PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Brian McGordon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ali Booyakasha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Booyakasha is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Original Nuttah. Ali Booyakasha will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

McGordon
vs
Booyakasha

187 cm
19
206 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

190 cm
19
215 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Good kicks
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Brian McGordon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ali Booyakasha!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Alec Ball and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McGordon thows a body shot but no joy.

McGordon looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
McGordon throwing strikes but missing.
Booyakasha can't keep his opponent in guard - McGordon advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
McGordon lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
McGordon missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McGordon wants to free his trapped foot but Booyakasha is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Booyakasha regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from McGordon.
McGordon is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
McGordon is working Booyakasha over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
McGordon tries to free his leg and advance position but Booyakasha is retaining full guard.
Booyakasha really doesn't want to stay on the ground with McGordon. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McGordon wants to control from the top but Booyakasha keeps moving.
Booyakasha not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
McGordon passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Booyakasha felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Booyakasha trying to remain calm as McGordon controls from the top position.
McGordon throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
McGordon has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
McGordon postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Booyakasha dodges the ground and pound from McGordon.

McGordon is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Booyakasha knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
We've been hearing that McGordon has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
McGordon creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
McGordon trying to control the position but Booyakasha is working away.
McGordon is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Booyakasha's shoulder. That is not cool.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Booyakasha can do anything to dispel that myth.
Booyakasha tries to buck McGordon off but McGordon is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Booyakasha on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Booyakasha can't do much from the bottom here.

McGordon is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Booyakasha knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
McGordon tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
McGordon scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Booyakasha to see if he's OK.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brian McGordon dominated that round.
That's time! McGordon's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Booyakasha looks to score with a jab to the body but McGordon is just out of range.
McGordon misses with the combination.
McGordon misses with a wild body shot.
Booyakasha tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but McGordon paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Booyakasha lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Booyakasha pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
McGordon lands with a thumping leg kick.
Booyakasha looks to score with a jab to the body but McGordon is just out of range.
Booyakasha misses with an uppercut.
Booyakasha tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. McGordon manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Booyakasha steps to the side to avoid the strikes from McGordon.
McGordon tries for a takedown but Booyakasha sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Booyakasha lands a really nice looking cross but McGordon seems unphased.
Booyakasha misses the shot to the body.
McGordon tries for a takedown but Booyakasha sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Booyakasha avoids the body shot from McGordon.
Booyakasha scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Booyakasha is looking to clinch but McGordon is avoiding it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Booyakasha ducks down and throws a hook to the body but McGordon moves away.
McGordon uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Booyakasha.
McGordon throws a hook to the side of Booyakasha's head but Booyakasha sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
No luck for McGordon with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brian McGordon. That's going to take a lot out of him.

McGordon drives through with a takedown into guard.
Booyakasha is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
McGordon landing some decent shots from guard.
McGordon postures up in Booyakasha's guard and throws a big left but Booyakasha blocks it.
McGordon with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McGordon chips away with some ground and pound.
Booyakasha is trying to hold McGordon in close to prevent damage but McGordon has managed to pass into half guard.
McGordon not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Booyakasha trying to control here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
McGordon sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Booyakasha defending well though.
McGordon is nestled in close to Booyakasha, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Booyakasha wants to control but McGordon is keeping busy and won't allow it.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
McGordon thows a huge punch but Booyakasha dodges it nicely.
McGordon takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
McGordon has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
McGordon has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
McGordon tries to control but Booyakasha wriggling away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McGordon throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Brian McGordon overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
McGordon connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The referee warns Booyakasha that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
McGordon lands with some strikes.

Booyakasha is rocked!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Booyakasha is trying to escape the mount.
Booyakasha is still in real trouble! Can McGordon finish him?
Booyakasha wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by McGordon.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brian McGordon dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

McGordon misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Booyakasha.
Booyakasha seems to have recovered his senses.
Booyakasha with a nice cross.
Booyakasha just misses with a punch to the body.
McGordon throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Booyakasha sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Booyakasha throws a jab but it's blocked by McGordon.
A telegraphed right hand from McGordon misses the target.
McGordon shoots for a double leg takedown but Booyakasha sprawls well. He's pushed McGordon's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Booyakasha throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Booyakasha fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Booyakasha tries to clinch but McGordon moves out of range.
Booyakasha throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent McGordon stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
McGordon lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Booyakasha circles away quickly and effectively.
Some bone on bone action there as Booyakasha checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
McGordon cracks Booyakasha with a good jab.
McGordon throws a hook to the side of Booyakasha's head but Booyakasha sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Booyakasha throws the left hand but McGordon avoids the punch easily.
McGordon throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Booyakasha tries to clinch there but McGordon circles away.
Booyakasha ducks down and throws a hook to the body but McGordon moves away.
McGordon misses with a body shot.
Booyakasha uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by McGordon.
A big left from Booyakasha misses.
Ali Booyakasha seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Booyakasha throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Booyakasha misses with a left hand

and McGordon counters with a single leg into guard. Booyakasha didn't expect that.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Booyakasha is on top in guard.
McGordon looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Booyakasha wanted to stand there but McGordon had control of the position.
McGordon has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Booyakasha wanted to stand there but McGordon had control of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
McGordon tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Booyakasha wants to get up but he can't break McGordon's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
McGordon is pulling down on Booyakasha's head to control his posture.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
McGordon takes a swing at Booyakasha's ribcage but misses.
McGordon wants to land a leg kick but Booyakasha is out of range.
Booyakasha scores with a jab to the body.
McGordon slips a jab from Booyakasha.
McGordon shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Booyakasha as he jumps to the side.
McGordon looks to score with a jab to the body but Booyakasha is just out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McGordon takes one to the chin there.
Booyakasha tries to clinch but McGordon is having none of it.
Booyakasha throws a looping overhand right but McGordon ducks down to avoid it.
Booyakasha connects with a right hand. McGordon shakes it off.
McGordon takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Booyakasha connects with a crisp jab.
McGordon throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
An inside leg kick from Booyakasha misses.
Booyakasha scores with a nice strike.
McGordon walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
McGordon throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A combination from McGordon does no damage.
Booyakasha is looking to chop away at McGordon's legs.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Booyakasha, as that shot connected.
McGordon moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A head kick misses from Booyakasha.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McGordon misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Booyakasha.
Booyakasha loads up on a big right hand but McGordon slips the punch.
Booyakasha slips under a jab.
Booyakasha throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Booyakasha doesn't manage to clinch there - McGordon circles away.
Booyakasha loads up on a big right hand but McGordon slips the punch.
McGordon throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Booyakasha.
Booyakasha thows a body shot but no joy.
McGordon fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Booyakasha is out of range.
McGordon throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

McGordon 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.
McGordon controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
McGordon loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Ali Booyakasha has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Brian McGordon is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
McGordon throwing strikes but missing.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Ali Booyakasha.
I think McGordon has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Yves DeLean scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 29:28
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brian McGordon!