PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Richard McAuliffe (ranked 3568 p4p, 373 weight class) and Carlos Ottaviano (ranked 4760 p4p, 441 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.

McAuliffe
vs
Ottaviano

174 cm
25
157 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

185 cm
25
157 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Richard McAuliffe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Carlos Ottaviano!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Aleksandr Martynov and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ottaviano misses with a series of wild punches.
McAuliffe connects with a body shot.

McAuliffe scores with a takedown into Ottaviano's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McAuliffe trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

McAuliffe is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Ottaviano is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Ottaviano has escaped and now he's on top!

Ottaviano wants to stand and escape but instead McAuliffe has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

McAuliffe is looking to work some ground and pound but Ottaviano has wrist control.
Ottaviano avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Ottaviano is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's one minute gone in the round.

McAuliffe has gone for a leg lock! Ottaviano slips out almost immediately though and dives into McAuliffe's guard.

Ottaviano tries to stand but McAuliffe is controlling from the bottom.
McAuliffe tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Ottaviano wanted to stand there but McAuliffe had control of the position.
McAuliffe is trying to control the position but Ottaviano postures up.
Ottaviano trying to stand up but can't free himself from McAuliffe's guard.
Ottaviano wants to stand and escape but instead McAuliffe has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ottaviano is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and McAuliffe dives into side control.
Ottaviano tries to escape but McAuliffe is in control.
McAuliffe creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Ottaviano sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
McAuliffe in side control, throwing shots but Ottaviano defends.
McAuliffe is working Ottaviano over with some ground and pound from side control.
McAuliffe throws an elbow but Ottaviano slips to the side and avoids it well.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
McAuliffe creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Ottaviano sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

McAuliffe thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
McAuliffe landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The strikes coming from McAuliffe are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
McAuliffe postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
McAuliffe landing strikes.
Ottaviano dodges the ground and pound from McAuliffe.
McAuliffe scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Ottaviano to see if he's OK.
McAuliffe misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Ottaviano takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
McAuliffe throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Ottaviano gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
McAuliffe 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McAuliffe postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Ottaviano looks a forlorn figure.
McAuliffe tries to control but Ottaviano wriggling away.
McAuliffe misses with a head shot.
McAuliffe wants to control the pace but Ottaviano is squirming around nicely.

McAuliffe is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Ottaviano has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Ottaviano!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Richard McAuliffe dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Ottaviano throws a right and a left that McAuliffe avoids nicely.
McAuliffe feinted with a counter takedown.
Ottaviano falls off balance throwing a combination
and McAuliffe counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Ottaviano misses with a combination

and McAuliffe holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Ottaviano tries to circle away but McAuliffe has him pinned against the cage.
Ottaviano is trying to break free.
McAuliffe tries to pull guard but Ottaviano won't allow it.
Ottaviano is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Ottaviano working hard to break the clinch.
McAuliffe is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
McAuliffe is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ottaviano tries to break the clinch but McAuliffe is controlling the position.
Ottaviano working hard to break the clinch.
Ottaviano is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Ottaviano's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Ottaviano working hard to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

McAuliffe breaks from the clinch.
Ottaviano falls off balance throwing a combination

and McAuliffe counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
McAuliffe misses with a head shot. Ottaviano uses the momentum to regain guard.
Ottaviano keeping moving, preventing McAuliffe from controlling successfully.
McAuliffe pushing down on Ottaviano's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

McAuliffe seems to be trying to get a kimura but instead Ottaviano has recovered full guard.
McAuliffe trying to control but Ottaviano is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McAuliffe postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
McAuliffe trying to control but Ottaviano is working from the bottom.

McAuliffe is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Ottaviano is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Ottaviano has escaped and now he's on top!

McAuliffe throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Ottaviano wants to get up but he can't break McAuliffe's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Ottaviano is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
McAuliffe might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McAuliffe looking for a sweep. Not yet McAuliffe, not yet.
McAuliffe is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ottaviano can do to turn this around?
Ottaviano won't allow McAuliffe to get back to his feet.
Ottaviano stopping the sweep attempt from McAuliffe.
Ottaviano wants to stand and escape but instead McAuliffe has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

McAuliffe controls from within his opponent's guard.
McAuliffe postures up in Ottaviano's guard and throws a big left but Ottaviano blocks it.
McAuliffe has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Ottaviano is proving hard to escape from.
Ottaviano keeping full guard, as McAuliffe tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McAuliffe stays in close to Ottaviano's body and controls the position.
Richard McAuliffe overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
McAuliffe is looking to work some ground and pound but Ottaviano has wrist control.
Ottaviano wants to get back to his feet but McAuliffe passes into half guard.
McAuliffe tries to stand but can't do so whilst Ottaviano controls his leg.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

McAuliffe is looking for a kimura here.

McAuliffe is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Richard McAuliffe dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

McAuliffe avoids a punch combination nicely.
McAuliffe swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
McAuliffe avoids a punch combination nicely.
McAuliffe tries to counter with a takedown but Ottaviano is quick to defend against it.

McAuliffe drives through with a takedown into Ottaviano's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
McAuliffe trying to control the position from guard on top but Ottaviano is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
McAuliffe trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
McAuliffe trying to control the position from guard on top but Ottaviano is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McAuliffe throwing strikes from guard but Ottaviano blocks nicely.
McAuliffe trying to control but Ottaviano is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McAuliffe postures up in Ottaviano's guard and throws a big left but Ottaviano blocks it.
McAuliffe throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ottaviano works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
McAuliffe is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Ottaviano lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but McAuliffe circles away quickly and effectively.
A left lands for McAuliffe.
McAuliffe lands an overhand right.
Ottaviano throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Ottaviano falls off balance throwing a combination
and McAuliffe counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Ottaviano takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ottaviano fails to land with a series of punches.
Ottaviano will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Carlos Ottaviano is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A decent looking cross lands there for McAuliffe.
Richard McAuliffe is winning the standup battle so far.
McAuliffe lands a jab-cross combination.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

McAuliffe takes the fight into the clinch.

McAuliffe successfully pulls guard.

McAuliffe throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
McAuliffe is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

McAuliffe throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
McAuliffe not landing any meaningful shots this time.
McAuliffe looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McAuliffe thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
McAuliffe lands with a punch from half guard.
McAuliffe content to control rather than advance.
Ottaviano blocking the ground and pound attempt from McAuliffe.
McAuliffe not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ottaviano is trying to stand up here but McAuliffe is controlling him well.

McAuliffe is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Ottaviano is just riding it out for now. McAuliffe eventually gives up the hold.

That's four 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.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. McAuliffe lands a nice short elbow.
Richard McAuliffe is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
McAuliffe wants to take a breather but Ottaviano is having none of it.
McAuliffe looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
McAuliffe'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.
Carlos Ottaviano has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
McAuliffe throwing shots but Ottaviano is blocking nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Richard McAuliffe showed his dominance in that final round.
Well McAuliffe 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 Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Richard McAuliffe!
A less than humble Richard McAuliffe misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.