PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Wayne McCullough (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Donnie O Brien (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). O Brien has chosen Rocky Road to Dublin as his entrance music. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

McCullough
vs
O Brien

169 cm
23
144 lbs
8 - 2 - 1

172 cm
19
142 lbs
8 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Knockout power

Final Strike Clothing
TKO Vegas

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 1, fighting out of London, Wayne McCullough!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Donnie O Brien !
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Donald Grub and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
O Brien misses with a takedown attempt - McCullough sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
O Brien tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but McCullough swivels and escapes.
McCullough throws a head kick but O Brien moves out of range.
McCullough throws a low kick, looking for O Brien 's leg but O Brien calmly moves out of range.
McCullough misses with a wild body shot.
O Brien looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
McCullough throws a front kick aimed at O Brien 's knee but O Brien avoids it well.
O Brien shoots in but no luck this time.
Wayne McCullough has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Donnie O Brien .
McCullough throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
O Brien fails with a takedown attempt.
McCullough tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McCullough thows a body shot but no joy.
McCullough tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but O Brien paws at him with a jab and circles away.
O Brien shoots for a double leg takedown but McCullough sprawls well. He's pushed O Brien 's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCullough misses with a double jab

and O Brien counters with a nice double leg into guard.
O Brien sitting in guard, not really doing much.
O Brien trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
O Brien stands and throws McCullough's legs to the side, diving into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
O Brien postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
O Brien has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
O Brien wants to lay and pray for a moment but McCullough keeps working.
The ground and pound from O Brien seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

O Brien goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, McCullough rolls with the submission and now he's on top in O Brien 's guard! Nice work there by McCullough!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McCullough preventing the sweep.
O Brien looking to control.
O Brien looking for a sweep. Not yet O Brien , not yet.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
McCullough looks to score with a jab to the body but O Brien is just out of range.
Some wild striking there from McCullough.
McCullough blocks a jab.
McCullough lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but O Brien circles away quickly and effectively.
O Brien shoots in and drives through. McCullough sprawls well.
Wayne McCullough is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
O Brien shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts McCullough as he jumps to the side.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCullough is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by O Brien .
Nice sprawl there from McCullough as O Brien shoots in.
McCullough throws a nice looking combination but O Brien bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
McCullough rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but O Brien moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

O Brien closes the distance and pushes McCullough back into the cage.
O Brien tries to pull guard but McCullough holds him up against the cage and eventually O Brien drops back down to his feet.
McCullough is trying to break free.
McCullough is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
A short right hand to the side of the head by McCullough.
McCullough has had enough of the clinch but O Brien keeps him there for the moment.
McCullough taking a breather.

McCullough breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
McCullough pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

That's four 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.
McCullough scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
McCullough is breathing heavily.
McCullough tries to clinch but O Brien is having none of it.
O Brien shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with McCullough but McCullough pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Nice defenses there by O Brien .
McCullough closes the distance and lands a one-two.
O Brien fails with the takedown.

O Brien bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
McCullough managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by O Brien .
McCullough tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but O Brien wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
McCullough is not content to let O Brien control the position.
McCullough knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for O Brien on the ground.
McCullough is looking to get back to his feet here but O Brien is keeping cool and he's managed to take McCullough's back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Wayne McCullough will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
McCullough throws a hook but O Brien avoids it easily.
O Brien fails with the takedown.
McCullough falls off balance throwing a combination

and O Brien counters with a nice double leg into side control. McCullough won't be happy with that.
McCullough is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
McCullough on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if McCullough tries to get out of the position.
O Brien is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
McCullough stops O Brien from passing to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
O Brien has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for McCullough!
O Brien throws some wild stikes that McCullough manages to avoid easily.
O Brien cracks McCullough with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
O Brien wants to control the pace but McCullough is squirming around nicely.
O Brien landing strikes from the mount and McCullough is in trouble!
McCullough keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
O Brien throws some wild stikes that McCullough manages to avoid easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

O Brien working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
O Brien can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as McCullough is looking to escape.
O Brien is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
McCullough blocking the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCullough is looking to get to half guard.
O Brien tries to control but McCullough wriggling away.
O Brien lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
O Brien working McCullough over with strikes here.
McCullough wants to hold on but O Brien pushes him away.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, O Brien cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
McCullough trying desperately to get to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
O Brien can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as McCullough is looking to escape.
O Brien sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
McCullough is in a horrible position here. O Brien smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
O Brien looking to finish McCullough with some ground and pound. This is bad for McCullough!
O Brien working the ground and pound effectively.
O Brien misses with a head shot.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A nice elbow there by O Brien .

O Brien is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but McCullough is surviving well by controlling O Brien 's body position as best he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Donnie O Brien showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

McCullough moves into the clinch successfully.
O Brien wants a takedown.
McCullough stalling in the clinch but O Brien improves position.
McCullough wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but O Brien has him pressed against the cage.
McCullough wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Stalling in the clinch from McCullough.
McCullough is trying to break free.
McCullough prevents a takedown attempt there.
McCullough works on O Brien 's body with a couple of short punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McCullough goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
O Brien has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. McCullough is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Wayne McCullough has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Donnie O Brien .
McCullough wants to get back to striking at distance but O Brien won't allow it.
McCullough is trying to stall.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
McCullough can't break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
O Brien has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. McCullough avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
McCullough has had enough of the clinch but O Brien keeps him there for the moment.
McCullough wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
O Brien prevents McCullough from breaking the clinch.
O Brien is looking for a takedown up against the cage. McCullough gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
O Brien wants a takedown but no success here.

O Brien gets control of McCullough's arms and successfully pulls guard. O Brien will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
O Brien not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
McCullough sitting in guard here, content to control.
O Brien can't keep his opponent in guard - McCullough advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
O Brien wants to get back to full guard.
O Brien moves into full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McCullough wanted to stand there but O Brien had control of the position.
O Brien pulls McCullough in to control the position.
McCullough won't allow O Brien to sweep him here.
O Brien bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in McCullough's guard.
O Brien passes easily into side control. Nice work.
O Brien prevents McCullough from escaping the position.
O Brien tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
The referee asks O Brien politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. O Brien prefers to stall for the moment though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCullough can't do much from the bottom here.
O Brien throws an elbow but McCullough slips to the side and avoids it well.

O Brien wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by McCullough, who protects the arm well.
McCullough wants to control but O Brien postures up.
McCullough is looking for a sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

O Brien feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
McCullough preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
O Brien is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
McCullough keeping moving, preventing O Brien from controlling successfully.
McCullough wants to get back to his feet but O Brien is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

O Brien drops back looking for a leg! McCullough is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and McCullough manages to kick O Brien off! O Brien jumps back into McCullough's guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
McCullough keeping full guard, as O Brien tries to pass.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Donnie O Brien really dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

O Brien avoids a punch combination nicely.
O Brien throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around McCullough's waist but McCullough gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing O Brien off to one side.
McCullough throws a series of punches but O Brien moves out of range.
O Brien shoots for a takedown but McCullough saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
McCullough jabs at O Brien 's body.
O Brien will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Wayne McCullough has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Donnie O Brien .
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from McCullough.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
O Brien slips a jab and a cross from McCullough.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
McCullough does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
McCullough throws a nice looking combination but O Brien bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

O Brien shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
O Brien prevents McCullough from getting the reversal.
O Brien controlling his opponent.
O Brien in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
O Brien breaks from McCullough's wrist control and lands an elbow.
O Brien working McCullough over with strikes here.
Poor strikes thrown by O Brien there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
McCullough is looking to improve his position but O Brien isn't that keen on the idea.
O Brien lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
McCullough tries to get back to half guard but can't.
O Brien has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of McCullough's face.
O Brien tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
McCullough tries to hold on but O Brien postures up.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, O Brien cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

O Brien is going olschool here, as he tries to force McCullough to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so McCullough shrugs it off.
McCullough regains half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
O Brien seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but McCullough does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

O Brien is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
O Brien stops McCullough from getting back to his feet.
O Brien works his foot free and advances to mount.
McCullough takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
McCullough tries to reverse the position but O Brien maintains control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
O Brien landing strikes from the mount and McCullough is in trouble!
O Brien wants to control the pace but McCullough is squirming around nicely.
McCullough working to try and regain half guard.
O Brien lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
McCullough is trying to escape the mount.
O Brien can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as McCullough is looking to escape.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
O Brien landing strikes from the mount and McCullough is in trouble!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Donnie O Brien dominated that fourth round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

O Brien defending well as McCullough loads up on a big left hand.
O Brien shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
O Brien doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
O Brien jabs McCullough right on the nose. McCullough blinks but takes it well.
McCullough throws a nice looking combination but O Brien bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
O Brien looks for a takedown but McCullough sprawls well.
Nice takedown defense from McCullough. No joy for O Brien on that attempt.

O Brien shoots in and bounces McCullough off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

McCullough has his feet on O Brien 's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.

O Brien scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
O Brien is trying to control the action in half guard but McCullough is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
McCullough controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
O Brien throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
McCullough slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
O Brien looking to pass the guard.
McCullough is trying to keep O Brien in close.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
O Brien loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
O Brien is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
McCullough is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst O Brien is controlling him.
McCullough can't keep his opponent in guard - O Brien advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
O Brien is looking to take a break and control but McCullough is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
McCullough is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
O Brien moves nicely into side control.

O Brien is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. McCullough knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
McCullough can't do much from the bottom here.
McCullough is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

O Brien looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's four 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.
O Brien misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Donnie O Brien is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
McCullough prevents O Brien from moving into mount.

O Brien looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
O Brien tries to move to mount but McCullough blocks the move with his legs.
Wayne McCullough has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
McCullough wants to get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Donnie O Brien comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think O Brien has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 46:49
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 46:49
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 46:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Donnie O Brien ! Donnie O Brien retains his bantamweight title!