PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Branden McCormick (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Elspeth Tiriel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Elspeth Tiriel was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

McCormick
vs
Tiriel

198 cm
20
275 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

188 cm
25
235 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite 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 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Branden McCormick!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Elspeth Tiriel!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Daniel Franklin and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tiriel throws a push kick but McCormick slaps the foot to one side.
Tiriel throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

McCormick closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - McCormick lands in his opponent's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McCormick not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
McCormick's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
McCormick has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Tiriel is wriggling around but McCormick manages to pass to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCormick is controlling the pace.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tiriel makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Tiriel.
Tiriel avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
McCormick is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's two 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.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Branden McCormick.
Tiriel with a hook.

It looks like Branden McCormick has been cut.
McCormick looks for a takedown but Tiriel sprawls well.
McCormick is breathing heavily.
A leg kick checked by McCormick.
Tiriel throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
McCormick changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Tiriel fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Tiriel buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Tiriel throws a leg kick but McCormick sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Tiriel turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
A slapping body kick lands there for Tiriel.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tiriel gets a clinch.
Tiriel gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Tiriel slows down the pace here.
Tiriel pushes McCormick back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Tiriel gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Tiriel lands a damaging elbow.
Tiriel lands a nice elbow.

Branden McCormick's cut is getting worse.
Tiriel lands an elbow that stopped McCormick in his tracks for a moment.
Knees in the clinch landing for Tiriel.
Tiriel crunches a lovely knee into McCormick's ribcage.
Tiriel creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through McCormick's defenses.
Tiriel looking to stall.
McCormick tries to pull guard but Tiriel won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Branden McCormick. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tiriel throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but McCormick blocks it with crossed arms.
Tiriel scores with a nice hook to the head.

Tiriel pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Tiriel looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Tiriel connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
McCormick takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCormick chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Tiriel can pounce on him.
An inside leg kick lands from Tiriel.
Tiriel throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Tiriel motions for McCormick to come forward. Tiriel throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Tiriel closes the distance but McCormick moves to the side

and McCormick counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
McCormick wants to pass the guard but Tiriel is defending well.
Tiriel is staying active underneath McCormick, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Tiriel pushes McCormick off looking to stand but McCormick dives back in and keeps control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Elspeth Tiriel dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Branden McCormick's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Tiriel tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and McCormick is able to avoid easily.
Tiriel lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
McCormick avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
McCormick looks for a takedown but Tiriel sprawls well.
Tiriel tries for a takedown but McCormick circles away easily

and McCormick counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Tiriel!

Tiriel bucks McCormick off and manages to get back to his feet!
Tiriel misses with a body kick.
McCormick moves out of range of the body kick from Tiriel.
Tiriel tries a head kick but it misses.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Tiriel lands a head kick!

McCormick throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Tiriel was covering up waiting for the punch and McCormick finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tiriel wants to stand but McCormick is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

McCormick decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Tiriel, up you get!
Tiriel feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to McCormick's calf.

McCormick drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
McCormick trying to control the position from guard on top but Tiriel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McCormick looking to pass the guard.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Tiriel. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Tiriel trying to keep a closed guard but McCormick is proving a slippery customer.
Tiriel can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as McCormick controls the pace.
McCormick won't allow Tiriel to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tiriel keeping full guard, as McCormick tries to pass.
McCormick trying to control but Tiriel is working from the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Tiriel feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to McCormick's calf.
Tiriel dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on McCormick. That did some damage!
McCormick tries to close the distance and clinch up but Tiriel swats him away and circles back towards the center.
McCormick stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Tiriel.
Tiriel throws a leg kick but McCormick moved away.
McCormick checks a low kick from Tiriel.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tiriel tries a head kick but it misses.
Tiriel tries to clinch but McCormick is having none of it.
Tiriel pulls out of a head kick attempt.
McCormick is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! McCormick crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Tiriel - the referee stops the clock and McCormick gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Tiriel. McCormick manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Tiriel has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by McCormick.

McCormick instigates a clinch.
Tiriel with an attempt at a knee that misses.

McCormick breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Elspeth Tiriel seems to be getting the better of the standup.
McCormick with a poor takedown
enabling Tiriel to counter with a crisp jab.
Tiriel throws a wild body kick that McCormick sees coming a mile off.
Branden McCormick is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
McCormick avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
McCormick closes this distance looking for a takedown but Tiriel circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Branden McCormick. That's going to take a lot out of him.
McCormick throws a head kick but Tiriel moves out of range.
Tiriel buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
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 Branden McCormick will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Branden McCormick's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Tiriel fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt McCormick.
Tiriel tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and McCormick counters with a nice double leg into side control. Tiriel won't be happy with that.
McCormick trying to control the position but Tiriel is working away.

Tiriel throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Elspeth Tiriel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tiriel looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Tiriel thumps McCormick with a low kick.
Tiriel lets loose with a powerful body kick. McCormick will feel that in the morning.
Tiriel lands with an overhand left.
Tiriel connects with a solid leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tiriel looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
A chopping leg kick lands by Tiriel.
Tiriel throws a nice outside leg kick.
Tiriel throws a nice head kick!
Tiriel misses with a takedown attempt

so McCormick counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Tiriel wants to stand but McCormick is controlling the position.
Tiriel being controlled here, momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McCormick wants to control from the top but Tiriel keeps moving.
McCormick tries to free his leg and advance position but Tiriel is retaining full guard.
Tiriel is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
McCormick wants to control from the top but Tiriel keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCormick wants to get up but he can't break Tiriel's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Tiriel throws a leg kick but McCormick moved away.
Tiriel throws a sloppy head kick and McCormick moves out of range easily.
Tiriel thumps McCormick with a low kick.
Tiriel throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by McCormick.
McCormick connects with a solid leg kick.

McCormick fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Tiriel sprawls well initially but McCormick persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
McCormick works his way into side control.
McCormick taking a breather here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

McCormick has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Excellent takedown into side control there by McCormick.
McCormick wants to control but Tiriel is keeping him busy.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tiriel tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but McCormick wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Tiriel wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

And that's the end of the fight!
Branden McCormick showed his dominance in that final round.
I think McCormick 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28
Judge George Francis scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Branden McCormick!