PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Finn McCool (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Donnachaidh Zempolateca (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

McCool
vs
Zempolateca

164 cm
22
145 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

191 cm
22
145 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Finn McCool!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Donnachaidh Zempolateca!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Anthony Taglia and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Zempolateca fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with McCool, pushing him back against the cage.
McCool with an attempt at a knee that misses.
McCool keeps control of Zempolateca as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Zempolateca landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Zempolateca connects with a knee to the head.
McCool is trying to break the clinch but Zempolateca has him pressed against the cage.

Zempolateca breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
McCool misses with a double jab.
Zempolateca shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts McCool as he jumps to the side.
McCool tries to clinch but Zempolateca is having none of it.
Zempolateca tries for a takedown but McCool sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Zempolateca tries to grapple but his opponent circles
letting McCool counter with a right hand.
Zempolateca closes the distance but McCool moves to the side

and McCool counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Zempolateca.
McCool has a couple of punches blocked by Zempolateca.
Zempolateca avoids the elbow strike from McCool, against the cage.

Zempolateca has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics McCool uses from the top position.

Zempolateca has his feet on McCool's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCool throws the kick towards the body but Zempolateca avoids it.
McCool tries to land a front kick but Zempolateca steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

Zempolateca fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with McCool, pushing him back against the cage.
Zempolateca lands an elbow that stopped McCool in his tracks for a moment.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Zempolateca just misses with a elbow thrown towards McCool's brow.
McCool with an attempt at a knee that misses.
McCool makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

Zempolateca breaks the clinch.
Zempolateca tries to clinch but fails miserably

and McCool counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Zempolateca wants to get back to his feet but McCool is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
McCool has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Zempolateca has his feet on McCool's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
McCool wants to clinch.
McCool tries a head kick but it misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zempolateca tries to clinch up
and McCool counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Zempolateca gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and McCool counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Finn McCool has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Donnachaidh Zempolateca.
Zempolateca has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. McCool avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Zempolateca looks gassed!
McCool misses with the head strike.
Zempolateca's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
McCool is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
McCool misses with a short punch on the inside.
McCool lands with a short shot to the head.
McCool misses with a short punch on the inside.
Zempolateca misses with an elbow strike.
Zempolateca throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

Zempolateca manages to break the clinch.
Donnachaidh Zempolateca seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zempolateca fails with the takedown

and McCool holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
McCool misses with a knee strike.
McCool lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Zempolateca throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCool missing with knees to the body.
McCool lands a damaging elbow.
McCool tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Zempolateca looking to throw knees to the head but McCool is blocking nicely.
Zempolateca lands an elbow inside.
McCool lands a left hand.
Zempolateca scores with a nice hook to the head.
Zempolateca blocks an uppercut.
Zempolateca has had enough of the clinch but McCool keeps him there for the moment.
Zempolateca tries to pull guard but McCool holds him up against the cage and eventually Zempolateca drops back down to his feet.

Zempolateca breaks from the clinch.

McCool has closed the distance and engaged Zempolateca in a clinch.
Zempolateca is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
McCool using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Zempolateca has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
McCool with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Zempolateca has McCool pushed against the cage.
McCool misses with a knee strike.
McCool trying to land knees to the body.
Zempolateca stalls.
McCool wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

McCool breaks from the clinch.
Zempolateca dodges the punch combination from McCool.
Zempolateca with a poor takedown

and McCool counters by moving into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zempolateca breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Zempolateca rushes McCool and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
McCool misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Zempolateca.
Zempolateca stalling in the clinch.
Zempolateca tries a knee to the head but McCool blocks it.
Zempolateca tries a knee to the head but McCool blocks it.
Zempolateca lands an elbow inside that McCool shrugs off.

It looks like Finn McCool has been cut.
Zempolateca lands an elbow inside.
Zempolateca is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
McCool tries a knee to the head but Zempolateca blocks it.
Zempolateca wants to stall.
McCool is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

Zempolateca breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Zempolateca wants to clinch
and McCool counters with a straight right hand.
Zempolateca takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
McCool throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Zempolateca's head.

Zempolateca is rocked!

It looks like Donnachaidh Zempolateca has been cut.
Zempolateca avoids the head kick by McCool.
Zempolateca is still on wobbly legs! Can McCool finish him?
Zempolateca throws a head kick that half lands.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Zempolateca tries to clinch but McCool moves away

and McCool counters with a big slam followed by a series of strikes - this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Slam). Finn McCool!