PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Maurice Brennan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jerome McCool (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Maurice Brennan could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Jerome McCool's chin.

Brennan
vs
McCool

190 cm
23
186 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

182 cm
26
185 lbs
7 - 7 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Maurice Brennan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jerome McCool!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Reed Andrews and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

McCool shoots in and bounces Brennan off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
McCool would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Brennan is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. McCool is aware though and is defending well.

Brennan is working an open guard so McCool takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Brennan gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and McCool counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by McCool.
McCool trying to control but Brennan is working from the bottom.

McCool is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Brennan keeping moving, preventing McCool from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Brennan is on top in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

McCool has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Brennan off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Brennan shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says McCool as he avoids it easily.

McCool shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Brennan manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Brennan wants to sweep here but McCool controlling him for the moment.
Brennan bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in McCool's guard.

Brennan drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Brennan jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
McCool bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Brennan's guard.

McCool gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

McCool looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Brennan!
Brennan is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Brennan keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
McCool breaks from Brennan's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
McCool lands a heavy elbow.

McCool wants to finish this one by submission but Brennan is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from McCool.
Brennan is trying to escape the mount.
McCool with good strikes from the mount here!
Brennan working to try and regain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brennan takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Brennan slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Brennan slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
McCool stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Brennan swivels though and keeps the full guard.
McCool with a nice head shot there.
Brennan looking for a sweep. Not yet Brennan, not yet.
McCool chips away with some ground and pound.
Brennan wants to sweep but no luck.
McCool tries to free his leg and advance position but Brennan is retaining full guard.
McCool forces his way into half guard.

McCool decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Jerome McCool seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCool misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
McCool fails with the takedown

and Brennan counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Brennan.
Brennan won't allow McCool to get back to his feet.

Brennan drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Brennan jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

McCool looking for a guillotine here but Brennan defends easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
McCool throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jerome McCool dominated that round.
That's time! Brennan's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

McCool shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Brennan counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
McCool wants to sweep here but Brennan controlling him for the moment.

Brennan thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Brennan avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
McCool looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Brennan postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! McCool is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Brennan, into his guard.
McCool must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

McCool stands up from Brennan's guard - McCool perhaps looking for a knockout.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brennan shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says McCool as he avoids it easily.
Brennan fails with a takedown attempt.
McCool shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
McCool tries for a takedown but Brennan circles away easily

and Brennan counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in McCool's guard now.
Maurice Brennan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jerome McCool.

Brennan drops back, looking for a kneebar! McCool looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. McCool looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from McCool!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McCool in side control lands a decent elbow.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

McCool is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Brennan is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Brennan tries to improve position but can't.
McCool is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Brennan will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Brennan is looking to regain half guard here but McCool keeps moving and retains side control.
McCool working the ground and pound.
Brennan is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on McCool's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCool trying to control from half guard but Brennan is working away.
Brennan works his way to full guard. Good work.
Brennan is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Brennan is sneakily working for an arm triangle but McCool sees it coming and defends easily.
McCool gets back to full guard.

Brennan drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and McCool dives on top into guard.
McCool stands and throws Brennan's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Brennan is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCool wants to lay and pray for a moment but Brennan keeps working.
Brennan is trying to improve his position.
McCool has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Brennan!
McCool raining down shots from the mount!

McCool jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Brennan manages to avoid the submission attempt.
McCool lands a decent elbow from side control.
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 Maurice Brennan will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

McCool looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Brennan doesn't succeed with the takedown

and McCool counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
McCool wants to pass the guard but Brennan is keeping the position.
Brennan preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Brennan is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. McCool is aware though and is defending well.

McCool drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and McCool jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Brennan working for submissions but it's allowed McCool to get to half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
McCool is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brennan tries to roll over but McCool keeps him under control.

McCool is trying to work for a kimura but Brennan is defending well.
McCool is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Brennan is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of McCool's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take McCool's back!

Brennan is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. McCool knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften McCool for a finish.

McCool is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
McCool tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Brennan goes for an armbar but he's not got it… McCool turns into him and now he's in Brennan's guard.
McCool makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
McCool controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Brennan is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
McCool pushes down on Brennan's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Brennan is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

McCool has hold of the far side arm. He's working for the Kimura, can Brennan defend it? McCool steps over the head and cranks it - Brennan is tapping out! That was textbook stuff right there - nice submission victory for McCool!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:05 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Jerome McCool!