PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kevin Mcdonald (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mo Thanyoo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Mcdonald
vs
Thanyoo

193 cm
38
183 lbs
16 - 10 - 1

179 cm
40
174 lbs
18 - 16 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Kevin Mcdonald!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Mo Thanyoo!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Yves DeLean and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A decent looking body kick lands there for Mcdonald.
Thanyoo has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Thanyoo drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
A slow jab from Thanyoo misses its intended target.
Mcdonald scores with a punch to the head.
Thanyoo throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Mcdonald's waist but Mcdonald gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Thanyoo off to one side.
Thanyoo is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Mcdonald.
Mcdonald misses with an uppercut. Thanyoo saw that one coming.

Thanyoo rushes Mcdonald and presses him up against the cage.
With the fighters up against the cage, Mcdonald throws an elbow but misses.

Thanyoo manages to break the clinch.
Thanyoo throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Thanyoo wants to clinch up but Mcdonald keeps it at a distance.
Thanyoo jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Thanyoo on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Thanyoo swings for the body but Mcdonald moves out of range.
Mcdonald throwing a counter right hand but Thanyoo manages to avoid it.
Thanyoo moves out of range of the leg kick from Mcdonald.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mcdonald ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Thanyoo moves away.

Thanyoo has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thanyoo misses with a hook from the clinch.
Mcdonald lands with a right to the head.
Mcdonald is leaning against Thanyoo and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Mcdonald tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Thanyoo's elbow.
Thanyoo wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Thanyoo fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Mcdonald.
A short right from Mcdonald.
A nice right hand lands inside from Mcdonald.
Thanyoo is working for takedown but Mcdonald is calmly controlling the position for now.
A nice right hand lands inside from Thanyoo.
Thanyoo blocks a body shot from Mcdonald.

Mcdonald breaks from the clinch.
A swing and a miss from Thanyoo.
Thanyoo throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Thanyoo is looking to clinch but Mcdonald is avoiding it.
Thanyoo scores with a nice right hand.
Thanyoo lands a glancing blow to the side of Mcdonald's head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Thanyoo moves out of range as Mcdonald strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thanyoo keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Mcdonald.
Mcdonald goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Mcdonald gets off balance looking for a body kick

and Thanyoo counters with a shoot takedown. Mcdonald fights it but they end up in guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Mcdonald holds on and takes a little breather.
Thanyoo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Mcdonald looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Thanyoo working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Mcdonald pulls Thanyoo in close to prevent any damage.
Thanyoo has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Thanyoo slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Thanyoo passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Thanyoo in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thanyoo wants to control but Mcdonald is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mcdonald is looking to reverse the position.
Mcdonald can't do much from the bottom here.

Thanyoo is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Mcdonald knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Thanyoo is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Mcdonald knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Mcdonald tries to bench press Thanyoo off him but Thanyoo keeps the position.
Mcdonald is in a bad spot here and he knows it... just holding on for now.
Thanyoo wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mcdonald keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mcdonald tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Thanyoo passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Mcdonald!
Thanyoo with the ground and pound from mount.
Mcdonald is looking to get to half guard.
Thanyoo trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Mcdonald is looking to get to half guard.
Thanyoo with shots to the head and body - Mcdonald looks very uncomfortable down there.
Mcdonald can't escape the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mo Thanyoo will probably get the nod.
That's time! Mcdonald's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Mcdonald ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Mcdonald connects with a jab.
Nice sprawl there from Mcdonald as Thanyoo shoots in.
Mcdonald connects with a solid leg kick.
Thanyoo misses with an attempted mid kick.
Mcdonald went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Mcdonald attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Mcdonald swings for the body but Thanyoo moves out of range.
Mcdonald swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Thanyoo scores with a jab. Mcdonald acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

Thanyoo gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Thanyoo wants the takedown. Mcdonald is fighting it off but Thanyoo persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Mcdonald's guard against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mcdonald tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Mcdonald trying to control the position.
Mcdonald keeping moving, preventing Thanyoo from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mcdonald is trying to control the position but Thanyoo postures up.
Mcdonald looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Mcdonald can't keep his opponent in guard - Thanyoo advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Mcdonald keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Mcdonald gets back to full guard.
Mcdonald trying to keep a closed guard but Thanyoo is proving a slippery customer.
Mcdonald is really struggling to control Thanyoo but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Thanyoo trying to control the position from guard on top but Mcdonald is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mcdonald is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Thanyoo trying to control but Mcdonald is working from the bottom.

That's two 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.
Thanyoo is stalling in the full guard.
Thanyoo trying to control the position from guard on top but Mcdonald is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mcdonald has his hands on Thanyoo's head, controlling the position.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Mcdonald throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Thanyoo tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Mcdonald defends well and Thanyoo ends up having to push Mcdonald into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Thanyoo takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Mcdonald fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Thanyoo takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Some bone on bone action there as Thanyoo checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mcdonald misses with a low kick.
Thanyoo tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Mcdonald paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Mcdonald swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Kevin Mcdonald is winning the standup battle so far.
The fight stays on the outside here - Thanyoo looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Thanyoo drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Thanyoo wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Mcdonald, who protects the arm well.
Thanyoo wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mcdonald keeps working.
Mcdonald is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Thanyoo's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Mcdonald trying to control from the bottom.
Thanyoo thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Mcdonald's head.
Mcdonald is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thanyoo is controlling the pace.
Mcdonald trying to control here.
Ground and pound from Thanyoo.
Thanyoo missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Thanyoo passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Mcdonald!
Thanyoo pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Mo Thanyoo has got the better of the ground game so far.
Mcdonald doing his best to control the position. Can he escape?
Mcdonald wants to hold on but Thanyoo pushes him away.
Mcdonald is trying to escape the mount.
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!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mo Thanyoo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Thanyoo shoots for a double leg takedown but Mcdonald sprawls well. He's pushed Thanyoo's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Thanyoo scores with a sloppy right hand. Mcdonald should have avoided that one.
Thanyoo shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Mcdonald as he avoids it easily.
Thanyoo misses with a hook. Mcdonald ducked under it nicely.
Mcdonald misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Thanyoo.
Mcdonald throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

Thanyoo closes the distance and clinches.
Thanyoo scores with a shoulder strike.
Mcdonald lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Thanyoo backwards.
Mcdonald blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Mcdonald doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mcdonald misses with a punch to the body.
Thanyoo throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Mcdonalds head.
Thanyoo stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

Thanyoo has clasped his hands together around Mcdonald's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Thanyoo working the ground and pound but Mcdonald is defending the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mcdonald is trying to get back to half guard.
Thanyoo trying to control the action but Mcdonald is working from the bottom.
Mcdonald is looking to regain half guard here but Thanyoo keeps moving and retains side control.
Mcdonald gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Thanyoo perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Thanyoo tries to pass to full mount but Mcdonald defends it.
Mcdonald is looking to improve his position.

Thanyoo is trying to work for a kimura but Mcdonald is defending well.
Mcdonald trying to hold on to Thanyoo's head to control him but Thanyoo postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Mcdonald is looking to improve his position.
Mcdonald keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Mcdonald trying to hold on to Thanyoo's head to control him but Thanyoo postures up.
Thanyoo throwing shots but Mcdonald is blocking nicely.
Mcdonald is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Thanyoo looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Thanyoo content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thanyoo lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mcdonald gets full guard.
Thanyoo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Mcdonald tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Mo Thanyoo is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Thanyoo wants to pass the guard but Mcdonald is keeping the position.
Thanyoo lands a couple of elbows.
Thanyoo tries to free his leg and advance position but Mcdonald is retaining full guard.
Thanyoo stopping the sweep attempt from Mcdonald.
Thanyoo slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Thanyoo preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Thanyoo looking to pass the guard.
Thanyoo passes Mcdonald's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Thanyoo is thwarting Mcdonald's attempts to control the position.
Thanyoo thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Thanyoo is looking to take a break and control but Mcdonald is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Mcdonald has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Thanyoo is working away from the top position though.
Thanyoo has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Thanyoo wants to pass to mount but Mcdonald is defending the position.
Kevin Mcdonald has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mcdonald has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Thanyoo is working away from the top position though.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mo Thanyoo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Thanyoo winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Robert Douchet scores the fight 28:30
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 27:30
Judge William Peck scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mo Thanyoo!
An out of breath Mo Thanyoo thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.