PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Tommy Downing (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Phil Mac (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Phil Mac has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Downing
vs
Mac

178 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

170 cm
18
162 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Tommy Downing!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Phil Mac!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Andrew Berry and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Downing tries to close the distance and clinch up but Mac swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Downing shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Mac doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Downing holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Downing tries to pull guard but Mac won't allow it.
Mac is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Mac gets underhooks to prevent Downing's takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tommy Downing. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mac is trying to break free.
Mac drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Downing gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Mac is looking to break free of the clinch but Downing has double underhooks.
Downing prevents Mac from breaking the clinch.
Downing tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Mac just stands there and leans against the cage.
Mac can't break the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mac tries to break the clinch but Downing is controlling the position.
Mac has had enough of the clinch but Downing keeps him there for the moment.

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

Mac moves into range and clinches up with Downing.
Mac is trying to stall.
Mac wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Downing lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

Mac manages to break the clinch.
Downing with a poor takedown

and Mac counters with a single leg into guard. Downing didn't expect that.
Downing is breathing heavily.

Mac decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Downing, up you get!
Downing misses with a takedown attempt
and Mac counters with a lovely straight right hand!

It looks like Tommy Downing has been cut.
Mac throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Mac tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Mac throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Mac circles away from the clinch attempt
enabling Mac to counter with a crisp jab.
Downing with a poor takedown
and Mac counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Mac closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mac landing a few strikes.
Mac working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Mac is chipping away with strikes.
Downing is looking to reverse the position.
Mac controlling from side mount.
Let's hope that Mac has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Downing wants to control but Mac postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mac decides to stand back up. Mac steps back and let's Downing get back to his feet.
Downing tries to clinch but Mac is having none of it.

Downing drives through with a takedown into guard.
Downing trying to control the position from guard on top but Mac is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mac looking for a sweep. Not yet Mac, not yet.
Downing has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Downing gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Mac getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

Downing has closed the distance and engaged Mac in a clinch.
Mac is pressed up against the cage. Downing has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Mac down to the mat. Mac avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mac ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Downing moves away.
A combination from Downing does no damage.
Downing looks to clinch
and Mac counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Downing.

Downing decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Downing with a lazy takedown attempt

and Mac counters with a nice double leg into side control. Downing won't be happy with that.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Mac working away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Downing takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Mac wants to lay and pray for a moment but Downing keeps working.

Mac decides to stand back up. Mac steps back and let's Downing get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Phil Mac dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Tommy Downing's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Mac rushes Downing and presses him up against the cage.

Downing's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Mac moves into range and clinches up with Downing.
Mac missing with knees to the body.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Downing tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Mac smiles and moves away.
Downing fails in his attempt to clinch.

Mac pushes Downing up against the cage in a clinch.
Downing can't get the takedown.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Downing prevents Mac from breaking the clinch.
Downing tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Mac smiles and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tommy Downing. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mac looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mac keeps the fight on the outside.
Mac throws a sloppy head kick

and Downing counters by moving into the clinch.
Downing wants to stall.
Mac pushes Downing back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Downing keeps control of Mac as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Mac wants to break the clinch but can't.
Downing tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Mac smiles and moves away.
Mac shoots for a double leg takedown but Downing sprawls well. He's pushed Mac's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Downing shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Downing showed some decent athleticism there.
Downing trying to control the action but Mac is working from the bottom.
Downing keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

Mac is defending against the submission attempts here by Downing.
Downing tries to pass the half guard into mount. Mac knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mac is trying to stand up here but Downing is controlling him well.
Mac wants to get back to full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Downing checks a leg kick.

Mac drives through and clinches with Downing against the cage.
Mac gets underhooks to prevent Downing's takedown attempt.
Downing is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Mac is keeping busy.
Mac is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Mac wants a takedown but no success here.
Downing is working for takedown but Mac is calmly controlling the position for now.
Downing is looking to control Mac's arms but Mac gets an underhook and turns him. Now Downing has his back to the cage.
Downing is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Mac gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.

Downing is working an open guard so Mac takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
A slapping leg kick lands for Downing.
Downing gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Mac counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Mac is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Mac trying to control the position from guard on top but Downing is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mac thows a big elbow that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Phil Mac showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Tommy Downing's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Downing tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Mac counters with a lovely shot to the body.

Downing tries to keep at a distance but Mac has taken the fight into the clinch.
Downing tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Mac just stands there and leans against the cage.

Mac escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Mac tries a head kick but it misses.
Mac throws a sloppy head kick

and Downing moves into the clinch.
Downing fails to pull guard.
Downing can't get the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tommy Downing. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mac has had enough of the clinch but Downing keeps him there for the moment.
Mac is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
A right handed body shot lands from Downing.
Downing prevents Mac from breaking the clinch.
Downing tries to pull guard but Mac won't allow it.
Mac is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mac being controlled against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mac prevents a takedown attempt there.
Downing throws an elbow that misses.
Mac is trying to break the clinch but Downing has him pressed against the cage.
Mac drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Downing gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Downing tries to pull guard but Mac holds him up against the cage and eventually Downing drops back down to his feet.
Downing presses Mac against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Downing can't break the clinch.
Mac wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Downing has him pressed against the cage.
Downing stalling against the cage.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Mac takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Downing prevents Mac from breaking the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Downing fails to pull guard.
Mac is trying to break free.
Downing tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Mac just stands there and leans against the cage.
Mac is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Downing wants a takedown but no success here.
Mac can't break the clinch.

Downing turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Downing manages to end up in side control.
Mac has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Downing connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Mac some visible discomfort.
Mac is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Downing prevents Mac from improving his position.

Downing is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Mac doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Downing.
Downing lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Downing throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Mac manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Downing has his takedown stuffed

and Mac counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Downing tries to pull guard but Mac holds him up against the cage and eventually Downing drops back down to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Downing fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Downing wants to break free but Mac has control.
Mac wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Downing has him pressed against the cage.
Mac gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Downing.

Mac breaks from the clinch.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Downing.
Mac darts in trying to clinch

and Downing counters with a nice double leg into side control. Mac won't be happy with that.
Downing works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Tommy Downing has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Phil Mac is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Mac explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Tommy Downing.
Well Mac 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 James Glass scores the fight 28:29
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 28:29
Judge William Gold scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Phil Mac!