PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Diego Carzola (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Channing Mackenzie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). On his way into the cage it seems that Diego Carzola has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Diego Carzola seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Carzola
vs
Mackenzie

175 cm
27
250 lbs
5 - 6 - 0

196 cm
25
280 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Brawler
Inexperienced

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 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Diego Carzola!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Channing Mackenzie!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Seu Braga and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mackenzie walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Carzola checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Mackenzie uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Carzola.
Mackenzie throws the kick towards the body but Carzola avoids it.
Carzola wants to clinch up but Mackenzie keeps it at a distance.

Mackenzie drives through and clinches with Carzola against the cage.
Mackenzie has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Mackenzie jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Carzola walks away with a smile on his face. Mackenzie gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Mackenzie dodges the punch combination from Carzola.
Carzola tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Mackenzie counters by clinching up.
Carzola can't get the takedown.

Carzola escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Carzola misses with a double jab.
Mackenzie fails in his attempt to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Carzola misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Mackenzie shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Carzola but Carzola pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Carzola definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Mackenzie doesn't manage to clinch there - Carzola circles away.
Carzola connects with a solid leg kick.
Diego Carzola seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Carzola fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice cross by Mackenzie.

Mackenzie is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Carzola's half guard.
Mackenzie wants to pass to mount but Carzola is defending the position.
Carzola wants to improve his position but Mackenzie is controlling well.
Mackenzie wants to control but Carzola is keeping him busy.

Mackenzie wants to work for an arm triangle but Carzola is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mackenzie looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Mackenzie tries to stand but can't do so whilst Carzola controls his leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mackenzie perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Mackenzie is thwarting Carzola's attempts to control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Mackenzie dives in for a single leg takedown but Carzola sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Diego Carzola has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Channing Mackenzie.

Carzola breaks the clinch.
Mackenzie misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Mackenzie tries to close the distance and clinch but Carzola swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Carzola displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

It looks like Channing Mackenzie has been cut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mackenzie tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Carzola paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Carzola is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Mackenzie.

Carzola tries to sprawl but Mackenzie drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Mackenzie lands strikes from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carzola is looking to control Mackenzie's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Carzola avoid being mounted?
Mackenzie drops an elbow to the side of Carzola's head.
Carzola is trying to control but can't.
Mackenzie looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Mackenzie seems to be looking for submissions.
Carzola tries to roll over but Mackenzie keeps him under control.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Mackenzie throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Carzola has hold of Mackenzie's hands but Mackenzie slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Carzola blocking the ground and pound attempt from Mackenzie.
Mackenzie is taking a breather. Carzola 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.
Carzola won't allow Mackenzie to pass to mount.
Carzola controlling the position for now.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Carzola tries to kick Mackenzie off but Mackenzie keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Mackenzie closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Carzola tries to pull guard but Mackenzie won't allow it.
Carzola gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Mackenzie.
Mackenzie keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Carzola's efforts to push away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Channing Mackenzie dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Channing Mackenzie's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Mackenzie shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Carzola holds on and takes a little breather.
Channing Mackenzie has got the better of the ground game so far.
Mackenzie wants to pass the guard but Carzola is keeping the position.
Carzola lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Mackenzie looking to control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Carzola seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mackenzie wants to stand but Carzola is controlling the position.
Mackenzie keeping moving, preventing Carzola from controlling successfully.
Mackenzie looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Mackenzie is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Mackenzie is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Carzola is controlling him.
Mackenzie 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.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Mackenzie looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Mackenzie swats away the attempt to clinch by Carzola.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Mackenzie tries to land a front kick but Carzola steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
A head kick misses from Carzola.
Diego Carzola is winning the standup battle so far.

Mackenzie throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Carzola was covering up waiting for the punch and Mackenzie finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Carzola looking for a sweep. Not yet Carzola, not yet.
Carzola keeping full guard, as Mackenzie tries to pass.

Carzola looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Mackenzie stopping the sweep attempt from Carzola.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carzola is working hard here to advance position.
Mackenzie is pushing down on Carzola's leg trying to pass to half guard. Carzola is fighting to maintain full guard but Mackenzie has managed to sneak the leg through.
Mackenzie wants to lay and pray for a moment but Carzola keeps working.
Mackenzie has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Mackenzie prevents Carzola from improving his position.
Carzola is trying to stand up here but Mackenzie is controlling him well.
Mackenzie not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Mackenzie sitting and controlling from the half guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Mackenzie throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Mackenzie stuffs the takedown attempt from Carzola. Carzola gets slowly back to his feet.

Mackenzie instigates a clinch.
Carzola is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Carzola has Mackenzie pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Mackenzie manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Diego Carzola. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Carzola has a couple of punches blocked by Mackenzie.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Carzola is looking to break free of the clinch but Mackenzie has double underhooks.
Carzola misses with a punch on the inside.
Carzola lands an elbow just above Mackenzie 's eye.

Mackenzie is fighting off a takedown attempt but Carzola is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Mackenzie to the mat. Mackenzie regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Channing Mackenzie showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Channing Mackenzie's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

Mackenzie closes the distance and pushes Carzola back into the cage.
Mackenzie is trying to break the clinch but Carzola is controlling him.

Mackenzie pulls guard.
Carzola preventing the sweep.
Mackenzie can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Carzola controls the pace.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Mackenzie can do anything to dispel that myth.
Mackenzie keeping moving, preventing Carzola from controlling successfully.
Carzola slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Mackenzie keeping moving, preventing Carzola from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mackenzie looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mackenzie's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Carzola trying to control but Mackenzie is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Mackenzie fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Carzola sprawls well initially but Mackenzie persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Mackenzie is looking to advance position but Carzola won't allow it.
Mackenzie controlling the action here.

Mackenzie is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Carzola sees it coming and defends easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mackenzie tries to pass to full mount but Carzola defends it.
Mackenzie keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Mackenzie throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Carzola gets full guard.
Carzola is looking to stand up but Mackenzie isn't so interested in that idea.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mackenzie being controlled here momentarily.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Mackenzie dives in for a single leg takedown but Carzola sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mackenzie blocks a body shot from Carzola.
Mackenzie goes for a takedown in the clinch but Carzola prevents it.

Mackenzie manages to break the clinch.

Carzola closes the distance and clinches.
Carzola is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Mackenzie is defending well for now.
Mackenzie keeps control of Carzola as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Carzola struggles to land a body shot inside as Mackenzie controls his hands.
Carzola wants to break free but Mackenzie has control.
Mackenzie throws a knee to the head but misses.
Diego Carzola has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Carzola obliges.
Mackenzie wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Carzola scores a nice knee to the body.
Carzola misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Carzola breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
No joy there for Carzola, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Mackenzie ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Mackenzie shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Carzola manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Carzola working a defensive guard here.
Mackenzie connects with a couple of short punches.
Mackenzie with a flurry of punches that miss.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mackenzie controls from within his opponent's guard.
Channing Mackenzie is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

And that's the end of the fight!
Channing Mackenzie comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Mackenzie winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 27:30
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Channing Mackenzie!