PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Scott Pilgrim (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tomi McDonald (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). McDonald comes into a darkened arena with his song building. The Daily Mail kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Pilgrim
vs
McDonald

190 cm
24
130 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

179 cm
26
143 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Scott Pilgrim!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Tomi McDonald!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Gregory Folan and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Horrible takedown by McDonald or perhaps it was just good defense by Pilgrim which made him look bad.
Pilgrim looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
McDonald shoots in for a takedown but Pilgrim shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Pilgrim pulls out of a head kick attempt.
No luck with that takedown attempt from McDonald.
Scott Pilgrim has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tomi McDonald.
Pilgrim keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
McDonald stuffs the takedown.
No luck for Pilgrim with that takedown attempt.
McDonald dives in and grabs Pilgrim's left leg, looking for a takedown. Pilgrim pushes down on McDonald's head and hops out.
McDonald defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Pilgrim.
McDonald shoots in for a double leg but Pilgrim sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Pilgrim stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Pilgrim wants it to stay on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McDonald fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
McDonald tries to score a power double leg takedown but Pilgrim sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten McDonald somewhat.
McDonald shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Pilgrim but Pilgrim pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Pilgrim gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
McDonald trying to control the position from guard on top but Pilgrim is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
McDonald postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
McDonald must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McDonald throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
McDonald trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Pilgrim not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
McDonald in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
McDonald trying to control but Pilgrim is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
McDonald makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Pilgrim is trying to keep McDonald in close.

Pilgrim is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McDonald in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
McDonald throwing strikes but missing.
Pilgrim avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
McDonald postures up in Pilgrim's guard and throws a big left but Pilgrim blocks it.
McDonald throws a big right hand that misses.
Pilgrim will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
McDonald seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
McDonald trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McDonald loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
McDonald trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
McDonald working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
McDonald throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
McDonald trying to control the position from guard on top but Pilgrim is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
McDonald controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Pilgrim not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tomi McDonald dominated that 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.

McDonald tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Pilgrim swivels and escapes.

McDonald fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Pilgrim to the ground. McDonald is now in Pilgrim's guard.
McDonald looking to pass the guard.
Pilgrim is trying to keep McDonald in close.
McDonald tries to free his leg and advance position but Pilgrim is retaining full guard.
McDonald working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Pilgrim keeping full guard, as McDonald tries to pass.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Pilgrim is looking for a triangle here but McDonald uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
McDonald in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McDonald looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Pilgrim is avoiding damage well.
McDonald tries to move into full mount but can't pass Pilgrim's legs.
Sloppy strikes there by McDonald.
McDonald misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
McDonald has knee on belly and moves into mount.

McDonald goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Pilgrim is on top in guard.
Pilgrim really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McDonald is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
McDonald really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Pilgrim. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
McDonald wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Pilgrim manages to pass to side control.
McDonald wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McDonald pushes Pilgrim off but Pilgrim dives into side control.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if McDonald can do anything to dispel that myth.
McDonald is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Pilgrim is controlling him well.
Pilgrim tries to score with some ground and pound. McDonald controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
McDonald is trying to buck Pilgrim off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McDonald tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
Pilgrim tries to keep control of the position but McDonald is staying busy.
McDonald wants to get back to his feet.
McDonald is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tomi McDonald showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

McDonald shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Pilgrim defends it nicely.
McDonald shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Pilgrim sprawls well. Pilgrim wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. McDonald gets slowly back to his feet.
Pilgrim throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pilgrim tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
McDonald shoots in and drives through. Pilgrim sprawls well.
Scott Pilgrim has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tomi McDonald.
McDonald shoots for a takedown but Pilgrim saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
McDonald keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McDonald fails with a takedown attempt.
McDonald shoots in for a double leg but Pilgrim sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
McDonald fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Pilgrim avoids it really well and circles away.
Pilgrim fails with a takedown attempt.
McDonald looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McDonald fails with the takedown.
Pilgrim doesn't manage to clinch there - McDonald circles away.
McDonald staying out of range there.
Pilgrim stuffs the takedown attempt from McDonald. McDonald gets slowly back to his feet.
McDonald shoots in and drives through. Pilgrim sprawls well.
McDonald shoots in for a double leg but Pilgrim sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
McDonald takes a shot right to the bread basket.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Pilgrim. No joy for McDonald on that attempt.
Pilgrim shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with McDonald but McDonald pushes him off and we're back to square one.
McDonald shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Pilgrim pinned against the cage. Pilgrim gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from McDonald is defended easily by Pilgrim.
Pilgrim misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Pilgrim slaps away a takedown attempt from McDonald, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pilgrim fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but McDonald avoids it really well and circles away.
McDonald shoots in for a double leg but Pilgrim sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Scott Pilgrim is winning the standup battle so far.
Pilgrim tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but McDonald paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Horrible takedown by McDonald or perhaps it was just good defense by Pilgrim which made him look bad.
McDonald has a takedown stuffed.
Scott Pilgrim has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Pilgrim misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

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 Scott Pilgrim.
I think McDonald has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Ian Loll scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 28:29
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tomi McDonald!
Tomi McDonald bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.