PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ken Thunder (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brett McDonald (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Thunder
vs
McDonald

188 cm
20
252 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

213 cm
19
240 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ken Thunder!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Brett McDonald!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Summer Carpenter and Steve Erwin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McDonald fails with an attempt to clinch.
McDonald throws a right and a left that Thunder avoids nicely.
McDonald tries to close the distance and clinch but Thunder swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Thunder closes the distance looking to clinch
and McDonald counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from McDonald.

McDonald scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Thunder might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

McDonald is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Thunder is just riding it out for now. McDonald eventually gives up the hold.
Thunder is looking for a sweep. McDonald is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Thunder avoiding damage under a succession of punches from McDonald.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thunder is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
McDonald has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Thunder is working hard here to advance position.
McDonald sitting and controlling from the half guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
McDonald lands a head kick!
Thunder misses with a takedown attempt - McDonald sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thunder scores with a three punch combo!

It looks like Brett McDonald has been cut.
McDonald misses with a takedown attempt

and Thunder counters with a shoot takedown. McDonald fights it but they end up in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
McDonald will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
McDonald wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Thunder is now in half guard.
McDonald makes his way to full guard. A much better position for McDonald.
McDonald not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
McDonald wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thunder wants to control from the top but McDonald keeps moving.

McDonald is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
McDonald keeping moving, preventing Thunder from controlling successfully.

McDonald has his feet on Thunder's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
McDonald is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Thunder buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
McDonald looks gassed!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McDonald shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Thunder but Thunder pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Thunder thumps McDonald with a low kick.

Thunder decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Thunder slows the pace down in half guard.
McDonald tries to get to full guard but Thunder has control of the leg.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thunder is keen to just control but McDonald is a slippery customer.
McDonald wants to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ken Thunder dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Brett McDonald's cut.
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.

McDonald fails with the takedown

so Thunder counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Thunder stays in close to McDonald's body and controls the position.

McDonald had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Thunder defends it easily.
Thunder keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of McDonald's head.
Thunder trying to control the position from guard on top but McDonald is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
McDonald controls Thunder momentarily but Thunder frees himself.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thunder loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
McDonald keeping moving, preventing Thunder from controlling successfully.

McDonald looking for a guillotine here but Thunder defends easily.
Thunder wants to pass the guard but McDonald is keeping the position.
Thunder stopping the sweep attempt from McDonald.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Thunder shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and McDonald counters with a shoot takedown. Thunder fights it but they end up in guard.
McDonald trying to control but Thunder is working from the bottom.

McDonald gets to his feet. Thunder looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
McDonald scores with a leg kick.
McDonald fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Thunder manages to avoid it.
McDonald fails with the takedown

and Thunder counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Thunder.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thunder manages to break the clinch.
Thunder doesn't manage to clinch there - McDonald circles away.
McDonald doesn't manage to clinch there - Thunder circles away.

McDonald closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - McDonald lands in his opponent's guard.

McDonald decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Thunder, up you get!
Thunder misses with a takedown attempt

and McDonald decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Thunder's guard.
McDonald is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Thunder throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thunder keeping moving, preventing McDonald from controlling successfully.
Brett McDonald has got the better of the ground game so far.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
McDonald's corner is telling him to maintain position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brett McDonald showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Brett McDonald's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Thunder slips a jab from McDonald.
McDonald fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
McDonald will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Thunder slaps away a takedown attempt from McDonald, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Ken Thunder is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
McDonald changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Thunder tries to avoid it but McDonald manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Thunder to the ground. Thunder escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Ken Thunder has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brett McDonald.
Thunder fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McDonald on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Thunder lands with a thumping leg kick.

McDonald gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Thunder to score an easy takedown into full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

McDonald working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Thunder doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Thunder manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
McDonald manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Thunder manages to get himself to full guard.
Thunder is pulling down on McDonald's head to control his posture.
Thunder tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Thunder keeping full guard, as McDonald tries to pass.
McDonald slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Thunder is trying to keep McDonald in close.

McDonald stands up from guard. Let's bang!
McDonald swings away with a body shot that misses

and Thunder counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
McDonald is doing well to control the position and prevent Thunder from advancing to side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thunder seems to be looking for submissions.

Thunder is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so McDonald is just riding it out for now. Thunder eventually gives up the hold.
Thunder is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.

That's four 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.
McDonald wants to improve his position but Thunder is controlling well.
Thunder thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed McDonald's head.
McDonald tries to get to full guard but Thunder has control of the leg.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if McDonald can do anything to dispel that myth.

McDonald looking for submissions off his back.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Thunder is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in McDonald's half guard.
Thunder is thwarting McDonald's attempts to control the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ken Thunder showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Thunder has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Hugh Johnson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ken Thunder!