PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Malcon McDowell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paul Mahoney (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

McDowell
vs
Mahoney

185 cm
22
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
21
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Malcon McDowell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Paul Mahoney!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Andrew Berry and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

McDowell looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Mahoney!
Mahoney is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
McDowell wants to control the pace but Mahoney is squirming around nicely.
McDowell really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
McDowell controlling his opponent.
Mahoney tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Mahoney is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McDowell controlling from the full mount.
Mahoney flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Mahoney is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McDowell is in the full mount, landing strikes.
McDowell can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Mahoney is looking to escape.
Mahoney is looking to get to half guard.
McDowell won't let Mahoney get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
McDowell controlling the position easily from mount.
Mahoney flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Mahoney wants to try and get back to his feet.
Mahoney looks gassed!
McDowell landing shots from mount.

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.
McDowell wants to get back to his feet but Mahoney is holding on tight.
Mahoney is trying to escape the mount.
Mahoney in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
McDowell controlling his opponent.
Mahoney manages to regain half guard. Good work.
McDowell controlling the action here.
McDowell has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Mahoney on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mahoney wants to get back to full guard.
McDowell sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Mahoney is staying active underneath McDowell, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Mahoney looks like he's trying to stand up.
Mahoney has hold of McDowell's hands but McDowell slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Mahoney actively working from the bottom here.

McDowell is trying to work for a kimura but Mahoney is defending well.
McDowell is taking a breather. Mahoney says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

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.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

McDowell shoots in and bounces Mahoney off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
McDowell tries to stand but Mahoney is controlling from the bottom.

McDowell avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Mahoney throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

Mahoney has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but McDowell can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
McDowell trying to control the position from guard on top but Mahoney is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Mahoney fails in his attempt to clinch.

McDowell forces Mahoney back against the cage and clinches.
Mahoney throws a knee to the head but misses.
Mahoney throws a knee to the head but misses.

McDowell gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Mahoney regains guard.
Mahoney throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
McDowell won't allow Mahoney to get back to his feet.
McDowell chips away with some ground and pound.
McDowell controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Mahoney wants to stand up but McDowell is controlling him.
McDowell is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Mahoney wants to stand and escape but McDowell is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McDowell's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
McDowell would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
McDowell stops Mahoney from standing up.

Mahoney throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Mahoney has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but McDowell can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

McDowell pushes Mahoney up against the cage in a clinch.
Mahoney misses with a knee strike.
McDowell fails to pull the fight into his guard.
McDowell stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

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.

McDowell escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

McDowell fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Mahoney, pushing him back against the cage.
Mahoney using the Thai plumb to throw knees but McDowell has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

McDowell breaks the clinch.
McDowell scores with a push kick.

McDowell moves into range and clinches up with Mahoney.
McDowell drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Mahoney tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Mahoney misses with a knee strike.
McDowell is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Mahoney gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Malcon McDowell. That's going to take a lot out of him.
McDowell is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Mahoney using the Thai plumb to throw knees but McDowell has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

McDowell pulls guard.

McDowell is working an open guard so Mahoney takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Mahoney closes the distance looking to clinch

and McDowell counters with a takedown into side control.
McDowell knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Mahoney on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mahoney is trying to get back to his feet.
Mahoney looks frustrated here - throwing a couple of shots from the bottom though.
Mahoney is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Mahoney is not content to let McDowell control the position.
Mahoney stops McDowell from passing to mount.
Mahoney tries to strike but it doesn't land.
McDowell trying to control the position but Mahoney is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Mahoney tries to clinch but fails miserably

and McDowell counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by McDowell.
Mahoney connects with a knee to the head.

McDowell jumps guard and drags Mahoney to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

McDowell looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
McDowell has momentary wrist control but Mahoney slips an elbow through the middle.
Mahoney with a nice head shot there.
McDowell trying to control the position.

Mahoney stands up from guard. Let's bang!
A head kick misses from McDowell.
Paul Mahoney is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Mahoney tries to clinch but fails miserably

and McDowell counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Mahoney kicks McDowell off and gets to his feet.
Mahoney tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and McDowell counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Malcon McDowell dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Mahoney tries to clinch but McDowell moves away

and McDowell counters by moving into the clinch.
Mahoney tries to land a knee to the head but McDowell blocks with his arms.
Mahoney tries to land a knee to the head but McDowell blocks with his arms.
Mahoney misses with a knee to the head.
McDowell landing knees to the body.
Mahoney misses with a knee to the head.

McDowell manages to pull guard.
Mahoney stopping the sweep attempt from McDowell.
McDowell has his hands on Mahoney's head, controlling the position.
Mahoney in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
McDowell is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mahoney is looking to work some ground and pound but McDowell has wrist control.
Mahoney thows a big elbow that misses.
McDowell has Mahoney pulled in close to control his posture.
Mahoney thows a big elbow that misses.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Mahoney accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Mahoney gets to his feet. McDowell looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Mahoney wants to clinch but McDowell slips to the side

and McDowell counters with a shoot takedown. Mahoney fights it but they end up in guard.
Mahoney trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
McDowell pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mahoney is keeping the position for now.
Malcon McDowell overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
McDowell prevents Mahoney from getting back to his feet.
McDowell has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

McDowell is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mahoney has his feet on McDowell's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Mahoney throws a sloppy head kick
and McDowell counters with a body kick.
Mahoney throws a head kick that misses

so McDowell counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mahoney wants to get back to his feet but McDowell is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
McDowell's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Mahoney striking off his back, scoring a few points.
McDowell showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Mahoney pushes McDowell off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from McDowell.
Mahoney closes the distance but McDowell moves to the side

and McDowell counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Mahoney's guard now.
Mahoney wants to stand but McDowell is controlling the position.

Mahoney had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. McDowell is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Mahoney Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take McDowell's back instead.
McDowell tries to roll but Mahoney sticks to his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mahoney lands shots from the back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McDowell rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Mahoney looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
McDowell on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if McDowell tries to get out of the position.
McDowell wants to improve his position but Mahoney is controlling well.
Mahoney lands with a punch from half guard.

Mahoney decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Mahoney darts in trying to clinch
and McDowell counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Paul Mahoney has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Malcon McDowell is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

McDowell closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Mahoney to the mat! Mahoney manages to get full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Malcon McDowell showed his dominance in that final round.
Well McDowell has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 James Atkins scores the fight 30:27
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:27
Judge William Gold scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Malcon McDowell!