PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Julian McGavin (ranked 3059 p4p, 4654 weight class) and Damyan Rasmussen (ranked 187 p4p, 258 weight class). McGavin comes to the cage accompanied by Jersey Shore intro song. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

McGavin
vs
Rasmussen

168 cm
25
132
2 - 1 - 0

165 cm
25
135
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Julian McGavin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Damyan Rasmussen!
The judges for this bout are Winston Alpacca, Santiago Holmes and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rasmussen looks for a takedown but McGavin sprawls well.
Rasmussen darts in trying to clinch

and McGavin counters with a nice double leg into guard.
McGavin slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Rasmussen working a defensive guard here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rasmussen avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Rasmussen is controlling McGavin's posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rasmussen keeping full guard, as McGavin tries to pass.

McGavin has gone for a leg lock! Rasmussen slips out almost immediately though and dives into McGavin's guard.

Rasmussen passes into half guard.
Rasmussen is pressing down on McGavin's thigh, looking to free his foot. McGavin is holding on for now.
McGavin trying to control from the bottom.
Rasmussen trying to pass the guard but McGavin defending well.
Rasmussen trying to control from half guard but McGavin is working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McGavin is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Rasmussen is looking for a kimura here.
Rasmussen controlling the pace.
McGavin is positioning himself well to prevent Rasmussen advancing to mount.
McGavin is trying to stand up here but Rasmussen is controlling him well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McGavin desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Rasmussen not doing much here.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Rasmussen fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
McGavin shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Rasmussen as he jumps to the side.
Damyan Rasmussen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McGavin shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Rasmussen sprawls well. Rasmussen wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. McGavin gets slowly back to his feet.
Rasmussen changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

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.

Rasmussen shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. McGavin is trying to defend but Rasmussen finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Rasmussen is keen to just control but McGavin is a slippery customer.
Rasmussen looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rasmussen wants to control but McGavin is keeping him busy.
McGavin is trying to maintain the position but Rasmussen is very close to passing his half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Damyan Rasmussen 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.

McGavin shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Rasmussen sprawls well. Rasmussen wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. McGavin gets slowly back to his feet.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Rasmussen.
Rasmussen stuffs the takedown.
Rasmussen tries to counter by closing the distance.
Rasmussen leaves McGavin with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Julian McGavin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rasmussen misses with a takedown attempt
and McGavin counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Rasmussen throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around McGavin's waist but McGavin gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Rasmussen off to one side.
It looked like McGavin was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.

That's one minute gone in the round.

McGavin instigates a clinch.
Rasmussen tries to pull guard but McGavin forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
McGavin blocks the elbow strike.

Rasmussen lands a takedown into guard.

McGavin is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Rasmussen tries to pull guard but McGavin forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

McGavin jumps guard.
Julian McGavin overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rasmussen is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
McGavin is controlling Rasmussen's posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McGavin is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McGavin tries to land a sweep but no joy.
McGavin being controlled here, momentarily.
McGavin is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rasmussen trying to control the position from guard on top but McGavin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

McGavin wriggles free and stands up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McGavin stuffs the takedown attempt from Rasmussen. Rasmussen gets slowly back to his feet.
Rasmussen shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts McGavin as he jumps to the side.
McGavin drops down looking for a counter takedown but Rasmussen sprawls and moves away.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from McGavin is defended easily by Rasmussen.
Rasmussen stuffs the takedown attempt from McGavin. McGavin gets slowly back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
McGavin gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Rasmussen counters by moving into the clinch.
McGavin content to slow the pace in the clinch.
McGavin looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rasmussen.
Rasmussen is looking for a takedown up against the cage. McGavin gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rasmussen fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Rasmussen jumps guard but McGavin turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
McGavin goes for a takedown attempt but Rasmussen pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Julian McGavin dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

McGavin misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Rasmussen stuffs the takedown attempt from McGavin. McGavin gets slowly back to his feet.
McGavin doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Rasmussen counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Julian McGavin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A short uppercut from McGavin.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rasmussen wants a takedown.
Rasmussen drops down looking for an ankle pick but McGavin pulls his leg out and moves away.
McGavin tries to score a power double leg takedown but Rasmussen sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten McGavin somewhat.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rasmussen decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Rasmussen not doing much here.
Rasmussen thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Rasmussen throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rasmussen tries to pass to full mount but McGavin defends it.

Rasmussen is working for a kimura but McGavin is defending it quite comfortably.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Rasmussen lands a nice short elbow.
Rasmussen seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but McGavin does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

McGavin has one foot on Rasmussen's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Rasmussen closes the distance and clinches up with McGavin, looking for a takedown. Rasmussen pushes McGavin against the cage but McGavin circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
McGavin went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Julian McGavin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rasmussen tries to close the distance and clinch but McGavin swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from McGavin.
McGavin stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and McGavin wants it to stay on the feet.
McGavin stuffs the takedown.
Rasmussen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

McGavin gets a double leg takedown into Rasmussen's guard.
Rasmussen keeping moving, preventing McGavin from controlling successfully.
Rasmussen looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
McGavin controlling from the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McGavin trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

McGavin gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
McGavin tries to close the distance and clinch but Rasmussen swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rasmussen tries to counter with a clinch but McGavin shakes him off and moves away.
McGavin darts in looking for a takedown but Rasmussen gets double underhooks and turns McGavin into the cage.
Rasmussen tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
McGavin lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by McGavin as Rasmussen tries to tie him up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Julian McGavin showed his dominance in that final round.
I think McGavin has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Winston Alpacca scores the fight 29:28
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Julian McGavin!
Julian McGavin decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.