PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Frank McAfee (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Charleston (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the prize buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

McAfee
vs
Charleston

177 cm
22
194 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

187 cm
22
195 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Knockout power

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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Frank McAfee!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, James Charleston!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Fedor Mirinova and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Charleston tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but McAfee paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Charleston throws a head kick that misses.

McAfee has managed to clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by McAfee as Charleston tries to tie him up.

McAfee tightens his grip and picks Charleston up, before dumping him to the ground. Charleston manages to land in guard.
Charleston preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
McAfee is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.
McAfee is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
McAfee wants to control from the top but Charleston keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McAfee is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McAfee's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

McAfee gets to his feet - Charleston follows without any prompting.

McAfee has managed to clinch.
The referee calls for McAfee to work.

McAfee is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Charleston can't fight it off and eventually McAfee manages to take the fight to the floor. Charleston looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.

McAfee gets to his feet. Charleston looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Horrible takedown attempt by McAfee or perhaps it was just good defense by Charleston, which made it look bad.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McAfee fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Charleston tries to close the distance and clinch but McAfee swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A head kick misses from McAfee.
McAfee takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Charleston misses with a head kick.
Charleston tries to clinch
and Charleston takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

McAfee has Charleston up against the cage in a clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Charleston looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

McAfee breaks from the clinch.
Charleston is looking to clinch.
McAfee is looking to counter the offense by Charleston and move into the clinch.

Charleston clinches up against the cage.
Charleston tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Charleston with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Charleston is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but McAfee is keeping busy.
Charleston tries to stall but McAfee uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
McAfee is working for takedown but Charleston is calmly controlling the position for now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Frank McAfee. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Charleston throws a knee to the head but misses.

McAfee manages to pull guard.
Charleston trying to control but McAfee is working from the bottom.
McAfee preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Charleston landing with the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Charleston drops back, looking for a kneebar! McAfee looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. McAfee looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from McAfee!

McAfee remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Charleston has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Charleston is pushing McAfee's head away, looking to escape. McAfee manages to hold on to the position though.

McAfee stands up and beckons Charleston to his feet.
Charleston fails with a takedown attempt.
McAfee is looking to counter with a body kick.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Charleston wants to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frank McAfee dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

McAfee shoots in looking for a takedown but Charleston manages to keep the fight standing, pushing McAfee's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
A head kick by Charleston misses
and McAfee counters with a two punch combo.
McAfee fakes the leg kick and cracks Charleston in the body.

McAfee shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. McAfee showed some decent athleticism there.
Charleston really doesn't want to stay on the ground with McAfee. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
McAfee thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Charleston's head.
McAfee seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

McAfee postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Charleston to stand up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Charleston tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. McAfee manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

McAfee moves into the clinch.
Charleston throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Charleston looking to throw knees to the head but McAfee is blocking nicely.
McAfee tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Charleston avoids it.
Charleston using the Thai plumb to throw knees but McAfee has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, McAfee creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
McAfee lands a shot to the body.

McAfee manages to pull guard.
McAfee is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

McAfee is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Charleston is trying to stand back up but McAfee is controlling him

McAfee is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Charleston wants to get back to his feet.
McAfee missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Still in half guard, McAfee seems content to control.
McAfee prevents Charleston from standing back up.
Charleston won't allow McAfee to pass to mount.
McAfee looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
McAfee passes the guard and advances to mount!
McAfee controlling his opponent.

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.
McAfee thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
McAfee wants to control the pace but Charleston is squirming around nicely.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
McAfee scores with a couple of good head shots there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frank McAfee dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Charleston wants to clinch up but McAfee keeps it at a distance.
McAfee was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Frank McAfee is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The fight stays on the outside here - Charleston looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Charleston moves out of range of the body kick from McAfee.
Charleston is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
McAfee shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Charleston pinned against the cage. Charleston gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Charleston leaves McAfee with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Charleston fails in his attempt to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

McAfee fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Charleston, pushing him back against the cage.

McAfee escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

McAfee looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
McAfee prevents Charleston from standing back up.
McAfee is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Charleston can do to turn this around?

That's one minute gone in the round.
McAfee controlling the action here.

McAfee is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Charleston is not content to let McAfee control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

McAfee seems to be looking for submissions.
McAfee not doing much here.
Charleston pushes McAfee off looking to stand but McAfee dives back in and keeps control.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
McAfee fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Frank McAfee. That's going to take a lot out of him.
McAfee fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Charleston looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Frank McAfee is winning the standup battle so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Charleston tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. McAfee manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
McAfee swats away the attempt to clinch by Charleston.
Charleston moves in looking to clinch but McAfee pushes him off.
Charleston throws a sloppy head kick and McAfee moves out of range easily.
James Charleston has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Charleston fails with a takedown attempt.
McAfee shoots in and drives through. Charleston sprawls well.
Charleston tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. McAfee manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
McAfee goes for a double leg but Charleston avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Charleston continues to drive forward.
Charleston is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Charleston tries to clinch there but McAfee circles away.
McAfee throws a sloppy head kick and Charleston moves out of range easily.
Charleston will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
McAfee tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Charleston manages to circle out of the way.
Charleston tries to clinch but McAfee is having none of it.
McAfee defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Charleston.
McAfee looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
James Charleston seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Charleston throws a head kick but McAfee moves out of range.
It looked like McAfee was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Charleston stuffs the takedown.

McAfee manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Charleston on his heels. He'll look to pass Charleston's guard now, I'm sure.
McAfee is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Charleston is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. McAfee is aware though and is defending well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Frank McAfee showed his dominance in that final round.
Well McAfee 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 30:26
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 30:26
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Frank McAfee!