PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Backalley Brawler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cornelius McFisticuffs (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). McFisticuffs has chosen The Champ is here as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Brawler
vs
McFisticuffs

180 cm
22
198 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

180 cm
23
200 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Torero Clothing Inc.

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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Backalley Brawler!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Cornelius McFisticuffs!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Alyssa Summers and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McFisticuffs keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

McFisticuffs darts in and clinches Brawler up against the cage.
McFisticuffs gets underhooks to prevent Brawler's takedown attempt.
McFisticuffs is trying to stall.
Brawler tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Backalley Brawler. That's going to take a lot out of him.

McFisticuffs works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
McFisticuffs passes Brawler's left leg - he's now in half guard.
McFisticuffs content to control rather than advance.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Brawler makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Brawler.
McFisticuffs controls from within his opponent's guard.
Brawler tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Brawler manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
McFisticuffs is looking to improve his position but Brawler isn't that keen on the idea.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McFisticuffs tries to hold on but Brawler postures up.
McFisticuffs slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
McFisticuffs wants to get back to full guard.

Brawler is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and McFisticuffs defends it well.

Brawler looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
McFisticuffs wants to get back to full guard.
McFisticuffs looks gassed!
Brawler is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Brawler thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Brawler is working for a kimura but McFisticuffs is defending it quite comfortably.
Brawler landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

Brawler wants to work for an arm triangle but McFisticuffs is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Brawler slips a nice elbow through McFisticuffs's hands, connecting with McFisticuffs's forehead.
Brawler trying to mount his opponent but McFisticuffs defends it.

Brawler is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, McFisticuffs has managed to free his arm - good work.
Brawler is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and McFisticuffs reverses the position - he's now on top in Brawler's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McFisticuffs pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Brawler is keeping the position for now.
McFisticuffs passes Brawler's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
McFisticuffs trying to mount his opponent but Brawler defends it.
Brawler is looking to improve his position.
McFisticuffs is looking to take a break and control but Brawler is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
McFisticuffs tries to pass to full mount but Brawler defends it.
Brawler is pressing down on McFisticuffs's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Brawler is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Brawler lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for McFisticuffs!
Brawler scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish McFisticuffs?
Brawler lands a big elbow.
Brawler working McFisticuffs over with strikes here.
Brawler with good strikes from the mount here!

Brawler is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but McFisticuffs is surviving well by controlling Brawler's body position as best he can.

Brawler is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But McFisticuffs has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from McFisticuffs!
McFisticuffs preventing the sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Cornelius McFisticuffs will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Brawler shoots in looking for a takedown. McFisticuffs tries to sprawl out of it but Brawler keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. McFisticuffs manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Brawler tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but McFisticuffs swivels and escapes.
Brawler fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Backalley Brawler. That's going to take a lot out of him.
McFisticuffs waving his hands out infront of him, looking to distract Brawler.
Brawler misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Backalley Brawler is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A decent looking cross lands there for McFisticuffs.
McFisticuffs keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Brawler avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Brawler tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but McFisticuffs swivels and escapes.
McFisticuffs lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Brawler shoots in but no luck this time.

Brawler drives through with a takedown into guard.
McFisticuffs utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

McFisticuffs has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Brawler can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
McFisticuffs really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Brawler. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Brawler wants to control from the top but McFisticuffs keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brawler working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of McFisticuffs's head.
Brawler works over McFisticuffs with some ground and pound from guard.
McFisticuffs looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Brawler wants to pass the guard but McFisticuffs is keeping the position.
Brawler with a flurry of punches that miss.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
McFisticuffs stuffs the takedown attempt from Brawler. Brawler gets slowly back to his feet.
Brawler fails with the takedown.

McFisticuffs clinches.
Brawler can't get the takedown.
Brawler tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. McFisticuffs just stands there and leans against the cage.
Brawler tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. McFisticuffs smiles and moves away.

Brawler closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming McFisticuffs to the mat! McFisticuffs manages to get full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Brawler makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
McFisticuffs not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
McFisticuffs lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Brawler!
Brawler is trying desperately to improve position.
McFisticuffs tries to control but Brawler wriggling away.
Brawler is looking to get to half guard.
McFisticuffs tries to control but Brawler wriggling away.
McFisticuffs is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Brawler is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brawler bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Brawler keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of McFisticuffs's head.
McFisticuffs manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Brawler manages to get himself to full guard.

Brawler has his foot on McFisticuffs's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. McFisticuffs works his way back into a safe position though.
McFisticuffs trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Brawler working for a triangle but McFisticuffs defends it easily.
McFisticuffs trying to control the position from guard on top but Brawler is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Brawler is looking for a triangle but McFisticuffs pushes his legs off easily.

Brawler had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. McFisticuffs is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Brawler Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take McFisticuffs's back instead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McFisticuffs trying to control the hands but Brawler won't let him.

Brawler is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but McFisticuffs has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
McFisticuffs breaks Brawler's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
McFisticuffs looking to pass the guard.
McFisticuffs sitting in guard, not really doing much.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
McFisticuffs keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Brawler's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Backalley Brawler will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Brawler shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
McFisticuffs has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Brawler is working away from the top position though.
Brawler is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and McFisticuffs reverses the position - he's now on top in Brawler's guard.
McFisticuffs stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Brawler swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Brawler keeping moving, preventing McFisticuffs from controlling successfully.
McFisticuffs missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Brawler 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.
McFisticuffs takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Brawler keeping full guard, as McFisticuffs tries to pass.
McFisticuffs must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Brawler 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 one minute gone in the round.

Brawler has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but McFisticuffs can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Brawler controls McFisticuffs momentarily but McFisticuffs frees himself.

Brawler is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
McFisticuffs trying to control the position from guard on top but Brawler is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Brawler looking to hit a scissor sweep but McFisticuffs is one step ahead there.
McFisticuffs is pushing down on Brawler's leg trying to pass to half guard. Brawler is fighting to maintain full guard but McFisticuffs has managed to sneak the leg through.
McFisticuffs not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McFisticuffs thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Brawler is refusing to be controlled, as McFisticuffs sits in half guard.
McFisticuffs performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
McFisticuffs frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Brawler is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
McFisticuffs wants to control the pace but Brawler is squirming around nicely.
Brawler throwing hammer fists to the chest of McFisticuffs. What's that going to do exactly?
Brawler tries to get back to half guard but can't.
A nice elbow there by McFisticuffs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brawler really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

Brawler defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from McFisticuffs.
Brawler keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
McFisticuffs throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Brawler because McFisticuffs loaded up on that one.
McFisticuffs trying to control but Brawler is having none of it.
Brawler is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
McFisticuffs tries to control but Brawler wriggling away.
McFisticuffs raining down shots from the mount!
McFisticuffs controlling his opponent.
Brawler is in all sorts of trouble here.
McFisticuffs lands a big elbow.
McFisticuffs tries to control but Brawler wriggling away.
Backalley Brawler overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
McFisticuffs content just to control the position here.
McFisticuffs lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Brawler hang on?
Brawler is in all sorts of trouble here.

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 Backalley Brawler.
I think Brawler 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 Anthony Taglia scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 29:28
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Backalley Brawler!