PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rob Sullivan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Connor McNavvia (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.

Sullivan
vs
McNavvia

195 cm
25
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

194 cm
25
201 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Decent wrestler
Brawler
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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Rob Sullivan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Connor McNavvia!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, James Ackerman and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

McNavvia closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Sullivan quickly recovers to half guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Sullivan is refusing to be controlled, as McNavvia sits in half guard.
Sullivan tries to roll over but McNavvia keeps him under control.
Sullivan tries to kick McNavvia off but McNavvia keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
McNavvia wants to stand up but Sullivan is controlling the position.
Sullivan is looking to get back to is feet but McNavvia passes into side control.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Sullivan gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Sullivan wants to get back to his feet.
Sullivan trying to hold on to McNavvia's head to control him but McNavvia postures up.
McNavvia stops Sullivan from getting back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McNavvia perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Let's hope that McNavvia has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
McNavvia not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

McNavvia is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
McNavvia trying to control the action but Sullivan is working from the bottom.
Sullivan is looking for a sweep. McNavvia is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
McNavvia wants to stand up but Sullivan has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Sullivan trying to hold on to McNavvia's head to control him but McNavvia postures up.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Sullivan looks for a takedown but McNavvia sprawls well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

McNavvia scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
McNavvia wants to free his trapped foot but Sullivan is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Sullivan is looking to improve his position.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
McNavvia is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sullivan wants to control but McNavvia is keeping busy and won't allow it.
McNavvia is keen to just control but Sullivan is a slippery customer.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Sullivan missing with punches from the bottom.
McNavvia perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sullivan trying to hold on to McNavvia's head to control him but McNavvia postures up.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Sullivan misses with a takedown attempt - McNavvia sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Sullivan is breathing heavily.
Sullivan shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rob Sullivan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
McNavvia rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Sullivan moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Sullivan tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. McNavvia manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
McNavvia shoots in for a takedown but Sullivan shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

McNavvia closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Sullivan is looking to take this one to the mat.

McNavvia jumps guard and drags Sullivan to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
McNavvia looking for a sweep. Not yet McNavvia, not yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

McNavvia is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Sullivan trying to control the position from guard on top but McNavvia is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sullivan is looking to work some ground and pound but McNavvia has wrist control.
McNavvia utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Sullivan forces his way into half guard.
Sullivan not landing any meaningful shots this time.

McNavvia looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
McNavvia is looking to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

McNavvia doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Sullivan counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in McNavvia's guard now.
Sullivan is looking to work some ground and pound but McNavvia has wrist control.
Sullivan postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
McNavvia throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

McNavvia looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Sullivan passes into side control.
Sullivan misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Sullivan creates some space and throws a big elbow, but McNavvia sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Sullivan working away.
Sullivan throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and McNavvia works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
This has been an exciting period of action!
McNavvia tries to get to full guard but Sullivan has control of the leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McNavvia gets full guard.
McNavvia 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.
Sullivan lands a couple of decent looking shots.
McNavvia is breathing heavily.
Sullivan preventing the sweep.
Sullivan working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Sullivan is looking to pass into half guard but McNavvia pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now McNavvia is in guard.
Sullivan keeping full guard, as McNavvia tries to pass.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sullivan is looking to stand up but McNavvia isn't so interested in that idea.
Sullivan bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in McNavvia's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McNavvia working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sullivan.
McNavvia is trying to control the position but Sullivan postures up.
Sullivan passes McNavvia's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
McNavvia wants to get back to full guard.
Sullivan frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Sullivan raining down shots from the mount!
Sullivan can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as McNavvia is looking to escape.
Sullivan lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McNavvia is trying to escape the mount.
Sullivan with good strikes from the mount here!
McNavvia slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Sullivan uses his free foot to push down on McNavvia's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for McNavvia.
Sullivan connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Sullivan landing strikes from the mount.
Sullivan 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.
McNavvia tries to hold on but Sullivan pushes him away.
Sullivan looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
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!
McNavvia tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Sullivan putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sullivan landing strikes from the mount.
Sullivan avoids the attempt from McNavvia to control.
BOOM! Sullivan connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Sullivan wants to control the pace but McNavvia is squirming around nicely.
Sullivan lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Rob Sullivan overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
McNavvia wants to control but Sullivan is having none of it.
Sullivan trying to control but he's not successful this time.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sullivan avoids the attempt from McNavvia to control.
Sullivan is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. McNavvia can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rob Sullivan dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Sullivan leaves McNavvia with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Sullivan fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Sullivan shoots in looking for a takedown. McNavvia tries to sprawl out of it but Sullivan keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. McNavvia manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
No luck with that takedown attempt from McNavvia.
A left and a right from McNavvia both land. Nice combination.

It looks like Rob Sullivan has been cut.
McNavvia lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
McNavvia takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
McNavvia is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sullivan gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows McNavvia to score an easy takedown into full guard.
McNavvia trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Sullivan wants to get back to his feet but McNavvia is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Sullivan wants to sweep here but McNavvia controlling him for the moment.
McNavvia trying to control the position from guard on top but Sullivan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Connor McNavvia hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Nice sprawl there from Sullivan as McNavvia shoots in.
Rob Sullivan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Connor McNavvia.
McNavvia shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Sullivan sprawls well. Sullivan wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. McNavvia gets slowly back to his feet.

McNavvia 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.
Sullivan preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Sullivan 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.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sullivan wants to stand but McNavvia is controlling the position.
McNavvia preventing the sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McNavvia won't allow Sullivan to get back to his feet.
McNavvia trying to control but Sullivan is working from the bottom.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Sullivan is looking to sweep but instead, McNavvia has passed into half guard.
McNavvia working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Sullivan wants to get back to his feet.
McNavvia is trying to control. Sullivan wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Connor McNavvia has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Nice sprawl there from McNavvia as Sullivan shoots in.

McNavvia drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Sullivan is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
McNavvia trying to control but Sullivan is working from the bottom.
McNavvia prevents Sullivan from getting back to his feet.
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!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
McNavvia wants to stand but Sullivan has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Sullivan is looking to stand up but McNavvia isn't so interested in that idea.

And that's the end of the fight!
Connor McNavvia comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think McNavvia has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Chris Edwards scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Connor McNavvia!