PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Paul McDonald (ranked 2486 p4p, 101 weight class) and Anthony Philippoussis (ranked 4060 p4p, 143 weight class). McDonald's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Set it Off. Paul McDonald has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

McDonald
vs
Philippoussis

200 cm
21
275 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

170 cm
23
280 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Paul McDonald!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Anthony Philippoussis!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, Chad Campbell and Eddie Farnsworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Philippoussis throws a nice looking combination but McDonald bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Philippoussis 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.
Philippoussis misses with a lunging right hand

and McDonald counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Philippoussis trying to control the position.
McDonald trying to control but Philippoussis is working from the bottom.
McDonald definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
McDonald forces his way into half guard.

McDonald seems to be looking for submissions.
Philippoussis is concentrating on defense, preventing McDonald from advancing position.

McDonald is trying to work for a kimura but Philippoussis is defending well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Philippoussis controlling the position for now.

McDonald is looking for a kimura here.
McDonald is pressing down on Philippoussis's thigh, looking to free his foot. Philippoussis is holding on for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.

McDonald seems to be working for a kimura but Philippoussis defends the submission attempt.

McDonald is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
McDonald landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Philippoussis has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. McDonald is working away from the top position though.

McDonald is working for a submission of some sort.
McDonald prevents Philippoussis from improving his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

McDonald wants to work for an arm triangle but Philippoussis is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Philippoussis is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
McDonald is pressing down on Philippoussis's thigh, looking to free his foot. Philippoussis is holding on for now.
McDonald passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Philippoussis!
McDonald wants to control the pace but Philippoussis is squirming around nicely.
Philippoussis is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McDonald trying to control but he's not successful this time.
McDonald content just to control the position here.
Philippoussis prevents McDonald from taking his back.
McDonald looking to control but Philippoussis is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
McDonald fails to take his opponent's back.
Philippoussis tries to lock up and control but McDonald gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

McDonald looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
McDonald tries to control but Philippoussis wriggling away.

McDonald with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McDonald trying to control but he's not successful this time.

McDonald working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Philippoussis tries to hold on but McDonald postures up.

McDonald working for a submission but Philippoussis is keeping him at bay.
McDonald will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

McDonald looking to secure an arm triangle but Philippoussis defends it well.
Philippoussis is bucking up trying to escape but McDonald cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

It looks like Anthony Philippoussis has been cut.
Philippoussis really doesn't want to stay on the ground with McDonald. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
McDonald wants to take Philippoussis's back but he can't do it this time.

McDonald jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Philippoussis manages to avoid the submission attempt.
This has been an exciting period of action!

McDonald tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no McDonald has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul McDonald dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Anthony Philippoussis's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Philippoussis lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.

It looks like Paul McDonald has been cut.

McDonald gets tackled into the cage by Philippoussis. Philippoussis maintains the clinch.

McDonald turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
McDonald trying to control the position but Philippoussis is working away.

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

McDonald is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Philippoussis has escaped the position, nice work there.
Philippoussis is looking to regain half guard here but McDonald keeps moving and retains side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

McDonald is trying to get an arm triangle but Philippoussis is defending well.
McDonald wants to lay and pray for a moment but Philippoussis keeps working.
Paul McDonald overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Philippoussis's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

McDonald is trying to get an arm triangle but Philippoussis is defending well.

McDonald thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Philippoussis is looking for a sweep.
Philippoussis is trying to control McDonald's posture but McDonald avoids it.

McDonald is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Philippoussis is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

McDonald wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Philippoussis, who protects the arm well.
Philippoussis tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but McDonald wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Philippoussis can't do much from the bottom here.

McDonald tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no McDonald has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Philippoussis can do anything to dispel that myth.
McDonald cracks Philippoussis with a big elbow.
Philippoussis is not content to let McDonald control the position.
Philippoussis is trying to control McDonald's posture but McDonald avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

McDonald tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

McDonald in side control, working for a kimura. He's got hold of an arm and he's torquing it... Philippoussis is tapping! That's the end of the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:27 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Paul McDonald!
After the fight, Paul McDonald was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.