PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Paul OConnell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jose Maciel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

OConnell
vs
Maciel

209 cm
20
285 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

188 cm
22
260 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Paul OConnell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jose Maciel!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Taro Takaoka and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maciel misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from OConnell.

OConnell tries to keep at a distance but Maciel has taken the fight into the clinch.
I was talking to OConnell's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.

OConnell manages to break the clinch.
OConnell lands with a thumping leg kick.
OConnell uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Maciel.
Jose Maciel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Maciel throws out a loose jab but OConnell uses good head movement to avoid it.
Maciel drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

It looks like Jose Maciel has been cut.
Maciel misses with a right hand
and OConnell counters with an outside leg kick.
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!
Maciel misses with an attempted mid kick.
Maciel missing with a left hand there. OConnell was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

OConnell closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
OConnell can't find room to land a body shot as Maciel controls the action.

OConnell breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Maciel throws a nice looking combination but OConnell bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
A telegraphed right hand from OConnell misses the target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
OConnell cracks the inside of Maciel's front leg.
Maciel throws an off balance right hand
and OConnell counters with a leg kick.
Maciel misses with a body shot.
Maciel takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
OConnell uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Maciel.
OConnell tries to close the distance and clinch up but Maciel swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Maciel will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Maciel misses with a left hand
and OConnell counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Maciel moves into the clinch.
OConnell scores with a shot to the side of Maciel's head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
OConnell keeps control of Maciel as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

OConnell breaks from the clinch.
OConnell moves to clinch but Maciel breaks away

and Maciel counters with a nice double leg into side control. OConnell won't be happy with that.
OConnell is looking to regain half guard here but Maciel keeps moving and retains side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
OConnell managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Maciel.
Maciel tries to stand but OConnell is controlling his head.
OConnell struggling a bit here.
Maciel trying to control the position but OConnell is working away.
The ground and pound from Maciel seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Maciel tries to advance position but instead OConnell slips a leg back in to half guard.
Maciel not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
OConnell tries to roll over but Maciel keeps him under control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

OConnell is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Maciel pulls his head out easily.

Maciel is working for a submission of some sort.
OConnell is trying is best to control the position here.
OConnell is looking to control Maciel's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can OConnell avoid being mounted?
OConnell controlling the position for now.
Maciel wants to stand up but OConnell is controlling the position.

OConnell pushes Maciel off and gets back to his feet.
Some wild striking there from Maciel.
Maciel throws out a loose jab but OConnell uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maciel misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Maciel moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
OConnell throws a hook but Maciel avoids it easily.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts OConnell, as that shot connected.
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!
OConnell avoids a punch combination nicely.
OConnell closes the distance looking to clinch
and Maciel counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Maciel scores with a jab. OConnell acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Maciel misses with a leg kick
and OConnell finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul OConnell dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jose Maciel's cut.
That's time! OConnell's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Maciel takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Maciel walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. OConnell checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Maciel dives in and grabs OConnell's left leg, looking for a takedown. OConnell pushes down on Maciel's head and hops out.
OConnell slips under a jab.

OConnell closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Maciel goes for a takedown in the clinch but OConnell prevents it.
OConnell misses with a punch to the body.
OConnell stalling against the cage.
Maciel wants to get back to striking at distance but OConnell won't allow it.

OConnell escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Maciel is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
OConnell throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Maciel loads up on a big right hand but OConnell slips the punch.
Maciel shoots in but no luck this time.
Paul OConnell has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jose Maciel.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice uppercut there from OConnell.
Maciel keeps the fight on the outside.
OConnell blocks a jab.
Maciel throws a body punch but OConnell moves out of range.
OConnell tries to clinch up.

OConnell has managed to clinch.
OConnell tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Maciel's elbow.
OConnell putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Maciel in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.

OConnell breaks the clinch.
OConnell lands a slapping body shot.
OConnell is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Maciel lands a glancing blow to the side of OConnell's head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
OConnell tries to close the distance and clinch but Maciel swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
OConnell leaves Maciel with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
OConnell uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Maciel has time to react.
Paul OConnell is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Maciel swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

OConnell closes the distance and pushes Maciel back into the cage.
Maciel jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as OConnell walks away with a smile on his face. Maciel gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
A slow jab from Maciel misses its intended target.

Maciel moves into the clinch.
A short left from OConnell.
OConnell doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

OConnell's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Maciel fails with a takedown attempt.
OConnell closes the distance but Maciel moves to the side
and Maciel counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Maciel closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Maciel wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Maciel is trying to break the clinch but OConnell is controlling him.
Maciel dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

OConnell's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
OConnell is looking to slow Maciel down with leg kicks.
OConnell keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
OConnell throws a one two combo.

That has opened up Jose Maciel's cut even more.

Maciel closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
OConnell working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Maciel stalling in the clinch but OConnell improves position.

OConnell breaks the clinch.
OConnell tries to clinch there but Maciel circles away.
Maciel steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from OConnell. That one must have hurt.
Maciel is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
OConnell lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
OConnell leaves Maciel with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
OConnell looks to land a combination. Maciel sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
OConnell tries to close the distance and clinch up but Maciel swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Maciel misses with an uppercut. OConnell saw that one coming.
Maciel looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? OConnell is fending him off so far but Maciel persists. Nope, OConnell circles away and we're back to standing.
OConnell with a hook.

The cut above Jose Maciel's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Donk. OConnell catches Maciel right on the button with a cross.

Maciel is rocked!
OConnell moves in looking to clinch but Maciel pushes him off.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Maciel instigates a clinch.
OConnell taking a breather.
Maciel is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
OConnell has a couple of punches blocked by Maciel.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul OConnell dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Jose Maciel's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

OConnell fails with an attempt to clinch.
OConnell tries to close the distance and clinch up but Maciel swats him away and circles back towards the center.

OConnell closes the distance and clinches.
Maciel wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Maciel blocks an uppercut.
Maciel is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Maciel is trying to break free.

OConnell escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Maciel lands a jab to OConnell's midsection.
OConnell throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Maciel fails with a takedown attempt.
Maciel avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
OConnell cracks Maciel with a right hand to the side of the head.
OConnell jabs at Maciel's body.

OConnell tries to keep at a distance but Maciel has taken the fight into the clinch.
OConnell tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Maciel avoids it.
Maciel tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Maciel has had enough of the clinch but OConnell keeps him there for the moment.
Maciel is looking to control OConnell's arms but OConnell gets an underhook and turns him. Now Maciel has his back to the cage.

OConnell pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
OConnell paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
OConnell dodges the punch combination from Maciel.
OConnell stuffs the takedown attempt from Maciel. Maciel gets slowly back to his feet.
Maciel takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
OConnell fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
OConnell is looking to clinch.
OConnell scores with a nice right hand.

Maciel has closed the distance and engaged OConnell in a clinch.
Maciel wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but OConnell has him pressed against the cage.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. OConnell obliges.
OConnell is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
OConnell misses with a hook to the ribs.
OConnell putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Maciel in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
OConnell lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Maciel or not.
OConnell misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Maciel.
OConnell just leaning against Maciel, taking a breather.
OConnell scores with an uppercut up the middle.

Jose Maciel's cut is absolute horrible now. This looks like something out of a horror film with blood covering both fighters.

OConnell breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
OConnell wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
OConnell is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Maciel can do to turn this around?
OConnell connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Maciel momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
OConnell is looking to slow Maciel down with leg kicks.
Maciel takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

Maciel forces OConnell back against the cage and clinches.
OConnell throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
OConnell gets through Maciel's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
OConnell scores with a shot to the side of Maciel's head.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Jose Maciel's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:38 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Paul OConnell!