PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Andrew Macca (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Valentine (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mike Valentine struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 136.4lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Macca
vs
Valentine

186 cm
22
136 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

160 cm
22
142 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Andrew Macca!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Mike Valentine!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, John Mangel and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Macca lands with a kick to the temple. Valentine shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Macca shoots in but Valentine avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Macca shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Valentine sprawls well. Valentine wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Macca gets slowly back to his feet.

Macca clinches.
Valentine missing with knees to the body.
Macca drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Andrew Macca. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Macca takes a knee to the side of the body.

Macca manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Macca throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Valentine stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Macca swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Macca tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Macca really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Macca throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Macca is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Macca managing to control the position.
Macca not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Andrew Macca has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Macca shoots in for a takedown but Valentine shows good takedown defense.
Macca shoots in but no luck this time.
A head kick misses from Macca.
Macca is breathing heavily.
Macca defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Valentine.
Nice sprawl there from Valentine as Macca shoots in.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valentine tries to bum rush Macca with a series of wild strikes but Macca uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Macca changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Valentine tries to avoid it but Macca manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Valentine to the ground. Valentine escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
No luck for Macca with that takedown attempt.
Macca swats away the attempt to clinch by Valentine.
Valentine lands a leg kick that knocks Macca off balance momentarily.
Macca stuffs the takedown.
Macca misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Valentine throws a head kick but Macca moves out of range.
Macca fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Macca swats away the attempt to clinch by Valentine.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Valentine closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Valentine lands in his opponent's guard.
Macca trying to control the position.
Valentine preventing the sweep.

Macca had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Valentine defends it easily.

Macca escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Valentine gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Macca looking for a sweep. Not yet Macca, not yet.

Valentine gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Valentine keeps Macca at a distance using the push kick.
Macca shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Valentine sprawls well. Valentine wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Macca gets slowly back to his feet.
Valentine is looking to clinch.
Mike Valentine seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Valentine gets a takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Valentine wants to pass the guard but Macca is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mike Valentine will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Valentine pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Macca tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Valentine swivels and escapes.
Valentine tries to score a power double leg takedown but Macca sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Valentine somewhat.
Macca fails with a takedown attempt.
Valentine is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Macca gets a clinch.
Valentine is breathing heavily.
Macca is looking to take this one to the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Andrew Macca. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Macca is trying to pull guard but Valentine has him pressed against the cage.
Macca goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Valentine is trying to maintain a safe position but Macca gets an underhook and turns Valentine into the cage.

Macca manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Valentine trying to control the position from guard on top but Macca is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Macca working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Valentine.
Macca pulls Valentine in close to prevent any damage.
Macca trying to keep a closed guard but Valentine is proving a slippery customer.
Valentine wants to control from the top but Macca keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Valentine looks to clinch
and Macca counters with a leg kick.
Valentine shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Macca sprawls well. Macca wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Valentine gets slowly back to his feet.
Macca shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Valentine as he avoids it easily.
Valentine shoots in but no luck this time.

Macca closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Valentine to the mat! Valentine manages to get full guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Macca accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Macca stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Macca fails to land the takedown.
Andrew Macca is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Valentine displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Macca.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valentine is looking to land body kicks.
Macca shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Valentine pinned against the cage. Valentine gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Valentine clinches up against the cage.
Valentine tries to break the clinch but Macca is controlling the position.
Macca is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Valentine is defending well.
Macca drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Valentine gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Valentine tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valentine is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Macca manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Macca seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.
Macca lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Valentine or not.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Macca decides to pull guard.
Macca controlling the position.
Macca controls Valentine momentarily but Valentine frees himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andrew Macca dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Macca has managed to clinch.
Valentine tries to pull guard but Macca forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Macca escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Macca stuffs the takedown attempt from Valentine. Valentine gets slowly back to his feet.
No joy there for Macca, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Macca closes the distance and clinches up with Valentine, looking for a takedown. Macca pushes Valentine against the cage but Valentine circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Macca closes this distance looking for a takedown but Valentine circles away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Macca defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Valentine.
Andrew Macca has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mike Valentine.
Nice sprawl there from Valentine as Macca shoots in.

Macca moves into range and clinches up with Valentine.
Macca wants a takedown but no success here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valentine stops a takedown attempt from Macca.

Valentine pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Nice sprawl there from Valentine as Macca shoots in.
Valentine tries to clinch up but Macca circles away and keeps his distance.
Macca shoots in for a takedown but Valentine shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Valentine fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Macca manages to avoid it.
Valentine stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Valentine wants it to stay on the feet.
A clash of legs there as Macca blocks the low kick.
Macca is looking to clinch but Valentine is avoiding it.

Macca instigates a clinch.
Macca lands a nice knee to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valentine gets underhooks to prevent Macca's takedown attempt.
Valentine with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Macca's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Macca misses with a double jab.
Macca defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Valentine.
Valentine fails with an attempt to clinch.
Valentine slaps away a takedown attempt from Macca, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Valentine shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Macca sprawls well. Macca wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Valentine gets slowly back to his feet.
Macca fails to land the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valentine shoots in looking for a takedown but Macca manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Valentine's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Valentine stuffs the takedown attempt from Macca. Macca gets slowly back to his feet.
Valentine rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Macca counters by clinching up.
Valentine has Macca pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Macca manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Macca content to slow the pace in the clinch.

Valentine jumps guard and drags Macca to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Macca trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Macca trying to control but Valentine is working from the bottom.

Valentine has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Macca can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Macca trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Valentine working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Macca.

Macca drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Macca jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Macca trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Andrew Macca showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Macca has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Damien Edna scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 29:28
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Andrew Macca!