PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Cormac Mac Airt (ranked 1494 p4p, 1326 weight class) and Erasmo Bezerra (ranked 198 p4p, 176 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Mac Airt
vs
Bezerra

178 cm
26
160
12 - 6 - 1

178 cm
26
164
11 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Red Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Bondi MMA 🏝️
Conquer

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 12 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Cormac Mac Airt!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Erasmo Bezerra!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Sam Margolis and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Bezerra checks a leg kick.
Bezerra is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Mac Airt misses with a straight right.
A jab from Mac Airt misses.
Bezerra jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Bezerra tries to score a power double leg takedown but Mac Airt sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Bezerra somewhat.
Mac Airt seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
We've been hearing reports that Mac Airt has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jab by Mac Airt.
Mac Airt pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bezerra checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Bezerra looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Bezerra displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Mac Airt throws out the jab.

Bezerra scores with a takedown into Mac Airt's guard.
Bezerra's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Mac Airt is trying to keep Bezerra in close.
Mac Airt wants to improve his position but instead Bezerra has moved into half guard.
Mac Airt is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Bezerra is looking to advance position but Mac Airt won't allow it.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Bezerra connects with a nice short shot to Mac Airt's temple.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mac Airt moves into full guard.
Mac Airt trying to keep a closed guard but Bezerra is proving a slippery customer.
Mac Airt wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Bezerra throwing strikes from guard but Mac Airt blocks nicely.
Bezerra stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mac Airt swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Bezerra thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Bezerra wants to control from the top but Mac Airt keeps moving.
Mac Airt is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mac Airt has his foot on Bezerra's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Bezerra works his way back into a safe position though.
Mac Airt pulls Bezerra in to control the position.
Mac Airt looking for a sweep. Not yet Mac Airt, not yet.
Mac Airt working a defensive guard but Bezerra passes into half guard.
Mac Airt is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Bezerra scores with a couple of nice shots.

Mac Airt is defending against the submission attempts here by Bezerra.
Bezerra seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Mac Airt does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Bezerra is working for a submission of some sort.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mac Airt is trying to get back to full guard.
Mac Airt slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Bezerra scoring with some ground and pound.
Bezerra stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mac Airt swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Bezerra postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Mac Airt is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Bezerra, into his guard.

The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mac Airt pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Bezerra is keeping the position for now.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Erasmo Bezerra will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Mac Airt pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Bezerra walks into a stiff left hand from Mac Airt.
Cormac Mac Airt seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A looping hook to the body misses from Mac Airt. Bezerra does a little dance to reset his feet.
Mac Airt lands a leg kick that knocks Bezerra off balance momentarily.
Bezerra closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Bezerra ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Mac Airt moves away.
Mac Airt appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Mac Airt slips under a jab.
Mac Airt throwing a counter right hand but Bezerra manages to avoid it.
Bezerra ducks under a wild hook from Mac Airt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bezerra digs a good hook to Mac Airt's body.
Mac Airt moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
An inside leg kick from Mac Airt misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mac Airt misses the shot to the body.
Bezerra misses with a takedown attempt
and Mac Airt counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Bezerra lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

It looks like Cormac Mac Airt has been cut.
Mac Airt dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Bezerra. That did some damage!
Mac Airt on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Mac Airt lands with a shot to the body.
Mac Airt throws out a loose jab but Bezerra uses good head movement to avoid it.
Bezerra with the counter takedown but Mac Airt avoids it easily.
Bezerra just misses with a punch to the body.
Mac Airt cracks Bezerra with a good jab.
Mac Airt with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Bezerra to score with a decent uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mac Airt throws the left hand but Bezerra avoids the punch easily.
Mac Airt scores with a decent looking hook.
Cormac Mac Airt is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
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!
Mac Airt throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Mac Airt jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Mac Airt throws out a loose jab but Bezerra uses good head movement to avoid it.
Mac Airt throws a leg kick
enabling Bezerra to counter with a crisp jab.
Mac Airt tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Mac Airt misses with a body shot

and Bezerra counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Mac Airt has momentary wrist control but Bezerra slips an elbow through the middle.
Bezerra won't allow Mac Airt to sweep him here.
Mac Airt has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bezerra wants to control from the top but Mac Airt keeps moving.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Bezerra working his ground and pound in the gym. So far it seems to be working well.
Bezerra with a flurry of punches that miss.

Mac Airt is looking for a triangle but Bezerra pushes his legs off easily.
Bezerra trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Mac Airt keeping moving, preventing Bezerra from controlling successfully.
Bezerra wants to pass the guard but Mac Airt is keeping the position.
Bezerra wants to control from the top but Mac Airt keeps moving.
Mac Airt managing to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Bezerra makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Erasmo Bezerra has got the better of the ground game so far.
Bezerra sitting in guard here, content to control.
Mac Airt looking to control.
Bezerra trying to control but Mac Airt is working from the bottom.
Bezerra postures up and lands a big shot to Mac Airt's brow.
Mac Airt keeping moving, preventing Bezerra from controlling successfully.
Bezerra engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Cormac Mac Airt will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Cormac Mac Airt's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Mac Airt throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Bezerra on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Mac Airt needs to keep his hands up - Bezerra had a free shot at his head there.
Bezerra cracks Mac Airt with an open hand slap.
Mac Airt looks to land a right hand but Bezerra moved out of range.
Bezerra misses with a body shot
and Mac Airt counters with a three punch combo that has Bezerra backing up. Bezerra nods at Mac Airt to acknowledge the strikes.
Bezerra uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Mac Airt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bezerra on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Bezerra lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Mac Airt rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Bezerra counters with a takedown into side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Bezerra is trying to get an arm triangle but Mac Airt is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bezerra lands an elbow.
You can see the frustration on Mac Airt's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Bezerra working the strikes but Mac Airt uses the opportunity to regain half guard.

Bezerra is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Mac Airt wants to control but Bezerra is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Bezerra wants to take a breather but Mac Airt is having none of it.
Mac Airt trying to control from the bottom.
Mac Airt is looking to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bezerra seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

Mac Airt is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Bezerra pulls his head out easily.
Bezerra wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mac Airt keeps working.
Mac Airt avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Bezerra.
Bezerra has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Mac Airt has hold of Bezerra's hands but Bezerra slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Bezerra wants to pass to mount but Mac Airt is defending the position.
Bezerra working over Mac Airt with some ground and pound. Mac Airt looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Mac Airt is trying to maintain the position but Bezerra is very close to passing his half guard.

Bezerra is looking for a kimura but Mac Airt is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Bezerra to get the leverage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mac Airt gets full guard.
Mac Airt tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Mac Airt keeping moving, preventing Bezerra from controlling successfully.
Mac Airt is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Mac Airt has control of Bezerra's left arm, preventing Bezerra from doing any damage.
Bezerra tries to free his leg and advance position but Mac Airt is retaining full guard.
Bezerra postures up.
Bezerra trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Mac Airt controls Bezerra momentarily but Bezerra frees himself.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Bezerra shoots in looking for a takedown but Mac Airt manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Bezerra's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Bezerra slips under a jab.
Bezerra looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Mac Airt throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Bezerra throws out a counter right but Mac Airt avoids it with no problem.
Mac Airt keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Bezerra smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Bezerra takes a shot right to the bread basket.
A good leg kick by Mac Airt.
Bezerra takes one on the button.
Mac Airt looks to score with a jab to the body but Bezerra is just out of range.
A low kick lands for Mac Airt.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Cormac Mac Airt.
I think Mac Airt has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 30:27
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 29:28

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