PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mark Florence (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rory O Toole (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Florence
vs
O Toole

195 cm
24
170 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

183 cm
19
180 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Mark Florence!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rory O Toole!
The judges for this bout are , Frank Antenori and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Florence throws a shot to the body.

O Toole closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Florence slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
O Toole stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Florence swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Florence keeping moving, preventing O Toole from controlling successfully.

O Toole drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Florence dives on top into guard.

O Toole escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Florence gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Florence gets to his feet - O Toole follows without any prompting.
Florence connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Florence throws a series of punches but O Toole avoids them all with ease.
O Toole fails to land the takedown.
O Toole looks gassed!
Florence throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Florence throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
O Toole closes this distance looking for a takedown but Florence circles away.
Florence circles away from the clinch attempt.
O Toole throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Florence's waist but Florence gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing O Toole off to one side.
Mark Florence has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rory O Toole.

Florence fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. O Toole sprawls well initially but Florence persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Florence seems to be working for a kimura but O Toole defends the submission attempt.
Florence looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Florence will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Florence trying to control the action but O Toole is working from the bottom.
Florence is taking a breather. O Toole says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Florence throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

O Toole has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Florence escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Florence!

Florence decides to stand up, so the ref orders O Toole to his feet.
Florence pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Florence lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as O Toole backs up against the cage.
Rory O Toole seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
O Toole shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Florence counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for O Toole!
Florence controlling his opponent.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Florence jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but O Toole manages to avoid the submission attempt.

Florence working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
O Toole is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
O Toole regains half guard.

O Toole is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Florence pulls his head out easily.

Florence stands up and beckons O Toole to join him on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Florence feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to O Toole's calf.
Florence scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
O Toole fails with the takedown
and Florence counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Florence digs a good hook to O Toole's body.
Florence really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Florence scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Florence - that will leave a mark!
O Toole wants to clinch but Florence slips to the side
and Florence counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
O Toole has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Florence moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
O Toole doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Florence counters with a leg kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Florence lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Florence lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.

Florence decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Florence dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

O Toole shoots and misses

and Florence counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for O Toole!

Florence looking for a guillotine from mount but O Toole is having none of it.
Florence pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.
Florence trying to control but O Toole is having none of it.
O Toole is in all sorts of trouble here.

Florence wants to finish this one by submission but O Toole is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Florence.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Florence has control of O Toole's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and O Toole regains control of the situation pretty easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
O Toole sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
O Toole wants to improve his position but Florence is controlling well.
O Toole trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
O Toole keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
O Toole is squirming around, avoiding Florence's attempts to control the action.
O Toole tries to hold on but Florence postures up.
O Toole tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Florence has hold of O Toole's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and O Toole manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Florence avoids the attempt from O Toole to control.
O Toole is controlling an arm, preventing Florence from taking his back. Although keeping him in mount is no better to be honest.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
O Toole is in all sorts of trouble here.
Florence wants to take O Toole's back here but O Toole is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.
O Toole slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

O Toole looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
O Toole wants to get back to full guard but Florence has mounted him!
Florence is in the full mount, landing strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
O Toole is wriggling around trying to escape.

Florence is standing up, even though he is in mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Florence. O Toole shrugs it off though.
Florence throws a right and a left that O Toole avoids nicely.
O Toole tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Florence counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for O Toole!
O Toole sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Florence is controlling the pace.
O Toole is pressing down on Florence's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Florence dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

O Toole tries to clinch
and Florence counters with a three punch combo that has O Toole backing up. O Toole nods at Florence to acknowledge the strikes.
Nice uppercut there from Florence.

Florence looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Florence trying to control but O Toole is working from the bottom.

O Toole working for a triangle but Florence defends it easily.

O Toole looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Florence is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Florence gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
O Toole misses with a takedown

and Florence counters with a shoot takedown. O Toole fights it but they end up in guard.

O Toole is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Florence postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

O Toole looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Florence passes into side control.
Florence works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
O Toole is looking for a sweep.
Florence passes to full mount! That's big trouble for O Toole!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
O Toole is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Florence trying to control but O Toole is having none of it.
O Toole is looking to improve his position but Florence isn't that keen on the idea.
The referee warns O Toole that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Florence prevents O Toole from getting the reversal.

Florence has hold of an arm here, looking to extend it. He's committed to the armbar attempt here! Will he get it?! Yes! O Toole is forced to tap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:04 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Mark Florence!