PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Patrick McBride (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marcus Legionist (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

McBride
vs
Legionist

190 cm
19
280 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

198 cm
22
245 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Patrick McBride!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Marcus Legionist!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, James Glass and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Legionist looks to land a combination but McBride avoids it well.
Some wild striking there from Legionist.
Legionist throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A combination from Legionist does no damage.
Legionist swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Legionist throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A combination from Legionist does no damage.
Legionist throws a right and a left that McBride avoids nicely.
Legionist just misses with a punch to the body.
McBride misses with a straight right.

McBride closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

McBride breaks from the clinch.
Legionist staying out of range there.
McBride misses with a double jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

McBride shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
McBride thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Legionist has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. McBride is working away from the top position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Legionist avoiding damage under a succession of punches from McBride.
McBride is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Legionist regains full guard. Nicely done.
McBride in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
McBride is pushing down on Legionist's leg trying to pass to half guard. Legionist is fighting to maintain full guard but McBride has managed to sneak the leg through.
McBride is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McBride thows a huge punch but Legionist dodges it nicely.

Legionist looking for submissions off his back.
Legionist trying to hold on to McBride's head to control him but McBride postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Legionist tries to get to full guard but McBride has control of the leg.
McBride thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Legionist's head.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Legionist falls off balance throwing a combination

and McBride counters with a single leg into guard. Legionist didn't expect that.
McBride tries to free his leg and advance position but Legionist is retaining full guard.
McBride is working Legionist over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
McBride makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
McBride landing with the ground and pound.

Legionist looking for subs off his back but McBride has passed one foot through into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McBride tries to pass the half guard into mount. Legionist knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Legionist is looking for a sweep. McBride is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Legionist avoiding damage under a succession of punches from McBride.
McBride seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Legionist does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Legionist is trying to defend against the ground and pound but McBride scores with a couple of nice shots.
McBride wants to pass to mount but Legionist is defending the position.

Legionist actively working from the bottom here.

McBride 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
A jab from Legionist does it's job there.
Legionist throws the left hand but McBride avoids the punch easily.
Legionist ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Legionist scores with a nice right hand.
Legionist fakes high and swings low for a body shot but McBride manages to avoid it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Legionist misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
McBride dodges the punch combination from Legionist.
Legionist throws a combination. McBride tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Patrick McBride will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Legionist bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of McBride's head.
Legionist moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
McBride ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Legionist moves away.
Legionist uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

McBride shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Legionist is looking to control McBride's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Legionist avoid being mounted?
Legionist trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Legionist takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Legionist is working to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, McBride cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
McBride trying to control but Legionist is having none of it.
McBride lands a big elbow.
McBride lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
McBride trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Legionist wants to control but McBride is having none of it.
McBride breaks from Legionist's wrist control and lands an elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A nice elbow there by McBride.
McBride landing strikes from the mount.
The referee warns Legionist that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
McBride cracks Legionist with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
McBride cracks Legionist with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Legionist tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Legionist is breathing heavily.
Legionist is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
McBride can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Legionist is looking to escape.

McBride is going olschool here, as he tries to force Legionist to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Legionist shrugs it off.
Legionist is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Legionist is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but McBride is staying active.

McBride jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Legionist is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Legionist and McBride has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Legionist gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Legionist looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
McBride is nestled in close to Legionist, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Legionist has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. McBride is working away from the top position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McBride wants to lay and pray for a moment but Legionist keeps working.
McBride trying to pass the guard but Legionist defending well.
McBride working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Legionist's thigh. Legionist counters though and makes it back to full guard.
McBride loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Legionist is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and McBride defends well.

Legionist escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. McBride gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Patrick McBride dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

McBride throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Legionist sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Legionist misses with a double jab

and McBride counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
McBride is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Legionist wants to control but McBride is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Legionist tries to get to full guard but McBride has control of the leg.
McBride drops an elbow to the side of Legionist's head.
Patrick McBride overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
McBride is thwarting Legionist's attempts to control the position.
McBride thows a huge punch but Legionist dodges it nicely.
Legionist takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Legionist on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Legionist moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Legionist looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Legionist avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Legionist looking to control but McBride passes into half guard.
McBride moves into full mount! Legionist won't be happy about that!
McBride landing strikes from the mount.
McBride landing strikes from the mount and Legionist is in trouble!
McBride landing strikes, looking to finish!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Legionist regains half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
McBride scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Legionist trying to control but McBride postures up.
McBride scoring with strikes to the body and head.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. McBride lands a nice short elbow.
Legionist blocking the ground and pound attempt from McBride.

McBride decides to return to a standing position.
McBride showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Legionist.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McBride misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Legionist.
Legionist scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

McBride darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Legionist works his way to full guard. Good work.
McBride connects with a couple of short punches.
McBride throwing strikes from guard but Legionist blocks nicely.

Legionist is looking for a triangle but McBride pushes his legs off easily.

Legionist looking for subs off his back but McBride has passed one foot through into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McBride seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Legionist is looking to control McBride's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Legionist avoid being mounted?
Marcus Legionist has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Patrick McBride is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
McBride seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
McBride throwing shots but Legionist is blocking nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
McBride wants to pass to mount but Legionist is defending the position.
Legionist regains full guard. Nicely done.

And that's the end of the fight!
Patrick McBride showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for McBride, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Patrick McBride!