PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Luke McKendrick (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paul Bruens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bruens comes into a darkened arena with his song building. River Below kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

McKendrick
vs
Bruens

181 cm
28
182 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

168 cm
28
185 lbs
16 - 9 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Good kicks
Powerful

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 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Luke McKendrick!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Paul Bruens!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, William Peck and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McKendrick displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Bruens.
Paul Bruens seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McKendrick misses with a takedown attempt - Bruens sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
McKendrick looks to throw the jab but Bruens is out of range.
Bruens fails with the takedown
and McKendrick counters with a good low kick that Bruens was not able to check.
Bruens misses with a takedown attempt
and McKendrick counters with a nice uppercut.
Luke McKendrick has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paul Bruens.
Bruens closes the distance and clinches up with McKendrick, looking for a takedown. Bruens pushes McKendrick against the cage but McKendrick circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
McKendrick swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Bruens misses with a takedown

and McKendrick counters with a nice double leg into side control. Bruens won't be happy with that.
McKendrick trying to control the position but Bruens is working away.
McKendrick advances nicely into full mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McKendrick sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!

McKendrick wants to finish this one by submission but Bruens is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from McKendrick.
Bruens is trying desperately to improve position.
McKendrick tries to control but Bruens wriggling away.
McKendrick misses with a head shot.
Bruens wants to control but McKendrick is having none of it.
Bruens really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McKendrick with good strikes from the mount here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McKendrick landing strikes, looking to finish!
McKendrick has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Bruens in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
McKendrick punishing his opponent with strikes.
McKendrick wants to control the pace but Bruens is squirming around nicely.

McKendrick is working for a guillotine from mount but Bruens frees his head quite easily.
Bruens is looking to improve his position but McKendrick isn't that keen on the idea.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bruens slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Bruens controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.

McKendrick seems to be working for a kimura but Bruens defends the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McKendrick wants to free his trapped foot but Bruens is holding on for dear life with his legs.

McKendrick is working for an americana but Bruens has been sneaky and has managed to get back to half guard, whilst McKendrick was thinking about the submission.
McKendrick trying to control but Bruens is working from the bottom.
McKendrick is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Bruens tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Bruens striking from the bottom here.
Bruens keeping full guard, as McKendrick tries to pass.
McKendrick wants to control from the top but Bruens keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

McKendrick drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and McKendrick jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
McKendrick stopping the sweep attempt from Bruens.
McKendrick will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Bruens is trying to control the position but McKendrick postures up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bruens keeping moving, preventing McKendrick from controlling successfully.
Bruens pulls McKendrick in to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luke McKendrick dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Bruens throws a body punch but McKendrick moves out of range.
McKendrick throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Bruens.
Bruens shoots in for a takedown but McKendrick shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Bruens closes this distance looking for a takedown but McKendrick circles away.
Bruens dodges the punch combination from McKendrick.
Luke McKendrick is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
McKendrick will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Bruens moves into the clinch successfully.
Bruens controlling the action here for a moment.
Bruens tries to pull guard but McKendrick holds him up against the cage and eventually Bruens drops back down to his feet.
Luke McKendrick has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paul Bruens.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bruens fails to pull guard.

McKendrick breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
McKendrick throws a right hand that Bruens ducks under and follows up with a left that Bruens also avoids with ease.
Bruens wants to clinch up but McKendrick keeps it at a distance.
McKendrick jabs at Bruens's body.
McKendrick misses with a wild combination.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Bruens is defended easily by McKendrick.
Bruens fails to land the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McKendrick leaves Bruens with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Bruens with a lazy takedown attempt
and McKendrick connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
McKendrick stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and McKendrick wants it to stay on the feet.
Bruens is breathing heavily.
Bruens shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as McKendrick sprawls well. McKendrick wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Bruens gets slowly back to his feet.
McKendrick lands with a nice combination. Bruens backs away looking to recover.
A punch combination from McKendrick misses.
McKendrick shoots for a takedown but Bruens saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bruens closes this distance looking for a takedown but McKendrick circles away.

McKendrick shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Bruens manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Bruens is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Bruens takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
McKendrick is trying to get back to full guard.
McKendrick gets back to full guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as McKendrick holds on and takes a little breather.
Bruens looking to sit in guard and control but McKendrick gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

McKendrick drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Bruens manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now McKendrick has Bruens in his guard.
McKendrick can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Bruens controls the pace.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

McKendrick has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Bruens is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for McKendrick.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
McKendrick manages to get back to half guard.

McKendrick looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luke McKendrick dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get 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.

Bruens doesn't succeed with the takedown
enabling McKendrick to counter with a crisp jab.
McKendrick stuffs the takedown attempt from Bruens. Bruens gets slowly back to his feet.
Horrible takedown by Bruens or perhaps it was just good defense by McKendrick which made him look bad.
Luke McKendrick has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paul Bruens.
Bruens throws a hook but McKendrick blocks it.
McKendrick pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

Bruens gets the takedown into side control.
Bruens tries to advance to mount but can't.
McKendrick gets back to half guard.
Bruens takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McKendrick is refusing to be controlled, as Bruens sits in half guard.
McKendrick is trying to control but can't.
McKendrick gets back to full guard.
McKendrick trying to control the position.
Bruens trying to control but McKendrick is working from the bottom.
McKendrick working a defensive guard here.
McKendrick keeping full guard, as Bruens tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McKendrick working a defensive guard here.
Luke McKendrick overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

McKendrick has his foot on Bruens's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Bruens works his way back into a safe position though.

McKendrick looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Bruens has picked McKendrick up and slammed him! McKendrick can't keep hold of the triangle and Bruens manages to pass to side control!
Bruens working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
McKendrick looking for a sweep but Bruens has passed into full mount! Oh no!
McKendrick can't escape the position.
Bruens controlling his opponent.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
McKendrick tries to hold on but Bruens pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McKendrick tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Bruens wants to control the pace but McKendrick is squirming around nicely.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
McKendrick bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
McKendrick postures up.
McKendrick pushes down on Bruens's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bruens looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
McKendrick is taking a breather. Bruens says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Bruens won't allow McKendrick to pass to mount.
Paul Bruens has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Luke McKendrick is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

McKendrick is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Well, if McKendrick is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bruens is looking for a sweep. McKendrick is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
McKendrick throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Luke McKendrick.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for McKendrick, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Gregory Folan scores the fight 30:27
Judge William Peck scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Luke McKendrick!