PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Caz MacAulay (ranked 4350 p4p, 4689 weight class) and Xi Daerji (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.

MacAulay
vs
Daerji

177 cm
18
166
0 - 0 - 0

182 cm
23
155
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Caz MacAulay!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Xi Daerji!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Ben Hemmingworth and Chris Dean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Daerji pulls out of a head kick attempt.
MacAulay throws a hook but Daerji avoids it easily.
Daerji throws a nice looking combination but MacAulay bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
A head kick misses from Daerji.
MacAulay misses the shot to the body.
And Daerji tries to counter it with a takedown but MacAulay pushes his down on his head and steps out.
MacAulay misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A big right from MacAulay misses.
MacAulay throws a predictable looking body shot

and Daerji counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Daerji jumps into guard, dragging MacAulay to the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
MacAulay looking to sit in guard and control but Daerji gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Daerji stays in close to MacAulay's body and controls the position.
Daerji passes MacAulay's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

MacAulay looking for submissions off his back.

MacAulay looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Daerji throwing shots but MacAulay is blocking nicely.
MacAulay wants to get back to full guard.

Daerji decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

Daerji closes the distance and clinches.
MacAulay wants to break free but Daerji has control.
MacAulay tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Daerji smiles and moves away.
A nice combination there by Daerji.

It looks like Caz MacAulay has been cut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
MacAulay misses with a left hand

and Daerji counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Daerji.

MacAulay has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Daerji can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Daerji stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Daerji drives through with a takedown into MacAulay's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Daerji gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Daerji shoots in and gets a takedown into MacAulay's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

MacAulay looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

MacAulay looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Daerji passes into half guard.
MacAulay is trying to get back to full guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Daerji in particular looking to stall.

MacAulay looking for submissions off his back.

MacAulay is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Daerji pulls his head out easily.

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.

MacAulay is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Daerji pulls his head out easily.
Daerji missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

MacAulay is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Daerji pulls his head out easily.
MacAulay tries to get to full guard but Daerji has control of the leg.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

MacAulay actively working from the bottom here.
Daerji content to control rather than advance.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Xi Daerji dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Caz MacAulay's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Daerji bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
MacAulay tries to bench press Daerji off him but Daerji keeps the position.
Daerji staying calm.
MacAulay looks to move to half guard but instead Daerji has passed into mount! Damn!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
MacAulay is working to get back to half guard.
Daerji punching from mount but MacAulay doing a good job of avoiding damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Daerji avoids the attempt from MacAulay to control.
Daerji sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
MacAulay gets back to half guard.
Daerji not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Daerji prevents MacAulay from improving his position.

Daerji decides to return to a standing position.
MacAulay throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Daerji drops down looking to force a counter takedown but MacAulay defends it well.
MacAulay misses with a looping left.
MacAulay checks the leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Daerji moves into the clinch successfully.

Daerji decides to pull guard.

Daerji working for submissions but it's allowed MacAulay to get to half guard.
Daerji works his way to full guard. Good work.

Daerji had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. MacAulay defends it easily.

MacAulay drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Daerji manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now MacAulay has Daerji in his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Daerji got a little sloppy there for a moment and MacAulay has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Daerji has managed to get both his arms back between MacAulay's legs - danger averted.
Daerji in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Daerji advances to half guard.
Daerji seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
MacAulay has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Daerji is working away from the top position though.
Daerji has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Daerji throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Daerji keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

MacAulay actively working from the bottom here.
MacAulay is looking to control Daerji's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can MacAulay avoid being mounted?
Daerji content to control rather than advance.
MacAulay manages to get to full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Daerji postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Xi Daerji showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Caz MacAulay's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

MacAulay keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Daerji moves into the clinch.

Daerji pulls guard.

Daerji has his foot on MacAulay's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. MacAulay works his way back into a safe position though.

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

Daerji throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Daerji drops back looking for a leg! MacAulay is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and MacAulay manages to kick Daerji off! Daerji jumps back into MacAulay's guard.
MacAulay being controlled here, momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
MacAulay working a defensive guard here.
Daerji controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

MacAulay working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Daerji has passed into half guard!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Xi Daerji has got the better of the ground game so far.

MacAulay looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Daerji pushes past his half guard into mount!
MacAulay reaches up to try and control the position but Daerji seems to have an arm triangle now! Uh oh! MacAulay rolls and tries to escape and now Daerji has his back!
Daerji keeps control of the position easily here as MacAulay tries to buck him off.
MacAulay is really stuck here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Daerji is riding his opponent, not letting MacAulay buck him off.

Daerji looking for the choke from the back.
Daerji is hanging on to MacAulay's back as he tries to escape.
Daerji punches the canvas rather than the man.
I really don't envy MacAulay right now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Daerji controlling the position well here. MacAulay rolled but Daerji kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
You can see the frustration on MacAulay's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Daerji is not going to allow MacAulay to sit and survive in this position.

Daerji tightening his grip on MacAulay, looking for the choke.
MacAulay is really stuck here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Xi Daerji comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Daerji 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 Hugh Johnson scores the fight for Xi Daerji!
Judge Ben Hemmingworth scores the fight for Xi Daerji!
Judge Chris Dean scores the fight for Xi Daerji!

Xi Daerji wins by unanimous decision!