PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Malcolm Pugh (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thenn Magnar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Pugh
vs
Magnar

175 cm
23
240 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

196 cm
25
263 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Intelligent

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Tends to cut

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Malcolm Pugh!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Thenn Magnar!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Robert Douchet and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pugh shoots in but Magnar avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Magnar fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Magnar fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Pugh shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Magnar as he avoids it easily.
Pugh fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Malcolm Pugh. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pugh shoots in but Magnar avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Pugh fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
No luck for Pugh with that takedown attempt.
Magnar shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Pugh as he avoids it easily.
Pugh is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Magnar fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Magnar gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Stalling in the clinch from Magnar.
Pugh missing with knees to the body.

Magnar decides to pull guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Pugh working some strikes from top position.
Magnar seems keen to control Pugh's posture.
Magnar is trying to control the position but Pugh postures up.

Magnar throws his legs up looking for a submission but Pugh uses it to pass to side control.
Magnar looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pugh happy to just control the position for now.

Pugh is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Magnar has escaped the position, nice work there.

Pugh tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Magnar is not content to let Pugh control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pugh connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Magnar some visible discomfort.
Pugh looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Magnar is avoiding damage well.
Pugh wants to lay and pray for a moment but Magnar keeps working.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Magnar tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Pugh in the domination position with Magnar hanging on.
Magnar is looking to reverse the position.
Magnar is not content to let Pugh control the position.
Pugh is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Magnar is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
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.

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

Magnar gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Magnar is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Magnar tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Magnar is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

Magnar jumps guard.
Pugh trying to stand up but can't free himself from Magnar's guard.
Magnar really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Pugh. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Pugh trying to control but Magnar is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Magnar is trying to keep Pugh in close.
Pugh trying to control the position from guard on top but Magnar is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Malcolm Pugh.
Magnar takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
No luck for Pugh with that takedown attempt.

Magnar darts in and clinches Pugh up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Magnar wants to take the fight to the mat but Pugh manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Magnar is breathing heavily.
A frustrated look appears on Magnar's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Pugh breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Malcolm Pugh is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Pugh looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
A solid leg kick lands there for Pugh.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Pugh is defended easily by Magnar.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Malcolm Pugh. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pugh tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Magnar swivels and escapes.

Magnar moves into range and clinches up with Pugh.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pugh putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Magnar in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Magnar tries to pull guard but Pugh holds him up against the cage and eventually Magnar drops back down to his feet.
Magnar digs a right hand underneath Pugh's ribcage. Pugh let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Pugh gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Magnar.

Pugh jumps guard and drags Magnar to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Pugh keeping moving, preventing Magnar from controlling successfully.
Pugh not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Pugh is on top in guard.
Pugh trying to control the position from guard on top but Magnar is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Pugh gets to his feet - Magnar follows without any prompting.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Magnar leaves Pugh with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Pugh shoots in but no luck this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Malcolm Pugh 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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Magnar tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Magnar thows a body shot but no joy.
Pugh misses with a two punch combination.
Pugh will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Pugh stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Pugh wants it to stay on the feet.
Pugh checks a low kick from Magnar.
Magnar throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Pugh on the side of the head.
Pugh tries to close the distance and clinch up but Magnar swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Magnar lands a nice shot to the body.
Magnar takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Pugh plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Pugh misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Magnar slaps away a takedown attempt from Pugh, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pugh keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Pugh gets a clinch.
Pugh is working for takedown but Magnar is calmly controlling the position for now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Malcolm Pugh. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Magnar prevents the takedown attempt.

Magnar jumps into guard, dragging Pugh to the mat.
Pugh won't allow Magnar to get back to his feet.

Magnar looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Pugh passes into half guard.
Pugh takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pugh prevents Magnar from improving his position.
Pugh is thwarting Magnar's attempts to control the position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Magnar can do anything to dispel that myth.
Pugh working Magnar over with strikes.
Magnar missing with punches from the bottom.
Pugh is keen to just control but Magnar is a slippery customer.
Malcolm Pugh overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pugh thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Magnar's head.
Magnar is looking to escape.
Pugh trying to control the action but Magnar is working from the bottom.

Pugh decides to stand and escape the position.
Magnar shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Pugh as he jumps to the side.
Pugh moves in looking to clinch but Magnar pushes him off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Pugh.
Pugh tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Magnar paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Pugh fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Magnar manages to avoid it.
Magnar throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Pugh.
Malcolm Pugh is winning the standup battle so far.
Pugh tries to clinch but Magnar is having none of it.
Pugh tries to clinch but Magnar is having none of it.
Magnar swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Pugh tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Magnar manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Magnar circles away from the clinch attempt.
Magnar has a takedown stuffed.
Thenn Magnar has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Malcolm Pugh is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Pugh shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Malcolm Pugh showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Pugh, 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Malcolm Pugh!