PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Joe Macconi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Wayne Gail (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Joe Macconi has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Macconi
vs
Gail

167 cm
21
154 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

170 cm
18
151 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Determined

Global Empire MMA Gear

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Joe Macconi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Wayne Gail!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Taro Takaoka and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gail tries for a takedown but Macconi sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Macconi changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Gail looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Gail is trying to get back to half guard.
Macconi trying to control the position but Gail is working away.
Macconi slows the pace down.

Macconi decides to stand back up.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Gail.

Macconi looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Macconi throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Gail is holding on to half guard well.
Macconi tries to stand and escape but Gail is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gail is looking for a sweep. Macconi is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Macconi not doing much here.
Gail really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Macconi. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Gail wants to get back to full guard.
Macconi is taking a breather. Gail says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Joe Macconi.

Macconi feints and as Gail raises his hands in defense, Macconi changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Gail keeping moving, preventing Macconi from controlling successfully.

Gail had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Macconi defends it easily.
Gail looking to hit a scissor sweep but Macconi is one step ahead there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gail is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Gail keeping full guard, as Macconi tries to pass.

Gail has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Macconi is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Gail.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Gail tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Gail can't do much from the bottom here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gail is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Gail can't do much from the bottom here.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Gail can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gail tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Macconi creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Gail sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Gail is trying to control Macconi's posture but Macconi avoids it.
Macconi in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Macconi wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gail keeps working.
Gail is looking to regain half guard here but Macconi keeps moving and retains side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Macconi working the ground and pound from side control.
Gail tries to buck Macconi off but Macconi is having none of it.
Gail is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Macconi off and has taken his back!
Macconi manages to reverse the position and now he's in Gail's guard. Nice work there by Macconi.
Macconi wants to control from the top but Gail keeps moving.
Gail wants to sweep but no luck.

Macconi got a little sloppy there for a moment and Gail has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Macconi has managed to get both his arms back between Gail's legs - danger averted.
Gail 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.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Macconi wants to control from the top but Gail keeps moving.
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!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Macconi dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Gail throws a hook but Macconi blocks it.
Gail fails with a takedown attempt.
Gail shoots in looking for a takedown. Macconi tries to sprawl out of it but Gail keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Macconi manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Gail fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Joe Macconi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Wayne Gail.
Gail misses with a wild body shot.
Gail shoots in for a takedown but Macconi shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Gail fails with a takedown attempt.
Gail shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Macconi defends it nicely.
Macconi scores with the left hand. Gail knows he should have avoided that one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gail fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Gail tries for a takedown but Macconi sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Macconi is looking to clinch but Gail is avoiding it.

Gail feints and as Macconi raises his hands in defense, Gail changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Macconi wants to stand and escape but Gail is having none of it.

Macconi working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Gail doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Gail manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Macconi is trying to control the position but Gail postures up.
Gail controlling from the top position.
Macconi controlling the position.
Macconi is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Macconi wants to sweep here but Gail controlling him for the moment.
Joe Macconi overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Gail trying to control the position from guard on top but Macconi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

We're going to have a standup here because Joe Macconi wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Gail shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Macconi manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gail trying to control the position from guard on top but Macconi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gail's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Gail trying to control but Macconi is working from the bottom.
Gail seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Wayne Gail hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Gail's jab looks to have found its range, popping Macconi under the eye.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Macconi as Gail shoots in.
Gail shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Macconi but Macconi pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Macconi drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Gail taking a bit of punishment here - Macconi scoring with strikes.
Gail is trying to control Macconi's posture but Macconi avoids it.
Macconi working the head with strikes.
Gail is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Macconi wants to control but Gail is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gail is looking for a sweep.
Macconi working the ground and pound.
Gail takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Macconi staying calm.
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gail gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Wayne Gail will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

Macconi checks a low kick from Gail.

Macconi bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Gail is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Gail manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Gail is not content to let Macconi control the position.
Gail is pressing down on Macconi's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Gail has his foot on Macconi's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Macconi works his way back into a safe position though.

Gail working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Macconi has passed into half guard!
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Macconi connects with a nice short shot to Gail's temple.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gail is trying to get back to full guard.
Gail moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Macconi postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Gail had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Macconi defends it easily.

Macconi avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Gail takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Macconi is working Gail over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gail trying to keep a closed guard but Macconi is proving a slippery customer.
Macconi stopping the sweep attempt from Gail.
Macconi trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Gail keeping moving, preventing Macconi from controlling successfully.
Gail wants to sweep here but Macconi controlling him for the moment.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Macconi trying to control the position from guard on top but Gail is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Joe Macconi.
Macconi misses with a double jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Macconi misses with an uppercut.
Joe Macconi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Macconi misses the shot to the body.

Macconi drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Gail is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Gail is not content to let Macconi control the position.
Gail tries to get to full guard but Macconi has control of the leg.
Macconi takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Gail is looking to improve his position.

Macconi is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gail is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Macconi pulls his head out easily.
Gail regains full guard. Nicely done.
Macconi trying to control the position from guard on top but Gail is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gail looking for a sweep. Not yet Gail, not yet.
Macconi stands and throws Gail's legs to the side, diving into side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gail is trying to improve his position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

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 Joe Macconi.
Well Macconi 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 29:28
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joe Macconi!