PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Constantin Niculescu (ranked 197 p4p, 369 weight class) and Lucas McCain (ranked 31 p4p, 52 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.

Niculescu
vs
McCain

183 cm
27
205
16 - 7 - 0

190 cm
27
205
13 - 6 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter
Bondi MMA 🏝️

Hoarse Pills
Bondi MMA 🏝️

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 16 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Constantin Niculescu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 6 - 1, fighting out of New York, Lucas McCain !
The judges for this bout are Patrick Alders, Daniel Blasius and Radbod Blank.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McCain swinging wildly here.
Niculescu appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
McCain misses with a low kick.
Niculescu blocks a jab.
A jab from McCain finds it's way through Niculescu's defenses.
McCain slips under a jab from Niculescu.
McCain misses with a straight right.
McCain throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Niculescu swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by McCain .
McCain has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McCain takes a body punch but keeps moving.
McCain fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Niculescu checks it well.
A nice leg kick from McCain , right into the meat of the thigh.

McCain lands a big head kick that sends Niculescu tumbling to the mat! McCain takes a step backwards and waves Niculescu back to his feet - he wants the finish!

It looks like Constantin Niculescu has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Niculescu uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from McCain .
Niculescu tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but McCain defends well and Niculescu ends up having to push McCain into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
McCain misses with a shot to the kidneys.
McCain blocks a body shot from Niculescu.
McCain wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Niculescu has him pressed against the cage.
Niculescu misses with the head strike.
McCain dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Niculescu lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Niculescu tried to land a shot to the body but connects with McCain 's elbow.
Niculescu misses with a hook to the ribs.
McCain tries to throw a body punch but Niculescu avoids it by throwing McCain back against the cage.
Niculescu tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
McCain lands a right hand that snaps the head of Niculescu backwards.
McCain prevents a body shot from Niculescu.
Niculescu lands a left hand that snaps the head of McCain backwards.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from McCain .
McCain can't find room to land a body shot as Niculescu controls the action.
Niculescu gets through McCain 's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Niculescu scores with a hook to the body.
Niculescu tries to work over McCain 's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
McCain blocks a body shot from Niculescu.
Niculescu misses with a body punch.
Niculescu lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of McCain backwards.
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!

McCain manages to break the clinch.
A leg kick checked by Niculescu.
Niculescu ducks under a wild hook from McCain .
Niculescu feinted with a counter takedown.
Niculescu walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
McCain tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Niculescu misses the jab.
McCain misses with a looping left.
McCain swings and misses with a hook to the body.
McCain blocks a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Niculescu just misses with a punch to the body.
Niculescu listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Nice uppercut there from Niculescu.

Niculescu decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Niculescu thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Niculescu stops McCain from getting back to his feet.
Niculescu missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
McCain is trying to stand up here but Niculescu is controlling him well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McCain avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Niculescu.
Niculescu thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed McCain 's head.
McCain is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Niculescu scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCain is staying active underneath Niculescu, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Niculescu throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Niculescu thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Niculescu performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Niculescu trying to control from half guard but McCain is working away.
McCain keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
McCain blocking the ground and pound attempt from Niculescu.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Lucas McCain will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Constantin Niculescu's cut.
That's time! Niculescu's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Niculescu takes one on the chin but seems OK.

Niculescu looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
McCain keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
McCain is not content to let Niculescu control the position.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
McCain is looking to escape.
Niculescu thows a huge punch but McCain dodges it nicely.
Niculescu 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.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Niculescu throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Niculescu seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but McCain does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Niculescu missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Niculescu sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. McCain defending well though.
Niculescu not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Niculescu looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks McCain with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
We've been hearing that Niculescu has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
McCain on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Niculescu is pressing down on McCain 's thigh, looking to free his foot. McCain is holding on for now.
Niculescu thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Niculescu throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Niculescu is trying to control the action in half guard but McCain is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Niculescu throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Niculescu missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Niculescu throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Niculescu winds up and cracks McCain with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
McCain taking some punishment here, with Niculescu in his half guard.
McCain blocking the ground and pound attempt from Niculescu.
Niculescu working over McCain with some ground and pound. McCain looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Niculescu is nestled in close to McCain , controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Niculescu missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Niculescu looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Niculescu throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Niculescu lands strikes from half guard.
McCain blocking the ground and pound attempt from Niculescu.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Niculescu lands a nice short elbow.
Niculescu scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Niculescu missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Niculescu is keen to just control but McCain is a slippery customer.
Niculescu missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Niculescu seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
McCain blocking the ground and pound attempt from Niculescu.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Niculescu thows a huge punch but McCain dodges it nicely.
Niculescu not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Niculescu is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Niculescu looks to land a strike but McCain avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Niculescu lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Niculescu working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Niculescu lands a couple of decent looking shots.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Niculescu lands a couple of digs.
Niculescu throwing strikes from guard but McCain blocks nicely.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Constantin Niculescu dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Constantin Niculescu'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. This is the final round!

McCain takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
McCain fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Niculescu on the side of the head.
McCain connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
McCain uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Niculescu.
McCain tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Niculescu was well out of range. Poor timing from McCain .
Niculescu tests McCain 's chin there with a solid looking shot.
McCain throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Niculescu throws a hook but McCain blocks it.
Niculescu misses with a body shot
and McCain counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Niculescu scores with a hook to the body. McCain takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Niculescu walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCain misses with a straight left.
Niculescu attempts a counter takedown but McCain avoids it well and moves away.
Niculescu shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as McCain sprawls well. McCain wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Niculescu gets slowly back to his feet.
McCain misses with a body kick.
A cross from Niculescu lands.
McCain throws a sloppy head kick and Niculescu moves out of range easily.
McCain fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Niculescu manages to avoid it.
McCain thows a left - swing and a miss!

Niculescu shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches McCain napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Niculescu is putting a hurting on McCain here, landing some big shots from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Niculescu working the ground and pound but McCain is defending the strikes.
McCain is trying to buck Niculescu off.
McCain regains half guard, as Niculescu was trying to land strikes.
Niculescu looks to land a strike but McCain avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
McCain is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Niculescu is controlling him.
McCain working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Niculescu.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Niculescu pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. McCain is keeping the position for now.
Niculescu keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of McCain 's head.
Niculescu lands a couple of elbows.

McCain manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Good body shot from McCain .
McCain lands a hook that snaps the head of Niculescu backwards.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from McCain .
McCain tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
McCain lands a left hand that snaps the head of Niculescu backwards.
Niculescu misses with a shot to the kidneys.
McCain tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Niculescu lands with a left to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from McCain fails to land.
McCain leaning his opponent against the cage.
Stalling in the clinch from Niculescu.
McCain lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Niculescu or not.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Niculescu working aggressively here.
Niculescu blocks a body shot from McCain .
McCain misses with a hook to the ribs.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from McCain .
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
McCain goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Constantin Niculescu has scored more points in the clinch so far.
McCain is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
McCain lands an uppercut.
Niculescu looking for a takedown.
Niculescu letting McCain take a breather here.
McCain lands a right hand that snaps the head of Niculescu backwards.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lucas McCain comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think McCain has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Patrick Alders scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 28:29
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 28:29

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