PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Claude McCracken (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Murphy McDonald (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). McCracken kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genuis that is Danger is Go!. Claude McCracken had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

McCracken
vs
McDonald

170 cm
19
160 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

175 cm
21
154 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Claude McCracken!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Murphy McDonald!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Paulo Santos and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McDonald shoots in for a takedown but McCracken shows good takedown defense.
McCracken misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
McCracken with a lazy takedown attempt

and McDonald counters with a nice double leg into guard.
McDonald slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
McCracken is looking to regain half guard here but McDonald keeps moving and retains side control.
McDonald wants to lay and pray for a moment but McCracken keeps working.

McCracken sneaks out the side door and pushes McDonald away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
McCracken misses with a head kick.
McCracken misses with a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCracken looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

McDonald closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
McDonald thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed McCracken's head.
McDonald tries to pass the half guard into mount. McCracken knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

McDonald is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
McCracken blocking the ground and pound attempt from McDonald.
McCracken moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

McDonald postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! McCracken is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of McDonald, into his guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

McDonald looking for a guillotine here but McCracken defends easily.
McDonald looks gassed!
McCracken would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

McDonald looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
McCracken is looking to stand up but McDonald won't let him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCracken trying to control the position from guard on top but McDonald is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

McDonald working for a triangle but McCracken defends it easily.
McCracken content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
McCracken trying to stand up but can't free himself from McDonald's guard.
McCracken preventing the sweep.
McCracken wants to control from the top but McDonald keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
McCracken throws a right and a left that both miss.

McCracken gets caught flat footed, as McDonald shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

McDonald has gone for a leg lock! McCracken slips out almost immediately though and dives into McDonald's guard.
McCracken postures up in McDonald's guard and throws a big left but McDonald blocks it.
McCracken trying to control but McDonald is working from the bottom.
McDonald has a closed guard, preventing McCracken from standing up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Murphy McDonald dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

McCracken throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

McDonald darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
McCracken manages to get to full guard.
McCracken keeping moving, preventing McDonald from controlling successfully.
McDonald passes into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McDonald is keen to just control but McCracken is a slippery customer.

McDonald seems to be looking for submissions.
McDonald is breathing heavily.
McCracken looks like he's trying to stand up.
McDonald throwing shots but McCracken is blocking nicely.

McCracken looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
McCracken is not content to let McDonald control the position.

McDonald is looking for a kimura but McCracken is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for McDonald to get the leverage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
McCracken shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and McDonald counters with a single leg into guard. McCracken didn't expect that.
McDonald passes easily into side control. Nice work.

McDonald thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
McDonald advances nicely into full mount.

McDonald looking for a guillotine from mount but McCracken is having none of it.

McDonald wants to finish this one by submission but McCracken is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from McDonald.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McDonald lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

McDonald moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, McCracken has worked his arm free - good work by McCracken!
McCracken is not content to let McDonald control the position.

McDonald is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, McCracken has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

McDonald wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by McCracken, who protects the arm well.

McDonald tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

McDonald is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, McCracken has escaped the position, nice work there.
McCracken struggling a bit here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Murphy McDonald showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

McCracken misses with a takedown attempt

and McDonald counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in McCracken's guard now.
McDonald stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. McCracken swivels though and keeps the full guard.

McDonald gets to his feet. McCracken looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Excellent takedown into side control there by McDonald.
McDonald has knee on belly and moves into mount.

McDonald gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!

McDonald closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

McDonald looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's one minute gone in the round.

McDonald is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so McCracken is just riding it out for now. McDonald eventually gives up the hold.
McCracken is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of McDonald's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take McDonald's back!
McCracken is hanging on to McDonald's back as he tries to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
McDonald just trying to survive but McCracken is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
McDonald is trapped and McCracken is scoring with shots to the head and body.
McDonald turns into McCracken and is now in his guard.
McCracken looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

McDonald gets to his feet - McCracken follows without any prompting.
McCracken walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. McDonald checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
McDonald fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
McCracken goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Claude McCracken seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McDonald fails to pull the fight into his guard.

McCracken drags the fight down to the ground.

McDonald drops back, looking for a kneebar! McCracken looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. McCracken looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from McCracken!
McDonald is looking for a sweep.
Murphy McDonald has got the better of the ground game so far.
McDonald is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Claude McCracken has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
McCracken misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

McCracken decides to stand back up. McCracken steps back and let's McDonald get back to his feet.
McCracken misses with a head kick.
A jab from McCracken misses.
McCracken misses with a takedown attempt

and McDonald counters by moving into the clinch.

McCracken is fighting off a takedown attempt but McDonald is just too persistent for him and manages to trip McCracken to the mat. McCracken regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
McDonald trying to control the position from guard on top but McCracken is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

McCracken working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. McDonald doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. McDonald manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
McDonald trying to control but McCracken is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Murphy McDonald comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got McDonald winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Murphy McDonald!
Murphy McDonald is the new lightweight champion!