PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Freddie Venus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Todd mcPherson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Venus comes to the cage accompanied by Dangerous - Michael Jackson. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Venus
vs
mcPherson

185 cm
22
224 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

186 cm
21
208 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Freddie Venus!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Todd mcPherson!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
mcPherson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

mcPherson feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Venus is on top in guard.
mcPherson trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

Venus is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! mcPherson is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! mcPherson has escaped and now he's on top!
mcPherson won't allow Venus to sweep him here.
mcPherson is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
mcPherson has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
mcPherson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
mcPherson passes Venus's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Venus looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Venus is looking for a sweep. mcPherson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
mcPherson blocks the strikes from Venus.

That's one minute gone in the round.
mcPherson perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
mcPherson moves into full mount! Venus won't be happy about that!
Venus is looking to improve his position but mcPherson isn't that keen on the idea.
mcPherson looking to control but Venus is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Venus is trying to escape the mount.
mcPherson tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

mcPherson with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
mcPherson looking to ground and pound but Venus is blocking nicely.
Venus sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
mcPherson content to control rather than advance.
Venus is trying to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
mcPherson tries to pass the half guard into mount. Venus knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

mcPherson is looking for a kimura but Venus is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for mcPherson to get the leverage.

Venus looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

mcPherson is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Venus doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time mcPherson.
Venus wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Venus flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Venus misses with a body kick.
Venus clinches but mcPherson breaks the clinch

and mcPherson counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Venus!
mcPherson thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
mcPherson trying to control but he's not successful this time.

mcPherson has control of Venus's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Venus regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Venus is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
mcPherson controlling from mount.

mcPherson working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Venus regains half guard.
Venus is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of mcPherson's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take mcPherson's back!
mcPherson is trying to break free.
mcPherson rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Venus throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Venus tries to pass the half guard into mount. mcPherson knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Todd mcPherson dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

mcPherson will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Venus cracks mcPherson with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.

mcPherson closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
mcPherson takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Venus regains full guard. Nicely done.
mcPherson trying to control the position from guard on top but Venus is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Venus is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

mcPherson drops back looking for a leg! Venus is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Venus manages to kick mcPherson off! mcPherson jumps back into Venus's guard.
Venus throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
mcPherson won't allow Venus to sweep him here.
mcPherson sitting in guard here, content to control.
mcPherson trying to control but Venus is working from the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Venus misses with a double jab.
Venus scores with a decent looking hook.
mcPherson tries to clinch but Venus moves out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Venus looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
mcPherson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Venus pinned against the cage. Venus gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Freddie Venus seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
mcPherson swats away the attempt to clinch by Venus.
Venus scores with a spinning back kick!
Venus throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Venus connects with a single shot there.
mcPherson fails in his attempt to clinch.

Venus rushes mcPherson and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
A right handed body shot lands from Venus.
mcPherson blocking some punches.

Venus breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Venus looks for the body kick but mcPherson saw that one coming.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Venus.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
mcPherson shoots in but Venus avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Freddie Venus has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Todd mcPherson.

mcPherson shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Venus can't keep his opponent in guard - mcPherson advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

mcPherson wants to work for an arm triangle but Venus is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Venus makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Venus.

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

Venus throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! mcPherson escapes and throws Venus's legs to the side, diving into side control!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

mcPherson tries for a kimura but Venus is defending well.
mcPherson misses with the ground and pound.
mcPherson misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Venus is not content to let mcPherson control the position.

mcPherson is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Venus is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Todd mcPherson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Venus is looking for a sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Todd mcPherson will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

mcPherson tries to clinch
and Venus counters with a left and a right that stings mcPherson.
mcPherson displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Venus throws out the jab.
Venus looks to land a body kick but mcPherson moved away.
Venus lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Venus.
mcPherson swats away the attempt to clinch by Venus.
mcPherson jabbing away but nothing is landing.
mcPherson blocks the body kick.

mcPherson closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

mcPherson is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Venus is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Venus gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
mcPherson is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
mcPherson's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Venus tries to get to full guard but mcPherson has control of the leg.
mcPherson controlling the action here.
Venus gets back to full guard.

Venus looking for submissions from the bottom but instead mcPherson passes into side control.

mcPherson has hold of Venus's arm here. He's working for an Americana. It looks like he might have it! Venus tries to escape but he's just digging himself in deeper - mcPherson cranks the arm and Venus screams in pain! The ref makes a decision and ends the fight before the tap - no complains from Venus, who is just happy to have his arm attached to his body.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:04 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Todd mcPherson!