PBP Commentary

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

MacNab
vs
Rafael

157 cm
21
145 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

163 cm
19
145 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent elbows
Good chin

Poweful takedowns
Counter striker
Powerful

Bulk Nutrition
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Hamish MacNab!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Elpidio Rafael!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Alexandre Firmino and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rafael changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. MacNab looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Rafael misses with the ground and pound.
Rafael has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
MacNab sneaks back into half guard.
Rafael throws a strike but MacNab avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Rafael pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. MacNab is keeping the position for now.
MacNab wants to sweep but no luck.
Rafael passes MacNab's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
MacNab avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Rafael.
MacNab keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
MacNab on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if MacNab tries to get out of the position.
MacNab trying to control from the bottom.
MacNab won't allow Rafael to pass to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
MacNab is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Hamish MacNab seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
MacNab fails in his attempt to clinch.
MacNab tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rafael paws at him with a jab and circles away.

MacNab closes the distance and clinches.
MacNab using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Rafael has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Rafael blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
MacNab lands an elbow that stopped Rafael in his tracks for a moment.

It looks like Elpidio Rafael has been cut.
MacNab lands a damaging elbow.
MacNab tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
MacNab tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Rafael blocks an elbow strike.
MacNab throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Rafael tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Rafael looking for a takedown.
MacNab lands a nice elbow.
MacNab is pressed up against the cage. Rafael has hold of a leg and is looking to drag MacNab down to the mat. MacNab avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Hamish MacNab has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Elpidio Rafael.
MacNab misses with a few strikes there.
MacNab is looking to clinch.

Rafael shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Rafael was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rafael looking to ground and pound but MacNab is blocking nicely.
MacNab is in a horrible position here. Rafael smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Rafael thowing shots but they're missing.
MacNab wants to control but Rafael is having none of it.
Rafael throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.

Rafael has control of MacNab's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and MacNab regains control of the situation pretty easily.
MacNab tries to hold on but Rafael postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rafael throws a sloppy strike and MacNab uses the opportunity to reverse the position! A bit of a scramble here and MacNab has ended up in Rafael's guard.
MacNab preventing the sweep.
Rafael striking off his back but it's not causing MacNab any problems.
MacNab wants to control from the top but Rafael keeps moving.

Rafael throws his legs up looking for a submission but MacNab uses it to pass to side control.
Rafael is trying to get back to half guard.
Rafael looks gassed!

That's four 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.
Rafael is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

MacNab decides to stand back up. MacNab steps back and let's Rafael get back to his feet.
MacNab is looking to clinch but Rafael is avoiding it.
MacNab moves in looking to clinch but Rafael pushes him off.
MacNab wants to clinch.
MacNab wants to clinch up but Rafael keeps it at a distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Elpidio Rafael dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Elpidio Rafael's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

MacNab has Rafael up against the cage in a clinch.
MacNab lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
MacNab throws a knee to the head but misses.
MacNab prevents the takedown attempt.
MacNab tries to land knees in the clinch but Rafael avoids the damage to the body.
Rafael on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
MacNab is pressed up against the cage. Rafael has hold of a leg and is looking to drag MacNab down to the mat. MacNab avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
MacNab doesn't manage to clinch there - Rafael circles away.
MacNab moves in looking to clinch but Rafael pushes him off.
MacNab throws a hook but Rafael blocks it.
MacNab tries to clinch up but Rafael circles away and keeps his distance.
MacNab is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
MacNab tries to clinch but Rafael moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rafael circles away from the clinch attempt.

Rafael drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Rafael wants to pass the guard but MacNab is keeping the position.
MacNab wants to get back to his feet but Rafael is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
MacNab working a defensive guard here.
MacNab is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Rafael is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Rafael works over MacNab with some ground and pound from guard.
Rafael works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Rafael sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. MacNab defending well though.
MacNab wants to control but Rafael is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Rafael uses his free foot to push down on MacNab's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for MacNab.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rafael lands a nice shot to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rafael lands with some strikes.
MacNab holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Rafael tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Rafael landing punches.
Rafael unloads with some shots from mount but MacNab bucks and avoids them well.

Rafael swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and MacNab is now in Rafael's guard. A big mistake from Rafael there, giving up the dominant position!

Rafael looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! MacNab has picked Rafael up and slammed him! Rafael can't keep hold of the triangle and MacNab manages to pass to side control!
Elpidio Rafael has got the better of the ground game so far.
MacNab wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rafael keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rafael tries to bench press MacNab off him but MacNab keeps the position.
MacNab wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rafael keeps working.
Rafael is trying to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
MacNab tries to clinch there but Rafael circles away.
MacNab ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rafael moves away.
MacNab misses with a leg kick.
MacNab looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Rafael shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says MacNab as he avoids it easily.
Hamish MacNab has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Elpidio Rafael.
MacNab tries to clinch but Rafael is having none of it.
MacNab tries to clinch but Rafael is having none of it.

Rafael drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Rafael misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
MacNab managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Rafael.
MacNab is looking to regain half guard here but Rafael keeps moving and retains side control.
MacNab wants to control but Rafael postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Elpidio Rafael showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Elpidio Rafael's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

MacNab tries to clinch but Rafael is having none of it.
MacNab tries to clinch up.
MacNab fails with an attempt to clinch.
MacNab moves in looking to clinch but Rafael pushes him off.

Rafael bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Rafael tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Rafael tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Rafael throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
MacNab dodges the ground and pound from Rafael.
MacNab takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
You can see the frustration on MacNab's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Rafael misses with the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rafael creates some space and throws a big elbow, but MacNab sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
MacNab tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rafael swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Hamish MacNab is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rafael avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rafael shoots in but no luck this time.
MacNab fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rafael manages to avoid it.
Rafael avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

MacNab clinches up against the cage.
Rafael blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
MacNab creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Rafael's defenses.
Rafael tries to score a body lock takedown but MacNab shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
MacNab using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
MacNab landing knees to the body.
MacNab lands a nice elbow.
Rafael avoiding damage as MacNab throws knees to the body.
MacNab crunches a lovely knee into Rafael's ribcage.
MacNab with an attempt at a knee that misses.
MacNab with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Rafael tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. MacNab smiles and moves away.
Hamish MacNab has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Elpidio Rafael.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
MacNab thuds his right hand into Rafael's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Rafael circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rafael fails to land the takedown.
The fight stays on the outside here - MacNab looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
MacNab fails in his attempt to clinch.
MacNab tries to clinch up.
MacNab is looking to clinch.
MacNab tries to clinch there but Rafael circles away.
Hamish MacNab has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rafael swats away the attempt to clinch by MacNab.
Rafael shoots for a takedown but MacNab saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
MacNab tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
MacNab tries to clinch but Rafael is having none of it.
MacNab fails in his attempt to clinch.
Horrible takedown by Rafael or perhaps it was just good defense by MacNab which made him look bad.
MacNab tries to clinch there but Rafael circles away.
Rafael keeps the fight on the outside.
Rafael avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rafael looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? MacNab is fending him off so far but Rafael persists. Nope, MacNab circles away and we're back to standing.
MacNab fails in his attempt to clinch.
MacNab throws out a loose jab but Rafael uses good head movement to avoid it.
MacNab is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
MacNab tries to clinch up but Rafael circles away and keeps his distance.
MacNab missing with a left hand there. Rafael was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
MacNab tries to close the distance and clinch but Rafael swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
MacNab wants to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
MacNab looks to score with a jab to the body but Rafael is just out of range.

Rafael darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Rafael tries to pass to full mount but MacNab defends it.
MacNab regains full guard. Nicely done.
Elpidio Rafael is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rafael trying to control but MacNab is working from the bottom.
Rafael 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.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Elpidio Rafael.
I've got Rafael 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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 28:30
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 28:30
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Elpidio Rafael!