PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Naser Al Shami (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marcus Macino (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Naser Al Shami has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Al Shami
vs
Macino

187 cm
24
255 lbs
10 - 6 - 0

190 cm
23
260 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Naser Al Shami!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Marcus Macino!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, Winston Howard and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Macino throws a series of punches but Al Shami moves out of range.
Macino stuffs the takedown.
Al Shami scores with a jab. Macino acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Macino stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Macino wants it to stay on the feet.
Al Shami has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Naser Al Shami. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Macino fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Al Shami shoots in but no luck this time.
Macino throws a shot from downtown. Al Shami moves away and avoids it.
Al Shami looks for a takedown but Macino sprawls well.
Al Shami shoots in and drives through. Macino sprawls well.
Macino misses with a wild body shot.
Al Shami shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Macino defends it nicely.
Macino throws a shot from downtown. Al Shami moves away and avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Macino throws a series of punches but Al Shami moves out of range.

Al Shami scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Al Shami missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Al Shami misses with a head shot. Macino uses the momentum to regain guard.
Al Shami trying to control the position from guard on top but Macino is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Al Shami drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Macino dives on top into guard.
Macino not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Macino won't allow Al Shami to sweep him here.
Macino wants to control from the top but Al Shami keeps moving.
Macino preventing the sweep.
Macino trying to control the position from guard on top but Al Shami is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
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!

OK we're going to have a standup here. Marcus Macino hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Al Shami slips a jab and a cross from Macino.
Macino on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Al Shami shoots in but no luck this time.
Al Shami shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Macino as he avoids it easily.
Al Shami displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Macino throws out the jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Macino tries to sprawl but Al Shami drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Macino is trying to get back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Macino works his way to full guard. Good work.
Al Shami looking to pass the guard.
Macino keeping moving, preventing Al Shami from controlling successfully.
Al Shami throwing strikes but missing.
Al Shami trying to control but Macino is working from the bottom.
Macino utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Macino looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Al Shami working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Al Shami tries to free his leg and advance position but Macino is retaining full guard.
Al Shami is working hard here to advance position.
Macino avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Al Shami postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Al Shami pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Macino is keeping the position for now.
Al Shami missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Al Shami with a flurry of punches that miss.
Macino pulls Al Shami in close to prevent any damage.
Macino keeping full guard, as Al Shami tries to pass.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Naser Al Shami dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Macino will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Al Shami.
A punch combination from Macino misses.
Macino throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A slow jab from Macino misses its intended target.
Al Shami shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Macino defends it nicely.
Al Shami throws a good cross that connects.

It looks like Marcus Macino has been cut.
A looping hook to the body misses from Macino. Al Shami does a little dance to reset his feet.
Marcus Macino seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Al Shami scores with a punch to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Al Shami shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Macino defends it nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Naser Al Shami. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Al Shami ducks under a wild hook from Macino.
Marcus Macino is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Al Shami fails with a takedown attempt.
Al Shami avoids the body shot from Macino.
Al Shami fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
The fighters circle momentarily. Macino darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Macino lands a two punch combo.
Macino throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Macino jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Al Shami dives in and grabs Macino's left leg, looking for a takedown. Macino pushes down on Al Shami's head and hops out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Al Shami gets a takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Macino avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Al Shami.
Al Shami missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Macino is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Al Shami throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Al Shami with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Al Shami drops an elbow to the side of Macino's head.
Macino taking some punishment here, with Al Shami in his half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Al Shami throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Macino trying to control but Al Shami postures up.
Al Shami sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Macino defending well though.
Al Shami landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Al Shami throwing shots but Macino is blocking nicely.

Al Shami is looking for a kimura but Macino is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Al Shami to get the leverage.
Al Shami wants to advance to full mount but Macino doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Macino is on top in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Macino controls from within his opponent's guard.
Macino tries to stand but Al Shami is controlling from the bottom.
Al Shami is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Macino is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Al Shami scores with a couple of nice shots.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Al Shami frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Al Shami throwing strikes here but Macino is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Naser Al Shami dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Marcus Macino's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Macino scores with a nice strike.
Marcus Macino is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Macino throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Nice sprawl there from Macino as Al Shami shoots in.
Al Shami throws a lazy right hand but Macino sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A jab from Al Shami misses.
Macino throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Macino looks to score with a jab to the body but Al Shami is just out of range.
Al Shami walks into a left hand.
Macino misses with a lunging right hand
and Al Shami counters with a stiff right hand.
Left hook, right uppercut from Macino.
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!
Al Shami fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Macino avoids it really well and circles away.
Macino stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Macino wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Naser Al Shami. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Macino slaps away a takedown attempt from Al Shami, before circling back to the center of the mat.
A punch combination from Macino misses.
Macino swings for the body but Al Shami moves out of range.
Al Shami shoots for a double leg takedown but Macino sprawls well. He's pushed Al Shami's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Macino scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Macino throws a left and a right that both miss

and Al Shami counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Macino works his way to full guard. Good work.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Al Shami trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Al Shami throwing strikes from guard but Macino blocks nicely.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Al Shami accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Al Shami trying to control but Macino is working from the bottom.
Al Shami postures up in Macino's guard and throws a big left but Macino blocks it.
Al Shami with a flurry of punches that miss.
Al Shami landing some decent shots from guard.
Al Shami content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Al Shami advances position into side control!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Macino manages to work his way to half guard, despite Al Shami's best efforts.
Macino won't allow Al Shami to pass to mount.
Al Shami sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Macino defending well though.
Macino is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Al Shami scores with a couple of nice shots.
Naser Al Shami overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Al Shami moves into full mount! Macino won't be happy about that!
Al Shami landing shots from mount.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Al Shami lands a heavy elbow.
Al Shami lands a big shot there that rocks Macino but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
BOOM! Al Shami connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Al Shami content just to control the position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Al Shami connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Naser Al Shami is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Al Shami landing punches.
Macino is in a horrible position here. Al Shami smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Al Shami content just to control the position here.
Marcus Macino has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Al Shami's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

And that's the end of the fight!
Naser Al Shami showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Al Shami has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Steve Erwin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Naser Al Shami!