PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kurt McConor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rory McDonald (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rory McDonald will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

McConor
vs
McDonald

189 cm
25
218 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

200 cm
25
205 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Good chin

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Determined

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Kurt McConor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rory McDonald!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Illya Tyunina and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

A momentary lapse in concentration from McDonald enables McConor to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. McDonald manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
McConor wanted to stand there but McDonald had control of the position.

McConor decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on McDonald, up you get!

McConor drives through with a takedown into McDonald's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

McDonald working for a triangle but McConor defends it easily.

McConor gets to his feet. McDonald looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

McConor gets a takedown into half guard.

McDonald looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
McDonald wants to get back to full guard.
McConor tries to stand and escape but McDonald is controlling the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

McDonald looking for submissions off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McConor blocks the strikes from McDonald.
McConor tries to stand but his arm is trapped.

McDonald actively working from the bottom here.

McDonald looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
McConor tries to stand but can't do so whilst McDonald controls his leg.
McConor knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for McDonald on the ground.
McDonald wants to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McDonald regains full guard. Nicely done.

McDonald working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. McConor doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. McConor manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

McConor gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
McDonald gets caught napping as McConor dives in and scores a takedown. McDonald manages to retain guard.
McDonald looks winded!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
McConor wants to stand but McDonald is controlling his posture from full guard.

McConor gets to his feet - McDonald follows without any prompting.
McDonald misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

McConor closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into McDonald's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

McDonald is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
McConor is looking to stand up but McDonald won't let him.

McConor stands and steps away. McDonald gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
McConor throws a leg kick
and McDonald counters with a lovely shot to the body.
McConor will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

McConor changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. McDonald looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

McConor stands up and we're back to a striking position.
McDonald shoots in for a takedown but McConor shows good takedown defense.
McConor throws a sloppy head kick and McDonald moves out of range easily.

McConor 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.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
McDonald striking off his back but it's not causing McConor any problems.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

McConor gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

McConor shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches McDonald napping and manages to drive through into side control!

McConor decides to stand up, so the ref orders McDonald to his feet.
McConor jabbing away but nothing is landing.

McDonald shoots in and bounces McConor off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

McConor kicks McDonald off and gets to his feet.

McConor is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in McDonald's half guard.

McConor gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

McConor drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kurt McConor dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Sloppy strikes from McConor. Those never looked like landing.

McDonald gets caught napping as McConor dives in and scores a takedown. McDonald manages to retain guard.
McConor would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

McDonald is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and McConor defends well.

McDonald looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
McConor would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

McDonald is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. McConor is aware though and is defending well.
McDonald is breathing heavily.
McDonald throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

McConor gets to his feet. McDonald looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

That's one minute gone in the round.

McDonald tries to sprawl but McConor drives through with a takedown into half guard.
McConor wants to stand but McDonald has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
McDonald wants to control but McConor is keeping busy and won't allow it.
McDonald is trying to get back to full guard.

McConor stands up from half guard.

McConor shoots in and bounces McDonald off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

McConor gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

McConor is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in McDonald's half guard.

McConor postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for McDonald to stand up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McDonald is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

McDonald is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. McConor is aware though and is defending well.
McConor would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

McDonald is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

McConor gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
McConor circles away from the clinch attempt.

McConor scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

McConor stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

McConor shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

McDonald actively working from the bottom here.
McConor seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
McDonald wants to improve his position but McConor is controlling well.

McConor decides to stand up.

McConor dives in and scores a takedown into McDonald's guard.

McConor decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on McDonald, up you get!
McConor is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that McDonald can do to turn this around?
McDonald fails with a takedown attempt.

McDonald gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows McConor to score an easy takedown into full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

McDonald is working an open guard so McConor takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
McDonald avoids the head kick by McConor.
Kurt McConor is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

McConor gets a double leg takedown into McDonald's guard.
McConor trying to stand up but can't free himself from McDonald's guard.
McDonald trying to control the position.
McConor preventing the sweep.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

McConor gets to his feet - McDonald follows without any prompting.
McDonald moves out of range as McConor strikes.

McConor drives through with a takedown into McDonald's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kurt McConor dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

McConor drives through with a takedown into McDonald's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

McDonald escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. McConor gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
McDonald trying to control the position.

McConor gets to his feet. McDonald looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
McDonald shoots in looking for a takedown. McConor tries to sprawl out of it but McDonald keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. McConor manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
McConor misses with a body kick.

McConor closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. McDonald quickly recovers to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
McConor wants to get back to his feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McDonald punching from the bottom.
McDonald wants to get back to full guard.

McConor stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows McDonald to get to his feet.

McConor closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming McDonald to the mat! McDonald manages to get full guard.

McConor gets to his feet. McDonald looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

McConor shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

McDonald looking for submissions off his back.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

McDonald looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

McConor stands up and beckons McDonald to join him on the feet.

McConor shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

McConor stands and steps away. McDonald gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

McConor closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
It looks like McConor is going to stand back up.
McDonald wants to control but McConor is keeping busy and won't allow it.

McConor stands up and beckons McDonald to join him on the feet.

McConor decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

McConor decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.

McConor fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. McDonald sprawls well initially but McConor persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McConor wants to stand up but McDonald has a hold of him and won't allow it.
McDonald is looking for a sweep. McConor is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
McDonald trying to control from the bottom.

McDonald looking for submissions off his back.

McDonald looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

McConor stands up out of the half guard.

McConor gets the takedown into side control.

McConor has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
McConor throws a lazy right hand but McDonald sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

McConor shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

McConor avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

McConor gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

McDonald gets caught napping as McConor dives in and scores a takedown. McDonald manages to retain guard.
McConor has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

McConor gets to his feet - McDonald follows without any prompting.

McConor is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in McDonald's half guard.

McConor decides to stand and escape the position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

McConor drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kurt McConor showed his dominance in that final round.
Well McConor has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 30:27
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kurt McConor!