PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ronnie McDonald (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Asa Sharp (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). McDonald kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Get Busy Living. On his way into the cage it seems that Ronnie McDonald has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Ronnie McDonald seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

McDonald
vs
Sharp

165 cm
31
155 lbs
11 - 17 - 0

175 cm
35
168 lbs
26 - 15 - 2

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

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 11 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ronnie McDonald!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 15 - 2, fighting out of New York, Asa Sharp!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Don Winkell and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

McDonald moves into range and clinches up with Sharp.
A nice right hand lands inside from McDonald.
McDonald throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Sharps head.
A short right hand to the side of the head by McDonald.
McDonald wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
McDonald has a couple of punches blocked by Sharp.
McDonald gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Sharp.
Sharp softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Sharp blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Sharp has picked McDonald up - he's going for a ride! Sharp dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Sharp passes to side control.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Sharp wants to control but McDonald is keeping him busy.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
McDonald is trying to control Sharp's posture but Sharp avoids it.
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.
McDonald tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Sharp wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
The referee asks Sharp politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Sharp prefers to stall for the moment though.
McDonald wants to control but Sharp postures up.
McDonald is trying to improve his position.
McDonald is trying to control Sharp's posture but Sharp avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Sharp is trying to move to mount but McDonald reverses beautifully and ends up in Sharp's guard.
McDonald with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
McDonald postures up in Sharp's guard and throws a big left but Sharp blocks it.

Sharp is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Sharp working a defensive guard here.
McDonald wants to control from the top but Sharp keeps moving.
McDonald postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McDonald with a flurry of punches that miss.
We've been hearing good reports from McDonald's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
McDonald throws a big elbow that misses.
Sharp is adopting a defensive guard.
McDonald's corner is telling him to maintain position.
McDonald throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sharp works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
McDonald is looking to work some ground and pound but Sharp has wrist control.
McDonald trying to control but Sharp is working from the bottom.
McDonald not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Sharp is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
McDonald looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
The crowd cheers as McDonald lands an impressive looking overhand right. Sharp doesn't seem phased though.
Sharp bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
McDonald has his takedown stuffed
and Sharp makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
McDonald throws a sloppy head kick

and Sharp counters by clinching up.
A nice right hand lands inside from McDonald.
McDonald throws a head punch that misses.
McDonald fails to pull the fight into his guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
McDonald misses with a punch on the inside.
McDonald is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Sharp is defending well for now.
McDonald is working Sharp over against the cage.
Sharp is working for takedown but McDonald is calmly controlling the position for now.

McDonald has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Sharp regains guard immediately.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ronnie McDonald dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Nice defenses there by Sharp.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Sharp! But no joy.
Sharp looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? McDonald is fending him off so far but Sharp persists. Nope, McDonald circles away and we're back to standing.

McDonald feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
McDonald trying to control but Sharp is working from the bottom.
McDonald throws a big right hand that misses.
McDonald postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
McDonald is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Sharp throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
McDonald is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sharp can do to turn this around?
McDonald passes Sharp's left leg - he's now in half guard.

McDonald is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sharp is looking to control McDonald's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Sharp avoid being mounted?
Sharp makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Sharp.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McDonald stays in close to Sharp's body and controls the position.
McDonald throws a big elbow that misses.
McDonald wants to control from the top but Sharp keeps moving.
McDonald throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
McDonald advances position into side control!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
McDonald landing a few strikes.
McDonald trying to control the action but Sharp is working from the bottom.
Sharp tries to escape but McDonald is in control.
McDonald wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sharp keeps working.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sharp gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
McDonald content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

McDonald is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
McDonald wants to free his trapped foot but Sharp is holding on for dear life with his legs.

McDonald wants to work for an arm triangle but Sharp is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Sharp trying to control here.
The fighters are battling for position here. Sharp manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
McDonald pushes down on Sharp's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sharp trying to hold on to McDonald's head to control him but McDonald postures up.
Sharp is not content to let McDonald control the position.
Ronnie McDonald overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sharp 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!
Sharp trying to control.
Sharp thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.

Sharp is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. McDonald is defending well though. Sharp let's go of the attempt for now.

Sharp is persistently looking for the submission but McDonald is defending it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sharp misses with punches from the back.

Sharp goes for a risky armbar from back mount and it's not paid off. McDonald escapes and is now in half guard on top.
McDonald is trying to control the action in half guard but Sharp is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
McDonald is really struggling to control Sharp but he's trying to hold on to the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
McDonald not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
McDonald trying to control the action but Sharp is working from the bottom.
McDonald not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ronnie McDonald dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

McDonald scores with a jab.
McDonald defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Sharp.

Sharp clinches up against the cage.
Sharp scores with a shoulder strike.
McDonald misses with some punches.
McDonald lands an uppercut.
McDonald changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Sharp fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Sharp moves out of range of the strikes.
McDonald tries to clinch up but Sharp circles away and keeps his distance.
Sharp takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Sharp staying out of range there.
McDonald misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Sharp looks like he wants to counter punch here.
McDonald scores with a jab to the jaw.

McDonald pushes Sharp up against the cage in a clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
McDonald prevents the takedown attempt.
McDonald jumps guard but Sharp stands there with McDonald around his waist. McDonald gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ronnie McDonald. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sharp is looking for a takedown.
Sharp displaying some good clinch control by pressing McDonald up against the cage.
McDonald is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Sharp is defending well for now.
McDonald is trying to stall.
McDonald is trying to break the clinch but Sharp is controlling him.
A head punch on the inside from McDonald fails to land.
McDonald misses with a punch on the inside.

Sharp breaks from the clinch.

McDonald pushes Sharp up against the cage in a clinch.

McDonald is fighting off a takedown attempt but Sharp is just too persistent for him and manages to trip McDonald to the mat. McDonald regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Sharp trying to control but McDonald is working from the bottom.
Sharp wants to get up but he can't break McDonald's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McDonald is trying to keep Sharp in close.
McDonald looking for a sweep. Not yet McDonald, not yet.
Sharp throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
McDonald working a defensive guard but Sharp manages to pass into side control anyway.

Sharp goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, McDonald rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Sharp's guard! Nice work there by McDonald!
McDonald throwing strikes from guard but Sharp blocks nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McDonald with a flurry of punches that miss.
McDonald trying to control but Sharp is working from the bottom.
Sharp trying to control the position.
McDonald throws a big right hand that misses.
Sharp tries to land a sweep but no joy.
McDonald is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
McDonald trying to control but Sharp is working from the bottom.
McDonald throws an elbow that misses. Sharp uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in McDonald's guard. Nice move by Sharp!

Sharp wants to stand but McDonald is controlling his posture from full guard.
McDonald is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Ronnie McDonald is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McDonald working a defensive guard here.
Sharp's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Sharp wants to stand but McDonald has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sharp trying to control the position from guard on top but McDonald is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ronnie McDonald showed his dominance in that final round.
Well McDonald has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ronnie McDonald!
A very excited looking Ronnie McDonald made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.