PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight kickboxing rules bout between Travis McDermott (ranked 7061 p4p, 617 weight class) and Chris Paul (ranked 6704 p4p, 602 weight class). McDermott comes to the ring accompanied by Battle Symphony - Linkin Park. Paul comes into a darkened arena with his song building. "Enter Sandman" - Metallica kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

McDermott
vs
Paul

188 cm
19
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
18
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 1

Excellent MT
Very quick

Excellent MT
Granite chin

Fanatic Inc.

Freebok (85% Laundry)

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Travis McDermott!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Chris Paul!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Paul scores with a leg kick.
Paul throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.

McDermott has managed to clinch.
Paul is struggling to control the position.
Paul wants to stall.

McDermott pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Paul throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
McDermott throws the kick towards the body but Paul avoids it.
Paul is looking to clinch.
McDermott throws a series of strikes that have Paul backpedaling.

It looks like Chris Paul has been cut.
Paul lands a head kick. McDermott smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
McDermott swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Paul misses with a hook. McDermott ducked under it nicely.
McDermott throws the kick towards the body but Paul avoids it.
A low kick from Paul is predictable there
and McDermott counters with a stiff right hand.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Paul is looking to clinch but McDermott is avoiding it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paul tries to clinch but McDermott moves away
and McDermott counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Paul avoids the body shot from McDermott.
McDermott moves out of range as Paul throws a body kick.
McDermott fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Paul checks it well.
Paul throws a front kick aimed at McDermott's knee but McDermott avoids it well.

McDermott has Paul up against the ropes in a clinch.
Paul misses with a short punch on the inside.
Paul misses with the head strike.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by McDermott as Paul tries to tie him up.

McDermott's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Paul wants to clinch

and McDermott counters with a big 3 punch combo that drops Paul on his ass! Paul wobbles back to his feet half way through the count and though looking a bit dazed, the referee is going to allow the fight to continue!
McDermott is looking to land body kicks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paul tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
McDermott wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Chris Paul seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Paul dodges the punch combination from McDermott.
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!
McDermott throws a shot to the body.
A leg kick checked by McDermott.
McDermott throws a leg kick that misses.
McDermott throws a head kick that misses.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

McDermott's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

McDermott gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

McDermott breaks from the clinch.

McDermott gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Paul blocks the elbow strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McDermott is stalling here.
Paul tried to land a shot to the body but connects with McDermott's elbow.
McDermott tries to land knees in the clinch but Paul avoids the damage to the body.

McDermott pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Paul throws a front kick aimed at McDermott's knee but McDermott avoids it well.
McDermott seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.

McDermott drives through and clinches with Paul against the ropes.
A bit of stalling here from McDermott.
A head punch blocked on the inside by McDermott.
A head punch on the inside from Paul fails to land.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
The referee calls for Paul to work.
Paul tries a body shot but McDermott blocks it.
Paul tries to throw a body punch but McDermott avoids it by throwing Paul back against the ropes.
A battle for position here, against the ropes.
Paul throws a head punch that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McDermott presses Paul against the ropes and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Paul swings wildly with an uppercut but McDermott uses good head movement to avoid it.
Paul misses with a punch to the body.
Paul tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Paul misses with a shot to the kidneys.

McDermott breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

McDermott gets in close and instigates a clinch.

McDermott breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A combination from McDermott does no damage.
McDermott checks the leg kick nicely there.
Chris Paul is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Paul misses with an uppercut.
Paul throws a leg kick but McDermott sees it coming and checks it nicely.

McDermott closes the distance and clinches.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A head punch on the inside from Paul fails to land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Travis McDermott should take that round, based on the knockdown.
The cut man is working on Chris Paul's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

McDermott keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

McDermott has managed to clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

McDermott breaks the clinch.
McDermott circles away from the clinch attempt.
McDermott looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
Paul tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but McDermott paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Paul fails in his attempt to clinch.
Paul tries to close the distance and clinch up but McDermott swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Nice defenses there by McDermott.

McDermott takes the fight into the clinch.
Come on McDermott - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Paul misses with a hook from the clinch.
McDermott blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Paul fails to land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paul misses with a body punch.
Paul is trying to maintain a safe position but McDermott gets an underhook and turns Paul into the ropes.
Paul misses with some punches.

McDermott breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
McDermott pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Paul tries to close the distance and clinch up but McDermott swats him away and circles back towards the center.

McDermott moves into the clinch successfully.

McDermott manages to break the clinch.
McDermott misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

McDermott instigates a clinch.
Paul tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Paul fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Paul tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
McDermott stalling the fight.
Paul misses with a punch on the inside.
Paul taking a breather.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paul misses with a hook to the ribs.
Paul looking to slow down the pace here.
McDermott taking a breather.

McDermott breaks from the clinch.
Paul misses with a leg kick
and Paul takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

McDermott has closed the distance and engaged Paul in a clinch.
Paul stalling in the clinch but McDermott improves position.
McDermott works on Paul's body with a couple of short punches.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Paul wants to stall.
Paul avoiding damage as McDermott throws knees to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
McDermott leaning his opponent against the ropes.
McDermott is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Paul can do to turn this around?
Paul taking a breather.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

McDermott pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
McDermott throws a sloppy head kick and Paul moves out of range easily.

McDermott instigates a clinch.
Paul swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Paul is looking to control McDermott's arms but McDermott gets an underhook and turns him. Now Paul has his back to the ropes.
Paul is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the ropes.
Paul is trying to slow the pace down but that's a couple of times in a row that he's tried to get underhooks and McDermott has denied him.
Paul throws a head punch that misses.
McDermott manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

McDermott breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Paul misses with a straight left.
McDermott is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Paul.
Paul throws a leg kick that is checked
and McDermott counters with a left and a right that stings Paul.

That has opened up Chris Paul's cut even more.

McDermott moves into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paul trying to control the position but instead, McDermott has worked for underhooks and has pushed Paul into the ropes.
Paul misses with the head strike.
Paul throws a head punch that misses.
Paul trying to stall but McDermott improves his position.
McDermott stalls.
Paul is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but McDermott is keeping busy.
McDermott is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Paul is defending well for now.

McDermott breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

McDermott breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
The fighters circling - Paul throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Travis McDermott dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Chris Paul's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

McDermott tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Paul manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Paul just misses with a punch to the body.

McDermott rushes Paul and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.
Paul swings away with an uppercut that misses.
McDermott blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
A bit of stalling here from McDermott.
The referee calls for McDermott to work.
McDermott gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.

McDermott's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Paul clinches up with McDermott and pushes him back against the ropes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McDermott blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Paul misses with the head strike.

McDermott's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Paul tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and McDermott is able to avoid easily.
McDermott avoids a kick to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paul takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Paul throws a head kick that misses.
Paul misses with a left hand

and McDermott counters by clinching up.
A head punch blocked on the inside by McDermott.
McDermott digs a right hand into Paul's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Paul's gas tank.
Paul looking to slow down the pace here.
Paul is trying to maintain a safe position but McDermott gets an underhook and turns Paul into the ropes.
Paul misses with a punch on the inside.
McDermott lands a body punch.
Paul looking to stall.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

McDermott breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Paul is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Chris Paul has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

McDermott rushes Paul and presses him up against the ropes.
McDermott blocks an uppercut.

McDermott escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A chopping leg kick lands by McDermott.
Paul misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
McDermott throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Paul appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Paul missing with a left hand there. McDermott was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Paul avoids the head kick by McDermott.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Paul tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. McDermott manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from McDermott.
A big left from Paul misses.
A low kick from Paul is predictable there
and McDermott counters with a two punch combo.
Paul throws a low kick but McDermott moves out of range easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

McDermott staggers Paul with a jab and knocks him down with a follow up straight! Paul looks in trouble, will he beat the count?! The count has reached 5 and he's only back to 1 knee - it's going to be close! 6,7,8 - he's up! Just in time and the ref is going to let the fight continue!
Paul is looking to score with low kicks.
Paul throws a leg kick
and McDermott counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Paul is rocked!

The cut above Chris Paul's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Paul get stunned by a cross and takes another one on the button. Paul stumbles backwards and tries to bounce back off the ropes but McDermott runs in and jumps on him with a leaping lead hook that puts him out! Wow, that was highlight reel stuff! Awesome finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:21 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Travis McDermott!
A very excited looking Travis McDermott rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.
The defeated Chris Paul had this to say: 'Back to the drawing board for me folks, this is just a bump in the road. I'll be back better than before soon!'.