PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Cory McDonnell (ranked 720 p4p, 725 weight class) and Gustav Line (ranked 105 p4p, 106 weight class). McDonnell's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Jorge Quintero - 300 Violin Orchestra. Line has chosen For Heavy Metal we will die! as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

McDonnell
vs
Line

183 cm
39
185
40 - 24 - 3

178 cm
31
182
8 - 4 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Voodoo Nutrition

Heavy Metal Drugs

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 40 - 24 - 3, fighting out of Las Vegas, Cory McDonnell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Gustav Line!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Richard Clark and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Line tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Line takes a shot right to the bread basket.
McDonnell defending well as Line loads up on a big left hand.
Nice uppercut lands for McDonnell. That snapped Line's head back.

Line closes the distance and clinches.
Line digs a right hand underneath McDonnell's ribcage. McDonnell let out a lung full of air as it connected.
McDonnell blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Line's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Line misses with the head strike.
McDonnell looking to throw knees to the head but Line is blocking nicely.
McDonnell tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Line tries a body shot but McDonnell blocks it.

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

Line had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. McDonnell defends it easily.
McDonnell looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Line has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but McDonnell has passed into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Line is pushing McDonnell's head away, looking to escape. McDonnell manages to hold on to the position though.
Line has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Line tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Line struggling a bit here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Line is looking for a sweep.
Line is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Line gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Line gets back to full guard.

Line isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. McDonnell stacks Line on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by McDonnell!
Line is looking for a sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Line manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

Line is sneakily working for an arm triangle but McDonnell sees it coming and defends easily.
McDonnell is staying active underneath Line, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Line is looking for a kimura but McDonnell is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Line to get the leverage.
Line passes to full mount!

Line stands up from mount. Strange move.

McDonnell moves into the clinch.
A right hand to the body from Line.
McDonnell lands with a short shot to the head.
Line is working McDonnell over against the cage.
McDonnell throws a punch but it's blocked by Line.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Line lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Line swings wildly with an uppercut but McDonnell uses good head movement to avoid it.
Line fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A right hook to the body lands for Line.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
McDonnell lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
McDonnell misses with a body punch.
Line lands a nice shot to the body.
A short right from McDonnell on the inside.
Line working aggressively here.
Line blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Line misses with a punch on the inside.
A short body shot lands from Line as the two fighters clinch.
Line lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
McDonnell is breathing heavily.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Line.
A right handed body shot lands from Line.
A nice right hand lands inside from Line.
Line throws a blind hook that connects with the side of McDonnells head.

Line pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Line punishes McDonnell's body with a nice straight punch.

Line clinches up against the cage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Gustav Line dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Jab by Line.

Line pushes McDonnell up against the cage in a clinch.
McDonnell throws a head punch that misses.
McDonnell misses with a punch on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for McDonnell.
Line working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Line misses with the head strike.
Line tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
A head punch blocked on the inside by McDonnell.
McDonnell misses with a knee strike.
Line throws a head punch that misses.
McDonnell lands with a short shot to the head.
Line fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Line lands with a light punch inside.
McDonnell lands with a right to the head.
Line misses with some punches.
With the fighters up against the cage, McDonnell throws an elbow but misses.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Line working aggressively here.
McDonnell misses with the head strike.
McDonnell tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Line's elbow.
A shot in the inside from Line.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Line lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt McDonnell or not.
McDonnell tries a body shot but Line blocks it.
Line doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Line breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Line tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. McDonnell manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Line moves into the clinch.
McDonnell misses with a punch on the inside.
Line scores with a shoulder strike.

Line pulls guard.

Line looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Line working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. McDonnell doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. McDonnell manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Line has his foot on McDonnell's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. McDonnell works his way back into a safe position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Line is on top in guard.

Line trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Line pushes down on McDonnell's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Line moves into full mount! McDonnell won't be happy about that!
This has been an exciting period of action!

Line is standing up, even though he is in mount.
McDonnell buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

Line gets a clinch.
A head punch on the inside from McDonnell fails to land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Line misses with a punch on the inside.
Line lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of McDonnell backwards.
Gustav Line seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
McDonnell lands a shot to the body.

Line pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
McDonnell stuns Line with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
McDonnell digs a good hook to Line's body.

Line closes the distance and pushes McDonnell back into the cage.
McDonnell lands a body shot in the clinch.
Line is breathing heavily.
Line misses with some punches.
Line blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Line has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Line.
Line lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Line tries to break the clinch but McDonnell is controlling the position.
Line prevents a body shot from McDonnell.
Line fails to pull the fight into his guard.
McDonnell lands a right hand that snaps the head of Line backwards.
McDonnell lands an elbow inside.
This has been an exciting period of action!
McDonnell misses with a short punch on the inside.
Line tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Line throws a punch but it's blocked by McDonnell.
A knee to the head by McDonnell.
Line goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A right handed body shot lands from McDonnell.
Line lands a hook that snaps the head of McDonnell backwards.
Line tries to break free but McDonnell pushes him back against the cage.
Line wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Line.
Line tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
McDonnell misses with some punches.
A short uppercut from McDonnell.
McDonnell tries to land knees in the clinch but Line avoids the damage to the body.
Line stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Line lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
McDonnell has a couple of punches blocked by Line.

Line pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
McDonnell fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
McDonnell with a hook.
McDonnell thows a left - swing and a miss!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Gustav Line showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

McDonnell looks to score with a jab to the body but Line is just out of range.
Line tries to clinch but McDonnell moves out of range.
McDonnell circles away from the clinch attempt.

Line has managed to clinch.

Line's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Line tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. McDonnell manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
McDonnell lands a high kick!

McDonnell closes the distance and pushes Line back into the cage.
A shot in the inside from McDonnell.
McDonnell misses with some punches.
McDonnell tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
McDonnell blocks a body shot from Line.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Line escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Jab, jab by McDonnell - just one landing.

Line moves into range and clinches up with McDonnell.
McDonnell misses with some punches.
Line working aggressively here.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Line is trying to break the clinch but McDonnell is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Line tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by McDonnell.
A short body shot lands from McDonnell as the two fighters clinch.
A right hook to the body lands for Line.

Line jumps guard and drags McDonnell to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
McDonnell not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
McDonnell trying to control but Line is working from the bottom.

Line is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and McDonnell defends well.

Line looking for a guillotine here but McDonnell defends easily.
Cory McDonnell has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McDonnell throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Line works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Line looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Line escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. McDonnell gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Line is looking for a triangle but McDonnell pushes his legs off easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Line looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
McDonnell sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Line's guard.
Line is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of McDonnell's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take McDonnell's back!

Line is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but McDonnell has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Line controlling the position well here. McDonnell rolled but Line kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
McDonnell tries to escape but Line has the hooks in and won't let him break free.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Line is looking for the choke from the back position but McDonnell is controlling his hands well.

Line working for a choke but McDonnell is defending well.

Line is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but McDonnell has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.

Line working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

McDonnell showing good submission defense here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gustav Line comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Line winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 27:30
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gustav Line!
Gustav Line was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.