PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Tommy McDonald (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Halfway Crook (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Crook's choice of entrance music: Shook Ones pt II. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

McDonald
vs
Crook

180 cm
24
163 lbs
8 - 0 - 0

167 cm
20
161 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Very quick

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tommy McDonald!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Halfway Crook!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Cecil Peabody and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McDonald shoots in but Crook avoids the takedown attempt easily.
A jab from McDonald misses.
Crook keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from McDonald.
McDonald takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Crook keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from McDonald.
Crook jabs McDonald right on the nose. McDonald blinks but takes it well.
Crook pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
McDonald throws a lazy right hand but Crook sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

McDonald drives through with a takedown into guard.
McDonald wants to pass the guard but Crook is keeping the position.
Crook is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
McDonald throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Crook works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crook keeping moving, preventing McDonald from controlling successfully.
McDonald wants to pass the guard but Crook is keeping the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McDonald is working hard here to advance position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Crook can do anything to dispel that myth.
Crook really doesn't want to stay on the ground with McDonald. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Crook lands with a nice body punch.
McDonald shoots in for a double leg but Crook sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Good shot there by Crook.
Crook lands with a hook. McDonald tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
McDonald throws a jab but it's blocked by Crook.
Halfway Crook is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
McDonald shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Crook sprawls well. Crook wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. McDonald gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tommy McDonald. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Crook scores with a jab to the jaw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crook swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Crook uses good head movement to avoid the hook from McDonald.
McDonald thows a body shot but no joy.
Crook leaves McDonald with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
McDonald ducks right into an uppercut from Crook.
Crook stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Crook wants it to stay on the feet.
Crook slips a jab and a cross from McDonald.
McDonald listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Crook falls off balance throwing a combination
and McDonald counters with a lovely straight right hand!

McDonald bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
McDonald tries to advance to mount but Crook denies him.
McDonald trying to control the position but Crook is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McDonald staying calm.
McDonald tries to advance position but instead Crook slips a leg back in to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Halfway Crook dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

McDonald looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Crook is fending him off so far but McDonald persists. Nope, Crook circles away and we're back to standing.
Crook scores with a hook to the body. McDonald takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
McDonald takes one on the chin but seems OK.
McDonald misses with a wild body shot.
Crook scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Crook swings for the body but McDonald moves out of range.
Crook loads up on a big right hand but McDonald slips the punch.
Crook just misses with a punch to the body.
Crook misses with a straight right.
McDonald keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
McDonald throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Crook counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
McDonald bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A right-left combo lands from Crook.
McDonald fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
McDonald shoots in looking for a takedown. Crook tries to sprawl out of it but McDonald keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Crook manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tommy McDonald. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McDonald moves out of range of the strikes.
McDonald fails with the takedown.
Crook staying out of range there.
McDonald misses with a takedown attempt
letting Crook counter with a right hand.
Crook lands with a nice combination. McDonald backs away looking to recover.
McDonald connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Crook momentarily.
A big right from Crook misses.
The fighters circling - McDonald throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Crook misses with a jab to the body
and McDonald counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
McDonald is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Crook misses the shot to the body.
Crook misses with a looping left.
McDonald lunges at Crook with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Crook's hand.
McDonald closes the distance and clinches up with Crook, looking for a takedown. McDonald pushes Crook against the cage but Crook circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Crook misses the shot to the body.
Crook throws a nice looking combination but McDonald bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Crook misses with a hook. McDonald ducked under it nicely.
McDonald tests Crook's chin there with a solid looking shot.
McDonald throws a series of punches but Crook moves out of range.
McDonald doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Crook counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
McDonald throws a body punch but Crook moves out of range.
McDonald lands with a right hand.
McDonald falls off balance throwing a combination
and Crook makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Crook swings and misses with a shot to the body
letting McDonald counter with a right hand.
McDonald shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Crook but Crook pushes him off and we're back to square one.
No luck for McDonald with that takedown attempt.
Jab, jab by Crook - just one landing.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
McDonald falls off balance throwing a combination
enabling Crook to counter with a crisp jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crook misses with a double jab
and McDonald makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Crook slips under a jab.
McDonald takes a jab right on the kisser.
McDonald lands with a nice combination. Crook backs away looking to recover.
Crook getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

McDonald is rocked!
Crook thuds a left hand into McDonald's body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Crook misses with a wild body shot.
McDonald uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Crook.
Crook throws an overhand right that lands on McDonald's shoulder, as McDonald tries to avoid the shot.
A nice combination there by Crook.
Oh McDonald is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Crook fires a straight punch through the middle that cracks McDonald square on the jaw! Damn, McDonald is out cold on his feet and topples face first to the canvas! Wow, I haven't seen a knockout that brutal in a long time!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:50 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Halfway Crook!