PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between alexious Rufo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and David McDonnell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). David McDonnell will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Rufo
vs
McDonnell

170 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

181 cm
19
164 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, alexious Rufo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, David McDonnell!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Frank Dennis and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rufo pulls out of a head kick attempt.

McDonnell gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Rufo missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
McDonnell looking for a sweep. Not yet McDonnell, not yet.

McDonnell is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Rufo tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. McDonnell just stands there and leans against the cage.
McDonnell lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
McDonnell with a knee to the head.
Rufo takes a knee right on the jaw!
Rufo is breathing heavily.
McDonnell connects with a nasty looking knee right to Rufo's face.
McDonnell lands a good knee to the midsection. Rufo won't want to take too many of those.
McDonnell lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
McDonnell is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
McDonnell wants a takedown.
McDonnell unloads a knee to the mid-section.
McDonnell can't get the takedown.
McDonnell is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
McDonnell lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
McDonnell gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
McDonnell with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Rufo gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from McDonnell.
alexious Rufo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of David McDonnell.
Rufo is trying to break the clinch but McDonnell has him pressed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McDonnell stops a takedown attempt from Rufo.
McDonnell has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Rufo is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
McDonnell landing some nice looking knees to the body.
McDonnell goes for a takedown attempt but Rufo pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Rufo throws a one two combo.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Rufo is defended easily by McDonnell.
A nice leg kick lands there from McDonnell.
Rufo circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rufo fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
McDonnell dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Rufo. That did some damage!

McDonnell has closed the distance and engaged Rufo in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McDonnell throws a knee to the head but misses.
McDonnell prevents a takedown attempt there.
McDonnell is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Rufo gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
McDonnell looking to throw knees to the head but Rufo is blocking nicely.
Knees to the body from McDonnell.
McDonnell looking to throw knees to the head but Rufo is blocking nicely.
Rufo lands a knee to the head.
McDonnell lands an elbow that stopped Rufo in his tracks for a moment.
McDonnell is pressed up against the cage. Rufo has hold of a leg and is looking to drag McDonnell down to the mat. McDonnell avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
McDonnell tries to clinch but Rufo moves out of range.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Rufo.
Rufo cracks McDonnell with an elbow. That is naaassty.
McDonnell pushes Rufo away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Rufo gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McDonnell is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Check out the look on Rufo's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
McDonnell is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Rufo sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. McDonnell defending well though.
Rufo is thwarting McDonnell's attempts to control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
McDonnell bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Rufo's head backwards.
Rufo is looking to clinch.
McDonnell wants to clinch
and Rufo counters with a one-two to the body.
McDonnell tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rufo paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
McDonnell shoots in but Rufo avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Rufo keeps the fight on the outside.
McDonnell dodges the punch combination from Rufo.
McDonnell tries to clinch up but Rufo circles away and keeps his distance.
David McDonnell seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McDonnell wants to clinch but Rufo slips to the side

and Rufo counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
McDonnell wants to get back to full guard.
Rufo moves into full mount! McDonnell won't be happy about that!
McDonnell really wants to buck Rufo off and get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rufo breaks from McDonnell's wrist control and lands an elbow.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rufo unloads with some shots from mount but McDonnell bucks and avoids them well.
McDonnell squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Rufo trying to control but McDonnell is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

alexious Rufo dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Rufo moves in looking to clinch but McDonnell pushes him off.
McDonnell darts in trying to clinch

and Rufo counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
McDonnell crunches a lovely knee into Rufo's ribcage.

McDonnell breaks from the clinch.
McDonnell tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rufo swats him away and circles back towards the center.

McDonnell takes the fight into the clinch.
McDonnell with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Knees in the clinch landing for Rufo.
McDonnell using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Rufo has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
McDonnell gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Rufo.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
McDonnell with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
McDonnell lands a knee to the head.
Rufo is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. McDonnell is defending well for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rufo pulls McDonnell into guard.
McDonnell throwing strikes but missing.
McDonnell would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Rufo has McDonnell pulled in close to control his posture.
Rufo tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Rufo working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from McDonnell.
McDonnell loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Rufo looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
McDonnell misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Rufo misses with a two punch combination.
Rufo circles away from the clinch attempt.
McDonnell walks into a straight right hand from Rufo.
McDonnell tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rufo paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from McDonnell is defended easily by Rufo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McDonnell shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Rufo but Rufo pushes him off and we're back to square one.
alexious Rufo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of David McDonnell.
Rufo shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts McDonnell as he jumps to the side.
Rufo shoots in but McDonnell avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Rufo circles away from the clinch attempt.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Rufo.
McDonnell wants to clinch.

McDonnell shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Rufo napping and manages to drive through into side control!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McDonnell creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Rufo sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
McDonnell tries to score with some ground and pound. Rufo controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

McDonnell working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

McDonnell goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Rufo has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for McDonnell but great work by Rufo.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
McDonnell parries the strikes from Rufo easily there. Rufo is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable McDonnell to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

David McDonnell showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

McDonnell has taken the fight to the clinch.
McDonnell tries to score a body lock takedown but Rufo shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
McDonnell unloads a knee to the mid-section.
McDonnell fails to pull the fight into his guard.
McDonnell wants a takedown but no success here.
alexious Rufo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of David McDonnell.
Rufo gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from McDonnell.

Rufo breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rufo misses with the combination.
McDonnell tries to clinch

and Rufo counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in McDonnell's guard now.
Rufo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. McDonnell swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Rufo is working hard here to advance position.
Rufo with a flurry of punches that miss.
McDonnell manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
McDonnell trying to control but Rufo is having none of it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rufo is desperately trying to improve his position but McDonnell has a good base and remains in mount.
Rufo is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
McDonnell scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Rufo?
Rufo wants to hold on but McDonnell pushes him away.

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.

McDonnell is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Rufo to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Rufo shrugs it off.
McDonnell thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Rufo wants to hold on but McDonnell pushes him away.
Rufo reaches up to try and control the position but McDonnell seems to have an arm triangle now! Uh oh! Rufo rolls and tries to escape and now McDonnell has his back!
Rufo might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
McDonnell is trying to stick to Rufo's back but Rufo is turning into McDonnell. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in McDonnell's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Rufo.

McDonnell is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Rufo is aware though and is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rufo passes McDonnell's left leg - he's now in half guard.

McDonnell actively working from the bottom here.
McDonnell taking some punishment here, with Rufo in his half guard.
Rufo thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Rufo takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Rufo working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on McDonnell's thigh. McDonnell counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Rufo throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
McDonnell trying to keep a closed guard but Rufo is proving a slippery customer.
McDonnell wants to stand but Rufo is controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
McDonnell closes the distance looking to clinch

and Rufo counters by moving into the clinch.

Rufo has dropped down and is working for a takedown. McDonnell is trying to keep an underhook but Rufo manages to get the takedown into half guard.
McDonnell misses with some strikes from the bottom.
McDonnell slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Rufo's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Rufo pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. McDonnell is keeping the position for now.
McDonnell pulls Rufo in to control the position.
Rufo has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
McDonnell trying to strike off his back.

McDonnell has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Rufo can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Rufo stands up from McDonnell's guard - Rufo perhaps looking for a knockout.

And that's the end of the fight!
alexious Rufo showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Rufo has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... alexious Rufo!