PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Phol Boxaaja (ranked 248 p4p, 35 weight class) and Dalton McConnell (ranked 728 p4p, 97 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Boxaaja
vs
McConnell

180 cm
21
188 lbs
12 - 0 - 0

180 cm
21
190 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Phol Boxaaja!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Dalton McConnell!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, James Atkins and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Boxaaja.
We've been informed that McConnell has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
McConnell misses with a hook. Boxaaja ducked under it nicely.
Boxaaja connects with a body shot that sends McConnell's belly button to the back.
McConnell just misses with a punch to the body.
Boxaaja fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and McConnell has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Boxaaja lands a nice looking body shot.
Boxaaja throws a good cross that connects.
Boxaaja wants to clinch.
A big left from McConnell misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Boxaaja falls off balance throwing a combination
and McConnell counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
McConnell takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
McConnell takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A looping hook to the body misses from Boxaaja. McConnell does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Donk. McConnell catches Boxaaja right on the button with a cross.

Boxaaja clinches up with McConnell and pushes him back against the cage.
Boxaaja tries a body shot but McConnell blocks it.
McConnell working hard to break the clinch.
Boxaaja lands with a short shot to the head.
McConnell wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Boxaaja has him pressed against the cage.

McConnell pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Boxaaja misses with a body punch
and McConnell counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Boxaaja throws a shot to the body.
We've been told by Boxaaja's head coaches at Gymi that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Boxaaja closes the distance looking to clinch
and McConnell connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Boxaaja throws a right and a left that both miss.
McConnell looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Dalton McConnell is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
McConnell scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Boxaaja doesn't seem bothered though.
Boxaaja is looking to wear down McConnell with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
McConnell throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Boxaaja sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Boxaaja swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nice shot lands for McConnell.

Boxaaja feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
McConnell looking for a sweep. Not yet McConnell, not yet.
Boxaaja slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

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

Boxaaja looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McConnell tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Boxaaja happy to just control the position for now.

Boxaaja tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Boxaaja swings around for an armbar but McConnell sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Boxaaja's guard.
McConnell trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Boxaaja is pulling down on McConnell's head. It's preventing any offense from McConnell, at least for the moment.

Boxaaja working for a triangle but McConnell defends it easily.

Boxaaja looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
McConnell looking to pass the guard.

Boxaaja escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. McConnell gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

McConnell content to sit in guard, stalling... Great. Oh but he could get punished here because Boxaaja has locked up a guillotine! Boxaaja's face is contorted as he sqeezes tight on the submission attempt - will he finish? McConnell is holding on here and Boxaaja must be using up a lot of energy. McConnell has gone limp! He's out! He's out cold! Boxaaja gets to his feet, tossing aside his stricken foe. Arms raised, he milks the applause from the crowd. Great submission!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Phol Boxaaja!
Phol Boxaaja retains his middleweight title!
Dalton McConnell was interviewed post fight and said 'He got lucky tonight but I'll avenge this'.