PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Phil McGroin (ranked 4349 p4p, 4391 weight class) and Viggo Andolini (ranked 0 p4p, 0 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.

McGroin
vs
Andolini

150 cm
18
130
0 - 0 - 0

167 cm
25
140
0 - 0 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Phil McGroin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Viggo Andolini!
The judges for this bout are Peter Branson, Bart Greer and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McGroin tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Andolini paws at him with a jab and circles away.
McGroin is looking to clinch.
Andolini feints the counter takedown.
McGroin darts in trying to clinch
and Andolini counters with a left and a right that stings McGroin.
McGroin checks a leg kick nicely.
McGroin tries to clinch but Andolini is having none of it.

Andolini moves into range and clinches up with McGroin.

Andolini lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Well, if Andolini is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

Andolini is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and McGroin defends it well.
Andolini wants to stand up but McGroin has a hold of him and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Andolini in particular looking to stall.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Andolini's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
McGroin is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Andolini jumps into side control!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Andolini is trying to get an arm triangle but McGroin is defending well.

Andolini goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, McGroin has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Andolini but great work by McGroin.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McGroin happy to just control the position for now.
Andolini struggling a bit here.
McGroin is looking to take a break and control but Andolini is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Andolini is looking for a sweep.
Andolini can't do much from the bottom here.
McGroin is looking to take a break and control but Andolini is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
An elbow from McGroin crashes against the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Andolini wants to get back to his feet.
Andolini can't do much from the bottom here.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Andolini is trying to get back to half guard.
McGroin is staying tight to Andolini's torso, preventing him from escaping.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
A bone on bone clash there as McGroin blocks the leg kick.
McGroin tries to clinch up but Andolini circles away and keeps his distance.
As McGroin backs off Andolini throws a huge counter combo but McGroin manages to avoid it all.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
McGroin tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Andolini decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Andolini wants to control but McGroin is keeping him busy.
Andolini trying to pass the guard but McGroin defending well.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Andolini shoots in for a double leg but McGroin sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
McGroin tries to clinch but Andolini is having none of it.
McGroin sets himself, and Andolini steps forward looking for the clinch! McGroin avoids it this time.
Andolini swats away the attempt to clinch by McGroin.
McGroin tries to clinch up but Andolini circles away and keeps his distance.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Andolini.
McGroin wants to control but Andolini postures up.
Andolini advances to mount.
Andolini wants to control the pace but McGroin is squirming around nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Andolini throwing strikes here but McGroin is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Andolini takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Andolini trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Andolini working for a submission but McGroin is keeping him at bay.
McGroin manages to regain half guard whilst avoiding the strikes.
Andolini throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Andolini throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
McGroin on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if McGroin tries to get out of the position.
Andolini thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed McGroin's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Andolini is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. McGroin doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Andolini.
Andolini missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Andolini tries to stand and escape but McGroin actually recovers to full guard.
Viggo Andolini has got the better of the ground game so far.
Andolini trying to control the position from guard on top but McGroin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McGroin utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Andolini pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. McGroin is keeping the position for now.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Andolini, as that shot connected.
Phil McGroin is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
McGroin showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Andolini.
Phil McGroin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McGroin tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Andolini paws at him with a jab and circles away.
McGroin wants to clinch.

Andolini clinches.
McGroin pushes off an throws an elbow but Andolini leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Andolini taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

Andolini pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Andolini tries a head kick but it misses.
McGroin could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
McGroin tries to clinch there but Andolini circles away.
Andolini has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
McGroin doesn't manage to clinch there - Andolini circles away.
Andolini circles away from the clinch attempt.
McGroin is looking to clinch but Andolini is avoiding it.
Andolini closes the distance and clinches up with McGroin, looking for a takedown. Andolini pushes McGroin against the cage but McGroin circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Andolini avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

McGroin moves into the clinch.
Andolini is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but McGroin is defending well.
Phil McGroin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Viggo Andolini.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Andolini misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Andolini manages to break the clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Viggo Andolini showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

McGroin tries to clinch
and Andolini counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
McGroin wants to clinch.
Andolini steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from McGroin.
McGroin tries to close the distance and clinch up but Andolini swats him away and circles back towards the center.
McGroin fails in his attempt to clinch.
Viggo Andolini seems to be getting the better of the standup.

McGroin rushes Andolini and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Andolini misses with a knee strike.
Andolini changes levels and goes for a takedown here. McGroin fights it off and pushes away nicely.
McGroin darts in trying to clinch
and Andolini counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McGroin tries to clinch up but Andolini circles away and keeps his distance.
McGroin wants to clinch.
Andolini fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but McGroin avoids it really well and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McGroin fails with an attempt to clinch.
Andolini circles away from the clinch attempt.
McGroin is looking to clinch.
McGroin slaps away a takedown attempt from Andolini, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Phil McGroin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Viggo Andolini.
McGroin tries to close the distance and clinch up but Andolini swats him away and circles back towards the center.
McGroin tries to clinch
and Andolini makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
McGroin fails in his attempt to clinch.
Andolini changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
McGroin tries to clinch up.

Andolini closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Andolini controlling the pace.
Andolini tries to pass to full mount but McGroin defends it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McGroin is in trouble now - Andolini has advanced to mount!
Andolini controlling from mount.

Andolini goes for an armbar but he's not got it… McGroin turns into him and now he's in Andolini's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
McGroin trying to control but Andolini is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Andolini throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! McGroin escapes and throws Andolini's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Andolini parries the strikes from McGroin easily there. McGroin is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Andolini to escape.
Andolini is trying to control McGroin's posture but McGroin avoids it.
Andolini is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
McGroin wants to lay and pray for a moment but Andolini keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
McGroin is putting a hurting on Andolini here, landing some big shots from side control.
Andolini tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but McGroin wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
You can see the frustration on Andolini's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
McGroin controls the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Andolini is trying to get back to half guard.
Andolini defending against the ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Viggo Andolini comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Andolini has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Peter Branson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Viggo Andolini!