PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Liam ORourke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Manny Powers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). ORourke comes to the cage accompanied by "Drunken Lullabies" by Flogging Molly. On his way into the cage it seems that Liam ORourke has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Liam ORourke seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

ORourke
vs
Powers

185 cm
25
181 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

179 cm
19
180 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Can Moonwalk

KAISER

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Liam ORourke!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Manny Powers!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Frank Dennis and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Powers looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Powers postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Powers sitting in guard here, content to control.

ORourke looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Powers slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

ORourke escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Powers gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
ORourke utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Powers slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Powers must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's one minute gone in the round.
ORourke trying to control the position.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Manny Powers wasn't active enough on the ground.
Powers fails with the takedown.
Powers throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around ORourke's waist but ORourke gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Powers off to one side.
Powers ducks right into an uppercut from ORourke.
Powers takes a jab right on the kisser.
Crunch! Powers slams his shin into ORourke's torso.
ORourke throws a right and a left that both miss.
ORourke displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Powers.
Liam ORourke has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Manny Powers.

Powers closes the distance and clinches.

Powers's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Powers lands a two punch combo.
Liam ORourke seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Powers tries to score a power double leg takedown but ORourke sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Powers somewhat.
A lazy left from ORourke finds it's target.

Powers shoots in and bounces ORourke off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Powers 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.

ORourke is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Powers defends well.
Powers with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

ORourke had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Powers defends it easily.
Powers pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. ORourke is keeping the position for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

ORourke working for a triangle but Powers defends it easily.
Powers has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of ORourke is proving hard to escape from.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
ORourke wants to sweep here but Powers controlling him for the moment.
Powers trying to control but ORourke is working from the bottom.
Powers pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. ORourke is keeping the position for now.
Powers wants to control from the top but ORourke keeps moving.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Manny Powers was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Powers ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
ORourke avoids a punch combination nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Powers tries to clinch up but ORourke circles away and keeps his distance.
Powers is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Powers manages to get an easy takedown there - catching ORourke on his heels. He'll look to pass ORourke's guard now, I'm sure.
Powers controlling from the top position.
Powers pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. ORourke is keeping the position for now.
ORourke not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
ORourke 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.
ORourke has a closed guard, preventing Powers from standing up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
ORourke misses with a kick to the body.
Powers staying out of range there.
ORourke misses with a low kick as Powers jumps back.
ORourke thows a body shot but no joy.
Powers blocks a low kick nicely.
Powers avoids the body shot from ORourke.

Powers has closed the distance and engaged ORourke in a clinch.
ORourke can't break the clinch.
Powers tries to score a body lock takedown but ORourke shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Powers slowing the pace effectively.
Powers jumps guard but ORourke stands there with Powers around his waist. Powers gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
ORourke stalling against the cage.

Powers pulls guard successfully.
ORourke trying to control the position from guard on top but Powers is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Powers wants to hit a switch here but ORourke passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Powers there!
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Powers can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Powers wants to control but ORourke is having none of it.
Powers tries to improve his position but instead ORourke has taken his back!
ORourke trying to control momentarily.
Powers wants to escape the position.
Powers wants to control his opponent's hands but ORourke gets his hands free.
Powers tries to roll but ORourke sticks to his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Powers is trying to get back to his feet but ORourke has full control of the position and if anything, Powers has just worked his way into a worse spot.
ORourke tries to keep control of the position but Powers is staying busy.
Powers trying to control the position but ORourke manages to sink in the hooks.
Powers might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control ORourke haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
ORourke is trying to stick to Powers's back but Powers is turning into ORourke. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in ORourke's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Powers.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

ORourke working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Powers doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Oh but ORourke is tightening it up a little... Powers has to be careful here... He's got his foot tucked under now, this looks tight! Powers reacted too slowly and this one could be over in a matter of seconds! YES! Powers taps out! Nice BJJ there by ORourke!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Liam ORourke!
After the big win, Liam ORourke made sure to do all the important stuff like thanking his sponsors KAISER and telling the interviewer how much he loves him.