PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joseph Mckay (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Bartell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Mckay
vs
Bartell

160 cm
24
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 1

200 cm
25
204 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 1, fighting out of London, Joseph Mckay!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, James Bartell!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, James Atkins and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mckay fails with a takedown attempt.
Bartell thinks about the counter body kick.
Bartell gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Mckay counters with a single leg into guard. Bartell didn't expect that.
Mckay throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Bartell works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Bartell is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Mckay is controlling him.
Mckay might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Mckay's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Mckay stands up and waves to Bartell to follow him.
Mckay really is a fat lump.

Mckay fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Bartell sprawls well initially but Mckay persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Bartell tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Mckay manages to move to mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mckay controlling from the full mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bartell is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Mckay controlling from mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bartell trying desperately to get to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mckay sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Mckay cracks Bartell with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Mckay controlling from mount.

Mckay gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mckay fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Bartell to the ground. Mckay is now in Bartell's guard.

Bartell kicks Mckay off and gets to his feet.

Mckay looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Bartell looks winded!

Mckay stands up from half guard.

Mckay closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Mckay has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Mckay throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Bartell was covering up waiting for the punch and Mckay finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Bartell can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Mckay controls the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bartell is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Mckay is controlling him.

Mckay gets to his feet - Bartell follows without any prompting.
Mckay shoots in for a takedown but Bartell shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Mckay closes the distance and clinches up with Bartell, looking for a takedown. Mckay pushes Bartell against the cage but Bartell circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joseph Mckay. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bartell shoots in looking for a takedown but Mckay manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Bartell's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Excellent takedown into side control there by Mckay.

Mckay tries for a kimura but Bartell is defending well.

Mckay is trying to get an arm triangle but Bartell is defending well.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Mckay decides to stand up, so the ref orders Bartell to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mckay doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Bartell jabs at Mckay's body.
Bartell stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Bartell wants it to stay on the feet.
Bartell tries to score a power double leg takedown but Mckay sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Bartell somewhat.
Bartell is breathing heavily.
Mckay shoots in for a takedown but Bartell shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Joseph Mckay is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bartell misses with a takedown attempt

and Mckay holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Bartell on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Mckay gets a trip takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well, if Mckay is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Joseph Mckay overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Mckay decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bartell rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Mckay moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
No luck for Mckay with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joseph Mckay. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mckay misses with a takedown attempt - Bartell sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Mckay tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Bartell defends well and Mckay ends up having to push Bartell into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Nice takedown defense from Mckay. No joy for Bartell on that attempt.

Mckay clinches.
Mckay misses with a hook to the ribs.

Mckay's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Bartell dives in for a single leg takedown but Mckay sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Mckay changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Bartell tries to avoid it but Mckay manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Bartell to the ground. Bartell escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bartell leaves Mckay with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Mckay is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Bartell can do to turn this around?
Bartell shoots in for a takedown but Mckay shows good takedown defense.
Mckay goes for a double leg but Bartell avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Bartell continues to drive forward.

Bartell moves into the clinch.

Mckay pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Mckay fails to land the takedown.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bartell goes for a double leg but Mckay avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Mckay continues to drive forward.
Bartell defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Mckay.
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 Joseph Mckay will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Bartell clinches with his opponent.

Mckay breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Bartell closes the distance and clinches up with Mckay, looking for a takedown. Bartell pushes Mckay against the cage but Mckay circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Mckay.
Mckay looks for a takedown but Bartell sprawls well.

Bartell forces Mckay back against the cage and clinches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Mckay is trying to trip Bartell. He has hold of a leg but Bartell is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Mckay persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Bartell is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Mckay is controlling him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bartell is looking to stand back up but Mckay counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Bartell.

Mckay stands up from half guard.
Bartell fails with the takedown.
Mckay drops down looking for a counter takedown but Bartell sprawls and moves away.
James Bartell seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Bartell has taken the fight to the clinch.

Mckay pulls Bartell into guard.
Bartell wants to get up but he can't break Mckay's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bartell stops Mckay from standing up.
Bartell takes a decent strike to the side of the head.
Mckay wants to stand but Bartell is controlling the position.
Mckay looking to hit a scissor sweep but Bartell is one step ahead there.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Mckay bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Bartell's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mckay stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Mckay shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Bartell's guard.
Bartell wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Mckay manages to pass to side control.

Bartell is trying to stand back up but Mckay is controlling him
Bartell pushes Mckay off but Mckay dives into side control.

Mckay has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bartell keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joseph Mckay. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Mckay drives through with a takedown into guard.

Mckay decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Mckay shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Bartell but Bartell pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Mckay shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mckay blocks a head kick by Bartell.
Mckay fails with the takedown.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joseph Mckay showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Mckay, 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Glass scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joseph Mckay!