PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Stephen McGuiness (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and The Late Darren Sutherland (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The Late Darren Sutherland is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

McGuiness
vs
Late Darren Sutherland

175 cm
22
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

177 cm
18
156 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Inexperienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Non-Stop Nutrition
Bushido Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Stephen McGuiness!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, The Late Darren Sutherland!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, William Gold and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sutherland misses with a jab, cross combination.
Horrible takedown by McGuiness or perhaps it was just good defense by Sutherland which made him look bad.
McGuiness checks a leg kick nicely.
Sutherland doesn't succeed with the takedown

and McGuiness counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Sutherland's guard now.
Sutherland working a defensive guard here.
McGuiness keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Sutherland's head.
McGuiness tries to free his leg and advance position but Sutherland is retaining full guard.
Sutherland trying to control the position here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McGuiness postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McGuiness working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
McGuiness wants to control from the top but Sutherland keeps moving.
McGuiness trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Sutherland really doesn't want to stay on the ground with McGuiness. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Sutherland is controlling McGuiness's posture.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
McGuiness shoots in looking for a takedown. Sutherland tries to sprawl out of it but McGuiness keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Sutherland manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Sutherland drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McGuiness trying to keep a closed guard but Sutherland is proving a slippery customer.

McGuiness is looking for a triangle but Sutherland pushes his legs off easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
McGuiness is breathing heavily.
Sutherland looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
McGuiness not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sutherland throwing strikes from guard but McGuiness blocks nicely.
Sutherland must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Sutherland is stalling in the full guard.
Sutherland missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

McGuiness is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Sutherland's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Sutherland pushes down on McGuiness's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Sutherland is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Sutherland is pressing down on McGuiness's thigh, looking to free his foot. McGuiness is holding on for now.
Sutherland seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but The Late Darren Sutherland will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Good standup being displayed there by Sutherland as he connects with a hook.
Sutherland drops McGuiness with a left right combo! Sutherland follows him down to the ground into side control.

McGuiness is rocked!
McGuiness tries to improve position but can't.
Oh McGuiness is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

Sutherland stands up and beckons McGuiness to his feet.
McGuiness seems to have got his legs back now.
Sutherland tries to clinch up

and McGuiness counters by moving into the clinch.
Sutherland lands a right hand.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sutherland gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from McGuiness.
A short right from Sutherland on the inside.
McGuiness's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Sutherland working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sutherland lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

Sutherland breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
McGuiness gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Horrible takedown by Sutherland or perhaps it was just good defense by McGuiness which made him look bad.
McGuiness takes one to the chin there.
Sutherland walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. McGuiness checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Sutherland doesn't succeed with the takedown

and McGuiness decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Sutherland's guard.
McGuiness throws a big right hand that misses.
Sutherland is controlling McGuiness's posture.
Sutherland manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sutherland controlling from mount.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sutherland raining down shots from the mount!
Sutherland controlling from the full mount.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Sutherland cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

That's four 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.
Sutherland thowing shots but they're missing.
Sutherland controlling his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

The Late Darren Sutherland 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!

Sutherland misses with a jab, cross combination.
Sutherland drops McGuiness with a nice combination! Sutherland dives into McGuiness's guard, looking to finish!
Sutherland slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Despite being in the dominant position, The Late Darren Sutherland just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Sutherland throws a nice looking combination but McGuiness bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Sutherland feints and as McGuiness raises his hands in defense, Sutherland changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

McGuiness is looking for a triangle but Sutherland pushes his legs off easily.
Sutherland looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McGuiness preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Sutherland is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Sutherland working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of McGuiness's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Sutherland not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Sutherland slips nicely into half guard.
Still in half guard, Sutherland seems content to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Despite being in the dominant position, The Late Darren Sutherland just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Sutherland throws a leg kick but McGuiness sees it coming and moves out of range.
Sutherland throws a left that rocks McGuiness and follows with a right that sends him tumbling to the canvas! Sutherland dives into side control, looking to finish! Can McGuiness regain composure!
Sutherland is working McGuiness over with some ground and pound from side control.
Sutherland tries to advance to mount but can't.
McGuiness is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sutherland moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
McGuiness managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Sutherland.
Sutherland controlling from side mount.
Sutherland landing strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
The Late Darren Sutherland comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Sutherland 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 26:30
Judge William Gold scores the fight 26:30
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... The Late Darren Sutherland!