PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Charles McDonnaugh (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brandon Esch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

McDonnaugh
vs
Esch

195 cm
25
265 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

183 cm
25
266 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Charles McDonnaugh!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Brandon Esch!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Chris Edwards and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Esch shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. McDonnaugh defends it nicely.
McDonnaugh tries to clinch but Esch moves out of range.
A head kick by Esch misses

and McDonnaugh counters by clinching up.
A head punch on the inside from McDonnaugh fails to land.

McDonnaugh turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and McDonnaugh manages to end up in side control.
Esch is not content to let McDonnaugh control the position.
You can see the frustration on Esch's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
McDonnaugh trying to control the action but Esch is working from the bottom.
McDonnaugh looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Esch is avoiding damage well.
McDonnaugh trying to control the action but Esch is working from the bottom.
McDonnaugh sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Esch is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McDonnaugh wants to lay and pray for a moment but Esch keeps working.
Esch is looking for a sweep.
McDonnaugh scores with punches from side control.
Esch wants to control but McDonnaugh postures up.
Esch tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but McDonnaugh wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
McDonnaugh working away.

McDonnaugh tries for a kimura but Esch is defending well.

McDonnaugh is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Esch knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Esch wants to control but McDonnaugh postures up.
Esch manages to work his way to half guard, despite McDonnaugh's best efforts.
McDonnaugh throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Esch wants to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McDonnaugh is pressing down on Esch's thigh, looking to free his foot. Esch is holding on for now.
Esch wants to control but McDonnaugh is keeping busy and won't allow it.
McDonnaugh wants to pass to mount but Esch is defending the position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
McDonnaugh sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Esch defending well though.
Esch has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. McDonnaugh is working away from the top position though.
Esch is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of McDonnaugh's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take McDonnaugh's back!

Esch is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. McDonnaugh knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften McDonnaugh for a finish.
Esch trying to control momentarily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esch has good solid back control here.
McDonnaugh tries to escape but Esch has the hooks in and won't let him break free.

Esch is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
McDonnaugh is trying to break free.
McDonnaugh controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
McDonnaugh rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Esch is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for McDonnaugh!
Esch throwing strikes here but McDonnaugh is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Esch sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
McDonnaugh is squirming around, avoiding Esch's attempts to control the action.
McDonnaugh keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Esch scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish McDonnaugh?
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
McDonnaugh is working to get back to half guard.
Esch can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as McDonnaugh is looking to escape.
Esch might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control McDonnaugh kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Brandon Esch will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Esch closes the distance and clinches up with McDonnaugh, looking for a takedown. Esch pushes McDonnaugh against the cage but McDonnaugh circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
McDonnaugh tries to close the distance and clinch up but Esch swats him away and circles back towards the center.
McDonnaugh blocks a head kick by Esch.
Charles McDonnaugh is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Esch shoots in and drives through. McDonnaugh sprawls well.
Esch throws a lazy head kick

and McDonnaugh counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Esch gets full guard.
McDonnaugh wants to control from the top but Esch keeps moving.
Esch being controlled here, momentarily.
McDonnaugh stopping the sweep attempt from Esch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McDonnaugh looking to pass the guard.
McDonnaugh won't allow Esch to sweep him here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Esch trying to control the position.
McDonnaugh wants to control from the top but Esch keeps moving.
McDonnaugh postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Esch misses with a takedown

and McDonnaugh counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by McDonnaugh.
Charles McDonnaugh has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brandon Esch.
Esch is breathing heavily.
McDonnaugh is looking to work some ground and pound but Esch has wrist control.
McDonnaugh is working Esch over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
McDonnaugh has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

McDonnaugh drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and McDonnaugh jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
McDonnaugh pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Esch is keeping the position for now.
Esch not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

McDonnaugh drops back looking for a leg! Esch is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Esch manages to kick McDonnaugh off! McDonnaugh jumps back into Esch's guard.
Esch controlling the position.
Charles McDonnaugh overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Brandon Esch has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
McDonnaugh tries to close the distance and clinch up but Esch swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Esch throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around McDonnaugh's waist but McDonnaugh gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Esch off to one side.
Esch throws a lazy head kick

and McDonnaugh counters with a takedown into side control.
Esch is looking for a sweep.
The ground and pound from McDonnaugh seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esch is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
McDonnaugh wants to control but Esch is keeping him busy.
Esch wants to control but McDonnaugh postures up.
McDonnaugh is looking to take a break and control but Esch is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Esch is trying to control McDonnaugh's posture but McDonnaugh avoids it.
McDonnaugh tries to move into full mount but can't pass Esch's legs.
Esch tries to buck McDonnaugh off but McDonnaugh is having none of it.
McDonnaugh wants to lay and pray for a moment but Esch keeps working.
Esch is looking to reverse the position.
McDonnaugh working away.
Esch is trying to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The ground and pound from McDonnaugh seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
McDonnaugh working away.
Esch tries to buck McDonnaugh off but McDonnaugh is having none of it.
McDonnaugh wants to lay and pray for a moment but Esch keeps working.

McDonnaugh is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Esch knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
McDonnaugh working away.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
McDonnaugh in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sloppy strikes there by McDonnaugh.

McDonnaugh tries for a kimura but Esch is defending well.
McDonnaugh working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Charles McDonnaugh dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

McDonnaugh tries to clinch but Esch is having none of it.

Esch closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Esch is working McDonnaugh over against the cage.
McDonnaugh prevents Esch from breaking the clinch.
Esch takes a shot to the head.
Esch lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of McDonnaugh backwards.

McDonnaugh gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Esch manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. McDonnaugh manages to get himself to full guard.
McDonnaugh will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

McDonnaugh is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Esch trying to control but McDonnaugh is working from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Esch loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McDonnaugh is trying to control the position but Esch postures up.
Esch sitting in guard here, content to control.
Esch pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. McDonnaugh is keeping the position for now.
McDonnaugh looking to hit a scissor sweep but Esch is one step ahead there.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Brandon Esch hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
McDonnaugh stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and McDonnaugh wants it to stay on the feet.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Esch is defended easily by McDonnaugh.
McDonnaugh stuffs the takedown.
Charles McDonnaugh has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brandon Esch.
Esch throws a sloppy head kick and McDonnaugh moves out of range easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

McDonnaugh drives through and clinches with Esch against the cage.
McDonnaugh throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Eschs head.

McDonnaugh works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Esch keeping moving, preventing McDonnaugh from controlling successfully.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Esch keeping full guard, as McDonnaugh tries to pass.
Esch looking to control.
Esch wants to sweep but no luck.
McDonnaugh tries to free his leg and advance position but Esch is retaining full guard.
McDonnaugh loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
McDonnaugh throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
McDonnaugh pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Esch is keeping the position for now.
McDonnaugh postures up.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
McDonnaugh working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McDonnaugh advances position into side control!
Esch gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
McDonnaugh not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Esch is trying to get back to full guard.
Esch blocking the ground and pound attempt from McDonnaugh.
Esch is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of McDonnaugh's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take McDonnaugh's back!
Esch trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
McDonnaugh tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
McDonnaugh regains half guard.
Esch trying to control from half guard but McDonnaugh is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McDonnaugh wants to get back to full guard.
McDonnaugh is trying to maintain the position but Esch is very close to passing his half guard.
McDonnaugh works his way to full guard. Good work.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Esch wants to control from the top but McDonnaugh keeps moving.
McDonnaugh is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
McDonnaugh is trying to keep Esch in close.

McDonnaugh is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

And that's the end of the fight!
Charles McDonnaugh showed his dominance in that final round.
I think McDonnaugh has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 William Gold scores the fight 30:28
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 30:28
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Charles McDonnaugh!