PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gus McCrae (ranked 1116 p4p, 2295 weight class) and Adams Menday (ranked 163 p4p, 319 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

McCrae
vs
Menday

189 cm
28
203
14 - 7 - 1

194 cm
27
215
8 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Brooklyn Apothecary
Brooklyn Threads

Gatoroids

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 7 - 1, fighting out of New York, Gus McCrae!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Adams Menday!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Roosa Järviläinen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Menday ducks under a wild hook from McCrae.
And Menday tries to counter it with a takedown but McCrae pushes his down on his head and steps out.
McCrae takes a swing at Menday's ribcage but misses.
McCrae connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Menday moves out of range as McCrae strikes.
And Menday tries to counter it with a takedown but McCrae pushes his down on his head and steps out.
A slow jab from McCrae misses its intended target.
Menday is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Menday cracks a nice hook into McCrae's ribs.
McCrae misses with a straight left.
McCrae misses with an uppercut.
McCrae looks to land a left hand but Menday moved out of range nicely.
A countering left hand to the body from Menday misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McCrae throws out a loose jab but Menday uses good head movement to avoid it.
McCrae misses with a straight left.
Menday feints the counter takedown.
McCrae fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
McCrae waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Menday.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCrae throws a hook but Menday blocks it.
Nice defenses there by Menday.
Menday drops down looking to force a counter takedown but McCrae defends it well.
McCrae throws a lazy uppercut
and Menday counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
McCrae misses with an uppercut.
Menday feints the counter takedown.
Menday bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Gus McCrae is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Menday gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and McCrae counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
McCrae clobbers Menday with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
McCrae is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
McCrae thows a left - swing and a miss!
Menday with the counter takedown but McCrae avoids it easily.
Menday ducks right into an uppercut from McCrae.
McCrae misses with a hook
and Menday connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
McCrae looks to land a right hand but Menday moved out of range.
Menday is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Menday slips a jab from McCrae.
Menday drops down looking to force a counter takedown but McCrae defends it well.
Menday shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and McCrae counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A big left from McCrae misses.
Menday with the counter takedown but McCrae avoids it easily.

Menday shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. McCrae manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Menday won't allow McCrae to sweep him here.
McCrae is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Menday throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as McCrae works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCrae is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Menday is controlling him.
Menday throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
McCrae is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Menday throwing strikes but missing.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Menday pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. McCrae is keeping the position for now.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
McCrae pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
McCrae swings away with a body shot that misses

and Menday counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

McCrae pushes Menday off and gets back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gus McCrae seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Menday shoots in for a double leg but McCrae sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Gus McCrae has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Adams Menday.
McCrae throws a right hand that misses

and Menday counters with a single leg into guard. McCrae didn't expect that.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Menday throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
McCrae looking to control.
Menday missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Menday working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Menday throwing strikes from guard but McCrae blocks nicely.
Menday throws a big elbow that misses.
Menday has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Menday throws an elbow that misses. McCrae uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Menday's guard. Nice move by McCrae!

We've been hearing good reports from McCrae's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Menday pulls McCrae in close to prevent any damage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Gus McCrae dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

McCrae misses with a right hand
and Menday counters with a nice uppercut.
Menday shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Menday moves away from the strike by McCrae.
Menday feints the counter takedown.
Menday staying out of range there.
McCrae is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Menday can do to turn this around?
McCrae throws a hook to the side of Menday's head but Menday sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Menday fails to land the takedown.
McCrae throws a hook to the side of Menday's head but Menday sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McCrae lands a nice shot that snaps Menday's head back.
Menday ducks under a wild hook from McCrae.
The fighters circling - McCrae throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Menday slips under a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from McCrae. Menday does a little dance to reset his feet.
Menday ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
McCrae throws a jab when Menday was well out of range.
McCrae throws an off balance right hand

and Menday counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Menday.
Menday pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. McCrae is keeping the position for now.
Menday works over McCrae with some ground and pound from guard.
Menday with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
McCrae is trying to keep Menday in close.
Menday throws an elbow that misses. McCrae uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Menday's guard. Nice move by McCrae!

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McCrae trying to stand up but can't free himself from Menday's guard.
Menday trying to keep a closed guard but McCrae is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Menday has control of McCrae's left arm, preventing McCrae from doing any damage.
Our spies down at at CHECMATE PRIME MMA inform us that Menday has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
McCrae wants to stand but Menday is controlling his posture from full guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Menday needs to keep his hands up - McCrae had a free shot at his head there.
Menday avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Menday shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as McCrae sprawls well. McCrae wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Menday gets slowly back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Menday tries for a takedown but McCrae circles away easily
letting McCrae counter with a right hand.
Gus McCrae has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Adams Menday.
Menday shoots in looking for a takedown. McCrae tries to sprawl out of it but Menday keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. McCrae manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
McCrae lands with a right hand.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
McCrae throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Gus McCrae dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

McCrae misses with a straight left.
Menday moves away from the strike by McCrae.
McCrae takes a swing at Menday's ribcage but misses.
Menday blocks a jab.
Menday shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says McCrae as he avoids it easily.
McCrae misses with an uppercut
and McCrae takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
McCrae throws a body punch but Menday moves out of range.
McCrae swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Menday drops down looking to force a counter takedown but McCrae defends it well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A slow jab from McCrae misses its intended target.
A nice side step and Menday releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
A telegraphed right hand from McCrae misses the target.
Menday with the counter takedown but McCrae avoids it easily.
Menday uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by McCrae.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCrae displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Menday.
McCrae bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Menday's head.
McCrae misses with a straight right.
Menday swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
McCrae is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Menday.
McCrae lands a really nice looking cross but Menday seems unphased.
McCrae lands with a straight right. Menday didn't see that one coming.
Menday shoots in looking for a takedown but McCrae manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Menday's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Gus McCrae has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Adams Menday.
Menday defending well as McCrae loads up on a big left hand.
Menday tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Gus McCrae is winning the standup battle so far.
Nice defenses there by Menday.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Menday lands a jab.
McCrae scores with a decent looking hook.
McCrae misses with a left hand

and Menday counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for McCrae!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Menday tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Menday in side control lands a decent elbow.
Menday is chipping away with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Menday fails to land a wild elbow strike.
An elbow from Menday crashes against the mat.
Menday lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear McCrae down.
Menday in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Menday working the strikes but McCrae uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Gus McCrae is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
McCrae keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Menday thows a huge punch but McCrae dodges it nicely.
Menday throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Menday scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Menday throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCrae taking some punishment here, with Menday in his half guard.
Menday not landing any meaningful shots this time.
McCrae blocking the ground and pound attempt from Menday.
Menday missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Menday not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Menday throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Menday darts in looking for a takedown but McCrae gets double underhooks and turns Menday into the cage.
McCrae throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Menday sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Menday scores with a jab to the body.
Adams Menday has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
McCrae throws a lazy right hand but Menday sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

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 Gus McCrae.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for McCrae, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gus McCrae!
An out of breath and clearly excited Gus McCrae thanked Brooklyn Apothecary for their help and support (and free stuff they sent him).