PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Bjj Spar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brian McDonald (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Brian McDonald enters the cage!

Spar
vs
McDonald

165 cm
26
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

157 cm
28
135 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Red Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Bjj Spar!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Brian McDonald!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Skip Squint and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

McDonald shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Spar makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Spar.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McDonald pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Spar is keeping the position for now.
McDonald has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Spar is proving hard to escape from.
Spar tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Spar is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Spar is working an open guard so McDonald takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

McDonald darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Spar moves into full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Spar working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. McDonald doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. McDonald manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Spar looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
McDonald would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Spar is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. McDonald is aware though and is defending well.
Spar keeping moving, preventing McDonald from controlling successfully.
Spar preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
McDonald won't allow Spar to sweep him here.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Spar holds on and takes a little breather.
McDonald should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
McDonald stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Spar swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Spar is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Spar keeping moving, preventing McDonald from controlling successfully.
Spar wants to sweep but no luck.

Spar has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. McDonald is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Spar.
Spar is trying to improve his position.
Sloppy strikes there by McDonald.
Spar tries to improve position but can't.
McDonald trying to control the action but Spar is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McDonald 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.
Spar is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Spar is looking to regain half guard here but McDonald keeps moving and retains side control.
Spar gets back to half guard.
McDonald slows the pace down in half guard.
Spar moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
McDonald works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McDonald stalling.
McDonald wants to pass the guard but Spar is defending well.
Spar is looking to control McDonald's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Spar avoid being mounted?
Spar is looking to improve his position.
McDonald really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Spar. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
McDonald is thwarting Spar's attempts to control the position.
Spar tries to roll over but McDonald keeps him under control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
McDonald is trying to control the action in half guard but Spar is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Spar is pressing down on McDonald's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Bjj Spar will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Spar shoots and misses

and McDonald counters with a nice double leg into guard.
McDonald trying to stand up but can't free himself from Spar's guard.
McDonald trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
McDonald looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
McDonald looking to pass the guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
McDonald is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Brian McDonald was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Spar misses with a takedown attempt

and McDonald counters with a nice double leg into side control. Spar won't be happy with that.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Spar takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McDonald lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Spar down.
Spar tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but McDonald wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

McDonald decides to stand up, so the ref orders Spar to his feet.

McDonald shoots in and bounces Spar off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Spar looking to hit a scissor sweep but McDonald is one step ahead there.
McDonald looking to pass the guard.
Spar is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
McDonald wants to control from the top but Spar keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McDonald looking to pass the guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Spar looking for a guillotine here but McDonald defends easily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
McDonald won't allow Spar to sweep him here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
McDonald pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Spar is keeping the position for now.
McDonald wants to stand but Spar is controlling his posture from full guard.
Spar bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in McDonald's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Spar drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and McDonald dives on top into guard.
Spar has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but McDonald has passed into side control.
Spar is looking to reverse the position.
Spar manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
McDonald controlling the pace.
Spar manages to get to full guard.

Spar had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. McDonald defends it easily.
McDonald looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McDonald postures up.
McDonald is looking to work some ground and pound but Spar has wrist control.

Spar looking for a guillotine here but McDonald defends easily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Spar keeping moving, preventing McDonald from controlling successfully.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

McDonald avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Spar has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but McDonald can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brian McDonald showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Spar with a lazy takedown attempt
and McDonald counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Spar tries for a takedown but McDonald circles away easily

and McDonald holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

McDonald breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

McDonald looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Spar is pressing down on McDonald's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
McDonald wants to control from the top but Spar keeps moving.
Spar wants to sweep but no luck.
McDonald advances to half guard.
Spar is staying active underneath McDonald, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Spar works his way to full guard. Good work.
McDonald pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Spar is keeping the position for now.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
McDonald wants to stand but Spar is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

McDonald decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Spar fails with the takedown

and McDonald counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Spar!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bjj Spar. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
McDonald lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Spar is looking to get to half guard.
McDonald tries to control but Spar wriggling away.
Spar is trying to escape the mount.
Brian McDonald has got the better of the ground game so far.
BOOM! McDonald connects with a massive shot to the dome!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
McDonald working the ground and pound effectively.
Spar taking shots to the head.
Spar is trying to reverse the position but instead McDonald has taken his back - oops!
Spar manages to reverse the position and now he's in McDonald's guard. Nice work there by Spar.

Spar drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but McDonald manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Spar has McDonald in his guard.

McDonald drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and McDonald jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
McDonald stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Spar swivels though and keeps the full guard.
McDonald landing with the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McDonald looking to pass the guard.
McDonald trying to control but Spar is working from the bottom.
McDonald controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
McDonald must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Spar working for a triangle but McDonald defends it easily.

Spar had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. McDonald defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Spar is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. McDonald is aware though and is defending well.

Spar looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Spar keeping moving, preventing McDonald from controlling successfully.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
McDonald working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Spar's head.
Spar keeping moving, preventing McDonald from controlling successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
Brian McDonald comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well McDonald 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 Hugh Johnson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brian McDonald!