PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Chris McDonald (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joaquim Branco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Joaquim Branco acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

McDonald
vs
Branco

176 cm
18
150 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

172 cm
18
145 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Solid chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Chris McDonald!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Joaquim Branco!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Franklyn Lucas and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Branco fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with McDonald, pushing him back against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Branco.
Branco lands with a light punch inside.
Branco lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Branco softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Branco lands a left hand that snaps the head of McDonald backwards.
Branco working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
A nice right hand lands inside from Branco.
Branco tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Branco lands a hook to the side of the head.
Branco working aggressively here.
Branco doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
McDonald is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Branco is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Branco lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Branco lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Branco scores with a shoulder strike.
McDonald's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
McDonald prevents a body shot from Branco.
Branco scores with a nice hook to the head.
Branco pressing his opponent against the cage.
McDonald blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Branco lands with a short punch from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Branco.
Branco has a couple of punches blocked by McDonald.
Branco working aggressively here.
Branco pushes McDonald back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Branco lands a body shot.
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!
A nice right hand lands inside from Branco.
Branco can't find room to land a body shot as McDonald controls the action.
Branco lands with a light punch inside.
Branco scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Branco as McDonald tries to tie him up.
Branco lands a hook that snaps the head of McDonald backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Branco lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Branco makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
McDonald is trying to drag Branco to the mat but Branco just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Branco lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Branco cracks McDonald with a nice body shot.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Branco scores with a shoulder strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Branco tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Branco lands with a left to the head.
Branco is leaning against McDonald and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Branco scores with a nice hook to the head.
Branco is working McDonald over against the cage.
A right hook to the body lands for Branco.
Branco misses with a punch to the body.
Branco lands on the inside with an uppercut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Branco working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Branco throws a blind hook that connects with the side of McDonalds head.
Stalling in the clinch from Branco.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joaquim Branco dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Branco thows a left - swing and a miss!
McDonald changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Branco connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

Branco closes the distance and pushes McDonald back into the cage.
Branco has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
A body shot lands from Branco.
Branco working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Branco manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
McDonald drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Branco gets the underhooks and prevents it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McDonald misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Branco fails to land.
A head punch blocked on the inside by McDonald.
McDonald blocks a punch to the side of the head.
McDonald is trying to break the clinch but Branco has him pressed against the cage.
Branco lands with a short shot to the head.
Branco fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Branco lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Branco digs a right hand underneath McDonald's ribcage. McDonald let out a lung full of air as it connected.
A short uppercut from Branco.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Branco creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Branco misses with the head strike.
Branco tries to throw a body punch but McDonald avoids it by throwing Branco back against the cage.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Branco gets through McDonald's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Nice body punch from Branco - that landed with a thud.
Branco lands a body shot in the clinch.
McDonald wants a takedown.
Joaquim Branco seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Branco working some nice short punches in 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!
Branco makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Branco lands a shot to the body.
McDonald takes a shot to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A short right from Branco on the inside.
Branco is working McDonald over against the cage.
Branco lands a shoulder strike.
A nice right hand lands inside from Branco.
Branco content to slow the pace in the clinch.
A short right from Branco on the inside.
Branco lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of McDonald backwards.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Branco.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Branco presses McDonald against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Branco scores with an uppercut up the middle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for Branco to work.
McDonald's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A shot in the inside from Branco.
Branco swings wildly with an uppercut but McDonald uses good head movement to avoid it.
Branco lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Branco lands with a short shot to the head.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Branco.
A short body shot lands from Branco as the two fighters clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joaquim Branco showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

McDonald takes one on the button.

Branco has taken the fight to the clinch.
Branco throws a blind hook that connects with the side of McDonalds head.
Branco throws a punch but it's blocked by McDonald.
Still in the clinch, Branco scores with a nice short uppercut.
Branco makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Branco lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of McDonald backwards.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Branco works on McDonald's body with a couple of short punches.
Branco makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Branco lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A shot in the inside from Branco.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Branco lands a left hand.
Branco lands a hook that snaps the head of McDonald backwards.
McDonald tries for a takedown but Branco manages to get underhooks.
Branco lands a right hand that snaps the head of McDonald backwards.
Still in the clinch, Branco scores with a nice short uppercut.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Branco.
Branco lands with a short punch from the clinch.
A left hand lands to the body for Branco.
A short right from Branco.
A nice left hand lands by Branco.
Nice body punch from Branco.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Branco lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Branco lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
A short right from Branco.
Branco digs a right hand into McDonald's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on McDonald's gas tank.
Branco lands a left hand.
Branco digs a right hand into McDonald's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on McDonald's gas tank.
Branco lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Still in the clinch, Branco scores with a nice short uppercut.

McDonald is rocked!
A short right from Branco.
Oh McDonald is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Nice body punch from Branco.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McDonald wants a takedown.
McDonald seems to have got his legs back now.
Branco makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Branco lands a hook that snaps the head of McDonald backwards.
Branco is struggling to control the position.
Branco lands a left hand.
McDonald fails to pull guard.
Chris McDonald has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chris McDonald. That's going to take a lot out of him.
McDonald doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Branco lands a right hand that snaps the head of McDonald backwards.
Branco lands with a left to the head.
McDonald goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
McDonald misses with a body punch.
Branco lands with a short shot to the head.
Branco lands a nice shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Branco scores with a hook to the body.
Branco blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A body shot lands from Branco.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Branco creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A shot in the inside from Branco.
Branco scores with a shoulder strike.
McDonald misses with a punch to the body.
Branco blocks a body shot from McDonald.
McDonald goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Branco digs a right hand into McDonald's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on McDonald's gas tank.
Branco taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Branco lands a shoulder strike.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Branco lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Branco scores with a shot to the side of McDonald's head.
Branco scores with a shot to the side of McDonald's head.
Branco blocks a body shot from McDonald.
Joaquim Branco is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Branco managing to block the knees to the body from McDonald.
McDonald doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joaquim Branco comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Branco has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Columbo Gatti scores the fight for Joaquim Branco!
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight for Joaquim Branco!
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight for Joaquim Branco!

Joaquim Branco wins by unanimous decision!