PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ignatius J (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and William McDonough (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). McDonough has chosen The Beast by Tech N9ne as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

J
vs
McDonough

200 cm
22
285 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

190 cm
28
265 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
KO power

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Powerful

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ignatius J!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, William McDonough!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Roosa Järviläinen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
J throws an ugly left hook that misses
and McDonough counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
McDonough lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as J backs up against the cage.
McDonough tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but J was well out of range. Poor timing from McDonough.
William McDonough seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McDonough scores with a jab to the body.
McDonough with a nice cross.
McDonough slips under a jab.
McDonough misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from J.
The fight stays on the outside here - J looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
J doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
McDonough connects with a right hand. J shakes it off.
McDonough throws a body punch but J moves out of range.
McDonough misses with a body shot.
J throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
McDonough throws a big shot that misses.
McDonough misses with a few strikes there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
J misses with a jab to the body

and McDonough counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by McDonough.
J looking to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

McDonough is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
J pulls McDonough in close to his closed guard and prevents McDonough from doing any damage or advancing position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McDonough controlling from the top position.
J bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in McDonough's guard.
McDonough 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.
J trying to control but McDonough is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
J passes into half guard.
J trying to control from McDonough's half guard. McDonough has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
J with a flurry of punches that miss.
J seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
J tries to free his leg and advance position but McDonough is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
J stopping the sweep attempt from McDonough.

J has gone for a leg lock! McDonough slips out almost immediately though and dives into J's guard.
McDonough tries to free his leg and advance position but J is retaining full guard.
McDonough slips nicely into half guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
J trying to hold on to McDonough's head to control him but McDonough postures up.
J moves into full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
J controls McDonough momentarily but McDonough frees himself.
J keeping full guard, as McDonough tries to pass.
J can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as McDonough controls the pace.
McDonough postures up.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
McDonough advances to half guard.
J is trying to control but can't.
McDonough trying to control from half guard but J is working away.
J trying to hold on to McDonough's head to control him but McDonough postures up.

McDonough seems to be looking for submissions.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

McDonough is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, J has managed to free his arm - good work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

William McDonough dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

J will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
McDonough cracks a nice hook into J's ribs.
McDonough pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
J looks to clinch
and McDonough counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
McDonough misses the body punch
and J counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
J takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
McDonough throws a body punch but J moves out of range.
McDonough is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down J rather than just go for the knockout.

J darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
J missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
J wants to control but McDonough is keeping him busy.
McDonough is looking for a sweep. J is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
J throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
J trying to pass the guard but McDonough defending well.
McDonough moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
J landing with the ground and pound.
J advances to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McDonough is staying active underneath J, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
J stalling away here and it's allowed McDonough to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
J won't allow McDonough to sweep him here.
McDonough working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from J.
J loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now McDonough is on top in guard.
J trying to keep a closed guard but McDonough is proving a slippery customer.
J has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
McDonough looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McDonough is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
J is trying to keep McDonough in close.
McDonough trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now J is on top in guard.
J loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
McDonough looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

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.
J lands a couple of elbows.
J trying to control but McDonough is working from the bottom.
McDonough keeping full guard, as J tries to pass.
J trying to control the position from guard on top but McDonough is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
J working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ignatius J dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

J misses with a hook to the body
and McDonough counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps J thinking.
J looks to land a right hand but McDonough moved out of range.
J changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. McDonough tries to avoid it but J manages to keep hold of a leg and drag McDonough to the ground. McDonough escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
McDonough misses with a body shot.
A left lands for McDonough.
McDonough throws a sloppy body shot
and J cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

J shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. McDonough manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
McDonough keeping moving, preventing J from controlling successfully.
J stays in close to McDonough's body and controls the position.
J looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
J slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
J taking a break here but McDonough is having none of it and regains half guard.
J trying to pass the guard but McDonough defending well.

That's two 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.
McDonough manages to get to full guard.
McDonough bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in J's guard.
J has his hands on McDonough's head, controlling the position.
McDonough trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
J wants to sweep but no luck.
McDonough wants to pass the guard but J is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McDonough trying to control the position from guard on top but J is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
McDonough wants to pass the guard but J is keeping the position.
McDonough sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed J's guard.
J tries to get to full guard but McDonough has control of the leg.

McDonough is looking for a kimura here.
McDonough takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

McDonough is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so J is just riding it out for now. McDonough eventually gives up the hold.
J slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

McDonough thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
McDonough pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. J is keeping the position for now.

J working for a triangle but McDonough defends it easily.
J controlling McDonough's posture.
J is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Ignatius J.
I think J 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ignatius J!