PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Hugh Tillman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nathan MacKinnon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hugh Tillman has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Tillman
vs
MacKinnon

201 cm
24
215 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

190 cm
25
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Tends to cut

RVCA

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 Hilo, Hugh Tillman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Nathan MacKinnon!
The judges for this bout are Paul Gruel, Josh West and Roger Salmon.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
MacKinnon checks a leg kick nicely.

Tillman clinches up with MacKinnon and pushes him back against the cage.
Tillman tries to pull guard but MacKinnon forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
MacKinnon is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
MacKinnon has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Tillman is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Tillman tries to land knees in the clinch but MacKinnon avoids the damage to the body.

Tillman jumps into guard, dragging MacKinnon to the mat.
MacKinnon slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Tillman will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Tillman looking to hit a scissor sweep but MacKinnon is one step ahead there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tillman bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in MacKinnon's guard.
Tillman wants to pass the guard but MacKinnon is keeping the position.
Tillman throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
MacKinnon wants to stand but Tillman is controlling the position.
Tillman stays in close to MacKinnon's body and controls the position.
MacKinnon has control of Tillman's left arm, preventing Tillman from doing any damage.
Tillman wants to get up but he can't break MacKinnon's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
MacKinnon looks to clinch

and Tillman moves into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tillman breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Tillman tries to score a power double leg takedown but MacKinnon sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Tillman somewhat.
Tillman wants to clinch up but MacKinnon keeps it at a distance.
MacKinnon fails with a takedown attempt.
No luck for MacKinnon with that takedown attempt.
Hugh Tillman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nathan MacKinnon.
MacKinnon doesn't manage to clinch there - Tillman circles away.
MacKinnon is looking to clinch.

MacKinnon gets tackled into the cage by Tillman. Tillman maintains the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tillman's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tillman escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

MacKinnon gets caught flat footed, as Tillman shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
MacKinnon seems keen to control Tillman's posture.
Tillman 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.
MacKinnon is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Tillman is looking to stand up but MacKinnon won't let him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Tillman trying to control but MacKinnon is working from the bottom.

We're going to have a standup here because Hugh Tillman wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
MacKinnon misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
MacKinnon tries to clinch there but Tillman circles away.
MacKinnon rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Tillman moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Tillman clinches up with MacKinnon and pushes him back against the cage.
Tillman jumps guard but MacKinnon stands there with Tillman around his waist. Tillman gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
MacKinnon being controlled against the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

MacKinnon manages to pull guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hugh Tillman dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

A head kick misses from Tillman.
MacKinnon misses with a takedown attempt
and Tillman counters with a stiff right hand.

Tillman gets tackled into the cage by MacKinnon. MacKinnon maintains the clinch.
MacKinnon tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Tillman just stands there and leans against the cage.
MacKinnon prevents a body shot from Tillman.

Tillman's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Tillman takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

Tillman darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

MacKinnon has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Tillman is on him like a limpet, forcing MacKinnon back against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Tillman breaks from the clinch.
MacKinnon pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
MacKinnon wants to clinch up but Tillman keeps it at a distance.
MacKinnon scores with a three punch combo!

It looks like Hugh Tillman has been cut.

MacKinnon drops Tillman with a beautiful combination! Tillman stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - MacKinnon is looking for the KO!

Tillman is rocked!
This has been an exciting period of action!
MacKinnon feints a kick and comes over the top with a right hand, followed by a left hook - both land, sending Tillman crashing to the mat! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:21 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punches). Nathan MacKinnon!