PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Conor McDonald (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sylvester Malone (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). McDonald comes to the cage accompanied by Hamburger. Conor McDonald has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

McDonald
vs
Malone

183 cm
29
186 lbs
14 - 10 - 1

184 cm
28
192 lbs
5 - 2 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Conor McDonald!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Sylvester Malone!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Yukihiro Shimada and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McDonald scores with a nice head shot.
We've been informed that Malone has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
McDonald feints and then cracks Malone's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Malone down.
Malone jabbing away but nothing is landing.
McDonald throws a head kick but Malone moves out of range.
McDonald throws out a loose jab but Malone uses good head movement to avoid it.
McDonald throws the left hand but Malone avoids the punch easily.
Malone misses with a right hand
letting McDonald counter with a right hand.
Malone keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

It looks like Conor McDonald has been cut.
Malone tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
McDonald bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
McDonald throws a hook but Malone blocks it.
McDonald just misses with a punch to the body.

Malone shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
This has been an exciting period of action!
McDonald tries to get to full guard but Malone has control of the leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McDonald avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Malone.
McDonald wants to improve his position but Malone is controlling well.
Malone wants to control but McDonald is keeping him busy.
McDonald won't allow Malone to pass to mount.
McDonald wants to get back to full guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. McDonald manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Malone trying to control the position from guard on top but McDonald is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Malone scoring with punches to the head and body.
Malone lands a couple of digs.
Malone won't allow McDonald to sweep him here.
Malone passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McDonald is not content to let Malone control the position.
McDonald tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Malone wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Malone wants to control but McDonald is keeping him busy.
Malone might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control McDonald haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
McDonald avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Malone.
McDonald is looking to regain half guard here but Malone keeps moving and retains side control.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
McDonald gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Malone sitting and controlling from the half guard.
McDonald trying to hold on to Malone's head to control him but Malone postures up.
Malone seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
McDonald is looking to improve his position.
McDonald moves into full guard.
Malone chips away with some ground and pound.
Malone stands up over McDonald, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
McDonald keeping moving, preventing Malone from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Malone stopping the sweep attempt from McDonald.
McDonald keeping moving, preventing Malone from controlling successfully.

McDonald is looking for a triangle but Malone pushes his legs off easily.

McDonald looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
McDonald tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Malone wants to control from the top but McDonald keeps moving.
McDonald looking to hit a scissor sweep but Malone is one step ahead there.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
McDonald keeping moving, preventing Malone from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Sylvester Malone will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Conor McDonald's cut.
That's time! McDonald's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

McDonald uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Malone.
Good work by McDonald as he checks the leg kick.
A solid body kick from McDonald.
Malone tries to clinch up.
McDonald connects with a leg kick. Malone looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
McDonald misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Malone swings away with a body shot that misses
and McDonald counters with a thumping low kick.
McDonald lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

McDonald closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Malone to the mat! Malone manages to get full guard.
McDonald loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Malone 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 lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
McDonald distracts Malone with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malone bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in McDonald's guard.

McDonald escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Malone gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Malone is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
McDonald wants to sweep but no luck.
Malone stays in close to McDonald's body and controls the position.
Malone chips away with some ground and pound.
McDonald keeping moving, preventing Malone from controlling successfully.
Malone slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Malone trying to control the action but McDonald is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McDonald tries to bench press Malone off him but Malone keeps the position.
Malone trying to control the position but McDonald is working away.
McDonald is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.

Malone tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Malone has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McDonald looking for a sweep but Malone has passed into full mount! Oh no!
McDonald regains half guard.
McDonald tries to roll over but Malone keeps him under control.
Malone throwing shots but McDonald is blocking nicely.
McDonald keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Malone wants to take a breather but McDonald is having none of it.
Malone slips a nice elbow through McDonald's hands, connecting with McDonald's forehead.
McDonald is looking to improve his position.
McDonald is not content to let Malone control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McDonald moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

McDonald throws his legs up looking for a submission but Malone uses it to pass to side control.
Malone working the ground and pound from side control.
McDonald is not content to let Malone control the position.
Malone lands some shots froms side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
McDonald seems a little lost for a moment, as Malone dominates the positioning.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Malone is looking to take a break and control but McDonald is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
McDonald tries to bench press Malone off him but Malone keeps the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Sylvester Malone will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Conor McDonald's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

McDonald scores with a shot to the body.
McDonald looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Nice sprawl there from McDonald as Malone shoots in.

McDonald clinches up against the cage.
McDonald digs a right hand into Malone's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Malone's gas tank.
Malone trying to control the position but instead, McDonald has worked for underhooks and has pushed Malone into the cage.
Malone blocking some punches.
McDonald struggles to land a body shot inside as Malone controls his hands.
Malone misses with a body punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Malone is looking for a takedown up against the cage. McDonald gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
McDonald lands a body punch in the clinch.
Malone wants a takedown.
Conor McDonald has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sylvester Malone.
McDonald misses with a hook to the ribs.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Malone.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Malone gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, McDonald regains guard.
Malone looking to sit in guard and control but McDonald gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

McDonald lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Malone looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
McDonald throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Malone works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
McDonald working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Malone's head.
McDonald stands up over Malone, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
McDonald postures up in Malone's guard and throws a big left but Malone blocks it.
McDonald lands a couple of elbows.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Malone is on top in guard.

McDonald is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Malone defends well.
McDonald has momentary wrist control but Malone slips an elbow through the middle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McDonald lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

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!
Malone lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

McDonald 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.
Malone pushing down on McDonald's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Malone has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Malone stops McDonald from getting back to his feet.
Malone lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
McDonald trying to hold on to Malone's head to control him but Malone postures up.
The fighters are battling for position here. McDonald manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McDonald keeping moving, preventing Malone from controlling successfully.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Malone's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Conor McDonald has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
McDonald has momentary wrist control but Malone slips an elbow through the middle.
Malone stays in close to McDonald's body and controls the position.
Malone working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Malone trying to control the position from guard on top but McDonald is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sylvester Malone has got the better of the ground game so far.
McDonald trying to control the position.
McDonald wants to sweep but no luck.

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.
McDonald has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Malone trying to control but McDonald is working from the bottom.
Malone's corner is telling him to maintain position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Sylvester Malone is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
McDonald throws a hook to the side of Malone's head but Malone sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A countering left hand to the body from Malone misses.
Nice cross by Malone.
McDonald takes a shot to the body in his stride.
McDonald uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Malone.
McDonald misses with a few strikes there.
Malone scores with a crisp jab that stopped McDonald in his tracks.

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 Conor McDonald.
I think Malone 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sylvester Malone!
Sylvester Malone 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.
In defeat, Conor McDonald stepped up to the mic, saying 'I need a Big Mac... '.