PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Sam Craig (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rory MacDonald (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Craig
vs
MacDonald

185 cm
23
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
22
170 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Sam Craig!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Rory MacDonald!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Trevor Gratis and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Craig misses with a wild combination.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Craig is defended easily by MacDonald.
MacDonald feints and then cracks Craig's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Craig down.
A head kick from MacDonald lands but Craig takes it in his stride.

Craig manages to get an easy takedown there - catching MacDonald on his heels. He'll look to pass MacDonald's guard now, I'm sure.
MacDonald keeping moving, preventing Craig from controlling successfully.
MacDonald has Craig pulled in close to control his posture.

Craig drops back looking for a leg! MacDonald is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and MacDonald manages to kick Craig off! Craig jumps back into MacDonald's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
MacDonald looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Craig throwing strikes but missing.
MacDonald looking to control.
Craig has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Craig tries to free his leg and advance position but MacDonald is retaining full guard.

MacDonald working for a triangle but Craig defends it easily.
Craig engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Craig postures up.
Craig throwing strikes but missing.

Craig got a little sloppy there for a moment and MacDonald has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Craig has managed to get both his arms back between MacDonald's legs - danger averted.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

MacDonald looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
MacDonald wants to sweep but no luck.
Craig trying to control but MacDonald is working from the bottom.
Craig prevents MacDonald from getting back to his feet.
Craig trying to control but MacDonald is working from the bottom.
Craig postures up.
Craig is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sam Craig has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
MacDonald tries to clinch but Craig moves out of range.
Craig fails with the takedown
and MacDonald counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Craig shoots in looking for a takedown but MacDonald manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Craig's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sam Craig. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Craig is breathing heavily.
MacDonald misses with a two punch combination.
MacDonald pivots, looking for a leg kick but Craig is out of range and MacDonald settles back down.
MacDonald throws a nice outside leg kick.
Rory MacDonald is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Craig has closed the distance and engaged MacDonald in a clinch.

MacDonald decides to pull guard.
Craig trying to control the position from guard on top but MacDonald is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
MacDonald has a closed guard, preventing Craig from standing up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Craig has gone for a leg lock! MacDonald slips out almost immediately though and dives into Craig's guard.
MacDonald trying to control the position from guard on top but Craig is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Craig working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because MacDonald has passed into half guard!
Craig on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Craig tries to get out of the position.
MacDonald trying to control the action but Craig is working from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
MacDonald trying to mount his opponent but Craig defends it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Rory MacDonald will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

MacDonald throws a one two combo.
Craig looks for a takedown but MacDonald sprawls well.
MacDonald lands a head shot.

Craig scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
I wouldn't like to be where MacDonald is right now.
MacDonald wants to control but Craig postures up.
A lull in the action here as Craig stalls from top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Craig cracks MacDonald with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Craig wants to lay and pray for a moment but MacDonald keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.
MacDonald wants to control but Craig postures up.

Craig wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by MacDonald, who protects the arm well.
MacDonald is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Craig's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
MacDonald wants to control but Craig is keeping busy.
MacDonald desperately trying to maintain half guard.
MacDonald trying to control but Craig postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Craig looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Craig is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and MacDonald defends it well.
MacDonald manages to get to full guard.
Craig trying to control but MacDonald is working from the bottom.
Craig slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Craig goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, MacDonald rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Craig's guard! Nice work there by MacDonald!

Craig working for a triangle but MacDonald defends it easily.
MacDonald pushes down on Craig's leg and manages to get into half guard.

MacDonald wants to work for an arm triangle but Craig is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
MacDonald moves nicely into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Craig on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
MacDonald grinds an elbow into Craig's temple.
Rory MacDonald has got the better of the ground game so far.
Craig defending against the ground and pound.
MacDonald is looking to take a break and control but Craig is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Craig is trying to strike from the bottom but MacDonald has passed into full mount.
MacDonald landing shots from mount.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
MacDonald tries to control but Craig wriggling away.
Craig tries to control the position but MacDonald now has his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rory MacDonald showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

MacDonald keeps Craig at a distance using the push kick.
MacDonald is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Craig fails with a takedown attempt.
Craig throws a combination that misses

and MacDonald holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Craig tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. MacDonald smiles and moves away.

MacDonald moves into the clinch.

MacDonald drags the fight down to the ground.
Craig works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Craig trying to control the action but MacDonald is working from the bottom.
MacDonald is trying to maintain the position but Craig is very close to passing his half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Craig is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
MacDonald preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Craig stops MacDonald from getting back to his feet.
MacDonald is looking to control Craig's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can MacDonald avoid being mounted?
Craig is just content to waste time from the top position. MacDonald takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

Craig 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!
Rory MacDonald is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

MacDonald tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no MacDonald has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
MacDonald is looking to take a break and control but Craig is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
MacDonald is looking to take a break and control but Craig is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Craig tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but MacDonald wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
MacDonald trying to control the position but Craig is working away.
Craig tries to control the position but he's not in luck - MacDonald easily slips into full mount!
MacDonald prevents Craig from getting the reversal.
Craig tries to hold on but MacDonald postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
MacDonald tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Let's hope that MacDonald has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
MacDonald tries to control but Craig wriggling away.
Sam Craig has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Craig tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Craig is working hard here to advance position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rory MacDonald comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well MacDonald has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 William Peck scores the fight 27:30
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rory MacDonald!