PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Carol Macias (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rob Dirk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Macias
vs
Dirk

182 cm
20
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
21
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Carol Macias!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Rob Dirk!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Jeff Smith and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Dirk bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Macias is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Dirk's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Macias actively working from the bottom here.
Macias is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Dirk jumps into side control!
Macias is trying to get back to his feet.

Dirk decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Dirk drives through with a takedown into guard.

Dirk avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Macias bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Dirk's guard.

This has been an exciting period of action!
Dirk looking to hit a scissor sweep but Macias is one step ahead there.
Dirk will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dirk has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Macias can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Macias is fighting to break Dirk's control of his arms but Dirk is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Macias really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Dirk looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Macias puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Dirk holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Dirk is trying to get back to full guard.
Dirk trying to hold on to Macias's head to control him but Macias postures up.

Macias stands up and beckons Dirk to join him on the feet.

Dirk drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Macias is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Dirk is controlling him.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dirk is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Dirk decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Macias, up you get!

Dirk shoots in and bounces Macias off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Macias wriggles free and stands up.
Dirk jabs at Macias's body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Dirk closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Dirk pulls Macias into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Macias won't allow Dirk to get back to his feet.
Dirk looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Macias puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Dirk looks winded!

Macias is working for a kimura but Dirk is defending it quite comfortably.
Dirk trying to get back to full guard but Macias takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Rob Dirk will probably get the nod.
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.

Macias fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Dirk.

Dirk rushes Macias and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Dirk tries to break free but Macias pushes him back against the cage.

Dirk decides to pull guard.
Macias has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Dirk looking to control.
Macias stays in close to Dirk's body and controls the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dirk wants to sweep but no luck.
Macias wants to get up but he can't break Dirk's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Macias controlling from the top position.

Dirk isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Macias stacks Dirk on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Macias!
Dirk is looking to regain half guard here but Macias keeps moving and retains side control.
Macias working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Macias decides to stand back up. Macias steps back and let's Dirk get back to his feet.

Macias tries to sprawl but Dirk drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Macias makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

Dirk throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Macias was covering up waiting for the punch and Dirk finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Dirk is breathing heavily.

Macias kicks Dirk off and gets to his feet.

Dirk has managed to clinch.
Dirk throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Maciass head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Macias escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Dirk stuns Macias with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

Macias gets caught napping as Dirk dives in and scores a takedown. Macias manages to retain guard.

Macias has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Dirk can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Dirk trying to stand up but can't free himself from Macias's guard.

Macias working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Dirk doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Dirk manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Dirk stands and steps away. Macias gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Dirk moves into the clinch.
Macias is trying to push Dirk away but Dirk has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Macias is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Dirk pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Macias tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Dirk drives through and clinches with Macias against the cage.
Dirk is trying to break the clinch but Macias has him pressed against the cage.
Macias looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Macias being controlled against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Rob Dirk will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Nice body kick from Macias.

Dirk darts in and clinches Macias up against the cage.

Dirk pulls guard.
Dirk not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Dirk is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dirk is trying to control the position from the bottom.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dirk slaps away a takedown attempt from Macias, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Macias gets caught flat footed, as Dirk shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Macias wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Dirk manages to pass to side control.

Macias pushes Dirk off but Dirk dives into side control.

Macias throws Dirk to one side and escapes!

Dirk darts in and clinches Macias up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Dirk breaks the clinch.

Dirk has managed to clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Macias manages to break the clinch.
A head kick misses from Dirk.
As Dirk looks to move away, Macias throws a big counter combo but Dirk just gets out of the way.
Dirk looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Macias is looking for a counter combo.
Dirk takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Dirk drives through and clinches with Macias against the cage.
Macias is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Dirk pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Dirk gets control of Macias's arms and successfully pulls guard. Dirk will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Macias is standing up over Dirk. Dirk looks to escape but Macias dives into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Macias wants to lay and pray for a moment but Dirk keeps working.

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

Dirk fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Macias sprawls well initially but Dirk persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Macias pushes Dirk off and gets back to his feet.

Dirk drives through and clinches with Macias against the cage.

Macias breaks from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Macias throws a nice outside leg kick.

Macias gets caught napping as Dirk dives in and scores a takedown. Macias manages to retain guard.

Macias kicks Dirk off and gets to his feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Macias shoots in and gets a takedown into Dirk's guard.
Dirk pulls Macias in close to prevent any damage.

Macias decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Dirk, up you get!

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Carol Macias.
I think Dirk has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 29:29
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Rob Dirk!