PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ares Praetorian (ranked 22681 p4p, 0 weight class) and Naoise Durnin (ranked 2014 p4p, 0 weight class). Praetorian comes to the cage accompanied by Azure Eagles Soaring. Durnin has chosen I'm Shipping Up To Boston by The Dropkick Murphy's as his entrance music. Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Praetorian
vs
Durnin

190 cm
21
247 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

197 cm
29
270 lbs
14 - 11 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

UnderGround Clothing Co.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ares Praetorian!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 11 - 0, fighting out of London, Naoise Durnin!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, James Atkins and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Durnin tries to close the distance and clinch but Praetorian swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Praetorian is looking to counter with a body kick.
Praetorian circles away from the clinch attempt.
Praetorian is looking to counter punch.
Durnin wants to clinch.
It looked like Praetorian was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Durnin.

Durnin clinches with his opponent.
Praetorian misses with a hook from the clinch.
Praetorian lands a shoulder strike.
Praetorian prevents a body shot from Durnin.
Praetorian is trying to stall.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Praetorian tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A right handed body shot lands from Praetorian.
Praetorian swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Praetorian misses with a short punch on the inside.
Durnin misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Durnin tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Praetorian breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Durnin tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Praetorian counters with a good, hard body kick but Durnin shrugs it off.
Praetorian keeps the fight on the outside.
An attempted straight right counter from Praetorian misses the target.
Praetorian avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Durnin is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Naoise Durnin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Praetorian swats away the attempt to clinch by Durnin.
Praetorian uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Durnin has time to react.
Durnin wants to clinch but Praetorian slips to the side
and Praetorian counters with a thumping low kick.
Praetorian connects with a solid leg kick.
Durnin tries to clinch there but Praetorian circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Durnin fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Praetorian, pushing him back against the cage.
Durnin tries a body shot but Praetorian blocks it.
Praetorian prevents a body shot from Durnin.
Praetorian misses with a short punch on the inside.
Praetorian misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Durnin tries a body shot but Praetorian blocks it.
Durnin tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Praetorian's elbow.
Praetorian blocks a body shot from Durnin.
Praetorian misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Durnin tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Praetorian's elbow.
Praetorian misses with some punches.
Durnin goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Praetorian throws a punch but it's blocked by Durnin.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Praetorian creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Praetorian tries a body shot but Durnin blocks it.
Still in the clinch, Praetorian scores with a nice short uppercut.

Praetorian pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Durnin tries to clinch there but Praetorian circles away.
An attempted straight right counter from Praetorian misses the target.
Durnin tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Praetorian manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Durnin looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Praetorian went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Durnin tries to close the distance and clinch but Praetorian swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Durnin wants to clinch.
Praetorian circles away from the clinch attempt.
It looked like Praetorian was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Durnin wants to clinch up but Praetorian keeps it at a distance.
Praetorian avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Praetorian avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Durnin fails with an attempt to clinch.
Praetorian jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Durnin tries to clinch there but Praetorian circles away.
Praetorian throwing a counter right hand but Durnin manages to avoid it.
Durnin tries to clinch but fails miserably
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Durnin doesn't manage to clinch there - Praetorian circles away.
Praetorian thinks about countering with a head kick.

Durnin fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Praetorian, pushing him back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Durnin misses with a punch to the body.
Durnin tries a body shot but Praetorian blocks it.
Durnin misses with a body punch.
Durnin lands a nice shot to the body.
Durnin throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Praetorian is breathing heavily.
A right hook to the body lands for Praetorian.
Praetorian swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Praetorian's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Durnin fails in his attempt to clinch.
Durnin is looking to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Durnin looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Durnin tries to clinch up.
A little feinted left hand from Praetorian on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Durnin tries to clinch up but Praetorian circles away and keeps his distance.
It looked like Praetorian was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Durnin.

Durnin drives through and clinches with Praetorian against the cage.

Praetorian breaks from the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ares Praetorian dominated that round.
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.

Praetorian avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
An attempted straight right counter from Praetorian misses the target.
Durnin doesn't manage to clinch there - Praetorian circles away.
Praetorian is looking for a counter combo.
Durnin tries to close the distance and clinch but Praetorian swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Ares Praetorian is winning the standup battle so far.
Durnin tries to clinch but Praetorian is having none of it.
Praetorian swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Praetorian is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Durnin can do to turn this around?
Praetorian circles away from the clinch attempt.
It appears Praetorian was looking to counter with a kick there.
Durnin moves in looking to clinch but Praetorian pushes him off.
Praetorian is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Durnin is looking to clinch but Praetorian is avoiding it.
A counter left hand to the body from Praetorian misses its target.
Durnin tries to clinch there but Praetorian circles away.

Durnin fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Praetorian, pushing him back against the cage.
Praetorian misses with the head strike.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Praetorian throws a head punch that misses.
Durnin tries a body shot but Praetorian blocks it.
Durnin works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Durnin lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Durnin misses with a punch to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Durnin tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Praetorian's elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Durnin can't find room to land a body shot as Praetorian controls the action.
Praetorian misses with some punches.
Praetorian prevents a body shot from Durnin.
Good body shot from Durnin.
A hook to the body from Durnin.
Naoise Durnin seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Durnin is working Praetorian over against the cage.
A hook to the body from Durnin.
Durnin struggles to land a body shot inside as Praetorian controls his hands.
Durnin struggles to land a body shot inside as Praetorian controls his hands.
Durnin can't find room to land a body shot as Praetorian controls the action.
Praetorian misses with a hook from the clinch.
Durnin misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Nice body punch from Durnin - that landed with a thud.
Durnin misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Durnin throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Durnin misses with a hook to the ribs.
Durnin tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Praetorian prevents a body shot from Durnin.
Durnin tries to work over Praetorian's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Durnin works on Praetorian's body with a couple of short punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Durnin tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Praetorian's elbow.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Durnin.
Durnin lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Durnin lands a body punch in the clinch.
Durnin misses with a hook to the ribs.
Durnin lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Praetorian or not.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Praetorian here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Durnin doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Praetorian tries to throw a body punch but Durnin avoids it by throwing Praetorian back against the cage.
Durnin tries a body shot but Praetorian blocks it.

Praetorian pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Durnin fails with an attempt to clinch.

Durnin moves into the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A right handed body shot lands from Durnin.
Praetorian misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Praetorian prevents a body shot from Durnin.
Durnin misses with a hook to the ribs.
Durnin tries to work over Praetorian's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Durnin misses with a body punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Durnin misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Durnin misses with a punch to the body.
Praetorian looking to slow down the pace here.

Praetorian escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Praetorian keeps the fight on the outside.
Praetorian is looking to counter with a body kick.

Durnin fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Praetorian, pushing him back against the cage.

Praetorian escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Praetorian keeps the fight on the outside.
It looked like Praetorian wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Durnin tries to close the distance and clinch but Praetorian swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Durnin wants to clinch but Praetorian slips to the side
and Durnin takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Durnin is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Durnin looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A little feinted left hand from Praetorian on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Durnin moves in looking to clinch but Praetorian pushes him off.
Durnin tries to clinch up
and Praetorian counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Durnin instigates a clinch.
Durnin can't find room to land a body shot as Praetorian controls the action.
Praetorian swings wildly with an uppercut but Durnin uses good head movement to avoid it.
Durnin lands a nice shot to the body.
Durnin digs a right hand into Praetorian's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Praetorian's gas tank.
Durnin can't find room to land a body shot as Praetorian controls the action.
Durnin misses with a hook to the ribs.
Durnin tries to throw a body punch but Praetorian avoids it by throwing Durnin back against the cage.
Durnin misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Durnin struggles to land a body shot inside as Praetorian controls his hands.
Praetorian swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Durnin lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Praetorian.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Naoise Durnin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Durnin fails in his attempt to clinch.
It looked like Praetorian was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Praetorian swats away the attempt to clinch by Durnin.

Durnin has closed the distance and engaged Praetorian in a clinch.
A short right from Praetorian.
Durnin misses with a body punch.
Praetorian blocks a body shot from Durnin.
Praetorian trying to stall but Durnin improves his position.
Praetorian misses with a punch on the inside.
Durnin throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Praetorian blocks a body shot from Durnin.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Durnin tries to throw a body punch but Praetorian avoids it by throwing Durnin back against the cage.
Durnin tries to throw a body punch but Praetorian avoids it by throwing Durnin back against the cage.
Durnin lands a body shot.
Praetorian blocks a body shot from Durnin.
Durnin goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Durnin tries a body shot but Praetorian blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Durnin lands a shot to the body.
Durnin digs a right hand into Praetorian's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Praetorian's gas tank.
Durnin presses Praetorian against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Durnin tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Praetorian's elbow.
Durnin tries to work over Praetorian's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Praetorian pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Durnin tries to clinch but Praetorian moves out of range.
It looked like Praetorian wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

Durnin closes the distance and pushes Praetorian back into the cage.
Praetorian misses with a punch to the body.
Durnin blocks an uppercut.
Durnin lands a shot to the body.
Durnin tries to work over Praetorian's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Durnin misses with a hook to the ribs.
Durnin can't find room to land a body shot as Praetorian controls the action.
Praetorian prevents a body shot from Durnin.
Praetorian misses with a punch on the inside.
Durnin misses with a punch to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Durnin misses with a punch to the body.
Praetorian prevents a body shot from Durnin.
Durnin misses with a hook to the ribs.
Praetorian tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Praetorian prevents a body shot from Durnin.
Durnin misses with a body punch.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Durnin.
Durnin misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Nice body punch from Durnin.
Durnin tries to throw a body punch but Praetorian avoids it by throwing Durnin back against the cage.
Praetorian prevents a body shot from Durnin.
Durnin tries to throw a body punch but Praetorian avoids it by throwing Durnin back against the cage.
Durnin can't find room to land a body shot as Praetorian controls the action.
Nice body punch from Durnin.
Durnin goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Praetorian misses with a short punch on the inside.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Praetorian prevents a body shot from Durnin.
Durnin misses with a hook to the ribs.

Praetorian breaks the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Praetorian keeps the fight on the outside.
Praetorian appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Durnin is looking to clinch but Praetorian is avoiding it.

Durnin moves into the clinch successfully.

Praetorian breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Durnin gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Durnin misses with a body punch.
Durnin goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Praetorian lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Durnin tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Praetorian blocks a body shot from Durnin.
Durnin struggles to land a body shot inside as Praetorian controls his hands.
A left hand lands to the body for Durnin.
Praetorian lands a right hand that snaps the head of Durnin backwards.
A hook to the body from Durnin.
Durnin can't find room to land a body shot as Praetorian controls the action.
Durnin misses with a punch to the body.
Durnin misses with a punch to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Durnin misses with a hook to the ribs.
Praetorian prevents a body shot from Durnin.
Durnin tries a body shot but Praetorian blocks it.
Praetorian misses with the head strike.
Durnin digs a right hand underneath Praetorian's ribcage. Praetorian let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Durnin misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Praetorian breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Praetorian swats away the attempt to clinch by Durnin.

Durnin moves into the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Praetorian misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Durnin misses with a punch to the body.
Durnin tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Praetorian's elbow.
Durnin goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Durnin blocks an uppercut.

And that's the end of the fight!
Naoise Durnin comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Durnin has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Ackerman scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 28:29
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Naoise Durnin!
Naoise Durnin spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.