PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Joe Macconi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aiken Cullens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cullens has chosen Kung Fu Fighting as his entrance music. Aiken Cullens will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Macconi
vs
Cullens

167 cm
22
154 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

185 cm
20
152 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Global Empire MMA Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Joe Macconi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Aiken Cullens!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Taro Takaoka and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Macconi avoids a kick to the body.
Cullens throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Cullens shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Macconi defends it nicely.
Cullens fails with a takedown attempt.
Macconi shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Cullens as he jumps to the side.
Macconi shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Cullens but Cullens pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Macconi ducks under a wild hook from Cullens.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cullens gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Macconi to score an easy takedown into full guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Cullens keeping full guard, as Macconi tries to pass.
Cullens is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Macconi is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Macconi might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Cullens keeping moving, preventing Macconi from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cullens is trying to control the position but Macconi postures up.
Cullens really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Macconi. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Joe Macconi.
Cullens misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Macconi manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Cullens on his heels. He'll look to pass Cullens's guard now, I'm sure.
Macconi wants to control from the top but Cullens keeps moving.
Macconi controlling from the top position.
Cullens tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Joe Macconi just wasn't active enough.
Cullens moves in looking to clinch but Macconi pushes him off.
Cullens throws a sloppy head kick and Macconi moves out of range easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cullens shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Macconi counters with a single leg into guard. Cullens didn't expect that.
Joe Macconi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aiken Cullens.
Macconi tries to free his leg and advance position but Cullens is retaining full guard.
Macconi is in close to Cullens's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Macconi working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Cullens has Macconi pulled in close to control his posture.
Macconi slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Cullens is working to avoid the ground and pound but Macconi connects with a decent elbow.
Macconi lands a few punches from side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
You can see the frustration on Cullens's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Cullens is looking to reverse the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee asks Macconi politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Macconi prefers to stall for the moment though.
Cullens wants to get back to his feet.
Macconi taking a breather here.
Macconi working away.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Macconi is chipping away with strikes.
Cullens wants to get back to his feet but Macconi drags him back down.
Cullens is looking for a sweep.
Cullens looks gassed!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cullens can't do much from the bottom here.
Cullens being controlled for a moment.
Macconi scores with a couple of short elbows.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Macconi dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Macconi shoots for a takedown but Cullens saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Cullens shoots in looking for a takedown but Macconi manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Cullens's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Cullens misses with a takedown

and Macconi counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Cullens's guard now.
Macconi 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.
Macconi chips away with some ground and pound.
Macconi stops Cullens from standing up.
Macconi sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Joe Macconi overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Macconi pushing down on Cullens's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Cullens on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Cullens looks like he's trying to stand up.
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!
Macconi is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cullens is in trouble now - Macconi has advanced to mount!
Macconi scoring with strikes but Cullens is staying in there.
Macconi with the ground and pound from mount.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Macconi cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Macconi takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Macconi landing punches.
Macconi lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cullens is trying to stand.
Cullens is breathing heavily.
Macconi lands a big elbow.
Macconi lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Cullens hang on?
Macconi raining down shots from the mount!
Macconi lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Cullens is looking to get to half guard.
Cullens wants to control but Macconi is having none of it.
Cullens is bucking up trying to escape but Macconi cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Macconi has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Cullens's face.
Macconi landing punches.
Macconi lands a big elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Macconi working the ground and pound effectively.
Macconi lands with some strikes.
Macconi scoring with strikes but Cullens is staying in there.
Macconi looking to finish Cullens with some ground and pound. This is bad for Cullens!

Cullens is rocked!
Macconi controlling his opponent.
Cullens is still in real trouble! Can Macconi finish him?
Macconi scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Cullens?
This has been an exciting period of action!
Macconi takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Cullens seems to have recovered his senses.
Macconi cracks Cullens with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Macconi content just to control the position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Macconi scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Cullens?
Macconi in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Macconi controlling the pace for now.
Macconi is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Cullens can do to turn this around?
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Macconi unloading with bombs!
Macconi with a couple of short strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Macconi dominated that second round.
That's time! Macconi's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Cullens shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Cullens shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Macconi counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Cullens!
Cullens is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Macconi with shots to the head and body - Cullens looks very uncomfortable down there.
Macconi looking to control and managing it successfully.
Cullens takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Macconi prevents Cullens from getting the reversal.
Macconi takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Macconi lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
A nice elbow there by Macconi.
Macconi tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Cullens tries to hold on but Macconi postures up.
Macconi content just to control the position here.
Macconi with a couple of short strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Macconi landing strikes from the mount.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Macconi takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Cullens tries to reverse the position but Macconi maintains control.
Macconi lands with some strikes.
Macconi controlling his opponent.
Macconi in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cullens really wants to buck Macconi off and get back to his feet.
Macconi lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Cullens hang on?
Macconi controlling from mount.
Macconi postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Cullens looks a forlorn figure.
Macconi controlling the pace for now.
Macconi cracks Cullens with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Macconi raining down shots from the mount!
Macconi controlling the position easily from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Macconi looking to finish Cullens with some ground and pound. This is bad for Cullens!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Macconi controlling the pace for now.
Cullens is working to get back to half guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Macconi sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Macconi putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

And that's the end of the fight!
Joe Macconi showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Macconi, 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 30:26
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 30:26
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joe Macconi!