PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Avion Lassiter (ranked 7567 p4p, 565 weight class) and Surly MacConnelly (ranked 7872 p4p, 577 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Lassiter
vs
MacConnelly

185 cm
22
185 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

192 cm
25
187 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

Woodshins' Ship

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Avion Lassiter !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Surly MacConnelly!
The judges for this bout are Ryoma Takatsuka, Micheangelo Fripello and Roger Salmon.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
MacConnelly changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Lassiter tries to avoid it but MacConnelly manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Lassiter to the ground. Lassiter escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Lassiter avoids a punch combination nicely.
It looked like Lassiter wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Lassiter rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but MacConnelly moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
MacConnelly staying out of range there.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

MacConnelly gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Lassiter to score an easy takedown into full guard.

MacConnelly has his feet on Lassiter 's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
A solid body kick from Lassiter .
MacConnelly dives in for a single leg takedown but Lassiter sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Lassiter shoots in and bounces MacConnelly off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

MacConnelly is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Lassiter presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
MacConnelly blocking some punches.

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

MacConnelly has taken the fight to the clinch.
MacConnelly using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

MacConnelly's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A head kick misses from MacConnelly.
Lassiter lands an overhand right.
Lassiter fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
MacConnelly misses with a jab, cross combination.
Lassiter lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but MacConnelly circles away quickly and effectively.
Lassiter slips a jab and a cross from MacConnelly.
MacConnelly tries to land a leg kick but Lassiter saw it coming and moves away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
MacConnelly shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Lassiter defends it nicely.
Avion Lassiter has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Surly MacConnelly.
Lassiter lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
MacConnelly throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Lassiter .
Lassiter fails to land the takedown.
MacConnelly tries a low kick but Lassiter avoids it.
Lassiter feinted with a counter takedown.

MacConnelly clinches.

MacConnelly's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
MacConnelly misses with a hook.

Lassiter closes the distance and clinches.

Lassiter pulls MacConnelly into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lassiter is controlling MacConnelly's posture.
Lassiter utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
MacConnelly with a flurry of punches that miss.
MacConnelly is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
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.
Lassiter is looking to stand up but MacConnelly isn't so interested in that idea.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lassiter utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
MacConnelly has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
MacConnelly won't allow Lassiter to get back to his feet.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
MacConnelly throws a right and a left that both miss.
MacConnelly dives in for a single leg takedown but Lassiter sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Lassiter shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Lassiter was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
MacConnelly explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
MacConnelly walks forward, straight into a front kick from Lassiter .
MacConnelly showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Lassiter .
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Surly MacConnelly dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

MacConnelly pushes Lassiter up against the cage in a clinch.
Lassiter is struggling to control the position.
Lassiter jumps guard but MacConnelly turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Lassiter is trying to pull guard but MacConnelly has him pressed against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
MacConnelly pressing his opponent against the cage.
Lassiter swings wildly with an uppercut but MacConnelly uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lassiter is stalling here.
MacConnelly gets through Lassiter 's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
MacConnelly controlling the action here for a moment.

Lassiter breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
MacConnelly tries to work over Lassiter 's front leg with a kick but Lassiter checks it.
Lassiter shoots in for a takedown but MacConnelly shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Avion Lassiter . That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lassiter lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Lassiter looks for a takedown but MacConnelly sprawls well.
Lassiter darts in looking for a takedown but MacConnelly gets double underhooks and turns Lassiter into the cage.

MacConnelly closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
MacConnelly has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Lassiter tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

MacConnelly breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Lassiter throws a jab when MacConnelly was well out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
MacConnelly throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
MacConnelly avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Lassiter scores with a nice body kick.
MacConnelly listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
MacConnelly misses with a few strikes there.
Lassiter pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
A telegraphed right hand from Lassiter misses the target.

MacConnelly gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Lassiter to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Lassiter trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
MacConnelly wants to stand up but Lassiter is controlling him.
Lassiter trying to control but MacConnelly is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lassiter throwing strikes from guard but MacConnelly blocks nicely.
Lassiter has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
MacConnelly utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Lassiter wants to control from the top but MacConnelly keeps moving.
Lassiter throws a big right hand that misses.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Lassiter stops MacConnelly from standing up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Lassiter showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from MacConnelly.

MacConnelly moves into range and clinches up with Lassiter .
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Surly MacConnelly showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Lassiter swings for the body but MacConnelly moves out of range.

MacConnelly drives through with a takedown into guard.

Lassiter is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. MacConnelly presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Lassiter stalling against the cage.
MacConnelly has a couple of punches blocked by Lassiter .
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
MacConnelly stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lassiter scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

MacConnelly sneaks out the side door and pushes Lassiter away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
MacConnelly shoots in for a takedown but Lassiter shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
MacConnelly throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
MacConnelly swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
MacConnelly takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
MacConnelly bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

MacConnelly closes the distance and pushes Lassiter back into the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as MacConnelly takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

Lassiter breaks from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Lassiter .
MacConnelly tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Lassiter was well out of range. Poor timing from MacConnelly.
A punch combination from Lassiter misses.

MacConnelly closes the distance and pushes Lassiter back into the cage.
Lassiter tries to pull guard but MacConnelly holds him up against the cage and eventually Lassiter drops back down to his feet.
A short right hand to the side of the head by MacConnelly.
Lassiter is trying to pull guard but MacConnelly turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

MacConnelly breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
MacConnelly takes one on the chin but seems OK.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
MacConnelly tries for a takedown but Lassiter sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
MacConnelly closes the distance and clinches up with Lassiter , looking for a takedown. MacConnelly pushes Lassiter against the cage but Lassiter circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Avion Lassiter has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Surly MacConnelly.
Lassiter throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
MacConnelly throws a series of punches but Lassiter moves out of range.

Lassiter feints and as MacConnelly raises his hands in defense, Lassiter changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
MacConnelly trying to control the position.
Lassiter throws a big right hand that misses.
Surly MacConnelly is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Lassiter slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lassiter uses good head movement to avoid the hook from MacConnelly.

MacConnelly gets a clinch.
Lassiter fails to pull the fight into his guard.

MacConnelly breaks the clinch.
MacConnelly throws a combination that misses
and Lassiter counters with a slapping leg kick.

MacConnelly closes the distance and clinches.
MacConnelly stalling in the clinch but Lassiter improves position.

Lassiter manages to break the clinch.
Avion Lassiter has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lassiter is trying hard to land a takedown here. MacConnelly sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Lassiter looks to score with a jab to the body but MacConnelly is just out of range.
MacConnelly is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Surly MacConnelly.
I've got MacConnelly winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 27:30
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 27:30

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