffs the takedown.

Mccall moves into the clinch successfully.
Akhi is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Mccall gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Akhi looks winded!
Mccall keeps control of Akhi as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Mccall has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Akhi after a bit of a struggle.
Akhi tries for a takedown but Mccall manages to get underhooks.

Mccall escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mccall fails with a takedown attempt.

Akhi has closed the distance and engaged Mccall in a clinch.
Mccall throws an elbow but it misses.

Mccall jumps into guard, dragging Akhi to the mat.
Akhi showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Akhi advances to half guard.
Akhi looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mccall regains full guard. Nicely done.
Mccall looking to hit a scissor sweep but Akhi is one step ahead there.
Akhi trying to control but Mccall is working from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Akhi showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Rory Mccall will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Mccall tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Akhi misses with a wild body shot.
Akhi misses with an uppercut. Mccall saw that one coming.

Mccall clinches up with Akhi and pushes him back against the cage.
Akhi is trying to pull guard but Mccall turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Mccall pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Rory Mccall is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mccall looks for a takedown but Akhi sprawls well.
Akhi shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Mccall as he jumps to the side.

Mccall moves into range and clinches up with Akhi.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mccall looking for a takedown.
Mccall tries to work over Akhi's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Akhi is trying to drag Mccall to the mat but Mccall just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Rory Mccall has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Halil Akhi.

Akhi breaks the clinch.

Mccall fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Akhi, pushing him back against the cage.

Akhi breaks from the clinch.
Akhi fails in his attempt to clinch.
Akhi looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Mccall is looking to clinch.
Mccall fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Rory Mccall is winning the standup battle so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mccall keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Mccall closes this distance looking for a takedown but Akhi circles away.
Akhi shoots in for a double leg but Mccall sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Akhi is breathing heavily.
Mccall shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Akhi but Akhi pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Akhi takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Akhi throws a low kick but it's checked well by Mccall.
Mccall fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Mccall fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Akhi sprawls well initially but Mccall persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akhi trying to control but Mccall postures up.
Mccall is keen to just control but Akhi is a slippery customer.
Akhi tries to roll over but Mccall keeps him under control.
Akhi trying to control from the bottom.
Akhi preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Akhi has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Mccall is working away from the top position though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Halil Akhi has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Mccall slaps away a takedown attempt from Akhi, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Akhi throws a head kick that misses.
The fight stays on the outside here - Mccall looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Mccall lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Akhi at a distance.
Mccall stuffs the takedown attempt from Akhi. Akhi gets slowly back to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mccall fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Akhi darts in looking for a takedown but Mccall gets double underhooks and turns Akhi into the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rory Mccall dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Mccall is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Mccall misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Akhi doesn't manage to clinch there - Mccall circles away.
Akhi misses with a two punch combination.
Akhi misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Mccall misses with a jab, cross combination.
Mccall closes the distance and clinches up with Akhi, looking for a takedown. Mccall pushes Akhi against the cage but Akhi circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Akhi wants to clinch up but Mccall keeps it at a distance.
Akhi fails to land with a series of punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akhi stuffs the takedown attempt from Mccall. Mccall gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rory Mccall. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Akhi takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Akhi has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Mccall scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Mccall tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Akhi misses with the combination.
Mccall misses with a wild combination.
A thudding body kick lands there by Akhi!
Mccall tries to clinch there but Akhi circles away.
Mccall looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mccall misses with a head kick.
Mccall avoids the head kick by Akhi.
A head kick misses from Akhi.
Akhi is looking to clinch but Mccall is avoiding it.
Akhi tries to clinch up.
Akhi tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Akhi fails with a takedown attempt.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mccall dives in and grabs Akhi's left leg, looking for a takedown. Akhi pushes down on Mccall's head and hops out.
Akhi dives in for a single leg takedown but Mccall sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mccall jumps guard but Akhi stands there with Mccall around his waist. Mccall gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Mccall has Akhi pushed against the cage.
Akhi wants to get back to striking at distance but Mccall won't allow it.
Mccall is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Akhi to keep the fight standing.
Akhi is looking for a takedown.

Mccall breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Akhi lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Akhi tries to clinch up but Mccall circles away and keeps his distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mccall shoots in for a takedown but Akhi shows good takedown defense.
Akhi displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Mccall.
Akhi shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Mccall as he jumps to the side.
Mccall goes for a double leg but Akhi avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Akhi continues to drive forward.

Akhi breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Akhi looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Mccall is fending him off so far but Akhi persists. Nope, Mccall circles away and we're back to standing.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mccall tries for a takedown but Akhi sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Mccall throws a leg kick but Akhi sees it coming and moves out of range.
Halil Akhi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rory Mccall is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Mccall defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Akhi.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Rory Mccall.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Mccall, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Eliza Hachem scores the fight 30:28
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 29:29
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Rory Mccall!