PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Faustino Porter (ranked 8393 p4p, 0 weight class) and Surly MacConnelly (ranked 4689 p4p, 469 weight class). Surly MacConnelly is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Porter
vs
MacConnelly

154 cm
18
193 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

192 cm
25
187 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

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, Faustino Porter!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Surly MacConnelly!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Anthony Taglia and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Porter shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as MacConnelly sprawls well. MacConnelly wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Porter gets slowly back to his feet.
MacConnelly lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

It looks like Faustino Porter has been cut.
MacConnelly misses with a double jab.
MacConnelly misses with a double jab

and Porter holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
MacConnelly wants to break free but Porter has control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Porter drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Porter is trying to pull guard but MacConnelly has him pressed against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Faustino Porter. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
MacConnelly misses with a short punch on the inside.

MacConnelly pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
MacConnelly shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Porter eats them both and turns towards MacConnelly to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

MacConnelly gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Porter to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Porter with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Porter with a flurry of punches that miss.
MacConnelly trying to control the position.
MacConnelly utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Porter postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

MacConnelly manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
MacConnelly looks winded!
MacConnelly tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Porter avoids it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Excellent takedown into side control there by MacConnelly.

Porter explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!

Porter looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Porter lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nice strikes from Porter there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Porter throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Porter not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Porter working over MacConnelly with some ground and pound. MacConnelly looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Porter throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Porter winds up and cracks MacConnelly with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
MacConnelly trying to hold on to Porter's head to control him but Porter postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Faustino Porter will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Faustino Porter's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

MacConnelly misses with a right hand

and Porter counters by moving into the clinch.
MacConnelly wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

MacConnelly breaks from the clinch.
We've been informed that MacConnelly has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Porter really is a fat lump.
MacConnelly tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Porter was well out of range. Poor timing from MacConnelly.
Surly MacConnelly seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
MacConnelly looks to land a right hand but Porter moved out of range.
As MacConnelly looks to move away, Porter throws a big counter combo but MacConnelly just gets out of the way.
Porter is looking to clinch.
MacConnelly closes the distance and lands a one-two.

Porter shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Porter working MacConnelly over with strikes.
MacConnelly is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Porter thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Porter thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Porter looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks MacConnelly with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Porter is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

Porter is trying to work for a kimura but MacConnelly is defending well.
Porter not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Porter not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Porter sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. MacConnelly defending well though.
MacConnelly avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Porter.
MacConnelly tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Porter manages to move to mount!
Porter throwing strikes here but MacConnelly is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Porter working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
MacConnelly manages to work a leg through to get back to half guard here. Good work there by MacConnelly, under a barage of strikes from Porter.
MacConnelly avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Porter.
Porter looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks MacConnelly with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Porter takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Porter throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Porter seems to be working for a kimura but MacConnelly defends the submission attempt.
MacConnelly looks like he's trying to stand up.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

MacConnelly has taken the fight to the clinch.
MacConnelly is trying to break the clinch but Porter has him pressed against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Faustino Porter dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Faustino Porter's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Porter shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
MacConnelly is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
MacConnelly utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Porter throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as MacConnelly works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Porter lands a couple of elbows.
MacConnelly takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Porter makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Porter missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Porter throws a strike but MacConnelly rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Porter working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from MacConnelly.
MacConnelly stopping the sweep attempt from Porter.

Porter has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but MacConnelly can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Porter wants to sweep here but MacConnelly controlling him for the moment.

Porter is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
MacConnelly tries to stand but Porter is controlling from the bottom.
Porter is trying to control the position but MacConnelly postures up.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
MacConnelly wants to stand and escape but instead Porter has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Porter scoring with punches to the head and body.
Faustino Porter overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
MacConnelly seems keen to control Porter's posture.
Porter stopping the sweep attempt from MacConnelly.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
MacConnelly throws a front kick aimed at Porter's knee but Porter avoids it well.
Some wild striking there from MacConnelly.

Porter feints and as MacConnelly raises his hands in defense, Porter changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
MacConnelly tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Porter with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Porter throwing strikes from guard but MacConnelly blocks nicely.
Porter is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that MacConnelly can do to turn this around?
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Porter accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Surly MacConnelly has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Porter throws a big right hand that misses.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
MacConnelly bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Porter's guard.

Faustino Porter is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
MacConnelly with a flurry of punches that miss.

And that's the end of the fight!
Faustino Porter showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Porter, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Faustino Porter!