PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Eddie Kekoa (ranked 1571 p4p, 2358 weight class) and David McDonald (ranked 221 p4p, 321 weight class). David McDonald acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Kekoa
vs
McDonald

178 cm
29
170
10 - 7 - 0

180 cm
29
179
13 - 17 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Conviction

Knockaround Guys Fight Gear

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 10 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Eddie Kekoa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, David McDonald!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, William Gold and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McDonald on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Kekoa loads up on a big right hand but McDonald slips the punch.
Kekoa avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
McDonald defending well as Kekoa loads up on a big left hand.
Kekoa loads up on a big right hand but McDonald slips the punch.

McDonald closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Kekoa did well to prevent McDonald getting side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kekoa regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from McDonald.
McDonald wants to pass the guard but Kekoa is keeping the position.
Kekoa seems keen to control McDonald's posture.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McDonald stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kekoa swivels though and keeps the full guard.
McDonald pushing down on Kekoa's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kekoa trying to control from the bottom.
McDonald wants to free his trapped foot but Kekoa is holding on for dear life with his legs.
McDonald thows a huge punch but Kekoa dodges it nicely.

McDonald seems to be looking for submissions.
Nice strikes from McDonald there.
McDonald thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Kekoa's head.
McDonald wants to control but Kekoa is keeping him busy.
McDonald tries to pass to full mount but Kekoa defends it.
McDonald missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kekoa is staying active underneath McDonald, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

McDonald is trying to work for a kimura but Kekoa is defending well.
McDonald thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Kekoa's head.
Kekoa is controlling McDonald's position as best he can from this difficult position.
McDonald has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Kekoa continues to stall.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

McDonald is trying to work for a kimura but Kekoa is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

McDonald seems to be looking for submissions.

McDonald is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Kekoa blocking the ground and pound attempt from McDonald.
Kekoa is staying active underneath McDonald, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
McDonald misses with a hook to the body
and Kekoa counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Kekoa throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Kekoa slips a jab from McDonald.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Kekoa. McDonald shrugs it off though.
Kekoa throws a poor cross that misses
and McDonald counters with a one-two to the body.
McDonald misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
McDonald throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Kekoa's waist but Kekoa gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing McDonald off to one side.
McDonald staying out of range there.
Kekoa connects with a crisp jab.
Eddie Kekoa is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
McDonald connects with a crisp jab.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kekoa cracks a nice hook into McDonald's ribs.
A clash of legs there as Kekoa blocks the low kick.
The crowd cheers as Kekoa lands an impressive looking overhand right. McDonald doesn't seem phased though.
Kekoa throws a predictable looking body shot

and McDonald counters with a single leg into guard. Kekoa didn't expect that.
Kekoa keeping moving, preventing McDonald from controlling successfully.
Kekoa wants to stand up but McDonald is controlling him.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

David McDonald dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Kekoa connects with a jab.
Kekoa misses with a wild body shot.
McDonald feints the counter takedown.
Kekoa cracks McDonald with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Eddie Kekoa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kekoa throws out a powerful jab.
McDonald throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Kekoa makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Kekoa lands a right hook to the body.
Kekoa connects with the punch.
Kekoa with a nice calf kick.
McDonald takes one on the chin but seems OK.
McDonald fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kekoa manages to avoid it.
McDonald misses with a right hand
and Kekoa counters with a nice leg kick.
McDonald doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Kekoa counters with a nice body shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
McDonald swings widly with a right hand
and Kekoa counters with a stiff right hand.
McDonald misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A quick step to the side and Kekoa tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kekoa throws an uppercut from half a mile away. McDonald sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Kekoa throws a big shot that misses.
McDonald drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Kekoa defends it well.
McDonald shoots in looking for a takedown but Kekoa manages to keep the fight standing, pushing McDonald's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
McDonald displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Kekoa throws out the jab.
Kekoa misses with an uppercut.
A low kick from McDonald misses
and Kekoa counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Kekoa scores with a body shot.
McDonald misses with a combination
and Kekoa connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

McDonald scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Kekoa is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that McDonald can do to turn this around?
McDonald working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
McDonald trying to control the action but Kekoa is working from the bottom.
McDonald working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McDonald looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Kekoa is avoiding damage well.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
McDonald wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kekoa keeps working.
McDonald in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
McDonald lands a few punches from side control.
McDonald working away.
McDonald wants to control but Kekoa is keeping him busy.
Kekoa is trying to control McDonald's posture but McDonald avoids it.

McDonald goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Kekoa has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for McDonald but great work by Kekoa.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McDonald is trying to get back to half guard.
Kekoa is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt McDonald will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
McDonald is looking to reverse the position.
McDonald 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.
Kekoa slows the pace down.
McDonald tries to buck Kekoa off but Kekoa is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
McDonald trying to remain calm as Kekoa controls from the top position.
Kekoa trying to control the position but McDonald is working away.
Kekoa wants to stand but McDonald is controlling his arm.
Kekoa is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt McDonald will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
McDonald tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Kekoa wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Kekoa gets to mount! McDonald was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
McDonald is looking to improve his position but Kekoa isn't that keen on the idea.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Eddie Kekoa dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Kekoa throws an ugly left hook that misses

and McDonald counters with a nice double leg into side control. Kekoa won't be happy with that.
Kekoa is looking for a sweep.
Kekoa managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by McDonald.
McDonald creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Kekoa sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
McDonald tries to move into full mount but can't pass Kekoa's legs.
McDonald misses with the ground and pound.
McDonald cracks Kekoa with a big elbow.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McDonald postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Kekoa prevents McDonald from moving into mount.
McDonald misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

McDonald tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
David McDonald has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The ground and pound from McDonald seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

McDonald thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
McDonald is looking to take a break and control but Kekoa is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Kekoa can't do much from the bottom here.

That's two 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.
McDonald tries to score with some ground and pound. Kekoa controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

McDonald is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Kekoa has escaped the position, nice work there.
Kekoa is not content to let McDonald control the position.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.
McDonald misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kekoa is looking for a sweep.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
David McDonald is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
McDonald doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Kekoa counters with a nice body shot.
McDonald uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Kekoa.
Kekoa fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
McDonald shoots in and drives through. Kekoa sprawls well.
Kekoa appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
McDonald throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Kekoa's waist but Kekoa gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing McDonald off to one side.
Eddie Kekoa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of David McDonald.
Kekoa swings and misses with a hook to the body.
McDonald is looking for the big counter here.
McDonald takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Kekoa misses with a straight right.
Kekoa walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
McDonald looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kekoa. McDonald does a little dance to reset his feet.
McDonald moves away from the strike by Kekoa.
McDonald is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
McDonald misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
A slow jab from Kekoa misses its intended target.
Kekoa throws a lazy right hand but McDonald sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
McDonald let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
McDonald avoids the body shot from Kekoa.
McDonald misses with a kick to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
McDonald misses with a series of wild punches.
Kekoa is looking to counter punch.
Kekoa lands a lovely overhand right.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kekoa ducks down and throws a hook to the body but McDonald moves away.
McDonald bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to David McDonald.
I think McDonald 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 William Gold scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Glass scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... David McDonald!
Our winner, David McDonald, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.