PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ross Pearson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kyle ONeill (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kyle ONeill has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Pearson
vs
ONeill

176 cm
22
162 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

172 cm
20
155 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Ross Pearson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Kyle ONeill!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Chris Edwards and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
ONeill fails to land the takedown.
Nice sprawl there from Pearson as ONeill shoots in.
A slow jab from Pearson misses its intended target.
ONeill fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Ross Pearson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kyle ONeill.
ONeill fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Pearson misses with a body kick.
Pearson tries to clinch there but ONeill circles away.
Pearson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
ONeill shoots for a takedown but Pearson saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Pearson misses with a looping left.

ONeill shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Pearson's guard.
Pearson wants to sweep but no luck.
Pearson will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
ONeill tries to free his leg and advance position but Pearson is retaining full guard.
Pearson wants to sweep here but ONeill controlling him for the moment.
Pearson manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Pearson tries to control but ONeill wriggling away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pearson in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

ONeill defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Pearson.
ONeill slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Pearson moves into full mount! ONeill won't be happy about that!
ONeill is wriggling around trying to escape.
Pearson in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
ONeill bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Pearson looking for a sweep. Not yet Pearson, not yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
ONeill has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Pearson is proving hard to escape from.
Pearson looking to hit a scissor sweep but ONeill is one step ahead there.
Pearson manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. ONeill manages to get himself to full guard.
ONeill looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
ONeill seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Pearson slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
ONeill looks gassed!
Pearson landing strikes.
Pearson working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pearson wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by ONeill, who protects the arm well.
Pearson tries to move into full mount but can't pass ONeill's legs.
ONeill manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Pearson is looking for a sweep. ONeill is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

ONeill seems to be working for a kimura but Pearson defends the submission attempt.
Pearson tries to get to full guard but ONeill has control of the leg.
It looks like ONeill is going to stand back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Pearson wants to clinch up but ONeill keeps it at a distance.
ONeill keeps the fight on the outside.

ONeill looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Pearson!
Pearson working to try and regain half guard.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

ONeill has control of Pearson's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Pearson regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Pearson sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Pearson gets back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ross Pearson dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business.

ONeill bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
ONeill shoots in for a double leg but Pearson sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
ONeill keeps the fight on the outside.
ONeill shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Pearson as he avoids it easily.
ONeill shoots in but no luck this time.
Ross Pearson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kyle ONeill.

Pearson moves into the clinch successfully.
Pearson working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

ONeill breaks from the clinch.
ONeill shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Pearson as he jumps to the side.
ONeill walks into a straight right hand from Pearson.
Pearson with a hook.

It looks like Kyle ONeill has been cut.
ONeill avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
ONeill fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
ONeill keeps the fight on the outside.
ONeill is breathing heavily.
Pearson misses with an attempted mid kick.

Pearson has closed the distance and engaged ONeill in a clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Pearson lands with a right to the head.
Pearson working aggressively here.
Pearson tries a knee to the head but ONeill blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pearson presses ONeill against the ropes and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
A nice right hand lands inside from Pearson.
A short uppercut from Pearson.
Pearson misses with a knee to the head.
Pearson lands with a short punch from the clinch.
ONeill has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Pearson avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Pearson with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Pearson pushes ONeill back against the ropes and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Pearson misses with a knee strike.
ONeill tries for a takedown. No joy.
ONeill takes a shot to the head.
A short uppercut from Pearson.
ONeill has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Pearson is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
ONeill goes for a takedown attempt but Pearson pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Pearson closes the distance and clinches.
A nice right hand lands inside from Pearson.
ONeill taking a breather.
ONeill is working for takedown but Pearson is calmly controlling the position for now.
Pearson using the Thai plumb to throw knees but ONeill has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
ONeill fails to pull the fight into his guard.
ONeill's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
ONeill wants a takedown.

Pearson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Pearson throws a hook but ONeill blocks it.
ONeill fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
ONeill fails with the takedown.
Pearson lands a really nice looking cross but ONeill seems unphased.
Kyle ONeill is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

ONeill moves into the clinch.
ONeill is looking for a takedown up against the ropes. Pearson gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Pearson lands a shoulder strike.
Pearson tries a knee to the head but ONeill blocks it.

ONeill turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!

ONeill tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Pearson tries to contro but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pearson wants to control but ONeill is having none of it.
Pearson keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
ONeill trying to control but Pearson is having none of it.
Pearson is looking to get to half guard.
Pearson regains half guard.
ONeill trying to control from half guard but Pearson is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Pearson is looking to improve his position.
ONeill wants to lay and pray for a moment but Pearson keeps working.
Pearson is trying to control but can't.
Pearson is trying to get back to full guard.

ONeill wants to work for an arm triangle but Pearson is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

ONeill is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Pearson defends it well.
Pearson is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of ONeill's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take ONeill's back!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ross Pearson dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Kyle ONeill's cut.
That's time! Pearson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

A combination from Pearson does no damage.
ONeill misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Pearson throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

ONeill closes the distance and clinches.
ONeill drops down looking for an ankle pick but Pearson pulls his leg out and moves away.
ONeill has a takedown stuffed.
Ross Pearson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kyle ONeill.
Pearson lands with an uppercut that bounces ONeill off the ropes and back into rage.
Pearson keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Pearson throws the kick towards the body but ONeill avoids it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Pearson connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between ONeill's hands.
Pearson throws a wild body kick that ONeill sees coming a mile off.
Pearson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but ONeill paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Ross Pearson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Pearson wants to clinch up but ONeill keeps it at a distance.
Pearson pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

That's one minute gone in the round.
ONeill circles away from the clinch attempt.
Pearson missing with a left hand there. ONeill was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

ONeill forces Pearson back against the ropes and clinches.
Pearson lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of ONeill backwards.
Pearson lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of ONeill backwards.
ONeill prevents Pearson from breaking the clinch.
Pearson swings wildly with an uppercut but ONeill uses good head movement to avoid it.
Pearson has a couple of punches blocked by ONeill.
ONeill drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Pearson with an attempt at a knee that misses.

ONeill breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
ONeill looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
ONeill closes the distance and clinches up with Pearson, looking for a takedown. ONeill pushes Pearson against the ropes but Pearson circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Pearson.
Pearson tries to close the distance and clinch but ONeill swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
ONeill fails to land the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Pearson connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Nice takedown defense from Pearson. No joy for ONeill on that attempt.
Pearson fails with an attempt to clinch.
Nice takedown defense from Pearson. No joy for ONeill on that attempt.
Pearson connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
No luck for ONeill with that takedown attempt.

Pearson moves into the clinch successfully.
Pearson misses with a punch on the inside.

ONeill has hold of one of Pearson's legs. Pearson is fighting the takedown attempt but ONeill gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Pearson wants to improve his position but instead ONeill has moved into half guard.
ONeill seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Pearson does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Kyle ONeill has got the better of the ground game so far.
ONeill wants to stand up but Pearson is controlling the position.

ONeill is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Pearson doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time ONeill.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pearson manages to get to full guard.
ONeill wants to control from the top but Pearson keeps moving.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Pearson is on top in guard.
Pearson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. ONeill is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Pearson is working hard here to advance position.
ONeill manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Pearson taking shots to the head.
ONeill trying to control but Pearson is having none of it.
Pearson is working to get back to half guard.
ONeill looking to control but Pearson is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Ross Pearson.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Pearson, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight for Ross Pearson!
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight for Ross Pearson!
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight for Ross Pearson!

Ross Pearson wins by unanimous decision!