PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Tim McIlrath (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lil Thumper Saint Shamrock (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Saint Shamrock's choice of entrance music: Here Come's Tha Thumper. The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

McIlrath
vs
Thumper Saint Shamrock

170 cm
20
152 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

180 cm
23
148 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent knees
Powerful

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 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Tim McIlrath!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Lil Thumper Saint Shamrock!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Thiago Cunha and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Saint Shamrock instigates a clinch.
McIlrath digs a right hand underneath Saint Shamrock's ribcage. Saint Shamrock let out a lung full of air as it connected.
McIlrath on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
McIlrath taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Saint Shamrock with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
McIlrath tries to break the clinch but Saint Shamrock is controlling the position.
Saint Shamrock tries to land knees in the clinch but McIlrath avoids the damage to the body.
Saint Shamrock trying to land knees to the body.
McIlrath has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
McIlrath wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Saint Shamrock has him pressed against the cage.
Saint Shamrock lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Saint Shamrock gets underhooks to prevent McIlrath's takedown attempt.
Saint Shamrock unloads a knee to the mid-section.
McIlrath is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Saint Shamrock tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
McIlrath is trying to break free.
Saint Shamrock landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Saint Shamrock using the Thai plumb to throw knees but McIlrath has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Knees to the body from Saint Shamrock.
McIlrath is breathing heavily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
McIlrath lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Saint Shamrock tries a knee to the head but McIlrath blocks it.
Saint Shamrock keeps the fight in the clinch, despite McIlrath's efforts to push away.
Saint Shamrock misses with a knee strike.
Saint Shamrock with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
McIlrath tries to break the clinch but Saint Shamrock is controlling the position.
Saint Shamrock throws a knee to the head but misses.
McIlrath works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Saint Shamrock using the Thai plumb to throw knees but McIlrath has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Saint Shamrock with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Saint Shamrock tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McIlrath working hard to break the clinch.

McIlrath jumps guard and drags Saint Shamrock to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

McIlrath wriggles free and stands up.
McIlrath blocks a head kick by Saint Shamrock.
McIlrath tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Saint Shamrock was well out of range. Poor timing from McIlrath.
Tim McIlrath seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McIlrath misses the shot to the body.
Saint Shamrock takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
A nice leg kick lands there from Saint Shamrock.
McIlrath throws out a loose jab but Saint Shamrock uses good head movement to avoid it.
McIlrath just misses with a punch to the body.
Saint Shamrock ducks under a wild hook from McIlrath.
Saint Shamrock uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by McIlrath.
McIlrath swats away the attempt to clinch by Saint Shamrock.
McIlrath avoids the head kick by Saint Shamrock.
Saint Shamrock looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
McIlrath swings for the body but Saint Shamrock moves out of range.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Saint Shamrock.
Saint Shamrock throws a sloppy head kick and McIlrath moves out of range easily.
Saint Shamrock scores with a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saint Shamrock wants to clinch up but McIlrath keeps it at a distance.
Saint Shamrock tries to close the distance and clinch but McIlrath swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Saint Shamrock takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
McIlrath is looking to wear down Saint Shamrock with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
McIlrath circles away from the clinch attempt.
McIlrath ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Saint Shamrock moves away.
Saint Shamrock tries to clinch up but McIlrath circles away and keeps his distance.
McIlrath cracks Saint Shamrock with a good jab.

Saint Shamrock clinches up against the cage.
McIlrath is leaning against Saint Shamrock and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Saint Shamrock landing knees to the head.

McIlrath pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Saint Shamrock tries to close the distance and clinch but McIlrath swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Saint Shamrock throws a head kick but McIlrath moves out of range.
Saint Shamrock takes a shot to the body in his stride.
McIlrath throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
McIlrath lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Saint Shamrock circles away quickly and effectively.
Saint Shamrock tries to clinch up.
Saint Shamrock tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
McIlrath throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Saint Shamrock.
McIlrath takes a swing at Saint Shamrock's ribcage but misses.
McIlrath looks to land a combination but Saint Shamrock avoids it well.
Saint Shamrock tries to clinch there but McIlrath circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saint Shamrock moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Nice uppercut lands for McIlrath. That snapped Saint Shamrock's head back.

Saint Shamrock instigates a clinch.
McIlrath takes a knee right on the jaw!

McIlrath breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
McIlrath throws a shot to the body.
McIlrath lands with a nice combination. Saint Shamrock backs away looking to recover.
Saint Shamrock blocks a jab.
Saint Shamrock scores with a leg kick.
Saint Shamrock tries to clinch up but McIlrath circles away and keeps his distance.
McIlrath looks to score with a jab to the body but Saint Shamrock is just out of range.
Saint Shamrock tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Some wild striking there from McIlrath.
Nice body punch from McIlrath.
McIlrath throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Saint Shamrock stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
A big right from McIlrath misses.
McIlrath throws a right and a left that Saint Shamrock avoids nicely.
McIlrath thows a body shot but no joy.
Saint Shamrock wants to clinch.
McIlrath ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Saint Shamrock moves away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Saint Shamrock forces McIlrath back against the cage and clinches.
McIlrath can't break the clinch.
Saint Shamrock has a couple of punches blocked by McIlrath.
Saint Shamrock throws a knee to the head but misses.
Saint Shamrock looking to throw knees to the head but McIlrath is blocking nicely.
Saint Shamrock prevents McIlrath from breaking the clinch.
McIlrath fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Saint Shamrock lands a knee to the head.
Saint Shamrock gets underhooks to prevent McIlrath's takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tim McIlrath. That's going to take a lot out of him.
McIlrath fails to pull guard.
Saint Shamrock tries a knee to the head but McIlrath blocks it.
Saint Shamrock trying to land knees to the body.
McIlrath wants to get back to striking at distance but Saint Shamrock won't allow it.
Saint Shamrock prevents McIlrath from breaking the clinch.
McIlrath tries to score a body lock takedown but Saint Shamrock shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Saint Shamrock throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but McIlrath blocks it with crossed arms.
Saint Shamrock keeps control of McIlrath as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
McIlrath drops down looking for an ankle pick but Saint Shamrock pulls his leg out and moves away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Saint Shamrock clinches.
McIlrath goes for a takedown attempt but Saint Shamrock pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Saint Shamrock misses with a head kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lil Thumper Saint Shamrock dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Saint Shamrock has closed the distance and engaged McIlrath in a clinch.
Saint Shamrock tries a knee to the head but McIlrath blocks it.
Saint Shamrock utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Saint Shamrock with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Saint Shamrock missing with knees to the body.
A right handed body shot lands from McIlrath.
McIlrath has had enough of the clinch but Saint Shamrock keeps him there for the moment.
Saint Shamrock tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
McIlrath stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Saint Shamrock throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but McIlrath blocks it with crossed arms.

McIlrath decides to pull guard.
McIlrath tries to land a sweep but no joy.
McIlrath is controlling Saint Shamrock's posture.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Saint Shamrock stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. McIlrath swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Saint Shamrock with a flurry of punches that miss.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McIlrath is trying to keep Saint Shamrock in close.
Saint Shamrock looking to pass the guard.
Saint Shamrock throwing strikes from guard but McIlrath blocks nicely.
Saint Shamrock in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
McIlrath fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Saint Shamrock manages to avoid it.
McIlrath throws a body punch but Saint Shamrock moves out of range.
McIlrath takes a swing at Saint Shamrock's ribcage but misses.
McIlrath thows a body shot but no joy.
McIlrath throws a right hand that Saint Shamrock ducks under and follows up with a left that Saint Shamrock also avoids with ease.
Tim McIlrath is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
McIlrath dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
McIlrath sizes up Saint Shamrock with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
McIlrath listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
McIlrath misses with a body shot.
Saint Shamrock doesn't manage to clinch there - McIlrath circles away.
Saint Shamrock is looking to clinch.
Saint Shamrock tries a head kick but it misses.
Saint Shamrock tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but McIlrath paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Saint Shamrock takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Saint Shamrock tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Saint Shamrock throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
McIlrath fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Saint Shamrock manages to avoid it.
Saint Shamrock wants to clinch.
McIlrath throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Saint Shamrock stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
McIlrath takes a swing at Saint Shamrock's ribcage but misses.
McIlrath ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Saint Shamrock moves away.
Saint Shamrock throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
McIlrath misses with a series of wild punches.
McIlrath cracks a nice hook into Saint Shamrock's ribs.
The fight stays on the outside here - Saint Shamrock looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saint Shamrock throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
McIlrath comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Saint Shamrock tries to clinch but McIlrath is having none of it.
Saint Shamrock showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from McIlrath.
McIlrath misses with an uppercut.
McIlrath throws a series of punches but Saint Shamrock avoids them all with ease.
McIlrath misses with the combination.
McIlrath jabs at Saint Shamrock's body.
Saint Shamrock avoids the body shot from McIlrath.
Saint Shamrock tries to close the distance and clinch but McIlrath swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Saint Shamrock lands with a kick to the temple. McIlrath shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
McIlrath lands with a nice body punch.
McIlrath swings for the body but Saint Shamrock moves out of range.
Saint Shamrock tries to clinch but McIlrath moves out of range.
McIlrath swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Saint Shamrock tries a head kick but it misses.
McIlrath lands an overhand right.
Saint Shamrock tries a head kick but it misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McIlrath scores with a one two! Saint Shamrock had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
McIlrath misses with a wild combination.
Saint Shamrock misses with an uppercut. McIlrath saw that one coming.
McIlrath will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Saint Shamrock lands a nice leg kick that just misses McIlrath's sensitive parts.
Saint Shamrock moves into range and lands a nice body kick.

Saint Shamrock clinches.
Saint Shamrock throws a knee to the head but misses.
Saint Shamrock tries a knee to the head but McIlrath blocks it.
McIlrath is working for takedown but Saint Shamrock is calmly controlling the position for now.
McIlrath is trying to break the clinch but Saint Shamrock is controlling him.
Saint Shamrock throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but McIlrath blocks it with crossed arms.
McIlrath wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Saint Shamrock has him pressed against the cage.
Saint Shamrock using the Thai plumb to throw knees but McIlrath has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Saint Shamrock with an attempt at a knee that misses.
McIlrath can't get the takedown.
Saint Shamrock throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but McIlrath blocks it with crossed arms.
Saint Shamrock tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and McIlrath avoids it.
McIlrath is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
McIlrath has had enough of the clinch but Saint Shamrock keeps him there for the moment.
Saint Shamrock throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but McIlrath blocks it with crossed arms.
McIlrath drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Saint Shamrock gets the underhooks and prevents it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Tim McIlrath 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. This is the final round!

Saint Shamrock scores with a head kick.
Saint Shamrock connects with a high kick.
Saint Shamrock tries to clinch up but McIlrath circles away and keeps his distance.
McIlrath throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
McIlrath lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Saint Shamrock circles away quickly and effectively.
McIlrath closes the distance and lands a one-two.
McIlrath moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
McIlrath thows a body shot but no joy.
Saint Shamrock tries to clinch there but McIlrath circles away.
Saint Shamrock goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
McIlrath throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Saint Shamrock is looking to land body kicks.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A head kick misses from Saint Shamrock.

Saint Shamrock moves into the clinch successfully.
McIlrath is trying to break the clinch but Saint Shamrock has him pressed against the cage.
Saint Shamrock misses with a knee to the head.
Saint Shamrock misses with a knee to the head.

McIlrath breaks the clinch.
McIlrath dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McIlrath misses with a wild body shot.
McIlrath fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Saint Shamrock manages to avoid it.
McIlrath ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Saint Shamrock moves away.
McIlrath throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Saint Shamrock sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Saint Shamrock ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Saint Shamrock wants to clinch up but McIlrath keeps it at a distance.
Saint Shamrock avoids the body shot from McIlrath.
McIlrath takes a swing at Saint Shamrock's ribcage but misses.
McIlrath misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Saint Shamrock.
The fight stays on the outside here - Saint Shamrock looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Saint Shamrock uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by McIlrath.
Saint Shamrock throws a nice head kick!
Saint Shamrock pulls out of a head kick attempt.
McIlrath misses with a body shot.
McIlrath throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A head kick from Saint Shamrock lands but McIlrath takes it in his stride.
McIlrath misses with a wild body shot.
Saint Shamrock connects with a high kick.
McIlrath keeps the fight on the outside.
McIlrath blocks a head kick by Saint Shamrock.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McIlrath connects with a body shot.
Saint Shamrock fails with an attempt to clinch.
McIlrath's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and McIlrath duly obliges.
Saint Shamrock throws a nice inside leg kick.
Saint Shamrock blocks a jab.
Saint Shamrock lands with a slapping head kick.
Saint Shamrock lands with a slapping head kick.
McIlrath fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Saint Shamrock looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
McIlrath throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
McIlrath takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Saint Shamrock uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by McIlrath.
Saint Shamrock throws a sloppy head kick and McIlrath moves out of range easily.
McIlrath looks to score with a jab to the body but Saint Shamrock is just out of range.
Saint Shamrock tries to close the distance and clinch but McIlrath swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Nice body punch from McIlrath.
McIlrath swats away the attempt to clinch by Saint Shamrock.
McIlrath throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Saint Shamrock lands a head kick. McIlrath smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Saint Shamrock goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McIlrath rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Saint Shamrock moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Saint Shamrock tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Saint Shamrock shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Saint Shamrock, right into the meat.
McIlrath misses the shot to the body.
McIlrath misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Saint Shamrock.
Saint Shamrock tries to clinch but McIlrath moves out of range.
Saint Shamrock throws a nice outside leg kick.
Saint Shamrock lands a high kick!
McIlrath punishes Saint Shamrock's body with a nice straight punch.
McIlrath fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Saint Shamrock manages to avoid it.

Saint Shamrock darts in and clinches McIlrath up against the cage.

McIlrath's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Saint Shamrock tries to close the distance and clinch up but McIlrath swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Saint Shamrock lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
McIlrath is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Saint Shamrock avoids a punch combination nicely.
Saint Shamrock tries to clinch up.
Saint Shamrock lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
McIlrath lands with a right hand.
McIlrath just misses with a punch to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saint Shamrock lands with a kick to the temple. McIlrath shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
McIlrath throws a jab but it's blocked by Saint Shamrock.
Saint Shamrock tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
McIlrath closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Saint Shamrock lands a nice looking kick to the body. McIlrath takes a step back to recover.
McIlrath fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Saint Shamrock manages to avoid it.

Saint Shamrock closes the distance and clinches.
McIlrath is trying to break the clinch but Saint Shamrock is controlling him.
McIlrath has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Saint Shamrock is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Saint Shamrock keeps control of McIlrath as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
McIlrath tries to work over Saint Shamrock's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Saint Shamrock tries to land a knee to the head but McIlrath blocks with his arms.
Saint Shamrock tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
McIlrath tries to break the clinch but Saint Shamrock is controlling the position.
Saint Shamrock throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but McIlrath blocks it with crossed arms.
Saint Shamrock gets underhooks to prevent McIlrath's takedown attempt.
A frustrated look appears on McIlrath's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Saint Shamrock tries a knee to the head but McIlrath blocks it.
Saint Shamrock misses with a knee to the head.
Saint Shamrock missing with knees to the body.
McIlrath wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Saint Shamrock has him pressed against the cage.

McIlrath jumps into guard, dragging Saint Shamrock to the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lil Thumper Saint Shamrock comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Saint Shamrock 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 28:30
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 28:30
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lil Thumper Saint Shamrock!