PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Paul McCann (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and JP Bolton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). On his way into the cage it seems that Paul McCann has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Paul McCann seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

McCann
vs
Bolton

190 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

196 cm
18
195 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Paul McCann!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, JP Bolton!
The judges for this bout are Sandra Marshall, Peter Branson and Michael Johnstone.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McCann takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Bolton swats away the attempt to clinch by McCann.
Bolton throws a sloppy head kick and McCann moves out of range easily.
A thudding body kick lands there by McCann!
McCann tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Bolton was well out of range. Poor timing from McCann.
McCann wants to clinch up but Bolton keeps it at a distance.
McCann tries to close the distance and clinch up but Bolton swats him away and circles back towards the center.
McCann shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Bolton eats them both and turns towards McCann to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
McCann wants to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Horrible takedown attempt by Bolton or perhaps it was just good defense by McCann, which made it look bad.
McCann tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Bolton swivels and escapes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCann throws a sloppy head kick and Bolton moves out of range easily.
Bolton tries to counter with a clinch but McCann shakes him off and moves away.
Bolton looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? McCann is fending him off so far but Bolton persists. Nope, McCann circles away and we're back to standing.

Bolton closes the distance and clinches.
McCann lands a hook to the side of the head.
Bolton can't get the takedown.
Paul McCann has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of JP Bolton.
Bolton has had enough of the clinch but McCann keeps him there for the moment.
Bolton wants to get back to striking at distance but McCann won't allow it.
McCann is trying to break the clinch but Bolton is controlling him.

McCann breaks the clinch.
McCann misses the shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bolton shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with McCann but McCann pushes him off and we're back to square one.
McCann stuffs the takedown.
Bolton looks for a takedown but McCann sprawls well.

Bolton moves into the clinch.
Bolton is trying to break the clinch but McCann is controlling him.
McCann scores a nice knee to the body.
Bolton has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by McCann after a bit of a struggle.
Bolton tries for a takedown but McCann manages to get underhooks.
Bolton looks winded!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bolton throws a knee to the head but misses.

McCann breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
McCann throws a sloppy head kick and Bolton moves out of range easily.
McCann thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Bolton if he has to take too many more of those.
Bolton fails with a takedown attempt.
Bolton shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as McCann sprawls well. McCann wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Bolton gets slowly back to his feet.
McCann lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCann tries to clinch but Bolton moves out of range.
McCann wants to clinch.
Despite the aggression on Bolton's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.

Bolton clinches up against the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bolton tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Bolton lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but McCann circles away quickly and effectively.
Nice body kick there by McCann.
McCann wants to clinch up but Bolton keeps it at a distance.
Bolton wants to clinch.
McCann scores with a kick to the midsection.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A punch combination from Bolton misses.
McCann seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Paul McCann is winning the standup battle so far.
McCann tries a head kick but it misses.
Bolton stuffs the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bolton shoots in for a takedown but McCann shows good takedown defense.
McCann shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Bolton defends it nicely.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
McCann misses with a double jab.
McCann wants to clinch up but Bolton keeps it at a distance.
Bolton misses with a head kick.
McCann is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Bolton can do to turn this around?
McCann throws a half hearted mid kick.
Bolton tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Bolton shoots and misses
and McCann counters with a series of strikes. Bolton will be more careful next time no doubt.

Bolton closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
The referee is keeping an eye on Bolton - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bolton wants to take the fight to the mat but McCann manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Paul McCann has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of JP Bolton.
Bolton has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by McCann after a bit of a struggle.
McCann misses with a knee to the head.
Bolton jumps guard but McCann turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
McCann is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Bolton can't break the clinch.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bolton tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and McCann counters with a series of strikes. Bolton will be more careful next time no doubt.
McCann moves out of range of the strikes.
Bolton stuffs the takedown.
McCann wants to clinch up but Bolton keeps it at a distance.
Bolton fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but McCann avoids it really well and circles away.
Bolton throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCann tries to clinch but Bolton is having none of it.
Despite the aggression on Bolton's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Bolton looks for a takedown but McCann sprawls well.
Bolton fails to land the takedown.

Bolton shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches McCann napping and manages to drive through into side control!
McCann is trying to work for a sweep but Bolton has mounted him!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
McCann tries to control the position but Bolton now has his back.

McCann showing good submission defense here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Paul McCann will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Bolton tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but McCann defends well and Bolton ends up having to push McCann into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
McCann tries to close the distance and clinch up but Bolton swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Bolton fails with the takedown

and McCann counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by McCann.

McCann breaks from the clinch.
Bolton takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Bolton tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bolton leaves McCann with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Bolton shoots in looking for a takedown but McCann manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Bolton's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
McCann seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Paul McCann has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of JP Bolton.
McCann has his takedown stuffed
and Bolton counters with a one-two to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCann buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

Bolton gets a clinch.
McCann has Bolton pressed against the cage, preventing Bolton from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Bolton tries to break free but McCann pushes him back against the cage.
Bolton tries for a takedown but McCann manages to get underhooks.
Bolton jumps guard but McCann turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Bolton tries to pull guard but McCann holds him up against the cage and eventually Bolton drops back down to his feet.

McCann manages to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Bolton is defended easily by McCann.
McCann tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Bolton is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
McCann connects with a high kick.
Bolton shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts McCann as he jumps to the side.
McCann tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Bolton manages to circle out of the way.

McCann drives through and clinches with Bolton against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCann can't break the clinch.
Bolton jumps guard but McCann turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Bolton tries for a takedown. No joy.
Paul McCann has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Bolton misses with a punch to the body.

McCann breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Bolton drives through and clinches with McCann against the cage.
Bolton tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. McCann just stands there and leans against the cage.

Bolton manages to pull guard.
McCann has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bolton is trying to control the position from the bottom.
McCann throws a big right hand that misses.
Bolton looking to hit a scissor sweep but McCann is one step ahead there.
Bolton is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

And that's the end of the fight!
Paul McCann showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for McCann, 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 Sandra Marshall scores the fight 30:27
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paul McCann!