PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ben Macdonald (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dennis Sinclair (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sinclair has chosen 50 Cent - Get Up as his entrance music. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Macdonald
vs
Sinclair

176 cm
18
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

178 cm
18
155 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ben Macdonald!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Dennis Sinclair!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, Eliza Hachem and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sinclair fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Sinclair takes a kick to the side of the head.

Macdonald has managed to clinch.
Macdonald tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Sinclair tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Macdonald smiles and moves away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Macdonald looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Sinclair circles away from the clinch attempt.

Macdonald closes the distance and clinches.
Sinclair tries for a takedown. No joy.
Ben Macdonald has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dennis Sinclair.
Macdonald tries a knee to the head but Sinclair blocks it.
Sinclair tries to pull guard but Macdonald won't allow it.
Macdonald with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Macdonald escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Macdonald is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Sinclair circles away from the clinch attempt.
Macdonald tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sinclair paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Macdonald wants to clinch up but Sinclair keeps it at a distance.
Macdonald tries to clinch there but Sinclair circles away.
Macdonald pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Macdonald fails with an attempt to clinch.

Macdonald clinches up with Sinclair and pushes him back against the cage.
Sinclair with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Macdonald using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Macdonald tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Sinclair tries to break the clinch but Macdonald is controlling the position.
Sinclair tries to pull guard but Macdonald holds him up against the cage and eventually Sinclair drops back down to his feet.
Sinclair fails to pull guard.
Macdonald throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Sinclair blocks it with crossed arms.
Macdonald looks to throw an elbow but misses.

Sinclair breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Sinclair closes this distance looking for a takedown but Macdonald circles away.

Macdonald rushes Sinclair and presses him up against the cage.
Sinclair changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Macdonald fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Macdonald moves in looking to clinch but Sinclair pushes him off.
Nice takedown defense from Macdonald. No joy for Sinclair on that attempt.
Macdonald is looking to clinch.
Sinclair shoots in and drives through. Macdonald sprawls well.
Sinclair looks gassed!
Macdonald wants to clinch.
Macdonald fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sinclair fails to land the takedown.
Macdonald tries a head kick but it misses.

Macdonald forces Sinclair back against the cage and clinches.
Sinclair tries for a takedown but Macdonald manages to get underhooks.
Nice elbow from Macdonald.
Macdonald unloads a knee to the mid-section. Sinclair lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Macdonald misses with a knee strike.
Macdonald lands an elbow inside that Sinclair shrugs off.
Macdonald misses with a knee strike.
Sinclair drops down looking for an ankle pick but Macdonald pulls his leg out and moves away.
Macdonald fails in his attempt to clinch.

Sinclair closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Sinclair lands in his opponent's guard.
Sinclair missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sinclair trying to control the position from guard on top but Macdonald is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sinclair has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Sinclair loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Sinclair tries to free his leg and advance position but Macdonald is retaining full guard.
Sinclair trying to control the position from guard on top but Macdonald is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Macdonald knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Sinclair on the ground.

Sinclair stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Ben Macdonald seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Sinclair scores a takedown into full mount!
Macdonald is trying to stand.
Sinclair tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Sinclair throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sinclair wants to finish this one by submission but Macdonald is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Sinclair.
Sinclair looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Sinclair lands with some strikes.
Sinclair postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Macdonald looks a forlorn figure.
Macdonald taking shots to the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sinclair can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Macdonald is looking to escape.
Sinclair looking to finish with strikes here!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Macdonald dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Sinclair fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Macdonald, pushing him back against the cage.
Macdonald using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Sinclair has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Sinclair avoiding damage as Macdonald throws knees to the body.
Macdonald with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Macdonald has had enough of the clinch but Sinclair keeps him there for the moment.
Macdonald trying to land knees to the body.

Macdonald breaks from the clinch.

Macdonald gets caught flat footed, as Sinclair shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Macdonald keeping moving, preventing Sinclair from controlling successfully.
Sinclair passes into half guard.
Macdonald is refusing to be controlled, as Sinclair sits in half guard.
Sinclair trying to control from Macdonald's half guard. Macdonald has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sinclair controls from within his opponent's guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sinclair passes Macdonald's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Sinclair decides to return to a standing position.
Macdonald closes the distance but Sinclair moves to the side

and Sinclair counters by moving into the clinch.

Macdonald manages to break the clinch.
Macdonald avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Macdonald tries to clinch

and Sinclair counters by moving into the clinch.
Sinclair has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Macdonald avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Nice elbow from Macdonald.
Macdonald landing knees to the head.
Macdonald tries a knee to the head but Sinclair blocks it.
Macdonald lands a nice elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sinclair tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Macdonald scores with a knee to the head.

Sinclair manages to pull guard.
Macdonald wants to stand but Sinclair has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Sinclair manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Macdonald manages to get himself to full guard.
Macdonald not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Sinclair wants to pass the guard but Macdonald is keeping the position.
Macdonald bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Sinclair's guard.
Macdonald would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Sinclair tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Macdonald stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sinclair swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Sinclair throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

Sinclair looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Sinclair looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Sinclair had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Macdonald is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Sinclair Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Macdonald's back instead.
Sinclair avoiding Macdonald 's attempts to control his hands.
Sinclair wants to control but Macdonald manages to buck him off and is now in Sinclair's guard! Nice work there by Macdonald!
Sinclair tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Sinclair looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dennis Sinclair showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Sinclair closes the distance and clinches up with Macdonald, looking for a takedown. Sinclair pushes Macdonald against the cage but Macdonald circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Macdonald wants to clinch

and Sinclair counters with a single leg into guard. Macdonald didn't expect that.
Sinclair trying to control the position from guard on top but Macdonald is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sinclair prevents Macdonald from getting back to his feet.
Macdonald wants to sweep here but Sinclair controlling him for the moment.
Sinclair trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Sinclair is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Sinclair postures up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sinclair throws a big right hand that misses.
Macdonald keeping moving, preventing Sinclair from controlling successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Sinclair throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Macdonald's waist but Macdonald gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Sinclair off to one side.
Macdonald wants to clinch

and Sinclair counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Sinclair trying to control the position from guard on top but Macdonald is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sinclair lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Sinclair postures up in Macdonald's guard and throws a big left but Macdonald blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sinclair gets to his feet - Macdonald follows without any prompting.
Sinclair fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Ben Macdonald has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dennis Sinclair.
Sinclair avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Macdonald moves into the clinch.
Macdonald throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Sinclair blocks it with crossed arms.
Sinclair takes a knee right on the jaw!
Macdonald scores with a knee to the head.
Macdonald looking to throw knees to the head but Sinclair is blocking nicely.
Sinclair goes for a takedown attempt but Macdonald pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Sinclair takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Sinclair steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Macdonald. That one must have hurt.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Macdonald connects with a high kick.
Macdonald wants to clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Macdonald lands a knee to the head.

Sinclair manages to pull guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sinclair wants to stand up but Macdonald is controlling him.

Sinclair throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Sinclair looking for a guillotine here but Macdonald defends easily.
Sinclair is looking to sweep but instead, Macdonald has passed into half guard.
Sinclair trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sinclair tries to hold on but Macdonald postures up.
Sinclair really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Macdonald takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dennis Sinclair comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Sinclair has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Steve Erwin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 28:29
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dennis Sinclair!