PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ian Macdonald (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rocco Sifreddi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sifreddi has chosen I'm too sexy as his entrance music. Rocco Sifreddi told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Macdonald
vs
Sifreddi

171 cm
25
136 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

190 cm
19
135 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ian Macdonald!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rocco Sifreddi!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Eddie Farnsworth and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sifreddi dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Sifreddi pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Macdonald back to the cage. Sifreddi follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Sifreddi moves into range and connects with a jab.
Sifreddi shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Macdonald tries to clinch but Sifreddi moves away

and Sifreddi counters by clinching up.
Macdonald wants to break free but Sifreddi has control.
Macdonald is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
A short left from Sifreddi.
Macdonald is trying to push Sifreddi away but Sifreddi has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Macdonald tightens his grip and picks Sifreddi up, before dumping him to the ground. Sifreddi manages to land in guard.
Macdonald is breathing heavily.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Sifreddi 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.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Sifreddi can do anything to dispel that myth.
Macdonald stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sifreddi swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Sifreddi looking for a sweep. Not yet Sifreddi, not yet.
Sifreddi is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Sifreddi is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Macdonald is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sifreddi keeping moving, preventing Macdonald from controlling successfully.
Sifreddi really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Macdonald. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Sifreddi manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Macdonald manages to get himself to full guard.

Sifreddi drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Macdonald dives on top into guard.
Sifreddi not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Sifreddi wants to get back to his feet but Macdonald is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Sifreddi keeping moving, preventing Macdonald from controlling successfully.
Macdonald connects with a couple of short punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sifreddi 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.
Sifreddi controls Macdonald momentarily but Macdonald frees himself.
Sifreddi being controlled here, momentarily.
Sifreddi controlling the position.
Macdonald might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Sifreddi rushes Macdonald and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Sifreddi misses with the head strike.
Macdonald tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Sifreddi smiles and moves away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sifreddi lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Macdonald wants to clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Sifreddi misses with a knee to the head.
Sifreddi keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Macdonald's efforts to push away.
Macdonald tries to pull guard but Sifreddi holds him up against the cage and eventually Macdonald drops back down to his feet.
Sifreddi lands a right hand that snaps the head of Macdonald backwards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Macdonald stops a takedown attempt from Sifreddi.
Sifreddi wants to take the fight to the mat but Macdonald manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Ian Macdonald has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rocco Sifreddi.
Macdonald has had enough of the clinch but Sifreddi keeps him there for the moment.

Sifreddi breaks the clinch.
Macdonald shoots in and drives through. Sifreddi sprawls well.
Macdonald wants to clinch.
Macdonald with a poor takedown
and Sifreddi counters with a three punch combo that has Macdonald backing up. Macdonald nods at Sifreddi to acknowledge the strikes.
Sifreddi's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Sifreddi duly obliges.
Sifreddi tries to clinch up but Macdonald circles away and keeps his distance.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sifreddi throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Macdonald stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Sifreddi lands with a straight right. Macdonald didn't see that one coming.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rocco Sifreddi 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.

Sifreddi dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Macdonald fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Macdonald walks into a jab.
Macdonald is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Macdonald takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Sifreddi.
Macdonald shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Sifreddi counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Sifreddi is looking to chop away at Macdonald's legs.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sifreddi goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Macdonald walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Sifreddi lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Macdonald at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sifreddi shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Macdonald's guard.
Sifreddi wants to get up but he can't break Macdonald's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Sifreddi scoring with some ground and pound.
Sifreddi scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Sifreddi scoring with some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sifreddi scoring with some ground and pound.
Sifreddi works over Macdonald with some ground and pound from guard.
Sifreddi trying to control the position from guard on top but Macdonald is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sifreddi connects with a couple of short punches.
Sifreddi preventing the sweep.
Sifreddi scoring with some ground and pound.
Sifreddi trying to control but Macdonald is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sifreddi pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Macdonald is keeping the position for now.
Rocco Sifreddi has got the better of the ground game so far.
Sifreddi working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Macdonald's head.
Sifreddi makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Sifreddi lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Macdonald is looking for a triangle but Sifreddi pushes his legs off easily.
Sifreddi makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Macdonald throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Sifreddi keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Macdonald's head.
Sifreddi trying to control the position from guard on top but Macdonald is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sifreddi preventing the sweep.
Macdonald keeping moving, preventing Sifreddi from controlling successfully.
Sifreddi wants to stand but Macdonald is controlling his posture from full guard.
Macdonald not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Sifreddi lands a couple of elbows.
Sifreddi wants to stand but Macdonald is controlling his posture from full guard.
Sifreddi throws a strike but Macdonald rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sifreddi wants to stand and escape but Macdonald is having none of it.
Macdonald passes Sifreddi's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Sifreddi looks like he's trying to stand up.
Macdonald wants to free his trapped foot but Sifreddi is holding on for dear life with his legs.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sifreddi looks like he's trying to stand up.
Sifreddi has hold of Macdonald's hands but Macdonald slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rocco Sifreddi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Macdonald tries to clinch up
and Sifreddi counters with a two punch combo.

Sifreddi gets caught flat footed, as Macdonald shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Sifreddi looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Macdonald stops Sifreddi from standing up.
Macdonald trying to control but Sifreddi is working from the bottom.
Macdonald preventing the sweep.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Ian Macdonald wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Macdonald tries to keep at a distance but Sifreddi has taken the fight into the clinch.
Sifreddi is pressed up against the cage. Macdonald has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Sifreddi down to the mat. Sifreddi avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Sifreddi throws a chopping leg kick but Macdonald manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Sifreddi lands a nice shot that snaps Macdonald's head back.
Macdonald takes one on the chin but seems OK.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Sifreddi.
No joy there for Sifreddi, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Ian Macdonald seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sifreddi tries to clinch there but Macdonald circles away.
Macdonald dodges the punch combination from Sifreddi.
Sifreddi cracks Macdonald with an open hand slap.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Macdonald shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Sifreddi pinned against the cage. Sifreddi gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Sifreddi shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Macdonald manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Sifreddi throwing strikes but missing.
Macdonald not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Macdonald has a closed guard, preventing Sifreddi from standing up.
Macdonald wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sifreddi lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Macdonald preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Macdonald looking to control.
Sifreddi sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Macdonald's guard.
Macdonald trying to hold on to Sifreddi's head to control him but Sifreddi postures up.
Sifreddi looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Macdonald with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Sifreddi lands with a punch from half guard.
Sifreddi throwing shots but Macdonald is blocking nicely.
Sifreddi is trying to control. Macdonald wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Sifreddi frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Macdonald wants to control but Sifreddi is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sifreddi prevents Macdonald from getting the reversal.
Rocco Sifreddi is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Sifreddi sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Sifreddi lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Sifreddi takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Macdonald regains half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Macdonald taking some punishment here, with Sifreddi in his half guard.
Ian Macdonald has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sifreddi is pressing down on Macdonald's thigh, looking to free his foot. Macdonald is holding on for now.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rocco Sifreddi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Sifreddi 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 Columbo Gatti scores the fight 27:30
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rocco Sifreddi!
Rocco Sifreddi spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.