PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Maurice McDonald (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Buster Cherry (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cherry has chosen Irigy Hónaljmirigy - Rúgj Chuck Norris (Chuck Norris parody by Hungarians) as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

McDonald
vs
Cherry

180 cm
39
184 lbs
40 - 23 - 1

175 cm
30
186 lbs
15 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Spartan Nutrition
FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!)

V-Mask Clothing (10%)

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 40 - 23 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Maurice McDonald!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 10 - 0, fighting out of London, Buster Cherry!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Chris Edwards and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McDonald connects with a body shot that sends Cherry's belly button to the back.

McDonald gets caught napping as Cherry dives in and scores a takedown. McDonald manages to retain guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cherry scoring with punches to the head and body.
Cherry slips nicely into half guard.
Cherry takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Cherry is trying to control. McDonald wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Cherry lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Cherry not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Cherry thows a huge punch but McDonald dodges it nicely.
Cherry throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

McDonald is defending against the submission attempts here by Cherry.
McDonald is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cherry is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. McDonald doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Cherry.
Cherry looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks McDonald with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Cherry has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Cherry is controlling the pace.
Cherry looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks McDonald with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Cherry is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Cherry is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
McDonald keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
McDonald controlling the position for now.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Cherry thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed McDonald's head.

Cherry is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, McDonald has managed to free his arm - good work.
Cherry throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cherry trying to control from half guard but McDonald is working away.
Cherry is nestled in close to McDonald, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Cherry sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. McDonald defending well though.
Cherry looks to land a strike but McDonald avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Cherry works over McDonald with some ground and pound from guard.
Cherry in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Cherry postures up in McDonald's guard and throws a big left but McDonald blocks it.
Cherry content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Cherry trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Cherry drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but McDonald manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Cherry has McDonald in his guard.
Cherry bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in McDonald's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cherry throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cherry wants to pass the guard but McDonald is keeping the position.
Cherry is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
McDonald is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Cherry is controlling him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Buster Cherry dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Cherry crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from McDonald - the referee stops the clock and Cherry gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says McDonald. Cherry manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Cherry misses with a straight right.
A counter left hand to the body from McDonald misses its target.
McDonald scores with a shot to the body.
Cherry misses with a series of wild punches.
McDonald tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Cherry was well out of range. Poor timing from McDonald.
McDonald with a body punch. A glancing blow.
McDonald misses with a hook.
McDonald throws a low kick, looking for Cherry's leg but Cherry calmly moves out of range.
McDonald works the jab nicely.

It looks like Buster Cherry has been cut.

Cherry throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. McDonald tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Cherry is in McDonald's guard.
Cherry trying to control the position from guard on top but McDonald is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cherry pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. McDonald is keeping the position for now.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cherry throws a big right hand that misses.
McDonald knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Cherry on the ground.
Cherry wants to control from the top but McDonald keeps moving.
Cherry lands a couple of digs.
McDonald wants to sweep here but Cherry controlling him for the moment.
Cherry pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. McDonald is keeping the position for now.
Cherry connects with a couple of short punches.
Cherry throws a strike but McDonald rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
McDonald won't allow Cherry to sweep him here.

That's two 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.
McDonald wants to control from the top but Cherry keeps moving.

Cherry is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and McDonald defends well.
Cherry lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Cherry is looking to work some ground and pound but McDonald has wrist control.
Cherry throwing strikes from guard but McDonald blocks nicely.
Cherry missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Cherry trying to control the position from guard on top but McDonald is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cherry throws a big elbow that misses.
Cherry won't allow McDonald to sweep him here.
Cherry distracts McDonald with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Cherry throwing strikes but missing.
Cherry has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Cherry is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
McDonald is pulling down on Cherry's head. It's preventing any offense from Cherry, at least for the moment.
Cherry scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Cherry accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
McDonald wants to stand and escape but Cherry is having none of it.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Cherry accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
McDonald is trying to control the position from the bottom.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Cherry pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. McDonald is keeping the position for now.
Cherry trying to control but McDonald is working from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cherry wants to clinch up but McDonald keeps it at a distance.
McDonald tries to clinch but Cherry moves out of range.
Cherry throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Cherry lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Cherry shoots and misses
and McDonald counters with an inside leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Buster Cherry showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Buster Cherry's cut.
That's time! McDonald's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Cherry gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and McDonald counters with a head kick.
Cherry avoids the body shot from McDonald.
McDonald motions for Cherry to come forward. McDonald throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Cherry scores with a hook.
McDonald swings for the body but Cherry moves out of range.
Maurice McDonald is winning the standup battle so far.
McDonald takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Cherry misses the body punch
and McDonald counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Cherry thinking.

Cherry shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches McDonald napping and manages to drive through into side control!
McDonald tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Cherry is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but McDonald is surviving well by controlling Cherry's body position as best he can.
McDonald avoids a strike by Cherry and manages to complete a very nice reversal in the process, to end up in Cherry's guard! Fantastic escape!
Cherry looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cherry keeping moving, preventing McDonald from controlling successfully.
Cherry looking for a sweep. Not yet Cherry, not yet.
Cherry is still trying to improve position.
McDonald stops Cherry from standing up.
McDonald has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Cherry 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.
McDonald working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Cherry is trying to control the position but McDonald postures up.
Cherry wants to sweep but no luck.
McDonald looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Cherry tries to land a sweep but no joy.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Cherry misses with a body kick.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Cherry is defended easily by McDonald.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from McDonald. Those never looked like landing.
McDonald uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Cherry.
Cherry looks for a takedown but McDonald sprawls well.
Maurice McDonald has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Buster Cherry.
Cherry looks to throw a body kick
and McDonald counters with a stiff right hand.
Maurice McDonald has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
McDonald explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Cherry takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Cherry fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but McDonald avoids it really well and circles away.
McDonald fires out a quick counter leg kick but Cherry just manages to avoid it.
Buster Cherry seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McDonald scores with a shot to the body.
Cherry fails in his attempt to clinch.
McDonald stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and McDonald wants it to stay on the feet.
McDonald throws a half hearted mid kick.
McDonald scores with a hook.
Buster Cherry is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McDonald scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
McDonald looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

Oooooh!!! McDonald has knocked Cherry down with a huge combo! McDonald steps away and waves a wobbly Cherry back to his feet! This one might not go much longer!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cherry misses the jab.
McDonald swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
McDonald is looking to wear down Cherry with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
McDonald connects with a body shot.
Nice body kick from McDonald.
McDonald swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Horrible takedown attempt by Cherry or perhaps it was just good defense by McDonald, which made it look bad.
A solid leg kick lands there for McDonald.
McDonald connects with a leg kick. Cherry looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Cherry shoots in and drives through. McDonald sprawls well.
Cherry throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A nice leg kick lands there from McDonald.
McDonald misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Nice takedown defense from McDonald. No joy for Cherry on that attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Maurice McDonald showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Cherry 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Buster Cherry!
Buster Cherry spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.