PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Willem MacCailin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zosimos St John (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.

MacCailin
vs
St John

165 cm
20
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
20
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

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 Amsterdam, Willem MacCailin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Zosimos St John!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Nard Betker and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
St John wants to clinch.
St John fails with a takedown attempt.

MacCailin closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into St John's guard.
MacCailin wants to get up but he can't break St John's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
MacCailin content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
MacCailin 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.
MacCailin content to stall in guard here.
MacCailin trying to stand up but can't free himself from St John's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
MacCailin sitting in guard, not really doing much.

We're going to have a standup here because Willem MacCailin wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
MacCailin fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but St John avoids it really well and circles away.
MacCailin tries to clinch up.

MacCailin manages to get an easy takedown there - catching St John on his heels. He'll look to pass St John's guard now, I'm sure.
St John really doesn't want to stay on the ground with MacCailin. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
St John trying to control the position.
MacCailin pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. St John is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now St John is on top in guard.
St John forces his way into half guard.
MacCailin holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
St John looks to land a strike but MacCailin avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

MacCailin working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. St John doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. St John manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

MacCailin throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
MacCailin is controlling St John's posture.

MacCailin has his feet on St John's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
MacCailin shoots in looking for a takedown. St John tries to sprawl out of it but MacCailin keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. St John manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
A head kick misses from St John.
St John looks for a takedown but MacCailin sprawls well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
MacCailin throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around St John's waist but St John gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing MacCailin off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Willem MacCailin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Nice takedown defense from St John. No joy for MacCailin on that attempt.
MacCailin is breathing heavily.

St John darts in and clinches MacCailin up against the cage.
St John tries to pull guard but MacCailin holds him up against the cage and eventually St John drops back down to his feet.

MacCailin breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
MacCailin tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but St John defends well and MacCailin ends up having to push St John into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
St John fails to pull the fight into his guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
St John is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables MacCailin to keep the fight standing.

St John successfully pulls guard.
St John is trying to keep MacCailin in close.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Willem MacCailin dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

St John shoots in for a double leg but MacCailin sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

MacCailin moves into the clinch successfully.
St John tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. MacCailin smiles and moves away.
MacCailin throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
MacCailin keeps the fight on the outside.

MacCailin shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than MacCailin was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
MacCailin wants to stand but St John has his arm trapped.
St John manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
MacCailin wants to pass the guard but St John is defending well.
MacCailin works his way into full mount!
MacCailin takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
St John taking shots to the head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
St John just holding on.
St John is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
St John is trying to reverse the position but instead MacCailin has taken his back - oops!
Willem MacCailin overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
St John looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
St John is breathing heavily.

MacCailin is cranking St John's head sideways - that looks painful. He's managed to get his other arm under the chin and this looks bad for St John! He's tightened the choke and St John is tapping out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:40 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Willem MacCailin!