PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Tommy McDonald (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brandan Kirwan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Brandan Kirwan has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Tommy McDonald's chin.

McDonald
vs
Kirwan

180 cm
28
163 lbs
18 - 5 - 0

174 cm
21
171 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

ADCC Champion
Basic striking
Good gas tank

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 18 - 5 - 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 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Brandan Kirwan!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Daniel Bishop and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kirwan fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kirwan looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kirwan moves out of range of the strikes.
McDonald misses with a body shot.

Kirwan fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. McDonald sprawls well initially but Kirwan persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Kirwan is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and McDonald defends it well.
Kirwan is looking to stall here but McDonald recovers full guard.

McDonald pushes Kirwan off and scrambles back to his feet.
Kirwan fails with a takedown attempt.
Kirwan changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. McDonald tries to avoid it but Kirwan manages to keep hold of a leg and drag McDonald to the ground. McDonald escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Tommy McDonald has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brandan Kirwan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McDonald lands a slapping body shot.
Brandan Kirwan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McDonald tests Kirwan's chin there with a solid looking shot.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Kirwan is defended easily by McDonald.
Kirwan uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by McDonald.
Kirwan drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Kirwan slips a jab from McDonald.
McDonald slaps away a takedown attempt from Kirwan, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McDonald swings and misses with a hook to the body.
McDonald throws a hook but Kirwan avoids it easily.
McDonald misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kirwan.
Kirwan lands a straight punch to the body, keeping McDonald at a distance.
Kirwan tries to clinch up.
Nice jab there from Kirwan.
Kirwan misses the shot to the body.
Kirwan ducks under a wild hook from McDonald.
Kirwan will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
McDonald moves out of range of the body kick.
Kirwan bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
McDonald stuffs the takedown attempt from Kirwan. Kirwan gets slowly back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kirwan takes one on the button.
McDonald misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kirwan.
McDonald connects with a body shot.
Tommy McDonald is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
McDonald lands a lovely overhand right.
McDonald connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Kirwan is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
McDonald throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kirwan shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and McDonald counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Kirwan takes one on the chin but seems OK.
McDonald swings for the body but Kirwan moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McDonald pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Kirwan back to the cage. McDonald follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
McDonald throws a hook but Kirwan avoids it easily.
McDonald lands a right hook to the body.
Kirwan walks into a straight right hand from McDonald.
McDonald fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kirwan manages to avoid it.
Kirwan tries to clinch up
letting McDonald counter with a right hand.
Kirwan shoots and misses
and McDonald counters with a straight right hand.
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.
Kirwan ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Kirwan tries to close the distance and clinch up but McDonald swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kirwan tries to clinch
and McDonald counters with a right hand to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

McDonald dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Kirwan takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
McDonald throws a series of punches but Kirwan avoids them all with ease.
McDonald throws a shot from downtown. Kirwan moves away and avoids it.
Kirwan misses with a wild body shot.
McDonald scores with a nice head shot.
McDonald misses the shot to the body.
McDonald leaves Kirwan with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
A cross from McDonald lands.
Tommy McDonald is winning the standup battle so far.
Kirwan moves out of range of the strikes.
McDonald misses the shot to the body.
Kirwan throws a big shot that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McDonald avoids the body shot from Kirwan.
Kirwan takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
McDonald lands with a nice combination. Kirwan backs away looking to recover.
McDonald thuds a left hand into Kirwan's body.
Kirwan throws the left hand but McDonald avoids the punch easily.
McDonald scores with a crisp jab that stopped Kirwan in his tracks.
Kirwan tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Kirwan tries to clinch there but McDonald circles away.
McDonald works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
A big right from Kirwan misses.
Kirwan ducks down and throws a hook to the body but McDonald moves away.
McDonald misses the shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kirwan closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Kirwan fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but McDonald avoids it really well and circles away.
Kirwan avoids the body shot from McDonald.
McDonald ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Kirwan fails to land the takedown.
Tommy McDonald has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brandan Kirwan.
The fighters circling - Kirwan throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Kirwan steps to the side to avoid the strikes from McDonald.
Kirwan takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nice uppercut there from McDonald.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McDonald throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Kirwan takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Kirwan wants to clinch up but McDonald keeps it at a distance.
McDonald swings and misses with a hook to the body.
McDonald misses with a wild body shot.
Kirwan shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says McDonald as he avoids it easily.
McDonald catches Kirwan with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
McDonald tests Kirwan's chin there with a solid looking shot.
McDonald fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
McDonald thuds his right hand into Kirwan's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
McDonald throws an overhand right that lands on Kirwan's shoulder, as Kirwan tries to avoid the shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McDonald digs a good body shot into Kirwan's ribs.
McDonald's corner calls for a 1-2. McDonald obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Kirwan misses with a takedown attempt
and McDonald connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
McDonald stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and McDonald wants it to stay on the feet.
Kirwan is breathing heavily.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kirwan looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

McDonald gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
McDonald wants to stand and escape but Kirwan is having none of it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

McDonald pushes Kirwan off and gets back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tommy McDonald dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Kirwan is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
McDonald swinging wildly here.
McDonald lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
McDonald lands a glancing blow to the side of Kirwan's head.
Kirwan looks to score with a jab to the body but McDonald is just out of range.
Kirwan is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down McDonald rather than just go for the knockout.
McDonald misses with a looping right.
Kirwan thows a body shot but no joy.
Kirwan misses with a body shot.
McDonald lands with a good body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McDonald misses with a hook. Kirwan ducked under it nicely.
A looping hook to the body misses from McDonald. Kirwan does a little dance to reset his feet.
McDonald jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Kirwan tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but McDonald paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kirwan wants to clinch.
McDonald swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Kirwan.
Kirwan takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Kirwan slips a jab and a cross from McDonald.
Kirwan changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. McDonald tries to avoid it but Kirwan manages to keep hold of a leg and drag McDonald to the ground. McDonald escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
McDonald throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kirwan sees it coming and avoids it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McDonald misses the shot to the body.
A slow jab from McDonald misses its intended target.
McDonald uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kirwan.
McDonald throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
McDonald goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Kirwan looks for a takedown but McDonald sprawls well.
McDonald paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
McDonald connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Kirwan momentarily.
Kirwan tries to clinch up but McDonald circles away and keeps his distance.
Kirwan thows a body shot but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Kirwan.
Tommy McDonald has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brandan Kirwan.
Kirwan takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kirwan takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Kirwan tries to clinch but fails miserably
and McDonald counters with a nice uppercut.
McDonald scores with a hook to the body. Kirwan takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Kirwan bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Kirwan moves out of range of the strikes.
Kirwan fails with a takedown attempt.
McDonald takes a swing at Kirwan's ribcage but misses.
Kirwan is trying hard to land a takedown here. McDonald sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
McDonald punishes Kirwan's body with a nice straight punch.
Brandan Kirwan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kirwan uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by McDonald.
Kirwan tries to score a power double leg takedown but McDonald sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Kirwan somewhat.
McDonald uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
McDonald lands a jab to Kirwan's midsection.
McDonald scores with a nice right hand.
McDonald connects with a looping right hand.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Kirwan closes the distance and clinches.
McDonald is trying to break the clinch but Kirwan is controlling him.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kirwan drops to a knee looking for a takedown but McDonald gets the underhooks and prevents it.

McDonald breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tommy McDonald showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for McDonald, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 30:27
Judge William Gold scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tommy McDonald!
Tommy McDonald very nearly forgot to thank .: AFFAKETIΘN :. $15.99 Winter Blowout amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.