PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Darragh Kelly (ranked 1500 p4p, 161 weight class) and Ronnie McDonald (ranked 2365 p4p, 231 weight class). McDonald has chosen Get Busy Living as his entrance music. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Kelly
vs
McDonald

168 cm
33
154 lbs
11 - 4 - 0

165 cm
41
155 lbs
21 - 32 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Darragh Kelly!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 32 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ronnie McDonald!
The judges for this bout are Ryoma Takatsuka, Josh West and Micheangelo Fripello.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

McDonald closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Kelly quickly recovers to half guard.
McDonald tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Kelly.
Kelly tries to roll over but McDonald keeps him under control.
McDonald working Kelly over with strikes.
Kelly is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Kelly taking some punishment here, with McDonald in his half guard.
Kelly has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
The fighters are battling for position here. Kelly manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Kelly looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
McDonald landing with the ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kelly has his foot on McDonald's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. McDonald works his way back into a safe position though.
McDonald scoring with punches to the head and body.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as McDonald accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Kelly keeping moving, preventing McDonald from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McDonald works over Kelly with some ground and pound from guard.
Kelly looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Kelly looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but McDonald puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
McDonald throwing shots but Kelly is blocking nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kelly wants to improve his position but McDonald is controlling well.
Kelly won't allow McDonald to pass to mount.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with McDonald in particular looking to stall.
Nice strikes from McDonald there.
Kelly is looking to get back to full guard here but McDonald has managed to pass to side control instead.
Kelly manages to get back to half guard.
McDonald prevents Kelly from improving his position.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
McDonald is trying to control the action in half guard but Kelly is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ground and pound from McDonald.
Kelly works his way to full guard. Good work.
Kelly bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in McDonald's guard.

McDonald wants to sweep here but Kelly controlling him for the moment.
Kelly looking to pass the guard.
McDonald seems keen to control Kelly's posture.
Kelly 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.
Kelly pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. McDonald is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kelly controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Kelly tries to free his leg and advance position but McDonald is retaining full guard.
Kelly slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
McDonald keeping full guard, as Kelly tries to pass.
McDonald told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.
McDonald trying to keep a closed guard but Kelly is proving a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Kelly wants to pass the guard but McDonald is keeping the position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Kelly changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. McDonald tries to avoid it but Kelly manages to keep hold of a leg and drag McDonald to the ground. McDonald escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Kelly tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but McDonald defends well and Kelly ends up having to push McDonald into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
McDonald lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Kelly blocks a jab.
Kelly keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from McDonald.
Nice straight punches there by Kelly. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Kelly.
McDonald misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
McDonald throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

Kelly closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Kelly lands in his opponent's guard.
Kelly passes McDonald's left leg - he's now in half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
McDonald holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ronnie McDonald will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

McDonald throws a head kick but Kelly moves out of range.
Kelly lands with a thumping leg kick.
Kelly throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
McDonald tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kelly was well out of range. Poor timing from McDonald.
Kelly stuffs the takedown.
Kelly closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
A big right from McDonald misses.
McDonald drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Kelly takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Kelly jabbing away but nothing is landing.
McDonald looks to land a combination but Kelly avoids it well.
Kelly wants to land a leg kick but McDonald is out of range.
McDonald steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Kelly.
Kelly connects with a single shot there.
Kelly attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Kelly throws a looping overhand right but McDonald ducks down to avoid it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kelly 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 series of punches but Kelly avoids them all with ease.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McDonald paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
McDonald tries a head kick but it misses.
Ronnie McDonald seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kelly throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
McDonald throws a shot from downtown. Kelly moves away and avoids it.
Kelly moves in looking to clinch but McDonald pushes him off.
McDonald on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Kelly throws a nice outside leg kick.
McDonald throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Kelly.
McDonald lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by McDonald.
McDonald is looking to slow Kelly down with leg kicks.
Kelly waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract McDonald.
Kelly lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Kelly.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from McDonald lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Kelly has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Kelly and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Kelly defending well as McDonald loads up on a big left hand.
McDonald throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kelly changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Kelly connects with a nice looking jab.
McDonald swings for the body but Kelly moves out of range.
Kelly quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McDonald takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Kelly blocks a head kick by McDonald.
Ronnie McDonald is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
McDonald tries to move into range but Kelly moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
A clash of legs there as McDonald blocks the low kick.
Kelly throws a solid leg kick but McDonald takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Kelly.
McDonald throws a nice looking combination but Kelly bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
A slow jab from Kelly misses its intended target.
McDonald throws a low kick, looking for Kelly's leg but Kelly calmly moves out of range.
Kelly tries to close the distance and clinch up but McDonald swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kelly avoids a punch combination nicely.
Kelly appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Kelly connects with a right hand. McDonald shakes it off.
An inside leg kick lands from McDonald.
McDonald tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kelly was well out of range. Poor timing from McDonald.
Kelly lands an overhand right.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McDonald misses the jab.
McDonald throws a front kick that sends Kelly stumbling back into the cage.
McDonald connects with the punch.
McDonald throws a jab when Kelly was well out of range.
Kelly tries to work over McDonald's front leg with a kick but McDonald checks it.
Kelly misses with a lunging right hand
letting McDonald counter with a right hand.
Kelly lands with a good body shot.
McDonald misses with a looping left.
Kelly defending well as McDonald loads up on a big left hand.
McDonald misses with a series of wild punches.
McDonald throws a lazy uppercut
letting Kelly counter with a right hand.
Some wild striking there from McDonald.
Kelly swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
McDonald misses with a body shot.
No joy there for McDonald, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kelly tries to score a power double leg takedown but McDonald sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Kelly somewhat.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
McDonald takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
McDonald blocks the body kick.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from McDonald! But no joy.
McDonald fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Kelly on the side of the head.
Kelly misses with a looping left.
McDonald misses with a lunging right hand
and Kelly cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
McDonald uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Kelly has time to react.
McDonald misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kelly.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from McDonald. Kelly shrugs it off though.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kelly takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Kelly ducks under a wild hook from McDonald.
Nice takedown defense from Kelly. No joy for McDonald on that attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ronnie McDonald will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Kelly's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

No joy there for McDonald, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Kelly tries to land a front kick but McDonald steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from McDonald! But no joy.
Kelly looks to land a right hand but McDonald moved out of range.
Nice defenses there by McDonald.
McDonald looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Kelly throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Kelly finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Kelly looks to land a right hand but McDonald moved out of range.
Kelly takes a kick to the side of the head.
Kelly bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A cross from McDonald lands.
McDonald scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
McDonald has a takedown stuffed.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kelly lands with a right hand.
Kelly uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by McDonald.
McDonald misses with a looping right.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McDonald lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Kelly misses with an uppercut. McDonald saw that one coming.
McDonald throws a jab when Kelly was well out of range.
Kelly buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
McDonald on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Kelly throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and McDonald counters with a nice leg kick.
Kelly throws a lazy right hand but McDonald sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Kelly jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
McDonald looks for the body kick but Kelly saw that one coming.
McDonald dodges the punch combination from Kelly.
A little jabbing left from McDonald on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
McDonald throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
McDonald waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Kelly.

Kelly closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Kelly lands in his opponent's guard.

McDonald scrambles and gets back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
McDonald shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Kelly as he jumps to the side.
McDonald throws out a loose jab but Kelly uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kelly throwing a counter right hand but McDonald manages to avoid it.

Kelly looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
McDonald controlling the position well.
Kelly tries to pass to full mount but McDonald defends it.
McDonald is looking to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kelly is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, McDonald has managed to free his arm - good work.
Kelly is just content to waste time from the top position. McDonald takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Kelly looking to sit in guard and control but McDonald gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Kelly trying to keep a closed guard but McDonald is proving a slippery customer.
McDonald with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

McDonald stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Kelly ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Darragh Kelly has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ronnie McDonald is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McDonald pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Kelly tries to work over McDonald's front leg with a kick but McDonald checks it.
Kelly tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Kelly looks to land a left hand but McDonald moved out of range nicely.
McDonald takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Kelly lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
McDonald misses with a body shot.
Kelly lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
McDonald lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
McDonald displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kelly scores with a hook to the body. McDonald takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Kelly moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
McDonald looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
McDonald throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kelly clobbers McDonald with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Ronnie McDonald seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McDonald cracks a nice hook into Kelly's ribs.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Ronnie McDonald.
Well McDonald has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 30:27
Judge Josh West scores the fight 27:30
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Ronnie McDonald!
A relieved looking Ronnie McDonald thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.