PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Don Ovan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tim McIlrath (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Ovan
vs
McIlrath

160 cm
22
145 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

170 cm
18
152 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Slaughterhouse Nutrition
Blitzkrieg Supplements

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Don Ovan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Tim McIlrath!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Daniel Cesar and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McIlrath swings for the body but Ovan moves out of range.
Don Ovan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McIlrath moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Ovan tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but McIlrath swivels and escapes.
Ovan misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Ovan misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
No luck for Ovan with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Don Ovan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A punch lands to the side of Ovan 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Left hook, right uppercut from Ovan.
Ovan slips under a jab from McIlrath.
Ovan could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
A big left from McIlrath misses.
Ovan has a takedown stuffed.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McIlrath checks a leg kick.
McIlrath fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ovan manages to avoid it.

Ovan has taken the fight to the clinch.
Ovan is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

McIlrath pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Ovan closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
McIlrath throws a looping overhand right but Ovan ducks down to avoid it.
McIlrath drops Ovan with a hook right on the temple. He thinks about going to the ground but Ovan looks back up at him and smiles so McIlrath waves him back to his feet - he obviously thinks he can knock him out after that shot landed.

Ovan is rocked!

It looks like Don Ovan has been cut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The fighters circling - McIlrath throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
McIlrath just misses with a punch to the body.
Ovan has a takedown stuffed.
Ovan uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from McIlrath.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ovan looks for a takedown but McIlrath sprawls well.
Ovan throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around McIlrath's waist but McIlrath gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Ovan off to one side.
Ovan shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has McIlrath pinned against the cage. McIlrath gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Ovan is breathing heavily.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ovan looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A head kick misses from Ovan.
Ovan tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but McIlrath swivels and escapes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from McIlrath. No joy for Ovan on that attempt.
Ovan avoids a punch combination nicely.
Ovan throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and McIlrath counters with a beautiful punch that sends Ovan to the canvas!
Oh Ovan is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
McIlrath throwing strikes but missing.
Ovan avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Ovan seems to have got his legs back now.

McIlrath thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
McIlrath throws a big right hand that misses.

McIlrath 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.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McIlrath stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ovan swivels though and keeps the full guard.
McIlrath advances position into side control!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ovan is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Ovan avoids the body shot from McIlrath.
McIlrath misses with a wild combination.
Ovan tries to clinch
and Ovan takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Nice sprawl there from McIlrath as Ovan shoots in.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
McIlrath misses with a double jab
and Ovan connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tim McIlrath dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Don Ovan's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

McIlrath with a jab.
Tim McIlrath seems to be getting the better of the standup.
McIlrath cracks Ovan with a big right hand and Ovan goes down!
Ovan throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Ovan utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
McIlrath slips nicely into half guard.
McIlrath prevents Ovan from improving his position.
Ovan keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

McIlrath is looking for a kimura here.
McIlrath not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
McIlrath not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ovan clinches but McIlrath breaks the clinch
and McIlrath counters with a left to the body.
Don Ovan is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ovan tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but McIlrath swivels and escapes.
McIlrath dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
McIlrath feints and then winds up with a huge right hand that connects perfectly and sends Ovan sprawling to the canvas! Ovan rolls over backwards and springs off the cage and manages to regain his footing - how acrobatic! Oh, he's still wobbly - can McIlrath finish him?!
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!
McIlrath swings and misses with a shot to the body

and Ovan counters by moving into the clinch.

McIlrath breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Ovan. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
McIlrath steps into range and cracks Ovan with a monster punch that buckles his knees! Ovan flops backwards and McIlrath dives into his guard looking to finish!
McIlrath trying to control but Ovan is working from the bottom.
Ovan working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from McIlrath.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ovan keeping moving, preventing McIlrath from controlling successfully.
McIlrath working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
McIlrath pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ovan is keeping the position for now.
McIlrath throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ovan works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
McIlrath looking to pass the guard.
McIlrath controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
McIlrath throws a jab but it's blocked by Ovan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Horrible takedown by Ovan or perhaps it was just good defense by McIlrath which made him look bad.
Ovan closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Ovan shoots for a takedown but McIlrath saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Don Ovan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
McIlrath looks to score with a jab to the body but Ovan is just out of range.
McIlrath misses with a straight left.
McIlrath swings and misses with a hook to the body.
McIlrath has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Ovan staying out of range there.
Ovan shoots in but no luck this time.
McIlrath throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McIlrath takes a swing at Ovan's ribcage but misses.
Ovan tries to clinch
and McIlrath counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Ovan clinches but McIlrath breaks the clinch
and McIlrath counters with a nice uppercut.
Nice takedown defense from McIlrath. No joy for Ovan on that attempt.
McIlrath looks to throw the jab but Ovan is out of range.
McIlrath throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
McIlrath swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Ovan misses with a takedown attempt - McIlrath sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
McIlrath throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Ovan sees it coming and avoids it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tim McIlrath showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Don Ovan's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

McIlrath scores with a nice head shot.
Ovan closes the distance and clinches up with McIlrath, looking for a takedown. Ovan pushes McIlrath against the cage but McIlrath circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Ovan uses good head movement to avoid the hook from McIlrath.
Ovan throws a lazy body kick
and McIlrath counters with a right hand to the body.
Ovan uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by McIlrath.
McIlrath swinging wilding here.
McIlrath lands the left hand.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
McIlrath lands a body shot.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
McIlrath is looking for an opening here. He's unloaded a big left hand that catches Ovan flush on the jaw and sends him tumbling to the canvas! Ovan is out cold! McIlrath holds back from landing any unnecessary shots to his unconscious opponent, as the referee reacts slowly to the situation. A brutal knockout and then some excellent sportsmanship - this guy is my new favorite fighter!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:03 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Tim McIlrath!