PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between John McClaine (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aaron Walsh (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Aaron Walsh will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

McClaine
vs
Walsh

175 cm
23
165 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

180 cm
22
152 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, John McClaine!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Aaron Walsh!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, Eliza Hachem and Summer Carpenter.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

McClaine scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Walsh tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but McClaine wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
McClaine trying to control the position but Walsh is working away.
Walsh tries to bench press McClaine off him but McClaine keeps the position.
Walsh is trying to work for a sweep but McClaine has mounted him!
McClaine wants to control the pace but Walsh is squirming around nicely.
Walsh trying desperately to get to his feet.
McClaine is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Walsh can't escape the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McClaine is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Walsh is trying to escape the mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McClaine has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Walsh's face.

McClaine goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Walsh turns into him and now he's in McClaine's guard.
McClaine bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Walsh's guard.
McClaine wants to pass the guard but Walsh is keeping the position.

Walsh working for a triangle but McClaine defends it easily.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
McClaine wants to control from the top but Walsh keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Walsh looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
McClaine works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Walsh is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
McClaine throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Walsh trying to control from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

McClaine is working for a submission of some sort.
Walsh wants to improve his position but McClaine is controlling well.
Walsh has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. McClaine is working away from the top position though.
Walsh might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control McClaine kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
McClaine is keen to just control but Walsh is a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Walsh with a poor takedown

and McClaine decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Walsh's guard.
Walsh looks gassed!

McClaine thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Walsh is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Walsh tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
McClaine passes Walsh's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Walsh trying to hold on to McClaine's head to control him but McClaine postures up.

Walsh pushes McClaine off and gets back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John McClaine dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

McClaine looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Walsh misses with a takedown attempt

and McClaine counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
McClaine is controlling the pace.
Walsh has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. McClaine is working away from the top position though.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Walsh looking for submissions off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Walsh looking for a kimura from the bottom but McClaine passes into side control!

McClaine tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

McClaine wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Walsh, who protects the arm well.
Walsh can't do much from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Walsh is looking for a sweep.
Walsh misses with an elbow from the bottom.
McClaine wants to control but Walsh is keeping him busy.
John McClaine overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Walsh gets back to half guard.
McClaine trying to control the action but Walsh is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Walsh moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
McClaine trying to control the position from guard on top but Walsh is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Walsh escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. McClaine gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Walsh trying to control the position.
McClaine looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
McClaine lands a couple of elbows.
McClaine advances to half guard.

McClaine is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Walsh is just riding it out for now. McClaine eventually gives up the hold.
McClaine is keen to just control but Walsh is a slippery customer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John McClaine dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

McClaine gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Walsh counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Walsh.
McClaine looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

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

Walsh drops back looking for a leg! McClaine is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and McClaine manages to kick Walsh off! Walsh jumps back into McClaine's guard.
McClaine working a defensive guard here.
Walsh takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McClaine throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
McClaine not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

McClaine has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Walsh can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

McClaine throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
McClaine trying to control the position.
McClaine looking for a sweep. Not yet McClaine, not yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
McClaine can't keep his opponent in guard - Walsh advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
McClaine is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Walsh looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Walsh tries to stand but can't do so whilst McClaine controls his leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Walsh is looking to advance position but McClaine won't allow it.

Walsh is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. McClaine doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Walsh.
McClaine won't allow Walsh to pass to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
McClaine has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Walsh is working away from the top position though.
Walsh wants to pass to mount but McClaine is defending the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Walsh with a poor takedown

and McClaine counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Walsh's guard now.
McClaine controlling from the top position.
McClaine postures up.
Aaron Walsh has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
McClaine looking to pass the guard.

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 John McClaine.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for McClaine, 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 Winston Howard scores the fight 30:27
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 30:27
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John McClaine!