PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Norris Travis (ranked 6912 p4p, 0 weight class) and Micky OCallaghan (ranked 5267 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Travis
vs
OCallaghan

178 cm
18
177 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

180 cm
18
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Norris Travis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Micky OCallaghan!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, James Ackerman and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Travis changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. OCallaghan tries to avoid it but Travis manages to keep hold of a leg and drag OCallaghan to the ground. OCallaghan escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Nice sprawl there from Travis as OCallaghan shoots in.
Travis seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
OCallaghan keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

OCallaghan has closed the distance and engaged Travis in a clinch.
Travis missing with knees to the body.
OCallaghan is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Travis gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

OCallaghan breaks from the clinch.
Travis shoots in but OCallaghan avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Norris Travis. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Travis is trying hard to land a takedown here. OCallaghan sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
OCallaghan has his takedown stuffed
and Travis counters with a three punch combo that has OCallaghan backing up. OCallaghan nods at Travis to acknowledge the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.

OCallaghan clinches.
Travis doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

OCallaghan pulls guard successfully.
Travis won't allow OCallaghan to sweep him here.
OCallaghan is controlling Travis's posture.
Travis controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
OCallaghan keeping moving, preventing Travis from controlling successfully.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Travis throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Travis fails with an attempt to clinch.

OCallaghan rushes Travis and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

OCallaghan breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Travis fails with the takedown
and OCallaghan counters with a body kick.
OCallaghan shoots in for a takedown but Travis shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
OCallaghan just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromTravis.
OCallaghan scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

It looks like Norris Travis has been cut.
OCallaghan shoots in for a takedown but Travis shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Travis fails in his attempt to clinch.
OCallaghan appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Travis fails with the takedown

and OCallaghan holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Travis is breathing heavily.
Travis misses with a punch to the body.

OCallaghan drags the fight down to the ground.
OCallaghan looking for a sweep. Not yet OCallaghan, not yet.
Travis throwing strikes but missing.
Travis looking to sit in guard and control but OCallaghan gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Travis isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. OCallaghan stacks Travis on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by OCallaghan!
OCallaghan tries to move into full mount but can't pass Travis's legs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
OCallaghan prevents Travis from escaping the position.
OCallaghan is looking to take a break and control but Travis is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
OCallaghan staying calm.

OCallaghan tries for a kimura but Travis is defending well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Travis tries to bench press OCallaghan off him but OCallaghan keeps the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Micky OCallaghan dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Norris Travis's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

OCallaghan moves into the clinch.
Travis working some nice short punches in the clinch.
OCallaghan wants a takedown but no success here.

OCallaghan pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Travis dives in and grabs OCallaghan's left leg, looking for a takedown. OCallaghan pushes down on Travis's head and hops out.
Travis fails with a takedown attempt.
OCallaghan with the counter takedown but Travis avoids it easily.
OCallaghan keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
OCallaghan shoots in but Travis avoids the takedown attempt easily.

OCallaghan moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
OCallaghan takes an elbow to the temple.
OCallaghan has Travis pressed against the cage, preventing Travis from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
The referee is keeping an eye on OCallaghan - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Travis dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
OCallaghan tries for a takedown. No joy.
Norris Travis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Micky OCallaghan.
Travis jumps guard but OCallaghan stands there with Travis around his waist. Travis gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Travis tries to work over OCallaghan's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
OCallaghan tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Travis lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Travis can't find room to land a body shot as OCallaghan controls the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
OCallaghan controlling the action here for a moment.
Travis putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has OCallaghan in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
OCallaghan has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
OCallaghan tries to pull guard but Travis won't allow it.
Travis tries to throw a body punch but OCallaghan avoids it by throwing Travis back against the cage.
Travis misses with a knee strike.
Travis is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but OCallaghan is keeping busy.
OCallaghan lands an elbow inside.
OCallaghan lands a nice knee to the body.

OCallaghan manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Travis looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Travis avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
OCallaghan is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
OCallaghan pulls Travis in to control the position.

Travis gets to his feet. OCallaghan looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
OCallaghan fails to land the takedown.
OCallaghan throws a leg kick that is checked

and Travis counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Travis.

Travis stands up and waves to OCallaghan to follow him.
A slapping body kick lands there for Travis.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Travis fails in his attempt to clinch.

OCallaghan rushes Travis and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Travis misses with a short punch on the inside.
Travis throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
OCallaghan works on Travis's body with a couple of short punches.
OCallaghan stalling.
OCallaghan is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Travis pulls him back up using the underhooks.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Travis breaks from the clinch.
OCallaghan throws a body shot but no joy.
It looked like Travis was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from OCallaghan.
OCallaghan leaves Travis with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Norris Travis will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Norris Travis's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

OCallaghan will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
OCallaghan blocks a head kick by Travis.
Travis showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from OCallaghan.
Travis misses with a takedown attempt - OCallaghan sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Travis darts in looking for a takedown but OCallaghan gets double underhooks and turns Travis into the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
OCallaghan shoots in looking for a takedown. Travis tries to sprawl out of it but OCallaghan keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Travis manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Travis slips a jab and a cross from OCallaghan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
OCallaghan throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
OCallaghan takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
OCallaghan takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Micky OCallaghan is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
OCallaghan shoots for a double leg takedown but Travis sprawls well. He's pushed OCallaghan's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Micky OCallaghan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

OCallaghan has taken the fight to the clinch.
OCallaghan is looking to control Travis's arms but Travis gets an underhook and turns him. Now OCallaghan has his back to the cage.
OCallaghan looking for a takedown.
Norris Travis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Micky OCallaghan.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
OCallaghan makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
OCallaghan blocks a body shot from Travis.
Travis missing with knees to the body.
OCallaghan tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Travis just stands there and leans against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Travis's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Travis tries to land a knee to the head but OCallaghan blocks with his arms.
OCallaghan tries to circle away but Travis has him pinned against the cage.
Travis swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A frustrated look appears on OCallaghan's face as he tries to break the clinch.
A bit of stalling here from Travis.
OCallaghan goes for a takedown in the clinch but Travis prevents it.
OCallaghan blocks an elbow strike.
Travis using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Travis prevents a takedown attempt there.
OCallaghan is trying to pull guard but Travis has him pressed against the cage.
Travis lands a good knee to the midsection. OCallaghan won't want to take too many of those.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Travis wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but OCallaghan has him pressed against the cage.
Travis looking to slow down the pace here.
Travis wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but OCallaghan has him pressed against the cage.
OCallaghan blocks a body shot from Travis.
OCallaghan dodges an elbow strike from Travis.
OCallaghan jumps guard but Travis turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Travis jumps into guard, dragging OCallaghan to the mat.
OCallaghan trying to control but Travis is working from the bottom.
Travis looking for a sweep. Not yet Travis, not yet.
OCallaghan throws a big elbow that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Travis is trying to keep OCallaghan in close.
OCallaghan trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Travis looking for a guillotine here but OCallaghan defends easily.
OCallaghan with a flurry of punches that miss.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Travis is on top in guard.

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Travis is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Travis wants to control from the top but OCallaghan keeps moving.

And that's the end of the fight!
Norris Travis showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Travis has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Micky OCallaghan!