PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Royston McDonald (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Also Zarathustra (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think McDonald might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Nicole - By Ash. Zarathustra has chosen Massive Attack feat. Mos Def - I Against I as his entrance music. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

McDonald
vs
Zarathustra

177 cm
21
184 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

185 cm
22
185 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

ADCC Champion
Good low kicks
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Royston McDonald!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Also Zarathustra!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Edson Gomes and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McDonald chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Zarathustra can pounce on him.
McDonald keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Zarathustra looks to land a left hand but McDonald moved out of range nicely.
Zarathustra blocks a low kick nicely.
Some wild striking there from Zarathustra.
A low kick from McDonald is predictable there
and Zarathustra makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
An inside leg kick from McDonald misses.
Zarathustra jabs McDonald to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Zarathustra throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
McDonald throws a leg kick
and Zarathustra counters with a nice uppercut.
McDonald is looking to slow Zarathustra down with leg kicks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zarathustra shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as McDonald sprawls well. McDonald wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Zarathustra gets slowly back to his feet.
Zarathustra lands with a right hand.
Zarathustra has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from McDonald.
McDonald checks the leg kick nicely there.
McDonald lands a nice looking kick to the body. Zarathustra takes a step back to recover.
Zarathustra blocks a head kick by McDonald.
Zarathustra takes a swing at McDonald's ribcage but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zarathustra throws an off balance right hand
and McDonald counters with a nice leg kick.
McDonald motions for Zarathustra to come forward. McDonald throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Zarathustra connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
McDonald connects with an inside leg kick.
A head kick misses from McDonald.
McDonald throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Zarathustra misses with a telegraphed body shot
and McDonald counters with a low kick, right behind Zarathustra 's knee.
Zarathustra tries for a takedown but McDonald sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Zarathustra throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and McDonald counters with an inside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zarathustra staying out of range there.
Zarathustra misses with a body punch
and McDonald counters with an outside leg kick.
Zarathustra throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
McDonald thumps Zarathustra with a low kick.
Zarathustra blocks a jab.
McDonald slips under a jab from Zarathustra.
McDonald lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
McDonald connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
McDonald tries to close the distance and clinch but Zarathustra swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McDonald tries to land a body kick
and Zarathustra counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Zarathustra throws an overhand right that lands on McDonald's shoulder, as McDonald tries to avoid the shot.
Zarathustra on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by McDonald. McDonald obviously looking to wear him down.
McDonald takes a shot right to the bread basket.
McDonald with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
McDonald moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Zarathustra punishes McDonald's body with a nice straight punch.
McDonald throws a hook to the side of Zarathustra's head but Zarathustra sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Zarathustra checks a leg kick.
Zarathustra checks a leg kick.
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 Royston McDonald will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Zarathustra ducks down and throws a hook to the body but McDonald moves away.
Zarathustra swinging wildly here.
McDonald shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
An inside leg kick from McDonald misses.
Zarathustra shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with McDonald but McDonald pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Zarathustra throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McDonald tries to clinch but Zarathustra is having none of it.
Zarathustra pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McDonald moves out of range as Zarathustra strikes.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Zarathustra.
McDonald connects with a solid leg kick.
Zarathustra blocks the body kick.
McDonald keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
McDonald throws a sloppy head kick and Zarathustra moves out of range easily.
Zarathustra swings for the body but McDonald moves out of range.
McDonald throws a body punch but Zarathustra moves out of range.
Zarathustra has his takedown stuffed
and Zarathustra takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

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.
McDonald looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Zarathustra loads up on a big right hand but McDonald slips the punch.
Royston McDonald is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Zarathustra misses with a few strikes there.
McDonald scores with a nice body kick.
Zarathustra throws a jab but it's blocked by McDonald.
McDonald with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Zarathustra to score with a decent uppercut.
Zarathustra misses with an uppercut
and McDonald counters with a low kick, right behind Zarathustra 's knee.
Zarathustra misses with a straight left.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zarathustra closes the distance and clinches up with McDonald, looking for a takedown. Zarathustra pushes McDonald against the cage but McDonald circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Royston McDonald has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Also Zarathustra.
McDonald misses with a body kick.
McDonald tries to land a front kick but Zarathustra steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
McDonald works the jab nicely.
McDonald throws the kick towards the body but Zarathustra avoids it.
Zarathustra misses with a takedown attempt - McDonald sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
McDonald lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Zarathustra throws a body kick that misses.
Zarathustra moves out of range of the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
McDonald fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Zarathustra checks it well.
Zarathustra throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Zarathustra takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Zarathustra ducks down and throws a hook to the body but McDonald moves away.
A cross from McDonald lands.
McDonald turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
McDonald lands with a straight right. Zarathustra didn't see that one coming.
McDonald fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Zarathustra checks it well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zarathustra checks a leg kick.
McDonald misses with a kick to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Royston McDonald dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

McDonald scores with a nice body kick.
Royston McDonald is winning the standup battle so far.
Zarathustra bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
McDonald connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
McDonald takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
McDonald darts in and out, connecting with a jab.

McDonald has closed the distance and engaged Zarathustra in a clinch.
Zarathustra manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Zarathustra blocks an uppercut.
McDonald makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
A head punch on the inside from McDonald fails to land.
McDonald tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Zarathustra's elbow.
Zarathustra is trying to stall.
McDonald working aggressively here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McDonald misses with a hook to the ribs.
McDonald doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
McDonald has had enough of the clinch but Zarathustra keeps him there for the moment.
McDonald tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

McDonald escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Zarathustra lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
McDonald fails with an attempt to clinch.
Zarathustra throws a hook but McDonald blocks it.
Zarathustra misses with a wild combination.
McDonald fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Zarathustra is out of range.
McDonald throws a leg kick but Zarathustra moved away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
McDonald blocks a jab.
A solid leg kick lands there for McDonald.
McDonald uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Zarathustra.
A looping hook to the body misses from Zarathustra. McDonald does a little dance to reset his feet.
Zarathustra avoids the head kick by McDonald.
Zarathustra throws a right and a left that both miss.
Zarathustra's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Zarathustra stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
A jab from Zarathustra misses.
Zarathustra shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zarathustra with a poor takedown
and McDonald counters with a nice leg kick.
McDonald thows a body shot but no joy.
Zarathustra fakes high and swings low for a body shot but McDonald manages to avoid it.
Zarathustra throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Zarathustra checks a leg kick.
McDonald feints and then cracks Zarathustra's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Zarathustra down.
McDonald connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Royston McDonald is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
McDonald scores with a crisp jab that stopped Zarathustra in his tracks.
Also Zarathustra has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zarathustra waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract McDonald.
McDonald throws a head kick that misses.
Zarathustra looks to score with a jab to the body but McDonald is just out of range.
McDonald misses with a body kick.
Zarathustra scores with a jab. McDonald acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
A nice leg kick lands there from McDonald.
McDonald throws a hook to the side of Zarathustra's head but Zarathustra sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
McDonald looks to throw the jab but Zarathustra is out of range.
Zarathustra thuds his shin into the meat of McDonald's side.

And that's the end of the fight!
Royston McDonald showed his dominance in that final round.
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 Seu Braga scores the fight 30:27
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 30:27
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Royston McDonald!