PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Peppu Reiska MacDonald (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Adam Rubio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). MacDonald comes to the cage accompanied by Placebo - Pure Morning. 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.

Reiska MacDonald
vs
Rubio

179 cm
31
170 lbs
26 - 12 - 0

180 cm
32
165 lbs
23 - 18 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 26 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Peppu Reiska MacDonald!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 18 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Adam Rubio!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Ian Loll and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rubio wants to clinch.

Rubio fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with MacDonald, pushing him back against the cage.
MacDonald prevents a body shot from Rubio.
Rubio blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Rubio lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
MacDonald working some nice short punches in the clinch.
I was talking to MacDonald's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Rubio scores with a shoulder strike.
A right hook to the body lands for MacDonald.
Rubio creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
MacDonald digs a right hand into Rubio's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Rubio's gas tank.
Rubio blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Rubio swings wildly with an uppercut but MacDonald uses good head movement to avoid it.

MacDonald has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Rubio clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
This has been an exciting period of action!
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
MacDonald lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
MacDonald looking to soften up his opponent with punches.
You can see the frustration on Rubio's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Rubio tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Rubio tries to lock up and control but MacDonald gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
MacDonald misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
MacDonald tries to control but Rubio wriggling away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rubio is desperately trying to improve his position but MacDonald has a good base and remains in mount.
MacDonald looking to control and managing it successfully.
Rubio slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
MacDonald wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rubio keeps working.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Peppu Reiska MacDonald just wasn't active enough.
MacDonald keeps the fight on the outside.
Rubio needs to keep his hands up - MacDonald had a free shot at his head there.
Good leg kick by Rubio there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

Rubio drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
MacDonald wants to hit a switch here but Rubio passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for MacDonald there!
Rubio in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
MacDonald working to try and regain half guard.
MacDonald tries to hold on but Rubio postures up.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rubio thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rubio avoids the attempt from MacDonald to control.
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 Peppu Reiska MacDonald will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

MacDonald moves into the clinch.
MacDonald blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Still in the clinch, MacDonald scores with a nice short uppercut.
We've been informed that Rubio has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
MacDonald lands a nice shot to the body.
Rubio blocks an uppercut.
MacDonald blocks a punch to the side of the head.
MacDonald lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Rubio misses with a short punch on the inside.
Rubio has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by MacDonald after a bit of a struggle.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Rubio scores with a shot to the side of MacDonald's head.
MacDonald drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Rubio gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Rubio lands with a light punch inside.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
MacDonald doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
MacDonald lands a body punch in the clinch.
Rubio prevents the takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Rubio blocks an uppercut.
MacDonald looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Peppu Reiska MacDonald. That's going to take a lot out of him.
MacDonald lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
MacDonald avoiding damage as Rubio throws knees to the body.
MacDonald blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Rubio is trying to pull guard but MacDonald turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
A right handed body shot lands from Rubio.
MacDonald tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Rubio blocks the elbow strike.
Rubio is trying to stall.
MacDonald doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A short right from Rubio on the inside.
MacDonald with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Rubio blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
MacDonald lands a left hand.
MacDonald tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stalling in the clinch from Rubio.
MacDonald tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
MacDonald swings wildly with an uppercut but Rubio uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rubio blocking some punches.
Rubio lands a left hand.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
MacDonald misses with a knee to the head.
Rubio misses with some punches.
Rubio lands with a light punch inside.
MacDonald lands an uppercut.
MacDonald lands with a left to the head.
Peppu Reiska MacDonald has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Rubio tried to land a shot to the body but connects with MacDonald's elbow.
Rubio looking to throw knees to the head but MacDonald is blocking nicely.
MacDonald avoids the elbow strike from Rubio, against the cage.
Rubio lands with a short punch from the clinch.
MacDonald misses with some punches.
Rubio tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Rubio jumps into guard, dragging MacDonald to the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
MacDonald won't allow Rubio to sweep him here.
Rubio is pulling down on MacDonald's head to control his posture.
MacDonald wants to pass the guard but Rubio is keeping the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rubio wants to get back to his feet but MacDonald is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Adam Rubio hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from MacDonald, right into the meat.
Peppu Reiska MacDonald seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
MacDonald tries to land a front kick but Rubio steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
MacDonald fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

MacDonald closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Rubio pushes MacDonald off but MacDonald dives into side control.
MacDonald scoring with punches and elbows.
Rubio is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on MacDonald's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
MacDonald prevents Rubio from improving his position.
Peppu Reiska MacDonald overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
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!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rubio has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. MacDonald is working away from the top position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Peppu Reiska MacDonald will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

MacDonald takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
MacDonald swats away the attempt to clinch by Rubio.
MacDonald stuns Rubio with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
MacDonald fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Rubio has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Rubio throws a good cross that connects.
MacDonald throws a series of punches but Rubio moves out of range.
A jab from MacDonald misses.
Rubio sizes up MacDonald with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Rubio tries to clinch but MacDonald moves out of range.
MacDonald throws a jab but it's blocked by Rubio.

MacDonald pushes Rubio up against the cage in a clinch.

MacDonald lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Rubio is staying active underneath MacDonald, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Rubio manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Rubio seems keen to control MacDonald's posture.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Rubio manages to escape and get back to his feet.
MacDonald throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Rubio doesn't manage to clinch there - MacDonald circles away.

Rubio has MacDonald up against the cage in a clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Rubio.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
MacDonald lands with a short head shot on the inside.
MacDonald on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Rubio misses with a hook from the clinch.
MacDonald goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
MacDonald misses with a body punch.
Rubio tries to land knees in the clinch but MacDonald avoids the damage to the body.
Rubio misses with a punch on the inside.
Rubio throws a blind hook that connects with the side of MacDonalds head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rubio has a couple of punches blocked by MacDonald.
MacDonald misses with a hook from the clinch.
MacDonald lands a left hand that snaps the head of Rubio backwards.
MacDonald lands a body shot in the clinch.
MacDonald lands with a light punch inside.
Rubio misses with a hook from the clinch.
MacDonald lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
MacDonald misses with a shot to the kidneys.
MacDonald scores with a nice hook to the head.

Rubio is rocked!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
MacDonald tries to land knees in the clinch but Rubio avoids the damage to the body.
Rubio is still on wobbly legs! Can MacDonald finish him?
Rubio is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but MacDonald is keeping busy.
Rubio seems to have recovered his senses.
Rubio throws a knee to the head but misses.
MacDonald can't find room to land a body shot as Rubio controls the action.
MacDonald on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
MacDonald lands on the inside with an uppercut.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Rubio tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and MacDonald avoids it.
A short left from MacDonald.
MacDonald scores with a nice hook to the head.
MacDonald working aggressively here.
MacDonald tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
MacDonald trying to land knees to the body.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, MacDonald creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Rubio misses with an elbow over the top.
MacDonald tries to work over Rubio's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
MacDonald tries to work over Rubio's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Rubio lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Peppu Reiska MacDonald is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rubio pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Rubio swings wildly with an uppercut but MacDonald uses good head movement to avoid it.
A short right hand to the side of the head by MacDonald.
Adam Rubio has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rubio with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
MacDonald is pressed up against the cage. Rubio has hold of a leg and is looking to drag MacDonald down to the mat. MacDonald avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
A nice inside leg kick there by MacDonald. That's going to slow Rubio down.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

MacDonald gets in close and instigates a clinch.
MacDonald missing with knees to the body.
MacDonald avoiding damage as Rubio throws knees to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Peppu Reiska MacDonald showed his dominance in that final round.
Well MacDonald has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Peppu Reiska MacDonald!
Peppu Reiska MacDonald made sure to mention his sponsor, Milwaukee's Best 160 in his post fight interview.