PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Billy Macdonald (ranked 5229 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zigoto Machida (ranked 5321 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Macdonald
vs
Machida

183 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

169 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Tends to cut

Garra Nutri

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Billy Macdonald!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Zigoto Machida!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, George Francis and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Machida cracks Macdonald with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Macdonald fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Machida stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Machida wants it to stay on the feet.

Macdonald shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Macdonald is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Macdonald controlling his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machida is desperately trying to improve his position but Macdonald has a good base and remains in mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Macdonald looking to control and managing it successfully.
Macdonald looking to finish with strikes here!
Macdonald will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Machida wants to control but Macdonald is having none of it.
Macdonald 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 two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Macdonald looking to finish with strikes here!
Macdonald sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Macdonald unloads with some shots from mount but Machida bucks and avoids them well.
Macdonald postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Machida looks a forlorn figure.
Macdonald controlling from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Macdonald cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

Macdonald wants to finish this one by submission but Machida is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Macdonald.
Macdonald takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Machida looks winded!
Machida taking shots to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Macdonald working for a guillotine from mount but Machida is in no mood to give up.
Macdonald controlling the pace for now.
Macdonald 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.
Macdonald with a couple of short strikes.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Macdonald controlling from the full mount.
Macdonald with shots to the head and body - Machida looks very uncomfortable down there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Billy Macdonald dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Macdonald gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Macdonald is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Machida can do to turn this around?

Macdonald successfully pulls guard.
Machida must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Machida looking to sit in guard and control but Macdonald gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Macdonald passes Machida's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Macdonald passes to side control.
Macdonald working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Machida is breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Macdonald decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Machida leaves Macdonald with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Machida stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Machida wants it to stay on the feet.
Machida throws out a counter right but Macdonald avoids it with no problem.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machida leaves Macdonald with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Billy Macdonald. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Macdonald tries for a takedown but Machida circles away easily
and Machida counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Machida tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Macdonald paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Billy Macdonald seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Macdonald with a lazy takedown attempt
and Machida counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Machida avoids a low kick by using good footwork.

Macdonald gets the takedown into side control.

Macdonald working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Macdonald controls the position from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The ground and pound from Macdonald seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

Macdonald decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Macdonald shoots for a takedown but Machida saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Macdonald shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Machida but Machida pushes him off and we're back to square one.
A little jabbing left from Machida on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

Macdonald has taken the fight to the clinch.
Machida throws a punch but it's blocked by Macdonald.

Macdonald has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Machida uses from the top position.
Machida wants to stand but Macdonald is controlling his posture from full guard.
Macdonald manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Machida manages to get himself to full guard.

Machida controls Macdonald momentarily but Macdonald frees himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Macdonald throwing strikes but missing.
Macdonald controls from within his opponent's guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Billy Macdonald dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Macdonald throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Machida connects with a single shot there.
Machida scores with a sloppy right hand. Macdonald should have avoided that one.
Decent striking displayed by Machida there.
Macdonald with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Machida to score with a decent uppercut.

Macdonald pushes Machida up against the cage in a clinch.
Machida doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Macdonald effectively controlling the action here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Machida tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Macdonald's elbow.
Machida holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Machida avoiding damage as Macdonald throws knees to the body.

Macdonald breaks from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Macdonald takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Macdonald tries a head kick but it misses.
Macdonald lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Machida circles away quickly and effectively.
Machida looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Machida wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Machida takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Macdonald is looking to clinch but Machida is avoiding it.
Macdonald shoots in for a takedown but Machida shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Macdonald looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
A head kick misses from Macdonald.
Macdonald really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Macdonald is trying hard to land a takedown here. Machida sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Billy Macdonald. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machida scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Machida scores with a hook.
Macdonald fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Machida manages to avoid it.
Macdonald lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Machida circles away quickly and effectively.
Macdonald takes one on the button.
Machida changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Macdonald throws the kick towards the body but Machida avoids it.
Machida connects with a right hand. Macdonald shakes it off.
Machida lands with an overhand left.
Machida listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Macdonald fails with the takedown
and Machida counters with a straight right hand.
Macdonald throws a sloppy head kick
and Machida counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Macdonald is defended easily by Machida.
Macdonald shoots in for a double leg but Machida sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Machida stuffs the takedown attempt from Macdonald. Macdonald gets slowly back to his feet.
Machida throws out a counter right but Macdonald avoids it with no problem.
Machida lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Machida.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Macdonald.
Machida bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Macdonald's head.

Machida tries to keep at a distance but Macdonald has taken the fight into the clinch.
Machida is pressed up against the cage. Macdonald has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Machida down to the mat. Machida avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Machida tries to clinch there but Macdonald circles away.
Zigoto Machida has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Billy Macdonald is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Macdonald shoots in for a takedown but Machida shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zigoto Machida comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Macdonald has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 29:28
Judge George Francis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Billy Macdonald!