PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Damien Conner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Giovanni Macellaio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Giovanni Macellaio was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Conner
vs
Macellaio

179 cm
24
157 lbs
10 - 9 - 1

171 cm
24
168 lbs
5 - 5 - 1

Good wrestling
World class MT
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Damien Conner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 1, fighting out of New York, Giovanni Macellaio!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Matti Vanhoillinen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A looping hook to the body misses from Macellaio. Conner does a little dance to reset his feet.
Conner is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Macellaio.
Macellaio throws a jab when Conner was well out of range.
Conner throws out a loose jab but Macellaio uses good head movement to avoid it.
Macellaio connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Macellaio throws a series of punches but Conner avoids them all with ease.
Conner throws a half hearted mid kick.
Macellaio has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Conner is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Macellaio throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Conner tries a head kick but it misses.
Macellaio tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Conner was well out of range. Poor timing from Macellaio.
Macellaio shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Conner defends it nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Conner cracks the inside of Macellaio's front leg.
Macellaio dives in for a single leg takedown but Conner sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Conner fails to land with a series of punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Macellaio uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Conner.
Conner throws a right and a left that Macellaio avoids nicely.
Conner delivers a nice body kick.
Macellaio throws a hook but Conner blocks it.
Conner appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
A jab from Conner does it's job there.
Macellaio takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

Conner rushes Macellaio and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Macellaio avoids the elbow strike from Conner, against the cage.
Conner lands a left hand that snaps the head of Macellaio backwards.
Macellaio misses with a punch on the inside.
A nice left hand lands by Conner.
Macellaio fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Conner gets through Macellaio's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Macellaio has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Conner after a bit of a struggle.
Damien Conner has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Giovanni Macellaio.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Macellaio.
Conner lands an uppercut.
Macellaio misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Macellaio goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Macellaio as Conner tries to tie him up.

Conner breaks from the clinch.
Macellaio scores with a nice strike.
Macellaio tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Conner manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Conner throws out a powerful jab.
Macellaio on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Conner throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Macellaio.
The fighters circle momentarily. Conner darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Macellaio avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Conner ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
A swing and a miss from Macellaio.
Damien Conner is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
The crowd cheers as Macellaio lands an impressive looking overhand right. Conner doesn't seem phased though.
Nice shot by Macellaio.
Conner scores with a shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Macellaio misses with a hook
and Conner counters with a nice leg kick.
Macellaio 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.
Conner moves in looking to clinch but Macellaio pushes him off.
Macellaio keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Macellaio tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Conner defends well and Macellaio ends up having to push Conner into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
A shot to the liver by Conner. Beautiful body shot.
Conner is looking to wear down Macellaio with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Macellaio throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Conner fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Conner listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Macellaio lands a jab-cross combination.
Macellaio lunges at Conner with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Conner's hand.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Macellaio throws a nice looking combination but Conner bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Macellaio waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Conner.
Macellaio pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Conner scores with a nice strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Conner digs a good hook to Macellaio's body.
Conner tries to clinch but Macellaio moves out of range.
A left lands for Conner.
Macellaio throws a jab but it's blocked by Conner.
Macellaio moves out of range of the body kick.
Conner clobbers Macellaio with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Macellaio looks to score with a jab to the body but Conner is just out of range.
Macellaio lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Conner swinging wildly here.
Conner plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

It looks like Giovanni Macellaio has been cut.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Conner throws a hook but Macellaio blocks it.
Conner is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Macellaio darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Conner throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Damien Conner dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Giovanni Macellaio's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Conner on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Conner staying out of range there.
A shot to the body from Conner misses
enabling Macellaio to counter with a crisp jab.
No joy there for Conner, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Conner scores with a leg kick.
Damien Conner is winning the standup battle so far.

Macellaio drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Macellaio misses with the ground and pound.
Conner is trying to get back to half guard.
We've been hearing good reports from Conner's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Macellaio tries for a kimura but Conner is defending well.
Conner knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Macellaio on the ground.
Conner defending against the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Macellaio scores with a couple of short elbows.
Macellaio trying to control the action but Conner is working from the bottom.
Conner is trying to control Macellaio's posture but Macellaio avoids it.

Macellaio is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Conner knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Macellaio is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Conner is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Macellaio creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Conner sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Conner on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Conner manages to work his way to half guard, despite Macellaio's best efforts.
Macellaio not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Macellaio is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Conner trying to control here.
Macellaio is trying to control. Conner wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Macellaio is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Conner is just riding it out for now. Macellaio eventually gives up the hold.
Conner tries to kick Macellaio off but Macellaio keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Macellaio is trying to control the action in half guard but Conner is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Macellaio is taking a breather. Conner 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.
Conner tries to kick Macellaio off but Macellaio keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Conner avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Macellaio.
Macellaio thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Conner's head.
Macellaio prevents Conner from standing back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Conner lands a jab.
Macellaio misses with a hook. Conner ducked under it nicely.
Macellaio looks to score with a jab to the body but Conner is just out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Conner. Macellaio does a little dance to reset his feet.
Conner throws a jab when Macellaio was well out of range.
Macellaio throws a nice looking combination but Conner bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Conner stuffs the takedown attempt from Macellaio. Macellaio gets slowly back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Conner avoids the head kick by Macellaio.
A slow jab from Conner misses its intended target.
Conner swings for the body but Macellaio moves out of range.
A little jabbing left from Macellaio on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Giovanni Macellaio showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Giovanni Macellaio's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Conner scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Macellaio smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Conner scores with a kick to the body.
Macellaio scores with a spinning back kick!
Conner lands with a cross.
Conner swings for the body but Macellaio moves out of range.
Conner connects with a single shot there.
Conner moves out of range of the strikes.
Macellaio showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Conner.
Macellaio misses with an uppercut.
Macellaio misses with a low kick.
Macellaio throws a series of strikes that have Conner backpedaling.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A head kick from Conner lands but Macellaio takes it in his stride.
Damien Conner is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Conner tries a head kick but it misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Conner wants to clinch up but Macellaio keeps it at a distance.
Macellaio feints the counter takedown.
Macellaio takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Conner tries to bum rush Macellaio with a series of wild strikes but Macellaio uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Macellaio tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Conner was well out of range. Poor timing from Macellaio.
Conner ducks under a wild hook from Macellaio.
Conner uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Macellaio.
Macellaio lands a two punch combo.
Macellaio ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Conner moves away.
Macellaio scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Macellaio cracks Conner with a good jab.
Conner displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Macellaio throws out the jab.
Macellaio wants to land a leg kick but Conner is out of range.
Macellaio misses with a body punch

and Conner counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Conner.
Conner pushes Macellaio back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Conner misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Macellaio jumps guard and drags Conner to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Macellaio is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Macellaio lands strikes from half guard.

Macellaio is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Conner is just riding it out for now. Macellaio eventually gives up the hold.
Conner trying to control here.
Conner manages to get to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Macellaio prevents Conner from getting back to his feet.
Conner keeping moving, preventing Macellaio from controlling successfully.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Conner manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Macellaio wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Conner has him pressed against the cage.
Conner is working Macellaio over against the cage.
Macellaio is looking to take this one to the mat.
Conner is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Macellaio lands a nice elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Macellaio pulls Conner into guard.

Macellaio is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Macellaio keeping moving, preventing Conner from controlling successfully.
Conner missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Macellaio looking to try and escape his hips here, looking for a submission. It looks like he's going for a triangle but Conner is defending well. Macellaio quickly switches to an armbar and extends the arm! Conner has no choice but to tap, to a very quick submission! Wow, that was lightning fast! Macellaio celebrates on the cage, with the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:49 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Giovanni Macellaio!
In his post fight interview, Giovanni Macellaio started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.