PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Brad Cunningham (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aodhan o hAodha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cunningham comes to the cage accompanied by Disturbed - Conflict . o hAodha has chosen Cursum Perficio by Enya as his entrance music. Brad Cunningham could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Aodhan o hAodha's chin.

Cunningham
vs
o hAodha

187 cm
22
197 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

182 cm
27
200 lbs
6 - 9 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

Powerful takedowns
Good kicks
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 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Brad Cunningham!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, Aodhan o hAodha!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, Lou da Vinci and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cunningham tries to clinch up
and o hAodha connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Cunningham fails in his attempt to clinch.
Cunningham throws a head kick that half lands.

It looks like Aodhan o hAodha has been cut.
o hAodha with a poor takedown
and Cunningham counters with a body kick that stops o hAodha in his tracks momentarily.
Cunningham falls off balance throwing a combination

and o hAodha counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Cunningham!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Poor strikes thrown by o hAodha there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Cunningham avoids a series of strikes thrown by o hAodha.
Cunningham looks out of his depth in this position - he's holding on tight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
o hAodha throwing strikes here but Cunningham is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Cunningham can't escape the position.
o hAodha scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Cunningham?
o hAodha thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
o hAodha thowing shots but they're missing.
o hAodha looking to ground and pound but Cunningham is blocking nicely.
Cunningham is trying to escape the mount.

o hAodha is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Cunningham has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Cunningham!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cunningham tries to stand but o hAodha is controlling from the bottom.
Cunningham working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Cunningham wants to control from the top but o hAodha keeps moving.

o hAodha is looking for a triangle but Cunningham pushes his legs off easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cunningham wants to stand but o hAodha is controlling his posture from full guard.
o hAodha wants to sweep here but Cunningham controlling him for the moment.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
o hAodha is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
o hAodha thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Cunningham avoiding damage under a succession of punches from o hAodha.
o hAodha working the head and body with strikes.
o hAodha looks to land a strike but Cunningham avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Cunningham controls o hAodha momentarily but o hAodha frees himself.
o hAodha is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as o hAodha accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
o hAodha throws a big right hand that misses.
o hAodha missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
o hAodha working some strikes from top position.

Cunningham looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Cunningham is breathing heavily.
Cunningham looking to control.
o hAodha chips away with some ground and pound.
o hAodha in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
o hAodha with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cunningham trying to keep a closed guard but o hAodha is proving a slippery customer.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells o hAodha's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aodhan o hAodha dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Aodhan o hAodha'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.

o hAodha misses with a head kick.

o hAodha takes the fight into the clinch.
Cunningham with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Cunningham lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Cunningham keeps control of o hAodha as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
A head punch on the inside from Cunningham fails to land.
o hAodha scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Cunningham as o hAodha tries to tie him up.
Cunningham prevents a body shot from o hAodha.
o hAodha has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Cunningham is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cunningham landing knees to the head.
o hAodha misses with a punch to the body.
Cunningham is pressed up against the cage. o hAodha has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Cunningham down to the mat. Cunningham avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
o hAodha is breathing heavily.
o hAodha keeps the fight on the outside.
Cunningham doesn't manage to clinch there - o hAodha circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cunningham misses with a double jab
and o hAodha counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Cunningham thinking.
Cunningham tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and o hAodha counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by o hAodha.
Cunningham lands a good knee to the midsection. o hAodha won't want to take too many of those.
Cunningham is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. o hAodha is defending well for now.
Cunningham managing to block the knees to the body from o hAodha.
o hAodha drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Brad Cunningham has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aodhan o hAodha.
Cunningham misses with a knee strike.
Cunningham throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but o hAodha blocks it with crossed arms.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
o hAodha tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Cunningham avoids it.
A short body shot lands from o hAodha as the two fighters clinch.
o hAodha lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Cunningham wants to stall.

o hAodha successfully pulls guard.
Cunninghamis looking to pass into half guard but o hAodha pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now o hAodha is in guard.
o hAodha trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Cunningham is looking for a triangle but o hAodha pushes his legs off easily.
Aodhan o hAodha has got the better of the ground game so far.
o hAodha throws and elbow that misses. Cunningham uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in o hAodha's guard. Nice move by Cunningham!
o hAodha lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Cunningham!
o hAodha is in the full mount, landing strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
o hAodha lands a big shot there that rocks Cunningham but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
o hAodha cracks Cunningham with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

Cunningham is rocked!
o hAodha putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Oh Cunningham is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
o hAodha lands a heavy elbow.

o hAodha is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Cunningham is surviving well by controlling o hAodha's body position as best he can.
Cunningham seems to have got his legs back now.
o hAodha looking to finish Cunningham with some ground and pound. This is bad for Cunningham!
o hAodha lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Cunningham takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cunningham is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
o hAodha with the ground and pound from mount.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
o hAodha dominating with strikes here.
o hAodha working some short elbows here. He postures up to throw some more ground and pound but Cunningham slips a leg through to get back to half guard. Nice work.
o hAodha scoring with strikes to the body and head.
o hAodha working Cunningham over with strikes.
o hAodha throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
o hAodha working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cunningham is trying to control but can't.
Cunningham has hold of o hAodha's hands but o hAodha slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Cunningham is trying to maintain the position but o hAodha is very close to passing his half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aodhan o hAodha showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Aodhan o hAodha'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. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

A momentary lapse in concentration from Cunningham enables o hAodha to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Cunningham manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Cunningham avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
o hAodha throws a strike but Cunningham rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
o hAodha wants to improve his position but instead Cunningham has moved into half guard.

Cunningham is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so o hAodha is just riding it out for now. Cunningham eventually gives up the hold.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

o hAodha is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Cunningham pulls his head out easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
o hAodha tries to roll over but Cunningham keeps him under control.
Cunningham trying to pass the guard but o hAodha defending well.
Cunningham is working hard here to advance position.
o hAodha is staying active underneath Cunningham, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
o hAodha is looking for a sweep. Cunningham is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
o hAodha is not content to let Cunningham control the position.
Aodhan o hAodha is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

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.
o hAodha is holding on to half guard well.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Brad Cunningham wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Cunningham throws a head kick that misses

and o hAodha counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
o hAodha is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Cunningham is looking to control o hAodha's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Cunningham avoid being mounted?
o hAodha controlling the action here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
A head kick by Cunningham misses

and o hAodha counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Cunningham misses with some strikes from the bottom.
o hAodha has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
o hAodha slows the pace down in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cunningham tries to roll over but o hAodha keeps him under control.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Cunningham trying to control but o hAodha postures up.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Cunningham pulls out of a head kick attempt.

o hAodha closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Cunningham quickly recovers to half guard.
o hAodha content to control rather than advance.
Brad Cunningham has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

And that's the end of the fight!
Aodhan o hAodha comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got o hAodha winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Steve Montenegro scores the fight 27:30
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 27:30
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aodhan o hAodha!