PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Callum McCewen (ranked 3288 p4p, 4693 weight class) and Joao Gabriel (ranked 408 p4p, 519 weight class). Callum McCewen has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

McCewen
vs
Gabriel

175 cm
19
163
3 - 0 - 0

185 cm
19
177
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good knees
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Intelligent

Silverguard Outfitters 🛡
Furnace Performance 🔥

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Callum McCewen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Joao Gabriel!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fray, Roger Salmon and Micheangelo Fripello.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McCewen is looking to chop away at Gabriel's legs.
Gabriel tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
McCewen misses with a leg kick

and Gabriel counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
McCewen is trying to stand back up but Gabriel is controlling him

Gabriel is working for a kimura but McCewen is defending it quite comfortably.
Gabriel winds up and cracks McCewen with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
McCewen wants to get back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Gabriel is working for a kimura but McCewen is defending it quite comfortably.
Gabriel wants to pass the guard but McCewen is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gabriel is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, McCewen has managed to free his arm - good work.

Gabriel is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Gabriel is sneakily working for an arm triangle but McCewen sees it coming and defends easily.

Gabriel is working for a kimura but McCewen is defending it quite comfortably.

Gabriel is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's two 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.

Gabriel is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so McCewen is just riding it out for now. Gabriel eventually gives up the hold.
Gabriel throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing McCewen to regain full guard.
McCewen is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Gabriel throws a big elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gabriel drops back, looking for a kneebar! McCewen looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. McCewen looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from McCewen!

McCewen throwing shots but missing, from side control.
McCewen working the ground and pound.
Gabriel tries to bench press McCewen off him but McCewen keeps the position.
McCewen throws a strike aimed at the side of Gabriel's head but Gabriel avoids it well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gabriel is trying to get back to half guard.
McCewen throws a strike aimed at the side of Gabriel's head but Gabriel avoids it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gabriel manages to work his way to half guard, despite McCewen's best efforts.
Gabriel wants to improve his position but McCewen is controlling well.
McCewen is controlling the pace.
Gabriel wants to get back to full guard.
McCewen is taking a breather. Gabriel 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.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Gabriel is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of McCewen's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take McCewen's back!
McCewen trying to get back to his feet but Gabriel is in full control for now.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

McCewen throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Gabriel drops down looking to force a counter takedown but McCewen defends it well.
McCewen tries to land a leg kick but Gabriel saw it coming and moves away.
Gabriel is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

McCewen moves into the clinch successfully.
Gabriel has McCewen pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. McCewen manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Gabriel looking for a takedown.

McCewen manages to break the clinch.
We've been told by McCewen's head coaches at Dangerous Fight Academy that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Callum McCewen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gabriel blocks a leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McCewen lands a front kick.
McCewen throws a body kick that misses

and Gabriel counters with a single leg into guard. McCewen didn't expect that.
Joao Gabriel has got the better of the ground game so far.
Gabriel trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Gabriel throwing strikes from guard but McCewen blocks nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCewen is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Gabriel looking to pass the guard.
Gabriel with a flurry of punches that miss.
McCewen is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
McCewen working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Gabriel.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Gabriel stands up from guard. Let's bang!

McCewen has Gabriel up against the cage in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
McCewen lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
McCewen is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Gabriel is breathing heavily.
Gabriel tries for a takedown but McCewen manages to get underhooks.
Callum McCewen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joao Gabriel.
McCewen lands a hook to the side of the head.
McCewen lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Gabriel's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
McCewen scores with a shoulder strike.
McCewen lands a hook that snaps the head of Gabriel backwards.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting McCewen here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
A left hand lands to the body for McCewen.
McCewen lands a good knee to the midsection. Gabriel won't want to take too many of those.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCewen gets underhooks to prevent Gabriel's takedown attempt.
McCewen lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Gabriel being controlled against the cage.
McCewen lands on the inside with an uppercut.
McCewen scores with a shoulder strike.
McCewen scores with an uppercut up the middle.
McCewen scores with a nice hook to the head.
McCewen lands a left hand that snaps the head of Gabriel backwards.

Gabriel is rocked!
McCewen unloads with a big right hand that wobbles Gabriel! He's leaning against the cage trying to keep his feet but McCewen is unloading with more strikes now! Gabriel drops to his knees and the referee stops the fight for a TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Callum McCewen!
Callum McCewen seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.