PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between JP Sopa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Donnovan McKinney (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for JP Sopa has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Sopa
vs
McKinney

169 cm
18
135 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

170 cm
18
145 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Tends to cut

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, JP Sopa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Donnovan McKinney!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Chris Downing and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

McKinney shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
McKinney with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Sopa has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. McKinney is working away from the top position though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McKinney is taking a breather. Sopa 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.
Sopa is trying to maintain the position but McKinney is very close to passing his half guard.
McKinney is taking a breather. Sopa 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sopa wants to get back to full guard.
McKinney is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

Despite being in the dominant position, Donnovan McKinney just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Sopa gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows McKinney to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Sopa being controlled here, momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McKinney trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Sopa looking to control.
McKinney controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Sopa looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but McKinney puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Sopa is breathing heavily.
McKinney is taking a breather. Sopa 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.
Sopa wants to control but McKinney is keeping busy.
McKinney wants to pass to mount but Sopa is defending the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McKinney seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
I looks like McKinney might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
McKinney works his foot free and advances to mount.
Sopa holds on for dear life.

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.
McKinney controlling the position easily from mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
McKinney misses with a head shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Donnovan McKinney dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

McKinney shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Sopa's guard.
Sopa keeping full guard, as McKinney tries to pass.
McKinney not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Sopa is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
McKinney slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
McKinney controlling the position from side mount.

Despite being in the dominant position, Donnovan McKinney just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
McKinney moves out of range as Sopa throws a body kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sopa looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for McKinney!
Sopa can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as McKinney is looking to escape.
McKinney can't escape the position.
McKinney 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.
McKinney keeping hold of Sopa's head, controlling as best he can.
Sopa is stalling here. McKinney is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Sopa seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and McKinney has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McKinney controlling from side mount.
Sopa prevents McKinney from improving position.
McKinney content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Let's hope that McKinney has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Sopa tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but McKinney wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
McKinney content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

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.

Despite being in the dominant position, Donnovan McKinney just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Sopa fails with the takedown

and McKinney counters with a nice double leg into side control. Sopa won't be happy with that.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Sopa tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Sopa is trying to escape the position but McKinney is controlling the position.
Sopa tries to get back to half guard but can't.
McKinney tries to advance to mount but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Donnovan McKinney showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

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

Sopa is defending against the submission attempts here by McKinney.
McKinney passes the guard and advances to mount!
McKinney tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sopa is working to get back to half guard.
McKinney takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Sopa is desperately trying to improve his position but McKinney has a good base and remains in mount.
Sopa is working hard here to advance position.

That's two 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.
McKinney content just to control the position here.

Despite being in the dominant position, Donnovan McKinney just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

McKinney shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than McKinney was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
McKinney sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
McKinney looking to ground and pound but Sopa is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McKinney controlling the position easily from mount.

Despite being in the dominant position, Donnovan McKinney just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

McKinney scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
JP Sopa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sopa is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Donnovan McKinney comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well McKinney 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Donnovan McKinney!