PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Aodhan o hAodha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aengus O´Donnell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). o hAodha kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Cursum Perficio by Enya. O´Donnell has chosen Dropkick Murphys - Worker's Song as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

o hAodha
vs
O´Donnell

182 cm
33
200 lbs
16 - 18 - 0

184 cm
29
203 lbs
15 - 11 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Good knees
Cardio machine

ADCC Champion
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Aodhan o hAodha!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Aengus O´Donnell!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Paul Gruel and Colin Fray.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
O´Donnell throws a lazy uppercut

and o hAodha counters by clinching up.
A right handed body shot lands from O´Donnell.
O´Donnell can't find room to land a body shot as o hAodha controls the action.
A body shot lands from o hAodha.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from o hAodha.
O´Donnell trying to stall but o hAodha improves his position.
o hAodha fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
O´Donnell tried to land a shot to the body but connects with o hAodha's elbow.
O´Donnell tried to land a shot to the body but connects with o hAodha's elbow.
A frustrated look appears on O´Donnell's face as he tries to break the clinch.

O´Donnell breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
O´Donnell throws a shot from downtown. o hAodha moves away and avoids it.
A jab from O´Donnell misses.
O´Donnell jabbing away but nothing is landing.
The crowd cheers as o hAodha lands an impressive looking overhand right. O´Donnell doesn't seem phased though.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
O´Donnell fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts O´Donnell, as that shot connected.
O´Donnell blocks a head kick by o hAodha.
o hAodha takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

A momentary lapse in concentration from O´Donnell enables o hAodha to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. O´Donnell manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
o hAodha trying to control but O´Donnell is working from the bottom.

O´Donnell working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. o hAodha doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. o hAodha manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as o hAodha accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
o hAodha missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
o hAodha postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
o hAodha is in close to O´Donnell's body, working some short punches and elbows.
O´Donnell looking for a sweep. Not yet O´Donnell, not yet.

O´Donnell escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. o hAodha gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
o hAodha is looking to work some ground and pound but O´Donnell has wrist control.
o hAodha wants to pass the guard but O´Donnell is keeping the position.
o hAodha working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
o hAodha throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as O´Donnell works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

o hAodha got a little sloppy there for a moment and O´Donnell has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, o hAodha has managed to get both his arms back between O´Donnell's legs - danger averted.
O´Donnell looking to control.

O´Donnell has his foot on o hAodha's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. o hAodha works his way back into a safe position though.
o hAodha working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
o hAodha content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
o hAodha cracks O´Donnell with a solid left hand.
o hAodha trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
o hAodha looking to pass the guard.
o hAodha passes easily into side control. Nice work.
O´Donnell is looking to reverse the position.
O´Donnell is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
You can see the frustration on O´Donnell's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
O´Donnell is looking for a sweep.
O´Donnell regains half guard.
o hAodha sitting and controlling from the half guard.
O´Donnell avoiding damage under a succession of punches from o hAodha.
o hAodha has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
o hAodha is pressing down on O´Donnell's thigh, looking to free his foot. O´Donnell is holding on for now.

o hAodha is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, O´Donnell has managed to free his arm - good work.

o hAodha seems to be looking for submissions.
o hAodha wants to take a breather but O´Donnell is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
O´Donnell is pressing down on o hAodha's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
o hAodha wants to control from the top but O´Donnell keeps moving.
o hAodha missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
O´Donnell is trying to keep o hAodha in close.
o hAodha being controlled here momentarily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
o hAodha is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

We're going to have a standup here because Aodhan o hAodha wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
o hAodha uses good head movement to avoid the hook from O´Donnell.
o hAodha steps to the side to avoid the strikes from O´Donnell.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aodhan o hAodha dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

O´Donnell jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A big right from O´Donnell misses.
O´Donnell cracks o hAodha with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
o hAodha takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Aengus O´Donnell seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
o hAodha connects with a right hand. O´Donnell shakes it off.
O´Donnell ducks under a wild hook from o hAodha.
O´Donnell takes a head kick and keeps coming.

It looks like Aengus O´Donnell has been cut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
o hAodha throws a series of punches but O´Donnell avoids them all with ease.
o hAodha uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by O´Donnell.
Aodhan o hAodha is winning the standup battle so far.
O´Donnell tries to clinch there but o hAodha circles away.
O´Donnell comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.

O´Donnell shoots in and gets a takedown into o hAodha's guard.
o hAodha is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
O´Donnell is trying to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
O´Donnell moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

O´Donnell escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. o hAodha gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

O´Donnell looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
O´Donnell is breathing heavily.
o hAodha is working O´Donnell over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
O´Donnell trying to control the position.
O´Donnell preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
o hAodha throwing strikes but missing.

o hAodha 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.
O´Donnell is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

O´Donnell is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and o hAodha defends well.
o hAodha cracks O´Donnell with a solid left hand.
o hAodha wants to control from the top but O´Donnell keeps moving.

O´Donnell looking for submissions from the bottom but instead o hAodha passes into side control.
o hAodha lands a nice forearm strike.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

o hAodha thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
O´Donnell manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
o hAodha is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for O´Donnell!
O´Donnell wants to hold on but o hAodha pushes him away.
o hAodha trying to control but he's not successful this time.
O´Donnell wants to hold on but o hAodha pushes him away.
O´Donnell is squirming around, avoiding o hAodha's attempts to control the action.
O´Donnell really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
o hAodha is landing with some decent strikes but O´Donnell is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
O´Donnell working to try and regain half guard.
o hAodha looking to control but O´Donnell is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
O´Donnell is wriggling around trying to escape.
O´Donnell wants to hold on but o hAodha pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
O´Donnell manages to regain half guard. Good work.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

o hAodha is looking for a kimura here.

o hAodha is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, O´Donnell has managed to free his arm - good work.
O´Donnell has hold of o hAodha's hands but o hAodha slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
O´Donnell wants to control but o hAodha is keeping busy.

o hAodha is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
o hAodha missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
O´Donnell works his way to full guard. Good work.
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 Aodhan o hAodha will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Aengus O´Donnell's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

O´Donnell tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but o hAodha paws at him with a jab and circles away.
o hAodha fails with the takedown.
O´Donnell scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. o hAodha doesn't seem bothered though.
A jab from O´Donnell does it's job there.
O´Donnell scores with a crisp jab that stopped o hAodha in his tracks.
O´Donnell scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
O´Donnell takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
O´Donnell throws out a loose jab but o hAodha uses good head movement to avoid it.
O´Donnell blocks a head kick by o hAodha.
o hAodha shoots in for a takedown but O´Donnell shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
O´Donnell will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
O´Donnell jabbing away but nothing is landing.
O´Donnell bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
o hAodha scores with a push kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
O´Donnell avoids the body shot from o hAodha.

O´Donnell shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
O´Donnell takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
o hAodha is staying active underneath O´Donnell, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

o hAodha is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but O´Donnell pulls his head out easily.
O´Donnell thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed o hAodha's head.
O´Donnell throwing shots but o hAodha is blocking nicely.

o hAodha looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
O´Donnell looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
o hAodha slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
o hAodha avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

O´Donnell avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
o hAodha wants to sweep but no luck.

o hAodha is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. O´Donnell is aware though and is defending well.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
O´Donnell loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
o hAodha is pulling down on O´Donnell's head to control his posture.
O´Donnell lands a couple of elbows.
O´Donnell content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
o hAodha working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from O´Donnell.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as O´Donnell accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells O´Donnell's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

o hAodha looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
o hAodha looking to hit a scissor sweep but O´Donnell is one step ahead there.
O´Donnell postures up in o hAodha's guard and throws a big left but o hAodha blocks it.

o hAodha has his foot on O´Donnell's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. O´Donnell works his way back into a safe position though.
o hAodha preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
O´Donnell wants to control from the top but o hAodha keeps moving.
O´Donnell landing some decent shots from guard.
O´Donnell is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
o hAodha avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Aodhan o hAodha is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

o hAodha escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. O´Donnell gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
O´Donnell throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
O´Donnell with a flurry of punches that miss.
O´Donnell throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
O´Donnell is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
O´Donnell won't allow o hAodha to sweep him here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
O´Donnell working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
O´Donnell trying to control the position from guard on top but o hAodha is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Aengus O´Donnell has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
o hAodha looking to control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Aengus O´Donnell comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think o hAodha 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 Josh West scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 29:28
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aodhan o hAodha!
A relieved looking Aodhan o hAodha thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.