PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Alex Rafael (ranked 6845 p4p, 6506 weight class) and Mason McNamara (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rafael comes to the cage accompanied by despasito. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Rafael
vs
McNamara

200 cm
25
170
1 - 2 - 0

182 cm
22
170
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Alex Rafael!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Mason McNamara!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Yves DeLean and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McNamara wants to clinch.
Rafael wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
McNamara shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Rafael sprawls well. Rafael wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. McNamara gets slowly back to his feet.
McNamara is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

McNamara fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Rafael to the ground. McNamara is now in Rafael's guard.
McNamara controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rafael controlling the position.
McNamara preventing the sweep.

Rafael throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Rafael will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Rafael is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McNamara trying to control but Rafael is working from the bottom.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
McNamara's corner is telling him to maintain position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rafael will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Mason McNamara seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McNamara throws a sloppy head kick and Rafael moves out of range easily.
Rafael goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
McNamara throws a lazy uppercut
and Rafael counters with a three punch combo that has McNamara backing up. McNamara nods at Rafael to acknowledge the strikes.
McNamara's coach down at Puncher's Chance Collective was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on McNamara's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Rafael just misses with a punch to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McNamara looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Rafael is fending him off so far but McNamara persists. Nope, Rafael circles away and we're back to standing.
McNamara doesn't manage to clinch there - Rafael circles away.
McNamara stuffs the takedown attempt from Rafael. Rafael gets slowly back to his feet.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Rafael enables McNamara to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Rafael manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
McNamara would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Rafael trying to keep a closed guard but McNamara is proving a slippery customer.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rafael working a defensive guard but McNamara manages to pass into side control anyway.
McNamara working the ground and pound from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

McNamara tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no McNamara has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

McNamara is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Rafael is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
McNamara taking a breather here.
Let's hope that McNamara 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McNamara is looking to take a break and control but Rafael is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Rafael is looking to regain half guard here but McNamara keeps moving and retains side control.
McNamara tries to advance to mount but can't.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
McNamara throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
McNamara is looking to take a break and control but Rafael is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mason McNamara dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
McNamara tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
McNamara is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

Rafael breaks from the clinch.
Rafael circles away from the clinch attempt.
It looked like Rafael was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

McNamara tries to keep at a distance but Rafael has taken the fight into the clinch.
McNamara drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
McNamara changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Rafael fights it off and pushes away nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McNamara fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Alex Rafael has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mason McNamara.
Rafael fails with the takedown.
Rafael really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Rafael gets a takedown into half guard.
Rafael thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Rafael prevents McNamara from improving his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rafael wants to control but McNamara is keeping him busy.
McNamara missing with punches from the bottom.
Mason McNamara has got the better of the ground game so far.
Rafael stops McNamara from getting back to his feet.
Rafael knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for McNamara on the ground.
Rafael is keen to just control but McNamara is a slippery customer.
Still in half guard, Rafael seems content to control.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

McNamara gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
McNamara 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rafael being controlled here momentarily.
McNamara keeping moving, preventing Rafael from controlling successfully.
Rafael trying to stand up but can't free himself from McNamara's guard.

Rafael gets to his feet - McNamara follows without any prompting.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Rafael takes the fight into the clinch.

Rafael's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
McNamara misses with a body kick.

Rafael bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
McNamara is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
McNamara keeping hold of Rafael's head, controlling as best he can.
McNamara is trying to control but Rafael manages to pass to mount!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rafael wants to control but instead McNamara manages to regain half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Rafael dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

McNamara has managed to clinch.
McNamara is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Rafael is looking for a takedown.
McNamara is trying to break the clinch but Rafael is controlling him.
The referee is keeping an eye on McNamara - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

Rafael's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
McNamara tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rafael swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rafael scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rafael doesn't succeed with the takedown

and McNamara counters with a shoot takedown. Rafael fights it but they end up in guard.

Rafael has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. McNamara has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rafael closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

McNamara actively working from the bottom here.

Rafael decides to stand up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rafael stuffs the takedown attempt from McNamara. McNamara gets slowly back to his feet.

Rafael fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging McNamara to the ground. Rafael is now in McNamara's guard.

McNamara uses the cage to get back to his feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
McNamara shoots in for a takedown but Rafael shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
McNamara just misses with a punch to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rafael manages to get an easy takedown there - catching McNamara on his heels. He'll look to pass McNamara's guard now, I'm sure.
McNamara wants to sweep here but Rafael controlling him for the moment.
Rafael has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
McNamara thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Rafael throws a big right hand that misses.
McNamara 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.
McNamara trying to keep a closed guard but Rafael is proving a slippery customer.
Rafael trying to control but McNamara is working from the bottom.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rafael stands up from guard. Let's bang!
McNamara throws a head kick but Rafael moves out of range.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from McNamara is defended easily by Rafael.
Alex Rafael has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mason McNamara.
McNamara takes a kick to the side of the head.

Rafael shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in McNamara's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McNamara wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Rafael wants to get up but he can't break McNamara's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
McNamara not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
McNamara keeping moving, preventing Rafael from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rafael won't allow McNamara to sweep him here.

McNamara looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Rafael wants to pass the guard but McNamara is keeping the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alex Rafael showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Rafael 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 Gregory Folan scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 29:28
Judge William Peck scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alex Rafael!
A victorious Alex Rafael thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.