PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Alton Mack (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dire Rhea (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Mack
vs
Rhea

214 cm
25
162 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

150 cm
22
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite 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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Alton Mack!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Dire Rhea!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Roosa Järviläinen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice takedown defense from Rhea. No joy for Mack on that attempt.
Rhea throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Rhea stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Rhea wants it to stay on the feet.
Mack looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Rhea is fending him off so far but Mack persists. Nope, Rhea circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alton Mack. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rhea misses the shot to the body.

Rhea closes the distance and pushes Mack back into the cage.
Mack on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Mack jumps into guard, dragging Rhea to the mat.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Rhea trying to control but Mack is working from the bottom.

Mack has his feet on Rhea's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Rhea tries a head kick but it misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rhea drives through and clinches with Mack against the cage.
Rhea is trying to pull guard but Mack turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Mack fails to pull guard.
Mack is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Rhea to keep the fight standing.
A frustrated look appears on Rhea's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Mack breaks from the clinch.
Rhea throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

It looks like Alton Mack has been cut.
Rhea tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rhea lands with a kick to the ribs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mack blocks a head kick by Rhea.
Rhea stuffs the takedown attempt from Mack. Mack gets slowly back to his feet.

Rhea clinches up with Mack and pushes him back against the cage.

Mack escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
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!
Mack darts in looking for a takedown but Rhea gets double underhooks and turns Mack into the cage.
Mack keeps control of Rhea as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Mack really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Mack is trying to drag Rhea to the mat but Rhea just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Mack jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Rhea walks away with a smile on his face. Mack gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mack moves out of range of the body kick.
Mack blocks a head kick by Rhea.
Mack goes for a double leg but Rhea avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Rhea continues to drive forward.
Rhea dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

Rhea breaks from the clinch.
Rhea walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Rhea fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Mack.
Rhea throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Rhea throws a lazy head kick
and Rhea takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rhea throws a head kick but Mack moves out of range.
Rhea misses with a head kick.
Rhea throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Rhea throws a low kick but it's checked well by Mack.
Mack goes for a double leg but Rhea avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Rhea continues to drive forward.
Rhea is struggling to control the position.
Rhea is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mack is trying to pull guard but Rhea turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dire Rhea dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Alton Mack's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Rhea throws a sloppy head kick and Mack moves out of range easily.
Rhea displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Mack.
Rhea tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Rhea has taken the fight to the clinch.

Mack escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Mack is trying hard to land a takedown here. Rhea sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Mack moves out of range of the body kick from Rhea.

Rhea rushes Mack and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Mack tries to pull guard but Rhea holds him up against the cage and eventually Mack drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alton Mack. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mack fails to pull guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mack successfully pulls guard.
Rhea trying to control but Mack is working from the bottom.

Mack is looking for a triangle but Rhea pushes his legs off easily.

Mack is looking for a triangle but Rhea pushes his legs off easily.
Rhea must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

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

Mack has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Rhea off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Horrible takedown by Mack or perhaps it was just good defense by Rhea which made him look bad.

Rhea gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Rhea is trying to push Mack away but Mack has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Rhea breaks the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Mack closes the distance and clinches.
Mack takes an elbow to the forehead.

Rhea escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Mack takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rhea clinches up with Mack and pushes him back against the cage.
Mack jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Rhea walks away with a smile on his face. Mack gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Mack fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Mack shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Rhea but Rhea pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Rhea moves into the clinch.
Mack is trying to pull guard but Rhea has him pressed against the cage.
Mack keeps control of Rhea as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Mack prevents Rhea from breaking the clinch.
Mack wants to take the fight to the mat but Rhea manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mack tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Rhea is looking to break free of the clinch but Mack has double underhooks.
Rhea effectively controlling the action here.
Rhea is trying to force a seperation but Mack has the dominant position.
Mack tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Rhea wants to break the clinch but can't.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Rhea breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rhea misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Dire Rhea will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Alton Mack's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Rhea throws a sloppy head kick and Mack moves out of range easily.
Rhea stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Rhea wants it to stay on the feet.
Mack changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Rhea tries to avoid it but Mack manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Rhea to the ground. Rhea escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Rhea throws a lazy head kick
and Mack counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Rhea closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Rhea is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

Rhea breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Rhea moves into range and clinches up with Mack.
Mack is trying to pull guard but Rhea turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alton Mack. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mack tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rhea pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Rhea tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Mack is trying hard to land a takedown here. Rhea sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Rhea lands a nice leg kick that just misses Mack's sensitive parts.
Dire Rhea seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Good leg kick by Rhea there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Rhea throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Rhea throws a head kick that misses.
A head kick misses from Rhea.
Rhea misses with a kick to the body
and Mack counters with a right hand to the body.
A head kick by Rhea misses
and Mack counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Dire Rhea is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mack has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Rhea.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Rhea.
Rhea misses with a body punch
and Mack counters with an inside leg kick.
Mack blocks a head kick by Rhea.

Rhea moves into the clinch.
Rhea is trying to break the clinch but Mack is controlling him.
Rhea wants to get back to striking at distance but Mack won't allow it.
Mack is trying to pull guard but Rhea turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Rhea gets underhooks to prevent Mack's takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rhea escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Mack avoids the head kick by Rhea.
Mack fails with a takedown attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nice takedown defense from Rhea. No joy for Mack on that attempt.
Rhea lands a nice looking body shot.
Mack takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Rhea tries a head kick but it misses.
Mack throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Rhea's waist but Rhea gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Mack off to one side.
Mack shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Rhea sprawls well. Rhea wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Mack gets slowly back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mack pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rhea misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Rhea misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A head kick misses from Rhea.
Rhea lands with a thumping leg kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rhea throws a wild body kick that Mack sees coming a mile off.
Mack has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Rhea.
Alton Mack has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mack is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Mack takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dire Rhea comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Rhea winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dire Rhea!