PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Nicholas McDonald (ranked 1394 p4p, 2321 weight class) and Marlon Raynard (ranked 187 p4p, 295 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

McDonald
vs
Raynard

179 cm
33
180
17 - 12 - 0

180 cm
31
180
16 - 7 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Fantasy Threads

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 17 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Nicholas McDonald!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Marlon Raynard!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Steve Smith and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fight stays on the outside here - Raynard looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Raynard closes the distance but McDonald moves to the side
enabling McDonald to counter with a crisp jab.
Raynard misses with a series of wild punches.
Raynard throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A little feinted left hand from McDonald on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Raynard is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A little feinted left hand from McDonald on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fight stays on the outside here - Raynard looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
McDonald throwing a counter right hand but Raynard manages to avoid it.
Marlon Raynard seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Raynard tries to clinch but McDonald moves out of range.
McDonald tries a head kick but it misses.
McDonald lands a slapping body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McDonald misses with a body kick.

Raynard closes the distance and pushes McDonald back into the cage.
McDonald looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Raynard lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Raynard jumps guard but McDonald turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Raynard fails to pull the fight into his guard.
A body shot lands from McDonald.
McDonald working hard to break the clinch.
Raynard is trying to pull guard but McDonald has him pressed against the cage.
Nicholas McDonald has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marlon Raynard.
McDonald stalling the fight.
McDonald gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Raynard.
Raynard tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. McDonald smiles and moves away.
Raynard tries to close the distance and clinch up but McDonald swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A little feinted left hand from McDonald on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raynard throws a series of punches but McDonald avoids them all with ease.
The fight stays on the outside here - Raynard looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
McDonald is looking to counter punch.
Raynard wants to clinch
and McDonald counters with a straight right hand.
McDonald misses the jab.

McDonald gets tackled into the cage by Raynard. Raynard maintains the clinch.

Raynard escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
McDonald throws a leg kick but Raynard sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Raynard let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Raynard throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Raynard closes the distance and clinches.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Raynard jumps guard but McDonald turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Raynard tries to pull guard but McDonald won't allow it.
Raynard has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. McDonald seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Raynard can turn it around.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McDonald is trying to force a seperation but Raynard has the dominant position.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
McDonald swings wildly with an uppercut but Raynard uses good head movement to avoid it.
Raynard tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. McDonald just stands there and leans against the cage.
McDonald swings wildly with an uppercut but Raynard uses good head movement to avoid it.

Raynard breaks from the clinch.
McDonald tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Nice sprawl there from McDonald as Raynard shoots in.
And McDonald counters with a quick kick to the body but Raynard blocks it.
McDonald is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Raynard.
McDonald moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

It looks like Marlon Raynard has been cut.
Raynard wants to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Raynard swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Raynard doesn't succeed with the takedown
and McDonald connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
McDonald misses with an uppercut. Raynard saw that one coming.
Raynard throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

McDonald gets tackled into the cage by Raynard. Raynard maintains the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Raynard decides to pull guard.

Raynard is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. McDonald is aware though and is defending well.
McDonald throwing strikes but missing.
McDonald is looking to work some ground and pound but Raynard has wrist control.
McDonald looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Nicholas McDonald dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Marlon Raynard's cut.
That's time! McDonald's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

McDonald dodges the punch combination from Raynard.
Raynard ducks under a wild hook from McDonald.
Raynard wants to clinch.
McDonald throws a right and a left that both miss.
Raynard tries to counter with a clinch but McDonald shakes him off and moves away.
McDonald scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
McDonald misses with a hook.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Raynard wants to clinch up but McDonald keeps it at a distance.
McDonald throwing a counter right hand but Raynard manages to avoid it.
McDonald circles away from the clinch attempt
and McDonald counters with a straight right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Raynard instigates a clinch.
Raynard is trying to pull guard but McDonald has him pressed against the cage.
McDonald wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

McDonald breaks from the clinch.
Raynard takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
McDonald wants to slow Raynard down by chopping away at his legs.
McDonald lands a jab to the nose.

Raynard closes the distance and pushes McDonald back into the cage.

McDonald breaks from the clinch.
Raynard moves in looking to clinch but McDonald pushes him off.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Raynard checks a leg kick.
Raynard let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
McDonald is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Raynard can do to turn this around?
Raynard tries to clinch but McDonald moves away
and McDonald connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A looping hook to the body misses from McDonald. Raynard does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Raynard rushes McDonald and presses him up against the cage.

Raynard pulls guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Raynard looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
McDonald throwing strikes but missing.
McDonald is looking to work some ground and pound but Raynard has wrist control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McDonald is looking to work some ground and pound but Raynard has wrist control.
McDonald throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Raynard works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as McDonald accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Raynard is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Raynard avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Raynard had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. McDonald defends it easily.
McDonald with a flurry of punches that miss.
Raynard 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.
McDonald won't allow Raynard to get back to his feet.

Raynard 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.

Raynard is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and McDonald defends well.
McDonald working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Raynard has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but McDonald can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
McDonald throws a big elbow that misses.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
McDonald throws a big elbow that misses.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as McDonald accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Raynard keeping full guard, as McDonald tries to pass.
Raynard preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as McDonald accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
McDonald postures up in Raynard's guard and throws a big left but Raynard blocks it.

Raynard is looking for a triangle but McDonald pushes his legs off easily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Nicholas McDonald dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Marlon Raynard's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

McDonald connects with an inside leg kick.
Raynard uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from McDonald.
Raynard tries to clinch but McDonald moves away
and McDonald counters with a two punch combo.
Raynard throws out a powerful jab.
McDonald looks to throw the jab but Raynard is out of range.
Marlon Raynard is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Raynard instigates a clinch.
McDonald effectively controlling the action here.
McDonald is looking to break free of the clinch but Raynard has double underhooks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McDonald misses with a hook to the ribs.
McDonald is trying to break the clinch but Raynard is controlling him.
McDonald doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
McDonald misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.

McDonald breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
McDonald looks to land a combination but Raynard avoids it well.

McDonald tries to keep at a distance but Raynard has taken the fight into the clinch.
McDonald can't find room to land a body shot as Raynard controls the action.
McDonald misses with a body punch.

Raynard pulls guard.
McDonald stops Raynard from standing up.
McDonald trying to control the position from guard on top but Raynard is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Raynard throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Raynard is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McDonald throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Raynard works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Raynard preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Raynard working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from McDonald.
Marlon Raynard has got the better of the ground game so far.
Raynard utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Raynard is on top in guard.

Raynard throws a big elbow that misses.
Raynard pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. McDonald is keeping the position for now.
McDonald is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Raynard stands and steps away. McDonald gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Raynard pushes McDonald up against the cage in a clinch.
McDonald is defending well against a takedown attempt.
McDonald wants to break the clinch but can't.
Raynard lands a hook that snaps the head of McDonald backwards.
McDonald prevents a takedown attempt there.
McDonald goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Marlon Raynard has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Raynard displaying some good clinch control by pressing McDonald up against the cage.
Raynard tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. McDonald just stands there and leans against the cage.
Nicholas McDonald has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marlon Raynard.
McDonald can't find room to land a body shot as Raynard controls the action.

McDonald breaks from the clinch.

Raynard gets a clinch.

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

McDonald breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Raynard has taken the fight to the clinch.
McDonald can't find room to land a body shot as Raynard controls the action.
McDonald slowing the pace effectively.
Raynard stalling against the cage.
Raynard tries for a takedown. No joy.

McDonald breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
McDonald scores with a nice right hand.
Raynard moves in looking to clinch but McDonald pushes him off.
Raynard takes a shot right to the bread basket.
This has been an exciting period of action!
McDonald connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Nicholas McDonald is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That has opened up Marlon Raynard's cut even more.
McDonald cracks Raynard with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Nicholas McDonald.
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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nicholas McDonald!