PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Conor MacDonald (ranked 3296 p4p, 4019 weight class) and Yoshi Ishikari (ranked 385 p4p, 0 weight class). MacDonald comes to the cage accompanied by This is American. Ishikari has chosen 運命 - Destiny as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Yoshi Ishikari was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

MacDonald
vs
Ishikari

190 cm
21
195
1 - 0 - 0

180 cm
22
195
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Conor MacDonald!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yoshi Ishikari!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Daniel Blasius and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ishikari blocks a jab.
A head kick misses from Ishikari.

Ishikari closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Ishikari lands in his opponent's guard.
MacDonald trying to keep a closed guard but Ishikari is proving a slippery customer.
Ishikari trying to control but MacDonald is working from the bottom.
MacDonald on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if MacDonald tries to get out of the position.

Ishikari drops back, looking for a kneebar! MacDonald looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. MacDonald looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from MacDonald!

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Ishikari throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!

Ishikari looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ishikari preventing the sweep.
MacDonald is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Ishikari decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on MacDonald, up you get!
Ishikari tries to bum rush MacDonald with a series of wild strikes but MacDonald uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
MacDonald shoots in looking for a takedown. Ishikari tries to sprawl out of it but MacDonald keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Ishikari manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
MacDonald fails with an attempt to clinch.
MacDonald is looking to clinch.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
MacDonald jumps guard but Ishikari turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Ishikari jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as MacDonald walks away with a smile on his face. Ishikari gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
MacDonald fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Conor MacDonald. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A head kick misses from MacDonald.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ishikari looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ishikari shoots in looking for a takedown but MacDonald manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Ishikari's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
A punch combination from MacDonald misses.
MacDonald is looking to clinch but Ishikari is avoiding it.

Ishikari fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with MacDonald, pushing him back against the cage.
MacDonald takes a knee to the side of the body.

MacDonald successfully pulls guard.
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.
Ishikari stopping the sweep attempt from MacDonald.
Ishikari pushing down on MacDonald's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
MacDonald taking some punishment here, with Ishikari in his half guard.
MacDonald is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Ishikari is trying to control the action in half guard but MacDonald is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
MacDonald wants to stand back up but Ishikari manages to pass into side control.
Ishikari is chipping away with strikes.

Ishikari wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by MacDonald, who protects the arm well.
MacDonald can't do much from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
MacDonald pushes Ishikari away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Ishikari gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Ishikari wants to lay and pray for a moment but MacDonald keeps working.
MacDonald wants to control but Ishikari postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
MacDonald is looking for a sweep.
Ishikari landing a few strikes.

Ishikari in side control, working for a kimura. He's got hold of an arm and he's torquing it... MacDonald is tapping! That's the end of the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Yoshi Ishikari!
Yoshi Ishikari decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.
Conor MacDonald spoke after the fight, saying 'Allah Akbar'.