PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Surly MacConnelly (ranked 5694 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Lewis (ranked 8606 p4p, 0 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

MacConnelly
vs
Lewis

192 cm
25
187 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

195 cm
23
185 lbs
1 - 7 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Surly MacConnelly!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, James Lewis!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, John Roberts and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
MacConnelly throws a good cross that connects.
MacConnelly lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

MacConnelly manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Lewis on his heels. He'll look to pass Lewis's guard now, I'm sure.
Lewis is looking to stand back up but MacConnelly counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Lewis.
Lewis looks winded!

MacConnelly missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Lewis trying to hold on to MacConnelly's head to control him but MacConnelly postures up.
Lewis wants to get back to full guard but MacConnelly has mounted him!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
MacConnelly controlling his opponent.
MacConnelly has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
MacConnelly seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Lewis for as long as he can get away with.

That's one minute gone in the round.
MacConnelly has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Lewis can do anything to dispel that myth.

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.
Lewis tries to get back to half guard but can't.
MacConnelly controlling from mount.
Lewis tries to hold on but MacConnelly pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
MacConnelly controlling from the full mount.
MacConnelly'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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
This is a sustained period of stalling by MacConnelly.
Lewis is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Lewis is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Surly MacConnelly dominated that 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.

MacConnelly will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Lewis tries to clinch but MacConnelly moves out of range.

MacConnelly has taken the fight to the clinch.
Lewis jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as MacConnelly walks away with a smile on his face. Lewis gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
MacConnelly fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
MacConnelly throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
letting Lewis counter with a right hand.
Lewis stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Lewis wants it to stay on the feet.

Lewis moves into the clinch successfully.
Lewis managing to block the knees to the body from MacConnelly.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
MacConnelly looking to slow down the pace here.
Lewis jumps guard but MacConnelly turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knees to the body from MacConnelly.
MacConnelly is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Lewis can do to turn this around?
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Lewis tries for a takedown but MacConnelly manages to get underhooks.
Surly MacConnelly has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Lewis.
A short right from MacConnelly.
MacConnelly lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
A short right from MacConnelly.
Lewis trying to control the position but instead, MacConnelly has worked for underhooks and has pushed Lewis into the cage.
Lewis tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lewis is looking to control MacConnelly's arms but MacConnelly gets an underhook and turns him. Now Lewis has his back to the cage.

Lewis breaks the clinch.
MacConnelly rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Lewis moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
MacConnelly throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Lewis's head.
MacConnelly scores with a head kick.
Lewis avoids a punch combination nicely.
MacConnelly looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lewis moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
MacConnelly is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
MacConnelly lands a jab to Lewis's midsection.
Lewis keeps the fight on the outside.
MacConnelly swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Lewis counters with a left to the body.
Surly MacConnelly is winning the standup battle so far.
Lewis pulls out of a head kick attempt.
MacConnelly throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
MacConnelly misses with the combination.
Lewis throws a head kick but MacConnelly moves out of range.
Surly MacConnelly seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
MacConnelly lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Lewis circles away quickly and effectively.
Lewis feints the counter takedown.
MacConnelly fails in his attempt to clinch.
MacConnelly throws a right and a left that both miss.
Lewis changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
MacConnelly is looking to clinch but Lewis is avoiding it.
A countering left hand to the body from Lewis misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

MacConnelly scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

MacConnelly stands up and beckons Lewis to his feet.
MacConnelly lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Lewis avoids a punch combination nicely.
Lewis tries to close the distance and clinch but MacConnelly swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
MacConnelly appears to be looking for a big counter.
Lewis tries for a takedown but MacConnelly sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

MacConnelly instigates a clinch.
MacConnelly content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Lewis is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables MacConnelly to keep the fight standing.

MacConnelly breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Surly MacConnelly dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Lewis on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
MacConnelly shoots in looking for a takedown but Lewis manages to keep the fight standing, pushing MacConnelly's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
MacConnelly throws a sloppy body shot
and Lewis counters with a two punch combo.
MacConnelly misses the shot to the body.
MacConnelly shoots in looking for a takedown. Lewis tries to sprawl out of it but MacConnelly keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Lewis manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Lewis shoots in and gets a takedown into MacConnelly's guard.

MacConnelly pushes Lewis off and gets back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

MacConnelly drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
MacConnelly laying and praying for a moment but Lewis takes advantage and regains half guard.
Lewis is trying to stand.
Lewis wants to control but MacConnelly passes into side.
Lewis tries to improve position but can't.

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.
MacConnelly is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Lewis felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
MacConnelly working the head and body with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
MacConnelly lands a few punches from side control.

MacConnelly decides to stand up, so the ref orders Lewis to his feet.
MacConnelly throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A lazy left from MacConnelly finds it's target.
MacConnelly moves into range and connects with a jab.
Surly MacConnelly is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Lewis defending well as MacConnelly loads up on a big left hand.
Lewis avoids the body shot from MacConnelly.
Lewis fails in his attempt to clinch.
MacConnelly throws a series of punches but Lewis avoids them all with ease.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as MacConnelly checks a leg kick.
Lewis avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
MacConnelly avoiding damage.

Lewis manages to break the clinch.
Lewis throws a sloppy head kick and MacConnelly moves out of range easily.
Lewis on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by MacConnelly. MacConnelly obviously looking to wear him down.
Lewis takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
MacConnelly misses with a takedown attempt - Lewis sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Surly MacConnelly. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
MacConnelly shoots in but no luck this time.
James Lewis has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
MacConnelly shoots in looking for a takedown but Lewis manages to keep the fight standing, pushing MacConnelly's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Surly MacConnelly showed his dominance in that final round.
Well MacConnelly 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 John Kavanagh scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 30:27
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Surly MacConnelly!