PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Danny Racio (ranked 4590 p4p, 5608 weight class) and Pete McDamage (ranked 523 p4p, 564 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Racio
vs
McDamage

214 cm
25
210
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
25
205
0 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Danny Racio!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Pete McDamage!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Ryoma Takatsuka and Colin Fray.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

McDamage drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Racio trying to keep a closed guard but McDamage is proving a slippery customer.
McDamage being controlled here momentarily.
McDamage won't allow Racio to get back to his feet.
McDamage not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Racio throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Racio wants to get back to his feet but McDamage is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Racio is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
McDamage doesn't manage to clinch there - Racio circles away.
Racio thinks about countering with a head kick.
Horrible takedown attempt by McDamage or perhaps it was just good defense by Racio, which made it look bad.
McDamage fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Racio avoids it really well and circles away.
McDamage gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Racio moves into the clinch.
Danny Racio has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pete McDamage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Racio has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics McDamage uses from the top position.
McDamage preventing the sweep.
Racio pulls McDamage in close to prevent any damage.
Racio throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Racio on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Racio tries to get out of the position.
Racio lands a decent shot there.
Racio is trying to control the position from the bottom.
McDamage being controlled here momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Racio is on top in guard.

McDamage wants to improve his position but instead Racio has moved into half guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
McDamage gets full guard.
Racio postures up.
Racio's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McDamage keeping moving, preventing Racio from controlling successfully.
McDamage preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
McDamage is looking to sweep but instead, Racio has passed into half guard.
McDamage is trying to maintain the position but Racio is very close to passing his half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Racio lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Racio slows the pace down in half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Danny Racio dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

McDamage fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

McDamage shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Racio wants to get back to his feet.

Racio looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Racio is doing well to control the position and prevent McDamage from advancing to side control.
Racio is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Racio avoiding damage under a succession of punches from McDamage.
Racio wants to get back to full guard.
Racio gets back to full guard.
McDamage with a nice head shot there.
Racio looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Racio throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
McDamage looking to sit in guard and control but Racio gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McDamage wants to stand up but Racio is controlling him.
Racio sitting in guard here, content to control.
McDamage looking for a sweep. Not yet McDamage, not yet.
Danny Racio overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
McDamage pulls Racio in close to prevent any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McDamage keeping moving, preventing Racio from controlling successfully.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
McDamage takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Racio throws a low kick but it's checked well by McDamage.
No luck for McDamage with that takedown attempt.
Racio went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.

Racio dives in and scores a takedown into McDamage's guard.
McDamage looking to hit a scissor sweep but Racio is one step ahead there.
Racio controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McDamage has a closed guard, preventing Racio from standing up.
McDamage not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Racio slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Danny Racio dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Racio closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
McDamage can't get the takedown.
Racio leaning against his opponent.
McDamage is trying to pull guard but Racio has him pressed against the cage.

Racio jumps into guard, dragging McDamage to the mat.
Racio is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that McDamage can do to turn this around?

Racio has his foot on McDamage's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. McDamage works his way back into a safe position though.
McDamage being controlled here momentarily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McDamage trying to stand up but can't free himself from Racio's guard.
Racio throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Racio is on top in guard.

McDamage working a defensive guard here.
Racio's corner is telling him to maintain position.
McDamage trying to control the position.
Racio controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

McDamage is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Racio is aware though and is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Racio advances to half guard.
Racio looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Racio slips a nice elbow through McDamage's hands, connecting with McDamage's forehead.
Racio is taking a breather. McDamage says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
McDamage is looking for a sweep. Racio is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
McDamage wants to sweep but Racio has passed to side control!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Racio looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
McDamage is trying to control Racio's posture but Racio avoids it.
McDamage is trying to escape the position but Racio is controlling the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Racio really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

McDamage tries to sprawl but Racio drives through with a takedown into half guard.

McDamage manages to escape and get back to his feet!

Racio drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
McDamage takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
Racio working the body and head with strikes.
Racio tries to stand but McDamage is controlling his head.
Racio scoring with punches and elbows.
You can see the frustration on McDamage's face as Racio controls the position.
Racio lands a few punches from side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Racio wants to stand but McDamage has his arm trapped.
Pete McDamage has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Danny Racio is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
McDamage seems a little lost for a moment, as Racio dominates the positioning.

And that's the end of the fight!
Danny Racio showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Racio 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 Chris Saunders scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 30:27
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Danny Racio!
Danny Racio decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.