PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Darren Conlon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hamish McDonald (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Conlon
vs
McDonald

172 cm
24
172 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

182 cm
18
160 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Hates pizza

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid 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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Darren Conlon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Hamish McDonald!
The judges for this bout are Michael Johnstone, Winston Alpacca and David Hoff.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

McDonald moves into range and clinches up with Conlon.
A frustrated look appears on Conlon's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Conlon tries to circle away but McDonald has him pinned against the cage.

McDonald pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Conlon tries for a takedown but McDonald sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Conlon tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.

Conlon drives through and clinches with McDonald against the cage.
Conlon prevents the takedown attempt.
McDonald is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
McDonald jumps guard but Conlon turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Conlon prevents the takedown attempt.
Darren Conlon has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hamish McDonald.
McDonald looks winded!
Conlon missing with knees to the body.
Conlon is pressed up against the cage. McDonald has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Conlon down to the mat. Conlon avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Conlon clinches up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Conlon.
McDonald is trying to pull guard but Conlon turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
McDonald looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Conlon wants to get back to striking at distance but McDonald won't allow it.
Conlon wants to break free but McDonald has control.
McDonald avoids a wild elbow strike from Conlon.
Conlon wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but McDonald has him pressed against the cage.
Conlon has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. McDonald is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Conlon is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables McDonald to keep the fight standing.
McDonald tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Conlon just stands there and leans against the cage.
McDonald tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Conlon just stands there and leans against the cage.
Conlon tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Conlon looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

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.
McDonald struggles to land a body shot inside as Conlon controls his hands.
McDonald wants a takedown but no success here.
Conlon stalling.

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

Conlon closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Conlon lands in his opponent's guard.
Conlon trying to control but McDonald is working from the bottom.
Conlon is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Conlon stands up over McDonald, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
McDonald keeping moving, preventing Conlon from controlling successfully.
Conlon lands a couple of elbows.
Conlon looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
McDonald is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Conlon wants to control from the top but McDonald keeps moving.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
A nice combination there by Conlon.
Conlon shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. McDonald defends it nicely.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
McDonald is looking to clinch.

Conlon gets a takedown into half guard.
Conlon is looking to take a break and control but McDonald is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Darren Conlon dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Conlon throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
McDonald will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
The fight stays on the outside here - Conlon looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
McDonald with a lazy takedown attempt
and Conlon counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Conlon scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

It looks like Hamish McDonald has been cut.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Conlon.
Conlon shoots in for a takedown but McDonald shows good takedown defense.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Conlon with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Conlon tries to clinch there but McDonald circles away.
Darren Conlon is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Conlon pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces McDonald back to the cage. Conlon follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Conlon lands a really nice looking cross but McDonald seems unphased.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Conlon tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but McDonald defends well and Conlon ends up having to push McDonald into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Conlon will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
McDonald doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Darren Conlon. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Conlon shoots in for a takedown but McDonald shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
A head kick from McDonald lands but Conlon takes it in his stride.
McDonald shoots in and drives through. Conlon sprawls well.
Conlon tries to close the distance and clinch up but McDonald swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Conlon throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Conlon takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
A cross from Conlon lands.
Conlon is trying hard to land a takedown here. McDonald sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Conlon doesn't succeed with the takedown

and McDonald counters by clinching up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Conlon takes an elbow to the temple.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

McDonald breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Conlon misses with a head kick.
Conlon swings away with a leg kick that misses.
McDonald takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

McDonald gets a clinch.
Conlon is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that McDonald can do to turn this around?
Conlon tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Conlon is trying to pull guard but McDonald turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

McDonald's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Conlon throws a combination. McDonald tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
McDonald dives in and grabs Conlon's left leg, looking for a takedown. Conlon pushes down on McDonald's head and hops out.
McDonald pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Conlon lands a front kick.

McDonald clinches with his opponent.
McDonald holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Conlon tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. McDonald smiles and moves away.
Conlon tries to clinch but McDonald moves out of range.
McDonald shoots in and drives through. Conlon sprawls well.
Conlon leaves McDonald with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

McDonald moves into the clinch successfully.
Conlon is trying to force a seperation but McDonald has the dominant position.
McDonald is working Conlon over against the cage.
Conlon wants to get back to striking at distance but McDonald won't allow it.
McDonald tries for a takedown. No joy.

Conlon escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
McDonald defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Conlon.

McDonald takes the fight into the clinch.
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!
Conlon tries to score a body lock takedown but McDonald shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Darren Conlon dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Hamish McDonald's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

McDonald closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Conlon fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
McDonald tries to counter by closing the distance.
Conlon scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Conlon tries to clinch up.
Sloppy strikes from McDonald. Those never looked like landing.
Conlon seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
McDonald fails with a takedown attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Conlon shoots in for a double leg but McDonald sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Conlon fails with a takedown attempt.
McDonald tries to counter with a clinch but Conlon shakes him off and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Darren Conlon. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Conlon tries to clinch up but McDonald circles away and keeps his distance.
McDonald shoots in looking for a takedown. Conlon tries to sprawl out of it but McDonald keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Conlon manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Darren Conlon is winning the standup battle so far.
Conlon looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? McDonald is fending him off so far but Conlon persists. Nope, McDonald circles away and we're back to standing.
McDonald throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

McDonald has closed the distance and engaged Conlon in a clinch.
Conlon fails to pull the fight into his guard.
McDonald lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Conlon.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

McDonald breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
McDonald tries to score a power double leg takedown but Conlon sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten McDonald somewhat.
Conlon fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Despite the aggression on McDonald's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.

McDonald moves into the clinch.
Conlon takes a knee to the side of the body.
McDonald keeps control of Conlon as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Conlon tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Conlon is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables McDonald to keep the fight standing.

McDonald breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McDonald closes the distance and clinches up with Conlon, looking for a takedown. McDonald pushes Conlon against the cage but Conlon circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Conlon throws a series of strikes that have McDonald backpedaling.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Conlon is defended easily by McDonald.
McDonald lands a front kick.
Conlon rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but McDonald moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

McDonald closes the distance and pushes Conlon back into the cage.
McDonald just leaning against Conlon, taking a breather.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

McDonald gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Conlon has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but McDonald is on him like a limpet, forcing Conlon back against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Conlon letting McDonald take a breather here.
Conlon misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Conlon is trying to break the clinch but McDonald has him pressed against the cage.
McDonald manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
McDonald tries to score a body lock takedown but Conlon shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Hamish McDonald.
I think Conlon 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 Michael Johnstone scores the fight 29:28
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight 29:28
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Darren Conlon!