PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Seanin Mac Giolla Iondain (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tom Engine (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Engine has chosen Thomas the tank engine as his entrance music. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Mac Giolla Iondain
vs
Engine

185 cm
18
190 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

175 cm
20
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Inexperienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Seanin Mac Giolla Iondain!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Tom Engine!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Daniel Bishop and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Engine throws a right and a left that Mac Giolla Iondain avoids nicely.

Engine scores with a takedown into Mac Giolla Iondain's guard.
Engine would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Engine throws a strike but Mac Giolla Iondain rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Engine scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Engine rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Mac Giolla Iondain moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Mac Giolla Iondain slips a jab and a cross from Engine.
Engine goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Mac Giolla Iondain closes the distance and clinches up with Engine, looking for a takedown. Mac Giolla Iondain pushes Engine against the cage but Engine circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Engine closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Mac Giolla Iondain did well to prevent Engine getting side control.
Engine has decided to stand back up but his arm is trapped. Whilst he's worrying about his arm, Mac Giolla Iondain works to full guard.

Mac Giolla Iondain looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Engine wanted to stand there but Mac Giolla Iondain had control of the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Engine wants to pass the guard but Mac Giolla Iondain is keeping the position.

Mac Giolla Iondain throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Engine throws and elbow that misses. Mac Giolla Iondain uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Engine's guard. Nice move by Mac Giolla Iondain!

Engine is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

Mac Giolla Iondain manages to pull guard.
Mac Giolla Iondain is controlling Engine's posture.
Mac Giolla Iondain is trying to control the position but Engine postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mac Giolla Iondain wants to sweep here but Engine controlling him for the moment.

Engine decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Mac Giolla Iondain moves into range and clinches up with Engine.
Engine tries to land a knee to the head but Mac Giolla Iondain blocks with his arms.
Mac Giolla Iondain prevents Engine from breaking the clinch.

Engine pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Engine shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Engine looks gassed!
Engine with the ground and pound from mount.
Engine throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Mac Giolla Iondain is trying desperately to improve position.
Engine is landing with some decent strikes but Mac Giolla Iondain is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Engine landing strikes from the mount and Mac Giolla Iondain is in trouble!
Engine has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Engine working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Engine throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mac Giolla Iondain is looking to improve his position but Engine isn't that keen on the idea.
Mac Giolla Iondain wants to hold on but Engine pushes him away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Engine lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Engine unloading with bombs!
Engine postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Mac Giolla Iondain looks a forlorn figure.
Engine sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Mac Giolla Iondain tries to lock up and control but Engine gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Mac Giolla Iondain really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

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.
Engine lands with some strikes.

Engine has hold of Mac Giolla Iondain's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Mac Giolla Iondain manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Mac Giolla Iondain is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Engine landing strikes from the mount and Mac Giolla Iondain is in trouble!
Engine punishing his opponent with strikes.
Engine lands a heavy elbow.
Mac Giolla Iondain avoids a series of strikes thrown by Engine.
Engine throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Engine dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

A combination from Engine does no damage.
Engine stuffs the takedown attempt from Mac Giolla Iondain. Mac Giolla Iondain gets slowly back to his feet.

Engine shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Engine is looking to stall here but Mac Giolla Iondain recovers full guard.
Mac Giolla Iondain is pulling down on Engine's head to control his posture.
Engine won't allow Mac Giolla Iondain to get back to his feet.
Mac Giolla Iondain looking to hit a scissor sweep but Engine is one step ahead there.

Engine gets to his feet. Mac Giolla Iondain looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jab by Engine.

Engine scores with a takedown into Mac Giolla Iondain's guard.
Engine working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Mac Giolla Iondain's head.
Mac Giolla Iondain looking to control.
Engine content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Engine content to stall in guard here.
Mac Giolla Iondain wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Engine decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Seanin Mac Giolla Iondain is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mac Giolla Iondain misses with a body kick.
Tom Engine seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A combination from Engine does no damage.
Engine throws a right and a left that Mac Giolla Iondain avoids nicely.
Engine wants to clinch but Mac Giolla Iondain slips to the side

and Mac Giolla Iondain counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Engine not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Mac Giolla Iondain trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Engine working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Mac Giolla Iondain doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Mac Giolla Iondain manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Engine wants to stand and escape but Mac Giolla Iondain is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mac Giolla Iondain trying to control but Engine is working from the bottom.
Engine looking to control.

Engine pushes Mac Giolla Iondain off and scrambles back to his feet.
Engine takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
A nice inside leg kick there by Engine. That's going to slow Mac Giolla Iondain down.

Mac Giolla Iondain gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Mac Giolla Iondain looking for a sweep. Not yet Mac Giolla Iondain, not yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Engine stops Mac Giolla Iondain from standing up.
Engine scoring with punches to the head and body.
Engine is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Engine throws a big right hand that misses.
Mac Giolla Iondain looking to hit a scissor sweep but Engine is one step ahead there.
Mac Giolla Iondain working a defensive guard here.
Engine with a flurry of punches that miss.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Engine swinging wilding here.

Mac Giolla Iondain drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Engine showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Engine gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Mac Giolla Iondain tries to break the clinch but Engine is controlling the position.
Mac Giolla Iondain tries for a takedown. No joy.

Engine manages to break the clinch.
Mac Giolla Iondain lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Engine circles away quickly and effectively.
Mac Giolla Iondain slips a jab and a cross from Engine.

Engine bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Engine looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Mac Giolla Iondain is avoiding damage well.

Engine swings around for an armbar but Mac Giolla Iondain sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Engine's guard.
Engine is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Mac Giolla Iondain is controlling him.

Mac Giolla Iondain gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mac Giolla Iondain avoids a punch combination nicely.
Engine avoids a low kick by using good footwork.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Engine scores with a kick to the body.
Engine bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Mac Giolla Iondain's head.
Mac Giolla Iondain dodges the punch combination from Engine.
Engine misses with a combination

and Mac Giolla Iondain counters with a shoot takedown. Engine fights it but they end up in guard.
Mac Giolla Iondain has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Engine is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Mac Giolla Iondain is controlling him.
Engine is looking to stand back up but Mac Giolla Iondain counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Engine.
Engine looks like he's trying to stand up.

Engine kicks Mac Giolla Iondain off and gets back to his feet.
Mac Giolla Iondain fails with the takedown

and Engine counters with a nice double leg into side control. Mac Giolla Iondain won't be happy with that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mac Giolla Iondain tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Engine in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Engine wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mac Giolla Iondain keeps working.
Engine might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Mac Giolla Iondain kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
A bit of a lull in the action here.
Mac Giolla Iondain takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Mac Giolla Iondain is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
A punch combination from Mac Giolla Iondain misses.
Mac Giolla Iondain shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Engine chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Mac Giolla Iondain fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Engine manages to avoid it.
Engine moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

Engine shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Mac Giolla Iondain's guard.

Engine gets to his feet - Mac Giolla Iondain follows without any prompting.
Engine clinches but Mac Giolla Iondain breaks the clinch
and Mac Giolla Iondain counters with a big head kick but Engine shrugs it off.

Engine forces Mac Giolla Iondain back against the cage and clinches.
Engine is looking to break free of the clinch but Mac Giolla Iondain has double underhooks.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Mac Giolla Iondain.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Engine jumps guard and drags Mac Giolla Iondain to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Mac Giolla Iondain won't allow Engine to get back to his feet.
Engine is looking to sweep but instead, Mac Giolla Iondain has passed into half guard.

Mac Giolla Iondain seems to be looking for submissions.
Mac Giolla Iondain prevents Engine from standing back up.
Mac Giolla Iondain with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Engine won't allow Mac Giolla Iondain to pass to mount.
Seanin Mac Giolla Iondain has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tom Engine is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Engine is looking to escape.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tom Engine comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Engine has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Andrew Berry scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Glass scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tom Engine!