PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Rufus Speed (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tommy McCall (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). McCall has chosen Biffy Clyro - Living Is A Problem Because Everything Dies as his entrance music. 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.

Speed
vs
McCall

177 cm
29
159 lbs
16 - 7 - 0

161 cm
38
154 lbs
28 - 14 - 2

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

REAR NAKED CHOKE NUTRITION

Milwaukee's Best 160 (85% laundry)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Rufus Speed!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 28 - 14 - 2, fighting out of London, Tommy McCall!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Robert Douchet and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Speed with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling McCall to score with a decent uppercut.
Speed on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Speed scores with a jab to the body.
Speed bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
McCall tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Speed is able to avoid easily.
A slapping leg kick lands for Speed.
McCall swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Speed tries to land a front kick but McCall steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
McCall throws a hook but Speed blocks it.
A nice inside leg kick there by Speed. That's going to slow McCall down.
Speed misses with a low kick.
Speed throws a body punch but McCall moves out of range.
McCall wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
McCall will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Speed throws a body kick that misses.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Speed throws the kick towards the body but McCall avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCall takes a swing at Speed's ribcage but misses.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Speed. McCall shrugs it off though.
A combination from McCall does no damage.
Speed tries to score with a low kick but McCall moves his leg out of the way.
McCall throws a leg kick but Speed sees it coming and moves out of range.
A low kick from McCall is predictable there

and Speed counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Speed is taking a breather. McCall says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

Speed is working for a submission of some sort.
Speed not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Speed is taking a breather. McCall says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

Speed is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, McCall has managed to free his arm - good work.

Speed wants to work for an arm triangle but McCall is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Speed thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Speed seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but McCall does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Speed is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Speed takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Speed keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Speed uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from McCall.
Tommy McCall is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Speed tries to move into range but McCall moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Speed fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but McCall is out of range.
Rufus Speed seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McCall ducks under a wild hook from Speed.
Speed closes the distance and clinches up with McCall, looking for a takedown. Speed pushes McCall against the cage but McCall circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
McCall throws a hook but Speed avoids it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCall showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Speed.
McCall takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
McCall takes a swing at Speed's ribcage but misses.
An inside leg kick lands from Speed.
Speed blocks a jab.
Speed shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts McCall as he jumps to the side.
McCall throws a body shot but no joy.
Speed stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
McCall misses with a body punch

and Speed counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
McCall avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Speed.

Speed is looking for a kimura but McCall is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Speed to get the leverage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rufus Speed dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Speed takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Speed lands with an overhand left.
Speed throws a leg kick but McCall sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Speed lands with a hook. McCall tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
McCall fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Speed is out of range.
Speed looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Speed is looking to clinch.
Speed tries a low kick but McCall avoids it.
The fight stays on the outside here - Speed looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Speed misses with an attempted mid kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A head kick misses from McCall.
McCall misses with a low kick as Speed jumps back.
Tommy McCall seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Speed moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Speed checks a low kick from McCall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Speed staying out of range there.
Speed moves out of range of the leg kick from McCall.
McCall connects with a leg kick. Speed looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Speed is looking to slow McCall down with leg kicks.
McCall ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Speed moves away.
Speed tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but McCall defends well and Speed ends up having to push McCall into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Speed digs a right hand into McCall's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on McCall's gas tank.
Speed lands on the inside with an uppercut.

McCall breaks the clinch.

Speed has closed the distance and engaged McCall in a clinch.
Speed can't find room to land a body shot as McCall controls the action.

Speed drags the fight down to the ground.
McCall postures up.

Speed is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Speed keeping moving, preventing McCall from controlling successfully.

Speed looking for submissions from the bottom but instead McCall passes into side control.
McCall wants to control but Speed is keeping him busy.
Speed can't do much from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Speed tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
McCall is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Speed's shoulder. That is not cool.
Speed is trying to get back to half guard.
McCall trying to control the position but Speed is working away.
You can see the frustration on Speed's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Nice body punch from Speed.
A punch lands to the side of McCall 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Speed connects with a solid leg kick.
McCall lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Speed pulls out of a head kick attempt.
McCall tries to bum rush Speed with a series of wild strikes but Speed uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Speed swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by McCall.
Speed lands a head shot.
McCall 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 low kick from McCall misses

so Speed counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Speed trying to control the position from guard on top but McCall is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Speed landing some decent shots from guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rufus Speed dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Speed throws the left hand but McCall avoids the punch easily.
A looping hook to the body misses from Speed. McCall does a little dance to reset his feet.
Speed takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Speed jabbing away but nothing is landing.
McCall swings and misses with a hook to the body.
McCall delivers a nice body kick.
Speed is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that McCall can do to turn this around?
McCall attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Speed scores with the left hand. McCall knows he should have avoided that one.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McCall misses with a wild body shot.
Speed is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Speed scores with a nice strike.
Speed throws a lazy head kick
and McCall counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Speed connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
McCall looks to land a right hand but Speed moved out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Speed throws a body punch but McCall moves out of range.
McCall keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Speed slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
McCall fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Speed.
Speed wants to land a leg kick but McCall is out of range.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from McCall 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 Speed has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Speed and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Speed is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Speed fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Speed throws a nice inside leg kick.
Speed fails with the takedown.
Speed connects with a crisp jab.
Speed misses with a leg kick
and McCall connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Speed lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
McCall scores with a jab to the jaw.
Speed swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Speed darts in and clinches McCall up against the cage.
McCall's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

Speed gets control of McCall's arms and successfully pulls guard. Speed will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Rufus Speed overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Speed is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Speed is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and McCall defends well.
Speed wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Speed wants to control the position but McCall says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Tommy McCall has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Speed looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
McCall keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

Speed looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Speed has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. McCall is working away from the top position though.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Speed is controlling McCall's trapped leg to prevent McCall from advancing to side control.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
McCall slips a jab from Speed.
Speed lands with a good body shot.
Speed walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. McCall checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Speed fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
McCall takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Speed avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Speed punishes McCall's body with a nice straight punch.
McCall displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Speed throws out the jab.
A leg kick checked by McCall.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rufus Speed showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Speed 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 Gregory Folan scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 30:27
Judge William Peck scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rufus Speed!
A victorious Rufus Speed thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.
Tommy McCall was interviewed post fight and said 'Maybe we are getting to that point in the career where you need to think seriously about the next step.'.