PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Kirk Jamal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Neil McCauley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Neil McCauley acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Jamal
vs
McCauley

178 cm
23
142 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

180 cm
21
134 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Tends to cut

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Kirk Jamal!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Neil McCauley!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Jack Bonds and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

McCauley drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Jamal bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in McCauley's guard.

Jamal stops McCauley from standing up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

McCauley has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Jamal has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
McCauley wants to break the clinch but can't.
Jamal has McCauley pressed against the cage, preventing McCauley from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

McCauley breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Jamal tries to close the distance and clinch but McCauley swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

McCauley drives through with a takedown into Jamal's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Jamal escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. McCauley gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Jamal is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Jamal decides to return to a standing position.

McCauley closes the distance and pushes Jamal back into the cage.
McCauley is trying to push Jamal away but Jamal has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCauley just leaning against Jamal, taking a breather.

McCauley breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Jamal.

McCauley gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Jamal to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Jamal trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Jamal is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Jamal decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Jamal circles away from the clinch attempt.
Jamal looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
McCauley tries to land knees in the clinch but Jamal avoids the damage to the body.

McCauley breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Jamal shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as McCauley sprawls well. McCauley wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Jamal gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kirk Jamal. That's going to take a lot out of him.

McCauley closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Jamal is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but McCauley is defending well.

McCauley wants the takedown. Jamal is fighting it off but McCauley persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Jamal's guard against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
McCauley has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Jamal is proving hard to escape from.
Jamal wants to sweep here but McCauley controlling him for the moment.
McCauley really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Jamal. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Jamal is on top in guard.

Jamal advances to half guard.

McCauley pushes Jamal off and gets back to his feet.

McCauley closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Jamal to the mat! Jamal manages to get full guard.
McCauley stopping the sweep attempt from Jamal.
Jamal is breathing heavily.
Jamal lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Jamal stands up from guard. Let's bang!

McCauley instigates a clinch.
Jamal has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. McCauley is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Jamal changes levels and goes for a takedown here. McCauley fights it off and pushes away nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
McCauley lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

McCauley fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Jamal to the ground. McCauley is now in Jamal's guard.
McCauley trying to stand up but can't free himself from Jamal's guard.
Jamal wants to sweep here but McCauley controlling him for the moment.

Jamal looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
McCauley would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

McCauley decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Neil McCauley dominated that round.
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.

Jamal closes the distance and clinches up with McCauley, looking for a takedown. Jamal pushes McCauley against the cage but McCauley circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

McCauley decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Jamal is pressing down on McCauley's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Jamal looking for a sweep. Not yet Jamal, not yet.

Jamal had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. McCauley defends it easily.
McCauley must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Jamal has a closed guard, preventing McCauley from standing up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Jamal is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and McCauley defends well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McCauley tries to stand but Jamal is controlling from the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Jamal lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Kirk Jamal overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jamal stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. McCauley swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Jamal stops McCauley from standing up.

McCauley pushes Jamal off and gets back to his feet.

McCauley gets a takedown into half guard.
McCauley has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Jamal gets full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Jamal is on top in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McCauley wants to stand up but Jamal is controlling him.

McCauley scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
McCauley throws a right and a left that Jamal avoids nicely.

McCauley shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than McCauley was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Jamal sneaks back into half guard.

Jamal is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but McCauley pulls his head out easily.
McCauley tries to stand and escape but Jamal is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jamal gets back to full guard.
Jamal wants to sweep but no luck.

McCauley stands up from guard. Let's bang!

McCauley rushes Jamal and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

McCauley manages to break the clinch.

McCauley has managed to clinch.
McCauley is pressed up against the cage. Jamal has hold of a leg and is looking to drag McCauley down to the mat. McCauley avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

McCauley shoots in and gets a takedown into Jamal's guard.

Jamal is looking for a triangle but McCauley pushes his legs off easily.
McCauley wants to stand but Jamal is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Jamal is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Jamal has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but McCauley has passed into side control.
Jamal is looking for a sweep.
McCauley wants to stand but Jamal is controlling his arm.

McCauley stands up and we're back to a striking position.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Jamal tries to score a body lock takedown but McCauley shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Neil McCauley showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Jamal gets tackled into the cage by McCauley. McCauley maintains the clinch.
Jamal keeps the fight in the clinch, despite McCauley's efforts to push away.
Jamal takes a knee to the side of the body.
McCauley stops a takedown attempt from Jamal.

McCauley's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

McCauley clinches.

McCauley's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kirk Jamal seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jamal shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has McCauley pinned against the cage. McCauley gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

McCauley drives through with a takedown into guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Jamal looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Jamal 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.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCauley wanted to stand there but Jamal had control of the position.

McCauley stands and steps away. Jamal gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
A punch lands to the side of Jamal 's head but he takes it in his stride.

McCauley drives through with a takedown into Jamal's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

McCauley gets to his feet. Jamal looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

McCauley closes the distance and pushes Jamal back into the cage.

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

McCauley instigates a clinch.
McCauley wants to break free but Jamal has control.
McCauley prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kirk Jamal. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jamal on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Jamal drops to a knee looking for a takedown but McCauley gets the underhooks and prevents it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McCauley leaning against his opponent.
McCauley lands a nice shot to the body.

McCauley breaks the clinch.

McCauley clinches up with Jamal and pushes him back against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
McCauley is looking to break free of the clinch but Jamal has double underhooks.
Jamal looking for a takedown.
McCauley's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
McCauley wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Jamal really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
McCauley is trying to break the clinch but Jamal is controlling him.

McCauley gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Jamal wants to improve his position but McCauley is controlling well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jamal is trying to stand up here but McCauley is controlling him well.
Jamal is looking for a sweep. McCauley is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
McCauley wants to stand but Jamal has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Jamal gets full guard.
McCauley trying to stand up but can't free himself from Jamal's guard.

Jamal escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. McCauley gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
McCauley tries to stand but Jamal is controlling from the bottom.
Kirk Jamal has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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.

McCauley gets to his feet - Jamal follows without any prompting.
Neil McCauley is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

McCauley moves into the clinch successfully.
McCauley has had enough of the clinch but Jamal keeps him there for the moment.

McCauley breaks the clinch.

McCauley moves into the clinch successfully.
Jamal dodges an elbow strike from McCauley.
McCauley has had enough of the clinch but Jamal keeps him there for the moment.
Jamal tries for a takedown but McCauley manages to get underhooks.
Jamal is working for takedown but McCauley is calmly controlling the position for now.
Jamal drops down looking for an ankle pick but McCauley pulls his leg out and moves away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Neil McCauley comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well McCauley has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Neil McCauley!
An out of breath Neil McCauley thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.