PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Michael McPherson (ranked 3887 p4p, 3769 weight class) and Roman Isaiah (ranked 0 p4p, 435 weight class). Roman Isaiah is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

McPherson
vs
Isaiah

185 cm
25
185
0 - 0 - 0

181 cm
25
180
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Big right hand

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

Shadow Realm NYC

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Michael McPherson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Roman Isaiah!
The judges for this bout are Topper Green, Steve Erwin and Ben Hemmingworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McPherson tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Isaiah defends well and McPherson ends up having to push Isaiah into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Isaiah appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.

Isaiah breaks the clinch.
McPherson dives in for a single leg takedown but Isaiah sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Isaiah keeps the fight in the clinch, despite McPherson's efforts to push away.

McPherson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A nice combination there by McPherson.

It looks like Roman Isaiah has been cut.
Isaiah closes the distance and clinches up with McPherson, looking for a takedown. Isaiah pushes McPherson against the cage but McPherson circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
No joy there for McPherson, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Isaiah fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with McPherson, pushing him back against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Isaiah is defending well against a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael McPherson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
McPherson is trying to break the clinch but Isaiah is controlling him.
McPherson has Isaiah pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Isaiah manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
McPherson is trying to push Isaiah away but Isaiah has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Isaiah has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. McPherson is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Isaiah jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as McPherson walks away with a smile on his face. Isaiah gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
McPherson fails to land with a series of punches.
McPherson will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Isaiah buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
McPherson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Isaiah tries to avoid it but McPherson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Isaiah to the ground. Isaiah escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

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

Isaiah pulls guard.
McPherson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Isaiah is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst McPherson is controlling him.
Isaiah controls McPherson momentarily but McPherson frees himself.
McPherson slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McPherson is in close to Isaiah's body, working some short punches and elbows.
McPherson wants to stand but Isaiah is controlling his posture from full guard.
McPherson tries to free his leg and advance position but Isaiah is retaining full guard.
McPherson is breathing heavily.
McPherson stopping the sweep attempt from Isaiah.
Isaiah is looking to stand up but McPherson isn't so interested in that idea.
McPherson keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Isaiah's head.
Isaiah trying to strike off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Isaiah is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
McPherson wants to control from the top but Isaiah keeps moving.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
McPherson goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Isaiah misses with a few strikes there.
Michael McPherson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Isaiah misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
McPherson avoids the head kick by Isaiah.
A little feinted left hand from McPherson on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
McPherson tries for a takedown but Isaiah sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Isaiah is on the wrong end of a nice combination from McPherson.
McPherson misses with a takedown attempt - Isaiah sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
A combination from Isaiah does no damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Isaiah closes the distance and clinches.
Isaiah stalling in the clinch.
McPherson throws a head punch that misses.

Isaiah jumps guard and drags McPherson to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
McPherson wants to control from the top but Isaiah keeps moving.
Isaiah is trying to control the position but McPherson postures up.
Isaiah throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
McPherson looking to pass the guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Michael McPherson will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Roman Isaiah's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Isaiah dives in for a single leg takedown but McPherson sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Isaiah avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
As McPherson backs off Isaiah throws a huge counter combo but McPherson manages to avoid it all.
Isaiah shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. McPherson defends it nicely.
McPherson appears to be looking for a big counter.
McPherson swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Isaiah tries to close the distance and clinch up but McPherson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
McPherson swings for the body but Isaiah moves out of range.
McPherson with a hook.
McPherson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Isaiah can do to turn this around?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McPherson lands with an uppercut that bounces Isaiah off the cage and back into range.
Isaiah fails with an attempt to clinch.
McPherson drops down looking for a counter takedown but Isaiah sprawls and moves away.
Isaiah misses with a body kick.
McPherson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A combination from Isaiah does no damage.
McPherson went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
McPherson throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Isaiah sees it coming and avoids it easily.
McPherson fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Isaiah is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
Michael McPherson is winning the standup battle so far.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Isaiah is looking to clinch but McPherson is avoiding it.
As Isaiah looks to move away, McPherson throws a big counter combo but Isaiah just gets out of the way.
McPherson tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Isaiah swivels and escapes.
Isaiah misses with a takedown attempt - McPherson sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Michael McPherson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Roman Isaiah.
Isaiah tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but McPherson defends well and Isaiah ends up having to push McPherson into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
McPherson shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Isaiah eats them both and turns towards McPherson to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Isaiah slaps away a takedown attempt from McPherson, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McPherson stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and McPherson wants it to stay on the feet.
Isaiah fails in his attempt to clinch.
McPherson moves out of range of the body kick from Isaiah.
McPherson throws a hook to the side of Isaiah's head but Isaiah sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Isaiah misses with a takedown attempt - McPherson sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Isaiah shoots in but McPherson avoids the takedown attempt easily.
McPherson punishes Isaiah's body with a nice straight punch.
Isaiah tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but McPherson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Isaiah takes a shot right to the bread basket.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McPherson goes for a double leg but Isaiah avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Isaiah continues to drive forward.
Isaiah has McPherson pushed against the cage.
Isaiah has McPherson pressed against the cage, preventing McPherson from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Isaiah has McPherson pushed against the cage.

Isaiah breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Isaiah shoots for a takedown but McPherson saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
As Isaiah looks to move away, McPherson throws a big counter combo but Isaiah just gets out of the way.
Isaiah slaps away a takedown attempt from McPherson, before circling back to the center of the mat.
McPherson fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Isaiah avoids it really well and circles away.
Isaiah doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Isaiah shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says McPherson as he avoids it easily.
McPherson tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Isaiah swivels and escapes.
A little jabbing left from Isaiah on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

Isaiah closes the distance and pushes McPherson back into the cage.
McPherson is defending well against a takedown attempt.
McPherson wants to break free but Isaiah has control.
McPherson working hard to break the clinch.
Isaiah throws an elbow but it misses.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Isaiah pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Isaiah closes this distance looking for a takedown but McPherson circles away.
It looked like McPherson was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Isaiah.
McPherson tries for a takedown but Isaiah sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Michael McPherson dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Roman Isaiah's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Isaiah moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
McPherson with a hook.
McPherson lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Isaiah circles away quickly and effectively.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Isaiah is defended easily by McPherson.
McPherson moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Isaiah leaves McPherson with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Isaiah instigates a clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Come on Isaiah - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Isaiah prevents McPherson from breaking the clinch.

Isaiah manages to pull guard.
Isaiah manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. McPherson manages to get himself to full guard.

McPherson is striking off his back. Isaiah thinks nothing of it though and passes easily into half guard.
Isaiah prevents McPherson from improving his position.
McPherson moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Isaiah trying to control but McPherson is working from the bottom.
Isaiah is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
McPherson has Isaiah pulled in close to control his posture.
Isaiah throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Isaiah throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as McPherson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Isaiah decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
McPherson misses with a two punch combination.

Isaiah closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
McPherson can't break the clinch.

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

Isaiah has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. McPherson has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
McPherson tries to break free but Isaiah pushes him back against the cage.

Isaiah pulls McPherson into guard.

Isaiah looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

McPherson stands up and waves to Isaiah to follow him.
McPherson throws a sloppy body shot
and Isaiah counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McPherson fails to land with a series of punches.
McPherson throws a right hand that Isaiah ducks under and follows up with a left that Isaiah also avoids with ease.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Isaiah shoots in looking for a takedown. McPherson tries to sprawl out of it but Isaiah keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. McPherson manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Isaiah dives in and grabs McPherson's left leg, looking for a takedown. McPherson pushes down on Isaiah's head and hops out.
Michael McPherson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Roman Isaiah.
McPherson misses with a wild combination.
McPherson leaves Isaiah with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Roman Isaiah has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Michael McPherson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
McPherson swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

And that's the end of the fight!
Roman Isaiah comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think McPherson 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 Topper Green scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ben Hemmingworth scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael McPherson!
After winning the bout, Michael McPherson thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.