PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Jose Goncalves (ranked 6863 p4p, 267 weight class) and Johny McDonald (ranked 25173 p4p, 303 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Goncalves
vs
McDonald

180 cm
18
135 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

166 cm
19
135 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jose Goncalves!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Johny McDonald!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Cecil Peabody and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McDonald has his takedown stuffed
and Goncalves counters with a three punch combo that has McDonald backing up. McDonald nods at Goncalves to acknowledge the strikes.
McDonald doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Goncalves counters with a stiff right hand.
McDonald misses with an uppercut
enabling Goncalves to counter with a crisp jab.
McDonald with a lazy takedown attempt
letting Goncalves counter with a right hand.
Jose Goncalves has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Johny McDonald.
Goncalves getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
McDonald falls off balance throwing a combination
and Goncalves counters with a straight right hand.
Goncalves definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
McDonald with a lazy takedown attempt
and Goncalves cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Goncalves moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
McDonald tries for a takedown but Goncalves circles away easily
and Goncalves counters with a straight right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice body kick there by Goncalves.
Goncalves lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Goncalves.
McDonald gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
enabling Goncalves to counter with a crisp jab.
McDonald looks winded!
McDonald throws a leg kick that is checked
and Goncalves cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Goncalves throws a one two combo.
McDonald has his takedown stuffed
letting Goncalves counter with a right hand.
Goncalves is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Goncalves jabs McDonald right on the nose. McDonald blinks but takes it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McDonald darts in trying to clinch
and Goncalves counters with a straight right hand.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Goncalves connects with a single shot there.
McDonald lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Goncalves is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Some wild striking there from Goncalves.
McDonald darts in trying to clinch
and Goncalves counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Johny McDonald seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McDonald tries for a takedown but Goncalves circles away easily
and Goncalves counters with a stiff right hand.
Goncalves swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by McDonald.
Goncalves rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but McDonald moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Jose Goncalves is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
McDonald darts in trying to clinch
and Goncalves counters with a lovely straight right hand!
McDonald has his takedown stuffed
and Goncalves counters with a three punch combo that has McDonald backing up. McDonald nods at Goncalves to acknowledge the strikes.
McDonald misses with a body shot
and Goncalves counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Goncalves lands a really nice looking cross but McDonald seems unphased.
Goncalves lands with a right hand.
McDonald has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
McDonald misses with the body kick
and Goncalves cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Goncalves lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
The crowd cheers as Goncalves lands an impressive looking overhand right. McDonald doesn't seem phased though.
Goncalves pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces McDonald back to the cage. Goncalves follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
McDonald throws a lazy head kick
and Goncalves cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Goncalves cracks McDonald with a right hand to the side of the head.
McDonald attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Goncalves seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jose Goncalves dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

McDonald drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Both these guys seem content to just stand up and trade with eachother but McDonald might want to think about changing up his gameplan a bit because over the course of the fight, Goncalves has got the better of the exchanges.
McDonald is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Goncalves with a hook.
McDonald shoots for a double leg takedown but Goncalves sprawls well. He's pushed McDonald's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Jose Goncalves is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

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

Goncalves breaks from the clinch.
McDonald walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McDonald throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Goncalves cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Goncalves circles away from the clinch attempt
and Goncalves counters with a straight right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McDonald lands a high kick!
McDonald doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Goncalves counters with a stiff right hand.
McDonald is breathing heavily.
Goncalves scores with a nice strike.
No joy there for Goncalves, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Goncalves is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Goncalves scores with a three punch combo!
McDonald wants to clinch but Goncalves slips to the side
and Goncalves connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
McDonald wants to clinch
and Goncalves counters with a left and a right that stings McDonald.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Goncalves scores with a crisp jab that stopped McDonald in his tracks.
McDonald is trying desperately to land a takedown but Goncalves is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for McDonald.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
McDonald darts in trying to clinch
enabling Goncalves to counter with a crisp jab.

McDonald instigates a clinch.

Goncalves breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
McDonald takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
McDonald throws a lazy head kick
and Goncalves counters with a straight right hand.
McDonald tries to clinch but Goncalves moves away
and Goncalves connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

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

McDonald is working an open guard so Goncalves takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Goncalves is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that McDonald can do to turn this around?
McDonald tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Goncalves connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
McDonald throws a combination that misses
and Goncalves counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McDonald shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
McDonald gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Jose Goncalves is winning the standup battle so far.
Goncalves pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces McDonald back to the cage. Goncalves follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
McDonald moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Goncalves with a jab.
Goncalves throws a combination. McDonald tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
McDonald takes one to the side of the head.
McDonald moves to clinch but Goncalves breaks away
and Goncalves counters with a one-two to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jose Goncalves dominated that second round.
That's time! Goncalves's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

McDonald has his takedown stuffed
and Goncalves counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Goncalves lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Goncalves scores with a jab. McDonald acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

McDonald gets a takedown into half guard.
McDonald wants to lay and pray for a moment but Goncalves keeps working.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McDonald tries to pass to full mount but Goncalves defends it.
McDonald takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

McDonald seems to be looking for submissions.

McDonald is looking for a kimura but Goncalves is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for McDonald to get the leverage.
Goncalves has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. McDonald is working away from the top position though.
McDonald wants to pass to mount but Goncalves is defending the position.
Goncalves really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Goncalves pushes McDonald off but McDonald dives into side control.

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.

McDonald stands up and we're back to a striking position.
McDonald misses with a takedown attempt
enabling Goncalves to counter with a crisp jab.
Goncalves looks to land a combination. McDonald sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
McDonald drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Goncalves lands with an uppercut that bounces McDonald off the cage and back into range.
McDonald wants to clinch
and Goncalves counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
McDonald with a lazy takedown attempt
and Goncalves counters with a left and a right that stings McDonald.
Jose Goncalves has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Johny McDonald.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Good exchange - Goncalves coming out on top.
Both fighters circling a little - Goncalves finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Goncalves cracks McDonald with a right hand to the side of the head.
McDonald slips a jab and a cross from Goncalves.
McDonald gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Goncalves.
McDonald on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
McDonald misses with a takedown
and Goncalves connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Goncalves connects with a looping right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Goncalves explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Goncalves closes the distance and lands a one-two.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Goncalves connects with a looping right hand.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Goncalves.
McDonald swings widly with a right hand
and Goncalves connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Goncalves keeps the fight on the outside.
Goncalves lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

McDonald pushes Goncalves up against the cage in a clinch.
McDonald jumps guard but Goncalves turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jose Goncalves showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Goncalves, 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:26
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:26
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jose Goncalves!