PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Scooter McGraw (ranked 4188 p4p, 4247 weight class) and Gord Downey (ranked 214 p4p, 236 weight class). Scooter McGraw has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

McGraw
vs
Downey

195 cm
25
280
0 - 1 - 0

178 cm
25
145
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Scooter McGraw!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Gord Downey!
The judges for this bout are David Hoff, Santiago Holmes and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McGraw tries to score a power double leg takedown but Downey sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten McGraw somewhat.

Downey changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. McGraw looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
McGraw tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
BOOM! Downey connects with a massive shot to the dome!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Downey looking for a guillotine from mount but McGraw is having none of it.
Downey can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as McGraw is looking to escape.
McGraw is working to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Downey lands with some strikes.
McGraw is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Downey looking to control but McGraw is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Downey looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
McGraw can't escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McGraw is trying to reverse the position but instead Downey has taken his back - oops!
McGraw is trying to break free.

McGraw fending off the submission attempt from Downey.
Downey tries to get the hooks in deep but McGraw pushed the leg off.

Downey looking to break McGraw's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. McGraw remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Downey will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
McGraw can't escape the position.
Downey tries to keep control of the position but McGraw is staying busy.
McGraw trying to control the action but Downey just sinks the hooks in.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

McGraw defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Downey's arms.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
McGraw tries to escape the position.
Downey wants to control but McGraw is keeping busy.
Downey is punishing McGraw with some ground and pound.
McGraw trying to control the hands but Downey won't let him.
You can see the frustration on McGraw's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
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.

Downey is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. McGraw defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
McGraw wants to control his opponent's hands but Downey gets his hands free.
McGraw knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Downey on the ground.
Downey trying to control.
Downey connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for McGraw to escape the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Downey trying to control.
McGraw is in bad spot here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Gord Downey dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Downey blocks the body kick.
Downey with the counter takedown but McGraw avoids it easily.
Downey is looking to clinch but McGraw is avoiding it.
McGraw is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Downey.
Downey looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

Downey scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Downey trying to control from half guard but McGraw is working away.
Downey prevents McGraw from improving his position.
Downey works his way into side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Downey trying to control the position but McGraw is working away.
McGraw takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Downey trying to control the action but McGraw is working from the bottom.
Downey working the ground and pound from side control.
Downey working away.
Gord Downey has got the better of the ground game so far.
McGraw is trying to work for a sweep but Downey has mounted him!
Downey lands a nice shot to the head.
McGraw looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
Downey has the hooks in. McGraw is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
A lull in the action here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

McGraw is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
McGraw staying busy and making it hard for Downey to control.
Downey might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control McGraw haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Downey struggling to keep hold of the position.
McGraw grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.

Downey working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.

McGraw fending off the submission attempt from Downey.
Downey controlling well, preventing McGraw from escaping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McGraw trying to control the position but Downey manages to sink in the hooks.
Downey has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
McGraw is keeping busy.
You can see the frustration on McGraw's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

Downey tightening his grip on McGraw, looking for the choke.
McGraw trying to control the action but Downey just sinks the hooks in.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Downey looking for the choke but no joy.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Gord Downey showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

McGraw moves into the clinch successfully.

McGraw manages to break the clinch.
McGraw shoots for a takedown but Downey saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Downey looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? McGraw is fending him off so far but Downey persists. Nope, McGraw circles away and we're back to standing.
McGraw throws a sloppy head kick and Downey moves out of range easily.
McGraw rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Downey moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Downey tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McGraw dives in and grabs Downey's left leg, looking for a takedown. Downey pushes down on McGraw's head and hops out.
McGraw throws a head kick but Downey moves out of range.
Downey misses with a double jab.
McGraw keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McGraw misses with a few strikes there.
Downey moves out of range of the body kick from McGraw.
McGraw tries to close the distance and clinch up but Downey swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Nice sprawl there from Downey as McGraw shoots in.
Downey with the counter takedown but McGraw avoids it easily.
McGraw definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Scooter McGraw. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Good work by Downey as he checks the leg kick.
McGraw misses with a takedown

and Downey holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Downey escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Downey shoots and misses
and McGraw makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

Downey instigates a clinch.
Downey swings wildly with an uppercut but McGraw uses good head movement to avoid it.

Downey pulls McGraw into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Downey trying to keep a closed guard but McGraw is proving a slippery customer.

Downey looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Downey preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
McGraw has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
McGraw has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Downey is proving hard to escape from.
McGraw loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Downey manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. McGraw manages to get himself to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McGraw is wriggling around but Downey manages to pass to half guard.
Downey wants to take a breather but McGraw is having none of it.

Downey is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and McGraw defends it well.
McGraw taking some punishment here, with Downey in his half guard.
Downey passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for McGraw!
Downey can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as McGraw is looking to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Downey is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

Downey jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but McGraw manages to avoid the submission attempt.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Downey is looking to take a break and control but McGraw is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gord Downey comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Downey winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 David Hoff scores the fight 27:30
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gord Downey!