PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mike McKinley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Don Ovanov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think McKinley might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Swing That Tambourine. Ovanov has chosen Fairytale as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

McKinley
vs
Ovanov

185 cm
19
170 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

196 cm
22
180 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mike McKinley!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Don Ovanov!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Felipe Paraventi and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McKinley misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ovanov.
McKinley shoots in looking for a takedown. Ovanov tries to sprawl out of it but McKinley keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Ovanov manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Ovanov misses with a series of wild punches.
McKinley will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Ovanov throws a combination. McKinley tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

It looks like Mike McKinley has been cut.
Ovanov connects with a crisp jab.
Ovanov wants to clinch.
McKinley closes the distance looking to clinch
and Ovanov counters with a one-two to the body.
McKinley keeps the fight on the outside.
Ovanov throws a sloppy head kick and McKinley moves out of range easily.
Nice takedown defense from McKinley. No joy for Ovanov on that attempt.
McKinley has his takedown stuffed
and Ovanov connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike McKinley. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McKinley fails with the takedown

and Ovanov counters with a nice double leg into side control. McKinley won't be happy with that.
McKinley manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
McKinley wants to improve his position but Ovanov is controlling well.
McKinley is pressing down on Ovanov's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Ovanov drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Ovanov jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Ovanov must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now McKinley is on top in guard.
Ovanov trying to control the position.

Ovanov kicks McKinley off and gets to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McKinley tries for a takedown but Ovanov circles away easily

and Ovanov counters by clinching up.
McKinley keeps control of Ovanov as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
McKinley scores with a nice hook to the head.

McKinley turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
McKinley is breathing heavily.
Ovanov regains half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ovanov blocking the ground and pound attempt from McKinley.
Ovanov is looking to control McKinley's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Ovanov avoid being mounted?
McKinley sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Ovanov defending well though.

McKinley looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Ovanov slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ovanov looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Ovanov looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
McKinley working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Ovanov trying to control the position here.

Ovanov looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! McKinley has picked Ovanov up and slammed him! Ovanov can't keep hold of the triangle and McKinley manages to pass to side control!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
McKinley slows the pace down.
McKinley working away.
Ovanov tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Ovanov defending against the ground and pound.
Ovanov wants to control but McKinley postures up.
Ovanov being controlled for a moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ovanov is not content to let McKinley control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Don Ovanov dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Mike McKinley's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

McKinley misses with a takedown attempt
and Ovanov counters with a two punch combo.
Ovanov shoots in but no luck this time.
Ovanov throws a right and a left that McKinley avoids nicely.
McKinley shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Ovanov counters with a one-two to the body.
McKinley fails with the takedown

and Ovanov counters with a shoot takedown. McKinley fights it but they end up in guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike McKinley. That's going to take a lot out of him.
McKinley is trying to control the position but Ovanov postures up.
Ovanov looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
McKinley manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Ovanov manages to get himself to full guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as McKinley accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
McKinley loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
McKinley 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.
Ovanov is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Ovanov trying to strike off his back.
Ovanov is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
McKinley trying to control the position from guard on top but Ovanov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ovanov wants to sweep here but McKinley controlling him for the moment.
Ovanov trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
McKinley might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
McKinley in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Ovanov misses with the combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

McKinley pulls Ovanov into guard.
McKinley is trying to control the position but Ovanov postures up.
McKinley is striking but Ovanov is not phased and passes to half guard.
McKinley slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Ovanov trying to control the position from guard on top but McKinley is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
McKinley trying to control the position here.
McKinley keeping moving, preventing Ovanov from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ovanov stands and steps away. McKinley gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Mike McKinley seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McKinley shoots and misses
and Ovanov counters with a lovely straight right hand!
McKinley looks to clinch
and Ovanov counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
McKinley doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Ovanov counters with a left and a right that stings McKinley.
McKinley has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

Ovanov has managed to clinch.
McKinley tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Ovanov smiles and moves away.
McKinley with a lazy takedown attempt

and Ovanov counters with a single leg into guard. McKinley didn't expect that.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ovanov wants to pass the guard but McKinley is keeping the position.
Ovanov trying to control the position from guard on top but McKinley is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
McKinley is trying to control the position but Ovanov postures up.

Ovanov is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
McKinley looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
McKinley wants to sweep but no luck.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Don Ovanov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Mike McKinley's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

McKinley tries for a takedown but Ovanov circles away easily
and McKinley takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Ovanov scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
McKinley closes the distance looking to clinch
and Ovanov counters with a nice body kick.
A right-left combo lands from Ovanov.
McKinley wants to clinch
and Ovanov counters with an outside leg kick.

Ovanov drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
McKinley prevents Ovanov from improving position.
McKinley is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ovanov in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
McKinley being controlled for a moment.
Ovanov avoids the strikes from the bottom by McKinley.
Ovanov is working McKinley over with some ground and pound from side control.
McKinley is trying to control Ovanov's posture but Ovanov avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Ovanov creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
McKinley is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Ovanov trying to control the action but McKinley is working from the bottom.
McKinley prevents Ovanov from improving position.
McKinley can't do much from the bottom here.

Ovanov decides to take the fight back to the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ovanov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
McKinley tries to clinch but Ovanov moves out of range.
McKinley with a poor takedown

and Ovanov holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
McKinley tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Ovanov just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike McKinley. That's going to take a lot out of him.
McKinley tries to pull guard but Ovanov won't allow it.
McKinley fails to pull guard.
Ovanov is trying to break free.
A head punch on the inside from McKinley fails to land.
McKinley wants a takedown but no success here.

Ovanov successfully pulls guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as McKinley accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Don Ovanov has got the better of the ground game so far.
McKinley thows a big elbow that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ovanov keeping moving, preventing McKinley from controlling successfully.
Mike McKinley has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Ovanov is looking for a triangle but McKinley pushes his legs off easily.

McKinley drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Ovanov manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now McKinley has Ovanov in his guard.
McKinley not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
McKinley trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

McKinley is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Don Ovanov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Ovanov passes McKinley's left leg - he's now in half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Don Ovanov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Ovanov has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 27:30
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Don Ovanov!