PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Himo Ta (ranked 4805 p4p, 4695 weight class) and Arran Macmillan (ranked 588 p4p, 583 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.

Ta
vs
Macmillan

195 cm
23
205
0 - 0 - 0

189 cm
25
215
0 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Intelligent

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 London, Himo Ta!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Arran Macmillan!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Phil Schofield and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Macmillan throws a combination. Ta tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Macmillan works over Ta's head and body with a nice combination.

Ta moves into the clinch.
The referee calls for Ta to work.
Macmillan is looking to control Ta's arms but Ta gets an underhook and turns him. Now Macmillan has his back to the cage.
Ta goes for a takedown in the clinch but Macmillan prevents it.
Ta is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Macmillan is defending well.

Ta breaks the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Macmillan avoids the body shot from Ta.

Macmillan tries to keep at a distance but Ta has taken the fight into the clinch.
Macmillan working hard to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ta is trying to pull guard but Macmillan turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Himo Ta. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Macmillan manages to break the clinch.

Ta has closed the distance and engaged Macmillan in a clinch.
Ta jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Macmillan walks away with a smile on his face. Ta gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Macmillan moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Macmillan!
Macmillan lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Ta at a distance.

Ta closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Macmillan's guard.
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!
Ta in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Ta is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Ta'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.
Macmillan really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Ta. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ta throwing strikes but missing.
Ta sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Ta loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Ta controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Ta content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Ta 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 three minutes gone in the round.
Ta is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Macmillan is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Ta has Macmillan pressed against the cage, preventing Macmillan from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Ta breaks from the clinch.
Ta misses with a hook to the body
and Macmillan counters with a three punch combo that has Ta backing up. Ta nods at Macmillan to acknowledge the strikes.
Macmillan blocks a head kick by Ta.
Ta closes the distance but Macmillan moves to the side
and Macmillan counters with a straight right hand.
Arran Macmillan is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Macmillan lands a two punch combo.
Ta looks to clinch
and Macmillan counters with a nice low kick that buckles Ta's knee momentarily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ta fails to land the takedown.
Ta misses with a combination
and Macmillan counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Ta avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Macmillan throws a series of punches but Ta avoids them all with ease.
Ta throws a left and a right that both miss
and Macmillan counters with a series of strikes. Ta will be more careful next time no doubt.
Macmillan displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Ta.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

A nice combination there by Macmillan.
Ta misses with a head kick.
Macmillan's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Macmillan duly obliges.
Ta fails with a takedown attempt.
Macmillan connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ta on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Ta avoids a punch combination nicely.
Macmillan will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Macmillan just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromTa.

That's one minute gone in the round.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Macmillan.
Macmillan has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Macmillan clobbers Ta with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Ta throws out a loose jab but Macmillan uses good head movement to avoid it.
Macmillan finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Macmillan scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Macmillan displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

Ta has closed the distance and engaged Macmillan in a clinch.

Ta breaks the clinch.
Macmillan is working the combinations to good effect here.
Macmillan staying out of range there.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Ta is defended easily by Macmillan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Macmillan throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Ta throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Macmillan tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Ta is in Macmillan's guard.
Ta won't allow Macmillan to get back to his feet.
Ta sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Ta makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ta content to stall in guard here.
Ta forces his way into half guard.
Himo Ta overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Ta not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Ta wants to pass to mount but Macmillan is defending the position.
Ta with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Further stalling from Ta.

Ta is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Macmillan defends it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Ta tries to pass the half guard into mount. Macmillan knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Still in half guard, Ta seems content to control.
Ta thows a huge punch but Macmillan dodges it nicely.
Ta is figuring out what he wants to do next.
If it seems like I'm not saying a lot, it's just because Ta is stinking the place up with his stalling.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Macmillan can do anything to dispel that myth.
Macmillan 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.
Ta fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Macmillan avoids it really well and circles away.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Arran Macmillan showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Macmillan wants to clinch.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Ta.
Macmillan lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Macmillan ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ta tries to clinch up
and Macmillan counters with a series of strikes. Ta will be more careful next time no doubt.
Macmillan works over Ta's head and body with a nice combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Macmillan lands a jab-cross combination.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Ta is defended easily by Macmillan.
Macmillan unleashes a big counter combination but Ta bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
A solid leg kick lands there for Macmillan.

Ta clinches.
Ta is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Ta tries to pull guard but Macmillan won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Himo Ta. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Macmillan effectively controlling the action here.
Ta looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Macmillan wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Ta has him pressed against the cage.
Ta has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Macmillan is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Macmillan prevents the takedown attempt.

Macmillan breaks from the clinch.
Macmillan scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Ta fails with the takedown
and Macmillan counters with a stiff right hand.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Macmillan lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ta takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ta scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Macmillan is trying to stand back up but Ta is controlling him
Ta wants to lay and pray for a moment but Macmillan keeps working.
Ta controlling the action here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ta seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Macmillan for as long as he can get away with.
Arran Macmillan is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ta trying to control the action but Macmillan is working from the bottom.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Ta stops Macmillan from getting back to his feet.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Ta moves into the clinch.
Macmillan tries to land knees in the clinch but Ta avoids the damage to the body.
Ta has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Macmillan avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Ta has hold of one of Macmillan's legs. Macmillan is fighting the takedown attempt but Ta gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.

Ta drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Ta jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Ta stops Macmillan from standing up.
Himo Ta has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Ta drops back looking for a leg! Macmillan is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Macmillan manages to kick Ta off! Ta jumps back into Macmillan's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Arran Macmillan comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Macmillan 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 27:30
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 27:30
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Arran Macmillan!
After winning the bout, Arran Macmillan thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.