PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between slugger o toole (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jonathan McCurkie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

o toole
vs
McCurkie

200 cm
18
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
18
275 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Big right hand

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, slugger o toole!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Jonathan McCurkie!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Sam Margolis and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McCurkie blocks a head kick by o toole.
McCurkie wants to clinch up but o toole keeps it at a distance.
o toole keeps the fight on the outside.
o toole throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
McCurkie avoids the head kick by o toole.
o toole is looking to score with low kicks.
McCurkie doesn't manage to clinch there - o toole circles away.
McCurkie misses with a double jab
and o toole counters with a nice uppercut.

o toole fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. McCurkie sprawls well initially but o toole persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Ground and pound from o toole.
o toole is figuring out what he wants to do next.
McCurkie looks like he's trying to stand up.
o toole controlling the action here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
o toole trying to mount his opponent but McCurkie defends it.
McCurkie blocking the ground and pound attempt from o toole.
o toole tries to pass the half guard into mount. McCurkie knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
o toole is just content to waste time from the top position. McCurkie takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
o toole is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
McCurkie is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
o toole trying to control the position from guard on top but McCurkie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCurkie wants to stand up but o toole is controlling him.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
McCurkie avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
McCurkie checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
McCurkie lands with a kick to the temple. o toole shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
McCurkie tries for a takedown but o toole circles away easily

and o toole counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by o toole.
McCurkie looks gassed!
o toole wants to control from the top but McCurkie keeps moving.
o toole has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
o toole scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
o toole throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

o toole gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

o toole looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
o toole tries to stand but can't do so whilst McCurkie controls his leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

slugger o toole dominated that 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.

McCurkie swats away the attempt to clinch by o toole.
o toole tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but McCurkie paws at him with a jab and circles away.
o toole wants to clinch but McCurkie slips to the side

so McCurkie counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
McCurkie won't allow o toole to sweep him here.
o toole controlling the position.

McCurkie gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
McCurkie fails in his attempt to clinch.
o toole throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around McCurkie's waist but McCurkie gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing o toole off to one side.
McCurkie lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
o toole fails with the takedown
and McCurkie counters with a big head kick but o toole shrugs it off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCurkie misses with a straight left.
McCurkie is on the wrong end of a nice combination from o toole.
A looping hook to the body misses from McCurkie. o toole does a little dance to reset his feet.
o toole is looking to clinch but McCurkie is avoiding it.
McCurkie falls off balance throwing a combination

and o toole counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for McCurkie!
McCurkie tries to lock up and control but o toole gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
o toole cracks McCurkie with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
McCurkie is desperately trying to improve his position but o toole has a good base and remains in mount.

o toole swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and McCurkie is now in o toole's guard. A big mistake from o toole there, giving up the dominant position!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
o toole is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

McCurkie stands and steps away. o toole gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

o toole closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming McCurkie to the mat! McCurkie manages to get full guard.
McCurkie keeping moving, preventing o toole from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

McCurkie pushes o toole off and scrambles back to his feet.
McCurkie throws a head kick but o toole moves out of range.
o toole tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
o toole ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
A punch combination from McCurkie misses.
o toole swats away the attempt to clinch by McCurkie.
McCurkie stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for slugger o toole. That's going to take a lot out of him.
McCurkie swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

o toole rushes McCurkie and presses him up against the cage.

McCurkie's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
o toole throws a series of strikes that have McCurkie backpedaling.
o toole misses with a double jab

so McCurkie counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
McCurkie wants to stand but o toole is controlling his posture from full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
o toole working a defensive guard but McCurkie passes into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jonathan McCurkie 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!

McCurkie wants to clinch up but o toole keeps it at a distance.
McCurkie keeps the fight on the outside.
McCurkie lands with a slapping head kick.
Jonathan McCurkie seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McCurkie is looking to clinch.
slugger o toole is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
McCurkie pushes o toole away with a front kick.
McCurkie has his takedown stuffed

so o toole counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
o toole wants to get up but he can't break McCurkie's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
McCurkie wants to sweep but no luck.
o toole controlling from the top position.
slugger o toole overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
McCurkie 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
o toole would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
McCurkie trying to control the position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
o toole trying to control the position from guard on top but McCurkie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

o toole is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! McCurkie is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! McCurkie has escaped and now he's on top!
o toole looking for a sweep. Not yet o toole, not yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
o toole looking to control but McCurkie passes into half guard.
McCurkie is thwarting o toole's attempts to control the position.

o toole looking for subs from the bottom but McCurkie mounts him!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
o toole is arching his back trying to strike from the bottom but McCurkie turns him over and now has his back.
o toole just trying to survive but McCurkie is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
McCurkie tries to keep control of the position but o toole is staying busy.
McCurkie keeps control of the position easily here as o toole tries to buck him off.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Jonathan McCurkie.
I think McCurkie has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 James Glass scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 28:29
Judge William Gold scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Jonathan McCurkie!