PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Chris McDonald (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Phil Clayborne (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.

McDonald
vs
Clayborne

191 cm
22
159 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

189 cm
22
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Likes ground

Lightning Fight Gear

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Chris McDonald!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Phil Clayborne!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Sam Margolis and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

McDonald instigates a clinch.
McDonald tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Clayborne just stands there and leans against the cage.

Clayborne manages to break the clinch.

Clayborne closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Clayborne moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Clayborne postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
McDonald is trying to improve his position.
McDonald is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Clayborne thows a huge punch but McDonald dodges it nicely.
McDonald wants to control but Clayborne is keeping busy.
Clayborne looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Clayborne wants to work for an arm triangle but McDonald is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Clayborne throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Clayborne misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Clayborne connects with a single shot there.
Clayborne shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
McDonald shoots in and drives through. Clayborne sprawls well.
McDonald really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

McDonald instigates a clinch.

McDonald jumps guard.
McDonald being controlled here, momentarily.
Clayborne trying to control the position from guard on top but McDonald is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McDonald looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
McDonald is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Clayborne is controlling him.
Clayborne working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Clayborne looking to sit in guard and control but McDonald gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
McDonald with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clayborne looking for a sweep. Not yet Clayborne, not yet.
McDonald wanted to stand there but Clayborne had control of the position.
McDonald is breathing heavily.
Clayborne wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
McDonald loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
McDonald tries to close the distance and clinch but Clayborne swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

McDonald fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Clayborne sprawls well initially but McDonald persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Clayborne pushes McDonald off and gets back to his feet.
McDonald stuffs the takedown attempt from Clayborne. Clayborne gets slowly back to his feet.
Chris McDonald has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Phil Clayborne.
Clayborne swats away the attempt to clinch by McDonald.

McDonald shoots in and bounces Clayborne off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Clayborne looking for a sweep. Not yet Clayborne, not yet.
Clayborne keeping moving, preventing McDonald from controlling successfully.
McDonald prevents Clayborne from getting back to his feet.

McDonald stands up and waves to Clayborne to follow him.
McDonald lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
McDonald fails with an attempt to clinch.
McDonald tries to clinch up but Clayborne circles away and keeps his distance.
McDonald fails with an attempt to clinch.
McDonald has his takedown stuffed

and Clayborne counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for McDonald!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Chris McDonald will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

McDonald gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

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

Clayborne manages to pull guard.
McDonald wanted to stand there but Clayborne had control of the position.
Clayborne trying to control the position.
Clayborne will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Clayborne is trying to keep McDonald in close.
Clayborne tries to land a sweep but no joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McDonald content to stall in guard here.
Clayborne not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clayborne is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Clayborne has his takedown stuffed

and McDonald counters with a single leg into guard. Clayborne didn't expect that.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Clayborne working a defensive guard here.
McDonald sitting in guard here, content to control.
McDonald trying to control the position from guard on top but Clayborne is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
McDonald postures up.
Clayborne 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.
Clayborne looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McDonald pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Clayborne is keeping the position for now.

Clayborne pushes McDonald off and gets back to his feet.
McDonald misses with a kick to the body.
A head kick misses from Clayborne.

Clayborne gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
McDonald is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Clayborne manages to break the clinch.

Clayborne closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Clayborne is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but McDonald is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Phil Clayborne has got the better of the ground game so far.
McDonald sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McDonald trying to get back to full guard but Clayborne takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
McDonald tries to hold on but Clayborne pushes him away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
McDonald tries to reverse the position but Clayborne maintains control.

Clayborne stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Clayborne has his takedown stuffed

and McDonald moves into the clinch.
McDonald gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Clayborne.
Chris McDonald has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Phil Clayborne.
Clayborne has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. McDonald is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Clayborne jumps guard but McDonald stands there with Clayborne around his waist. Clayborne gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

McDonald manages to break the clinch.
McDonald fails with an attempt to clinch.
Clayborne with a poor takedown

and McDonald counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by McDonald.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McDonald slips nicely into half guard.
McDonald trying to control the pace.
McDonald moves into full mount! Clayborne won't be happy about that!
McDonald sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Clayborne wants to hold on but McDonald pushes him away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Clayborne is in all sorts of trouble here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris McDonald dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, 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.

McDonald bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Clayborne is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Clayborne is refusing to be controlled, as McDonald sits in half guard.
Clayborne is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of McDonald's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take McDonald's back!
Clayborne controls the action.
McDonald has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Clayborne.
Clayborne just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
Clayborne's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
McDonald is trying to break free.
Clayborne controls the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clayborne tries to get the hooks in deep but McDonald pushed the leg off.
McDonald wants to escape the position.
McDonald just trying to survive but Clayborne is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
McDonald wants to escape the position.
McDonald wants to get back to his feet.
McDonald is in bad spot here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Clayborne connects with a big shot to the side of McDonald's head.
Clayborne keeps control of the position as McDonald tries to break free.
McDonald trying to control but not successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Clayborne tries to keep control of the position but McDonald is staying busy.

McDonald preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Clayborne.
McDonald tries to roll but Clayborne sticks to his back.
Clayborne misses with an elbow to the head.
Clayborne loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can McDonald hold on?
McDonald covering up well under a barage of strikes.

McDonald preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Clayborne.
McDonald looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McDonald staying busy and making it hard for Clayborne to control.
McDonald wants to get back to his feet.
Clayborne trying to control momentarily.
Clayborne avoiding McDonald 's attempts to control his hands.
McDonald staying busy and making it hard for Clayborne to control.

Clayborne is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Clayborne is trying to stick to McDonald's back but McDonald is turning into Clayborne. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Clayborne's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by McDonald.

That's four 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.
Clayborne keeping moving, preventing McDonald from controlling successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Clayborne looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
McDonald is trying to control the position but Clayborne postures up.

Clayborne 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.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now McDonald is on top in guard.
Clayborne looking to hit a scissor sweep but McDonald is one step ahead there.
Clayborne has McDonald pulled in close to control his posture.

And that's the end of the fight!
Phil Clayborne comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well McDonald 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 James Atkins scores the fight for Chris McDonald!
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight for Chris McDonald!
Judge James Glass scores the fight for Chris McDonald!

Chris McDonald wins by unanimous decision!