PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Johnny Billabong (ranked 125 p4p, 421 weight class) and Kieran McArthur (ranked 22 p4p, 64 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Billabong
vs
McArthur

171 cm
27
155
19 - 6 - 2

175 cm
44
155
31 - 14 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Paddy's Enhancing Drugs (160Q)
Bondi MMA 🏝️

Conviction
Conquer

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 6 - 2, fighting out of Montreal, Johnny Billabong!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 31 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kieran McArthur!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Andrew Berry and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Billabong fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
McArthur has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Billabong blocks the body kick.
A clash of legs there as Billabong blocks the low kick.
Billabong throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
McArthur is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Billabong with a body shot.
A big left from McArthur misses.
A jab lands there for Billabong.
McArthur on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Billabong swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Billabong misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Billabong looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
A swing and a miss from McArthur.
McArthur just misses with a punch to the body.
McArthur scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Billabong connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Billabong lands a jab to McArthur's midsection.
Nice shot by Billabong.
McArthur misses with a straight right.
McArthur throws a leg kick that is checked

and Billabong decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in McArthur's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McArthur not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
McArthur has his hands on Billabong's head, controlling the position.
McArthur wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Billabong is now in half guard.
Billabong sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. McArthur defending well though.
Billabong trying to control the action but McArthur is working from the bottom.
Billabong thows a huge punch but McArthur dodges it nicely.
McArthur is holding on to half guard well.

That's two 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.

Billabong wants to work for an arm triangle but McArthur is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Billabong is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Billabong seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Billabong lands with a punch from half guard.
Billabong has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Billabong is taking a breather. McArthur says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McArthur trying to control from the bottom.
Billabong is keen to just control but McArthur is a slippery customer.
McArthur wants to get back to full guard.
Billabong thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Billabong looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Billabong with a jab.
Nice defenses there by Billabong.
Billabong half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Billabong walks into a straight right hand from McArthur.
McArthur throws a leg kick that is checked

and Billabong counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
McArthur wants to get back to full guard but Billabong has passed into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McArthur is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Billabong wants to lay and pray for a moment but McArthur keeps working.
Billabong lands a nice forearm strike.
This has been an exciting period of action!
McArthur is trying to work for a sweep but Billabong has mounted him!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Billabong with the ground and pound from mount.
McArthur is wriggling around trying to escape.
Billabong trying to control but McArthur is having none of it.
McArthur wants to hold on but Billabong pushes him away.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny Billabong dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

McArthur looks to throw a body kick

and Billabong counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Billabong stands up over McArthur, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
McArthur has control of Billabong's left arm, preventing Billabong from doing any damage.
Billabong passes McArthur's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
McArthur wants to improve his position but Billabong is controlling well.
McArthur really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Billabong. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Billabong has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McArthur wants to hold on but Billabong pushes him away.
Billabong tries to control but McArthur wriggling away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Billabong tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Billabong working McArthur over with strikes here.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if McArthur can do anything to dispel that myth.
McArthur is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Billabong trying to control but McArthur is having none of it.
Billabong sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Billabong tries to control but McArthur wriggling away.
Kieran McArthur has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Billabong tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Billabong lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Billabong working McArthur over with strikes here.
Billabong lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Billabong punishing his opponent with strikes.
Billabong prevents McArthur from getting the reversal.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Billabong.
Billabong raining down hammerfists from mount.
McArthur taking shots to the head.
McArthur is squirming around, avoiding Billabong's attempts to control the action.
Billabong content just to control the position here.
Billabong dominating with strikes here.
Johnny Billabong overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Billabong postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. McArthur looks a forlorn figure.
Billabong unloading with bombs!
McArthur is trying desperately to improve position.
Billabong with good strikes from the mount here!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Billabong prevents McArthur from getting the reversal.
Billabong controlling the position easily from mount.
Billabong lands a nice shot to the head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny Billabong dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

McArthur misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Billabong.
Billabong fails with a takedown attempt.
Billabong tests McArthur's chin there with a solid looking shot.
McArthur pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
McArthur missing with a left hand there. Billabong was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
McArthur misses with a leg kick

and Billabong counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for McArthur!
Billabong is looking to take a break and control but McArthur is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McArthur being controlled for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McArthur tries to buck Billabong off but Billabong is having none of it.
A lull in the action here as Billabong stalls from top position.
McArthur prevents Billabong from improving position.
McArthur tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Billabong wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
McArthur being controlled for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Billabong scores with a couple of short elbows.

Billabong is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. McArthur knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
McArthur tries to buck Billabong off but Billabong is having none of it.
Billabong working the ground and pound from side control.
Billabong is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that McArthur can do to turn this around?
Billabong wants to lay and pray for a moment but McArthur keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Billabong landing a few strikes.
Billabong remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Billabong misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Johnny Billabong is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Billabong advances to full mount.
Billabong content just to control the position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McArthur can't escape the position.
Billabong fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Billabong controlling from mount.
McArthur is looking to improve his position but Billabong isn't that keen on the idea.
Billabong controlling from mount.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
McArthur really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Johnny Billabong showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Billabong has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Glass scores the fight 30:26
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:26
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Johnny Billabong!
Johnny Billabong tried to hype himself up post fight but didn't word it too well and it ended up with him sounding like a bit of a tool.