PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Marco Macotti (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bernard Bones (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Macotti
vs
Bones

190 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

193 cm
20
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Marco Macotti!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Bernard Bones!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Micheangelo Fripello and Colin Fray.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Macotti misses with a takedown attempt - Bones sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Bones throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Macotti's waist but Macotti gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Bones off to one side.
Bones pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

Bones gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Macotti is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Bones gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Macotti wants to take the fight to the mat but Bones manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marco Macotti. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Macotti stops a takedown attempt from Bones.
Bones tries to pull guard but Macotti forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Bones drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Macotti gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Bones tries to circle away but Macotti has him pinned against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Macotti wants to take the fight to the mat but Bones manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Bones works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Macotti is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Bones pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Bones tries for a takedown. No joy.
Bones prevents the takedown attempt.
Macotti is pressed up against the cage. Bones has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Macotti down to the mat. Macotti avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Macotti misses with a takedown attempt - Bones sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Bones fails in his attempt to clinch.

Macotti manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Bones on his heels. He'll look to pass Bones's guard now, I'm sure.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Macotti drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Bones dives on top into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bones trying to control the position from guard on top but Macotti is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Macotti looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Macotti preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Bones controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Macotti is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bones avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Bones must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Bones got a little sloppy there for a moment and Macotti has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Bones has managed to get both his arms back between Macotti's legs - danger averted.

Macotti working for submissions but it's allowed Bones to get to half guard.
Macotti is not content to let Bones control the position.

Bones decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bones stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Bones wants it to stay on the feet.
Macotti is breathing heavily.
Bones is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Bones wants to clinch up but Macotti keeps it at a distance.
Macotti keeps the fight on the outside.
Nice sprawl there from Bones as Macotti shoots in.
Macotti shoots in for a takedown but Bones shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Bones moves in looking to clinch but Macotti pushes him off.
Bones is trying hard to land a takedown here. Macotti sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bones stuffs the takedown attempt from Macotti. Macotti gets slowly back to his feet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Bones doesn't manage to clinch there - Macotti circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Bernard Bones will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

A telegraphed takedown attempt from Bones is defended easily by Macotti.
Bones stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Bones wants it to stay on the feet.
Bones throws out a powerful jab.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Macotti is defended easily by Bones.
Bones fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Bones lands a head kick. Macotti smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

Bones has managed to clinch.
Macotti is working for takedown but Bones is calmly controlling the position for now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marco Macotti. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Macotti has picked Bones up - he's going for a ride! Macotti dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.

Macotti is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Bones wants to control but Macotti is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Macotti is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Bones is looking to control Macotti's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Bones avoid being mounted?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bones wants to improve his position but Macotti is controlling well.

Bones looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Macotti seems to be looking for submissions.
Macotti is keen to just control but Bones is a slippery customer.

Macotti is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Bones defends it well.
Bones trying to control here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bones manages to get to full guard.
Macotti scoring with some ground and pound.
Macotti stops Bones from standing up.
Macotti wants to control from the top but Bones keeps moving.
Bones has Macotti pulled in close to control his posture.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Macotti drops back looking for a leg! Bones is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Bones manages to kick Macotti off! Macotti jumps back into Bones's guard.
Bones keeping moving, preventing Macotti from controlling successfully.
Macotti is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Bones is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Bones throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Bones wants to improve his position but instead Macotti has moved into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Bernard Bones will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Bones will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Macotti shoots for a takedown but Bones saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
The fight stays on the outside here - Bones looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Macotti defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Bones.

Macotti closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Bones did well to prevent Macotti getting side control.
Bones wants to get back to full guard.

Macotti is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Bones has managed to free his arm - good work.
Macotti tries to pass the half guard into mount. Bones knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Bones takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Macotti wants to work for an arm triangle but Bones is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Bones is refusing to be controlled, as Macotti sits in half guard.

Macotti is trying to work for a kimura but Bones is defending well.

Macotti is looking for a kimura but Bones is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Macotti to get the leverage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Bones manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Macotti trying to control but Bones is working from the bottom.

Macotti has gone for a leg lock! Bones slips out almost immediately though and dives into Macotti's guard.
Bones trying to control but Macotti is working from the bottom.

Macotti had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Bones defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Macotti has his foot on Bones's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Bones works his way back into a safe position though.
Marco Macotti overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Macotti wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Bones is now in half guard.
Bones wants to stand up but Macotti is controlling the position.
Macotti is refusing to be controlled, as Bones sits in half guard.
Macotti is pressing down on Bones's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bones advances position into side control!
Bones trying to control the position but Macotti is working away.
Bones controlling from side mount.
Macotti stops Bones from passing to mount.
Marco Macotti has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Bones stands up and beckons Macotti to his feet.
Bernard Bones is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Macotti shoots for a double leg takedown but Bones sprawls well. He's pushed Macotti's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively 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 Marco Macotti.
I think Bones has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Chris Saunders scores the fight 28:29
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 30:27
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Bernard Bones!