PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Matthew McAllister (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fou Rthihovsky (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Fou Rthihovsky was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

McAllister
vs
Rthihovsky

167 cm
18
140 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

165 cm
23
135 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Determined

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Matthew McAllister!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Fou Rthihovsky!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, Donatello Bradman and Damien Edna.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rthihovsky lands a nice hook to McAllister's body. McAllister takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Rthihovsky misses the shot to the body.
Rthihovsky slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Rthihovsky looks to score with a jab to the body but McAllister is just out of range.
Rthihovsky lands a nice shot to the body.
Rthihovsky swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Rthihovsky ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

McAllister closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Rthihovsky is trying to control but can't.
Rthihovsky is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Rthihovsky trying to control but McAllister postures up.
Rthihovsky wants to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

McAllister is trying to work for a kimura but Rthihovsky is defending well.

McAllister is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Rthihovsky trying to control here.
Rthihovsky slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Rthihovsky is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and McAllister defends well.
Rthihovsky wants to sweep here but McAllister controlling him for the moment.

McAllister is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Rthihovsky is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Rthihovsky has escaped and now he's on top!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

McAllister is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

McAllister is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Rthihovsky defends well.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rthihovsky wants to control from the top but McAllister keeps moving.
Rthihovsky advances to half guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Rthihovsky works his way into full mount!
Rthihovsky throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for McAllister because Rthihovsky loaded up on that one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rthihovsky wants to control the pace but McAllister is squirming around nicely.
Rthihovsky controlling from mount.
McAllister avoids a series of strikes thrown by Rthihovsky.
McAllister is trying desperately to improve position.
Rthihovsky trying to control but he's not successful this time.
McAllister sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

Rthihovsky is working for a kimura but McAllister is defending it quite comfortably.
McAllister slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

McAllister looking for a guillotine here but Rthihovsky defends easily.
Rthihovsky throws a big right hand that misses.
Rthihovsky postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

McAllister pushes Rthihovsky off and scrambles back to his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

McAllister fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Rthihovsky to the ground. McAllister is now in Rthihovsky's guard.
Rthihovsky looking to control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rthihovsky tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Rthihovsky working for a triangle but McAllister defends it easily.

McAllister got a little sloppy there for a moment and Rthihovsky has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, McAllister has managed to get both his arms back between Rthihovsky's legs - danger averted.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fou Rthihovsky dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Rthihovsky ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

McAllister manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Rthihovsky on his heels. He'll look to pass Rthihovsky's guard now, I'm sure.
Rthihovsky is trying to keep McAllister in close.
Rthihovsky 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.
Rthihovsky lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for McAllister!

McAllister defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Rthihovsky.
McAllister is really trying hard to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rthihovsky trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Rthihovsky landing shots from mount.
McAllister trying desperately to get to his feet.
McAllister tries to get back to half guard but can't.
McAllister is squirming around, avoiding Rthihovsky's attempts to control the action.
McAllister really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Rthihovsky misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
McAllister is in all sorts of trouble here.
Rthihovsky looking to control but McAllister is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
McAllister tries to improve his position but instead Rthihovsky has taken his back!

Rthihovsky looking for the choke from the back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
McAllister tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Rthihovsky can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as McAllister is looking to escape.

Rthihovsky is working for a guillotine from mount but McAllister frees his head quite easily.
McAllister really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Rthihovsky landing shots from mount.
McAllister regains half guard.

McAllister looking for submissions off his back.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
McAllister avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Rthihovsky.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rthihovsky is keen to just control but McAllister is a slippery customer.
McAllister is trying to stand up here but Rthihovsky is controlling him well.
McAllister is staying active underneath Rthihovsky, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Rthihovsky wants to free his trapped foot but McAllister is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Rthihovsky is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and McAllister defends it well.
Rthihovsky is trying to control. McAllister wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
McAllister avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Rthihovsky.

Rthihovsky is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

McAllister looking for submissions off his back.

Rthihovsky is looking for a kimura here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rthihovsky wants to work for an arm triangle but McAllister is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

McAllister is defending against the submission attempts here by Rthihovsky.

McAllister looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Rthihovsky stalling.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

McAllister looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fou Rthihovsky showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Rthihovsky throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.

Rthihovsky gets a takedown into half guard.
McAllister slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Rthihovsky throwing strikes but missing.
Rthihovsky pushing down on McAllister's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Rthihovsky is looking for a kimura here.
Rthihovsky passes the guard and advances to mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
McAllister tries to reverse the position but Rthihovsky maintains control.
Rthihovsky looking to ground and pound but McAllister is blocking nicely.
You get the feeling that McAllister really doesn't like being in this position too much.

Rthihovsky looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
McAllister keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
McAllister is in a horrible position here. Rthihovsky smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

Rthihovsky wants to finish this one by submission but McAllister is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Rthihovsky.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rthihovsky throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
McAllister is in all sorts of trouble here.
Rthihovsky pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.
McAllister is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rthihovsky trying to control but McAllister is having none of it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Rthihovsky looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
McAllister working to try and regain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rthihovsky can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as McAllister is looking to escape.

Rthihovsky is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but McAllister is surviving well by controlling Rthihovsky's body position as best he can.
McAllister is squirming around, avoiding Rthihovsky's attempts to control the action.
McAllister is trying desperately to improve position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McAllister is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.

Rthihovsky jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but McAllister manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Rthihovsky misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
McAllister is trying to get back to his feet.
Rthihovsky is staying tight to McAllister's torso, preventing him from escaping.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
McAllister is trying to improve his position.

Rthihovsky is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, McAllister has escaped the position, nice work there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Fou Rthihovsky comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Rthihovsky 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 Winston Howard scores the fight 27:30
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 27:30
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Fou Rthihovsky!