PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Koopa Troopa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Phil Mcracken (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Troopa's entrance music is Koopa Troopa. A fine choice. Mcracken has chosen 10cc - Dreadlock Holiday as his entrance music. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Troopa
vs
Mcracken

180 cm
33
195 lbs
15 - 8 - 1

187 cm
31
195 lbs
11 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Project Mayhem

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 15 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Koopa Troopa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Phil Mcracken!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Anni Minnemäki and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mcracken doesn't manage to clinch there - Troopa circles away.
Donk. Mcracken catches Troopa right on the button with a cross.
Nice uppercut lands for Mcracken. That snapped Troopa's head back.
Mcracken throws a low kick but Troopa avoids it.
Mcracken misses with a body shot.
Mcracken shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Mcracken displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Troopa throws out the jab.
Mcracken fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Mcracken tries to land a leg kick but Troopa saw it coming and moves away.
Mcracken moves out of range of the leg kick from Troopa.
Mcracken connects with a body shot.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mcracken slips a straight right by Troopa.
Mcracken scores with a jab to the jaw.
Mcracken throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Mcracken looks for a takedown but Troopa sprawls well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mcracken jabs at Troopa's body.

Mcracken moves into the clinch.
Troopa drops down looking for an ankle pick but Mcracken pulls his leg out and moves away.
A jab from Troopa misses.

Troopa tries to keep at a distance but Mcracken has taken the fight into the clinch.
Troopa tries to score a body lock takedown but Mcracken shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Good body shot from Mcracken.
Troopa takes a knee right on the jaw!
Troopa prevents the takedown attempt.
I was talking to Troopa's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Mcracken blocks a body shot from Troopa.
Mcracken lands a knee to the head.

It looks like Koopa Troopa has been cut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mcracken blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Mcracken is defending well against a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Koopa Troopa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A hook to the body from Troopa.
Troopa tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Troopa takes a knee right on the jaw!
A short left from Mcracken.
Troopa throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Mcracken is stalling here.
The crowd are getting on Mcracken's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
Mcracken has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Troopa is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
A shot in the inside from Mcracken.
Troopa goes for a takedown attempt but Mcracken pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Mcracken scores with the left hand. Troopa knows he should have avoided that one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Troopa closes the distance and clinches up with Mcracken, looking for a takedown. Troopa pushes Mcracken against the cage but Mcracken circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
A left lands for Troopa.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Troopa lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Mcracken has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Mcracken and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.

Mcracken gets a clinch.
Troopa stops a takedown attempt from Mcracken.
Mcracken tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Troopa avoids it.
Mcracken content to slow the pace in the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Mcracken.
Troopa misses with a hook to the ribs.

Mcracken has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Troopa regains guard immediately.
Mcracken trying to control the position from guard on top but Troopa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mcracken throws an elbow that misses. Troopa uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Mcracken's guard. Nice move by Troopa!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Mcracken is on top in guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Troopa tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Troopa working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Mcracken.
Mcracken tries to free his leg and advance position but Troopa is retaining full guard.
Troopa looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Mcracken is pushing down on Troopa's leg trying to pass to half guard. Troopa is fighting to maintain full guard but Mcracken has managed to sneak the leg through.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Mcracken is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Troopa tries to roll over but Mcracken keeps him under control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Phil Mcracken dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Koopa Troopa's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Troopa feints and as Mcracken raises his hands in defense, Troopa changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Troopa looking to pass the guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mcracken pulls Troopa in close to his closed guard and prevents Troopa from doing any damage or advancing position.
Troopa trying to control but Mcracken is working from the bottom.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Troopa throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Mcracken works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Troopa trying to control but Mcracken is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Koopa Troopa.
Mcracken takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Troopa circles away from the clinch attempt.
Mcracken lands a nice shot to the body.
Troopa throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Mcracken moves out of range of the body kick.
Phil Mcracken seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Troopa walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Mcracken checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Mcracken lands a jab.
Mcracken uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Troopa.
Troopa scores with a jab to the jaw.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Troopa throws a leg kick which misses Mcracken's front leg but catches the back leg as Mcracken tries to avoid it.
Troopa throws a sloppy head kick and Mcracken moves out of range easily.
Mcracken scores with a decent looking hook.
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!
Mcracken looks to land a left hand but Troopa moved out of range nicely.

Mcracken fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Troopa to the ground. Mcracken is now in Troopa's guard.
Troopa is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Mcracken passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Troopa tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Mcracken wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Troopa takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Mcracken cracks Troopa with a big elbow.
Phil Mcracken has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Troopa regains half guard.
Troopa is refusing to be controlled, as Mcracken sits in half guard.
Troopa keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Troopa moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Mcracken passes Troopa's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Troopa is refusing to be controlled, as Mcracken sits in half guard.

Mcracken is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Troopa defends it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Troopa looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Mcracken wants to work for an arm triangle but Troopa is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Mcracken wants to take a breather but Troopa is having none of it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Troopa tries to roll over but Mcracken keeps him under control.
Mcracken is trying to control the action in half guard but Troopa is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Phil Mcracken showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Koopa Troopa's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Mcracken swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Mcracken tries to sprawl but Troopa drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Troopa content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Mcracken is positioning himself well to prevent Troopa advancing to mount.
Troopa throwing shots but Mcracken is blocking nicely.
Mcracken tries to get to full guard but Troopa has control of the leg.
Troopa trying to control from half guard but Mcracken is working away.

Troopa seems to be trying to get a kimura but instead Mcracken has recovered full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mcracken is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Troopa throws a big elbow that misses.
Troopa stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mcracken swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Troopa working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Mcracken controlling Troopa's posture.
Troopa with a nice head shot there.
Mcracken utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Koopa Troopa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Troopa trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Troopa with a flurry of punches that miss.
Troopa being controlled here momentarily.
Troopa looking to sit in guard and control but Mcracken gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Troopa has momentary wrist control but Mcracken slips an elbow through the middle.
Troopa is trying to keep Mcracken in close.
Mcracken wants to control from the top but Troopa keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

Troopa throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Mcracken works over Troopa with some ground and pound from guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mcracken postures up in Troopa's guard and throws a big left but Troopa blocks it.
Troopa looking to control.
Troopa utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Troopa is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Troopa had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Mcracken defends it easily.

Troopa is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Mcracken defends well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Troopa escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Mcracken gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

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 Koopa Troopa.
Well Mcracken 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Phil Mcracken!