PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ricardo Durante Jr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and St John McSevein (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ricardo Durante Jr looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

Durante Jr
vs
John McSevein

179 cm
25
165 lbs
7 - 8 - 1

178 cm
20
155 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 8 - 1, fighting out of London, Ricardo Durante Jr!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, St John McSevein!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Daniel Bishop and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Durante Jr misses with a takedown attempt - McSevein sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
McSevein thows a body shot but no joy.
Durante Jr looks for a takedown but McSevein sprawls well.
Durante Jr is trying hard to land a takedown here. McSevein sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ricardo Durante Jr. That's going to take a lot out of him.

McSevein changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Durante Jr looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
McSevein landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
McSevein landing a few strikes.
Durante Jr avoids any damage from the ground and pound of McSevein.
McSevein working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
You can see the frustration on Durante Jr's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Durante Jr on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
McSevein working the ground and pound.
McSevein really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Durante Jr. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Durante Jr manages to work his way to half guard, despite McSevein's best efforts.
McSevein thows a huge punch but Durante Jr dodges it nicely.
Nice strikes from McSevein there.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Durante Jr is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but McSevein pulls his head out easily.
Durante Jr is breathing heavily.
McSevein is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

Durante Jr looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Durante Jr avoiding damage under a succession of punches from McSevein.
McSevein is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
McSevein lands strikes from half guard.
McSevein slips a nice elbow through Durante Jr's hands, connecting with Durante Jr's forehead.
Durante Jr trying to control but McSevein postures up.
McSevein working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Durante Jr is trying is best to control the position here.
McSevein thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
McSevein working the head and body with strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Durante Jr preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
McSevein throwing shots but Durante Jr is blocking nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McSevein scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
McSevein is nestled in close to Durante Jr, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
McSevein working over Durante Jr with some ground and pound. Durante Jr looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Durante Jr is trying to maintain the position but McSevein is very close to passing his half guard.
McSevein trying to pass the guard but Durante Jr defending well.
McSevein throws a strike but Durante Jr avoids it easily and moves to full guard.

Durante Jr looking for a guillotine here but McSevein defends easily.
McSevein in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
McSevein works over Durante Jr with some ground and pound from guard.
Durante Jr 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 three minutes gone in the round.
Durante Jr seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
McSevein working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Durante Jr is looking for a triangle but McSevein pushes his legs off easily.

Durante Jr has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but McSevein can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
McSevein chips away with some ground and pound.
McSevein postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
McSevein loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
McSevein landing some decent shots from guard.
McSevein trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Durante Jr manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Durante Jr gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Durante Jr doesn't succeed with the takedown

and McSevein counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
McSevein thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Durante Jr's head.

Durante Jr makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Durante Jr misses with a takedown

and McSevein counters with a nice double leg into guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
McSevein working some strikes from top position.
Durante Jr is adopting a defensive guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

St John McSevein dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Durante Jr lands a jab to the nose.
Ricardo Durante Jr is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Durante Jr doesn't succeed with the takedown

and McSevein counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
McSevein thows a huge punch but Durante Jr dodges it nicely.
McSevein thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Durante Jr's head.
McSevein missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
McSevein tries to pass the half guard into mount. Durante Jr knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
McSevein throwing shots but Durante Jr is blocking nicely.
Durante Jr is trying to control but can't.
McSevein is looking to advance position but Durante Jr won't allow it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Durante Jr is trying to maintain the position but McSevein is very close to passing his half guard.
McSevein thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Durante Jr's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McSevein lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Durante Jr keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Durante Jr looking for submissions off his back.
Durante Jr has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. McSevein is working away from the top position though.
Durante Jr manages to get to full guard.
McSevein throws and elbow that misses. Durante Jr uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in McSevein's guard. Nice move by Durante Jr!
McSevein can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Durante Jr controls the pace.

That's two 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.
Durante Jr trying to control but McSevein is working from the bottom.
Durante Jr is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Durante Jr advances position into side control!
Durante Jr trying to control the position but McSevein is working away.
Durante Jr tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McSevein is not content to let Durante Jr control the position.
Durante Jr remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
McSevein parries the strikes from Durante Jr easily there. Durante Jr is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable McSevein to escape.
Durante Jr wants to lay and pray for a moment but McSevein keeps working.
Durante Jr is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because McSevein is managing to avoid having the position dictated to 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.

Durante Jr looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Durante Jr in side control, throwing shots but McSevein defends.
Durante Jr taking a breather here.
McSevein tries to escape but Durante Jr is in control.
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 Ricardo Durante Jr will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

Durante Jr gets a takedown into half guard.
Durante Jr moves nicely into side control.

Durante Jr thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
McSevein pushes Durante Jr away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Durante Jr gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
McSevein taking a bit of punishment here - Durante Jr scoring with strikes.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
McSevein takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Durante Jr thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Durante Jr tries for a kimura but McSevein is defending well.
McSevein is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Durante Jr has just dragged him back down to the mat.

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

Durante Jr is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, McSevein has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Durante Jr tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Durante Jr wants to lay and pray for a moment but McSevein keeps working.

Durante Jr thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

Durante Jr is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but McSevein is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Durante Jr tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Durante Jr has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Durante Jr has worked his way into a potential kimura here. McSevein is trying to get out of the position but his squirming has just got him deeper into trouble. Durante Jr yanks on the arm and McSevein is forced to tap due to a very painful looking submission! Nice work by Durante Jr.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:30 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Ricardo Durante Jr!