PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Thaddeus Reese (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mack Falconer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Reese comes to the ring accompanied by BAMA Boyz-Sweet Home Alabama. Thaddeus Reese has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Reese
vs
Falconer

180 cm
24
181 lbs
7 - 7 - 0

176 cm
18
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Thaddeus Reese!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mack Falconer!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Tiny Johnson and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Falconer.
A head kick misses from Reese.

Falconer darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Falconer controlling the action here.
Falconer trying to control the action but Reese is working from the bottom.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Falconer wants to free his trapped foot but Reese is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Reese landing rabbit punches to the side of Falconer's head. Not doing much damage but still scoring a few points.
Falconer looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Falconer is pressing down on Reese's thigh, looking to free his foot. Reese is holding on for now.
Reese manages to get to full guard.
Reese doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reese looking to hit a scissor sweep but Falconer is one step ahead there.
Reese doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Reese manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Reese landing strikes from the mount.
Reese punching from mount but Falconer doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Falconer tries to reverse the position but Reese maintains control.
Falconer tries to hold on but Reese postures up.

Reese jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Falconer manages to avoid the submission attempt.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Falconer wants to control but Reese postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reese lands some shots froms side control.
Reese grinds an elbow into Falconer's temple.
Falconer tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Reese wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Reese creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Falconer sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Reese working the ground and pound.
Falconer really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Reese. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Falconer struggling a bit here.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Falconer manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Falconer is trying to control but can't.
Falconer is trying to get back to full guard.
Reese is looking to take a break and control but Falconer is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Reese not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Falconer keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Falconer is trying to maintain the position but Reese is very close to passing his half guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Falconer changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Reese looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Falconer trying to control the position but Reese is working away.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Falconer avoids the strikes from the bottom by Reese.
Reese is looking for a sweep.
Reese throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.
Reese throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.
Falconer is looking to take a break and control but Reese is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Falconer remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
A head kick misses from Reese.
Reese is breathing heavily.

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.
Falconer tries to clinch but Reese is having none of it.
Reese swats away the attempt to clinch by Falconer.
Falconer wants to clinch.
Falconer shoots in and drives through. Reese sprawls well.
Reese misses with a wild body shot.
Reese swats away the attempt to clinch by Falconer.
Falconer fails with an attempt to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Thaddeus Reese will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Reese blocks a low kick nicely.
Reese keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Falconer fails with an attempt to clinch.
Falconer tries to clinch but Reese moves out of range.
Reese throws a sloppy head kick and Falconer moves out of range easily.
Falconer tries to clinch up.
Some bone on bone action there as Reese checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Reese circles away from the clinch attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Falconer throws a sloppy head kick and Reese moves out of range easily.
Falconer blocks a head kick by Reese.
Reese throws a head kick but Falconer moves out of range.
Falconer tries to clinch up.
Mack Falconer seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Falconer tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Reese was well out of range. Poor timing from Falconer.
Falconer throws out a loose jab but Reese uses good head movement to avoid it.
Reese checks a leg kick nicely.
Falconer swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Falconer throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Falconer fails with an attempt to clinch.
Falconer is looking to clinch but Reese is avoiding it.
Falconer is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Falconer closes the distance and clinches.
Reese tries for a takedown but Falconer manages to get underhooks.
Falconer prevents a takedown attempt there.
Reese is working for a takedown up against the ropes. He can't get it on this occasion though.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thaddeus Reese. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Reese tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Falconer throws an elbow but it misses.
The referee is keeping an eye on Falconer - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Falconer tries to stall but Reese uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Reese throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Falconer throws a knee to the head but misses.
Reese tries to land a knee to the head but Falconer blocks with his arms.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Falconer has Reese pressed up against the ropes. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Falconer pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Reese tumbling to the mat - Falconer dives into Reese's guard.
Reese thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Reese thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Falconer seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Reese keeping moving, preventing Falconer from controlling successfully.
Falconer must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Reese throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Falconer controls from within his opponent's guard.
Falconer trying to control the position from guard on top but Reese is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Falconer seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Falconer wants to control from the top but Reese keeps moving.
Falconer not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Reese working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Falconer doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Falconer manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Falconer is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Despite being in the dominant position, Mack Falconer just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A head kick by Falconer misses

and Reese counters with a shoot takedown. Falconer fights it but they end up in guard.
Reese tries to free his leg and advance position but Falconer is retaining full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reese is fighting to break Falconer's control of his arms but Falconer is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Falconer looking for a sweep. Not yet Falconer, not yet.
Falconer trying to keep a closed guard but Reese is proving a slippery customer.
Reese missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Thaddeus Reese overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Reese won't allow Falconer to sweep him here.
Reese 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.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Falconer fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Falconer wants to clinch.
Falconer gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Reese counters with a big head kick but Falconer shrugs it off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thaddeus Reese dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Falconer tries to clinch up
and Reese counters with a head kick. That will keep Falconer thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Falconer darts in trying to clinch

and Reese decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Falconer's guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Reese accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Falconer utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Falconer lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Reese!
Falconer trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Reese throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Falconer can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Reese is looking to escape.
Reese flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Reese is looking to get to half guard.
Falconer can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Reese is looking to escape.
Falconer might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Reese kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Falconer prevents Reese from getting the reversal.
Falconer working the ground and pound effectively.
Falconer trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Falconer lands a big shot there that rocks Reese but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Thaddeus Reese is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Reese is desperately trying to improve his position but Falconer has a good base and remains in mount.
Reese regains half guard.
Falconer is trying to control the action in half guard but Reese is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Falconer takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Falconer wants to take a breather but Reese is having none of it.
Reese moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Falconer trying to control but Reese is working from the bottom.
Reese is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reese is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Reese lands with a punch from half guard.
Falconer slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Reese thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Falconer is pulling down on Reese's head to control his posture.
Falconer is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Falconer is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Reese postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Falconer keeping moving, preventing Reese from controlling successfully.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Falconer on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Falconer tries to clinch
and Reese counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Reese circles away from the clinch attempt.
Falconer tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Reese paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Falconer tries to clinch up but Reese circles away and keeps his distance.
Reese throws a head kick but Falconer moves out of range.
Falconer misses with a body punch
and Reese counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Mack Falconer has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Falconer misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Reese.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thaddeus Reese showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Reese, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thaddeus Reese!