PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Chris Gardener (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sean McNamara (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). McNamara has chosen Young Americans as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Chris Gardener has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Gardener
vs
McNamara

190 cm
21
210 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

180 cm
22
209 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Chris Gardener!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Sean McNamara!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McNamara avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Gardener takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Chris Gardener seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gardener tries a low kick but McNamara avoids it.
McNamara 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.
McNamara circles away from the clinch attempt.
McNamara circles away from the clinch attempt.
McNamara shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Gardener as he jumps to the side.
Gardener tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Gardener throws a head kick but McNamara moves out of range.

McNamara drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Gardener is looking to regain half guard here but McNamara keeps moving and retains side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gardener is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McNamara in side control lands a decent elbow.

McNamara stands up and we're back to a striking position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gardener swinging wilding here.
Gardener doesn't manage to clinch there - McNamara circles away.
McNamara checks a leg kick nicely.
Good work by McNamara as he checks the leg kick.
Gardener moves in looking to clinch but McNamara pushes him off.
Gardener lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
McNamara looks gassed!
Gardener throws a nice inside leg kick.
Gardener moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Gardener chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Gardener lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Gardener fails to land the takedown.

McNamara closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - McNamara lands in his opponent's guard.
McNamara has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
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!
McNamara trying to control but Gardener is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gardener wants to stand and escape but McNamara is having none of it.
McNamara advances to half guard.
McNamara wants to control but Gardener is keeping him busy.
Gardener won't allow McNamara to pass to mount.
Still in half guard, McNamara seems content to control.
Gardener is refusing to be controlled, as McNamara sits in half guard.
Gardener is trying to control but can't.
McNamara passes to full mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McNamara controlling the pace for now.
Gardener really wants to buck McNamara off and get back to his feet.
McNamara trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Gardener is looking to improve his position but McNamara isn't that keen on the idea.
Gardener is working hard here to advance position.

McNamara is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Gardener is looking to clinch but McNamara is avoiding it.

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.
Gardener tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
McNamara looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Gardener is fending him off so far but McNamara persists. Nope, Gardener circles away and we're back to standing.
Gardener shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.

McNamara looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Gardener keeping full guard, as McNamara tries to pass.
McNamara preventing the sweep.

McNamara stands and steps away. Gardener gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Gardener has McNamara up against the cage in a clinch.

McNamara is trying to trip Gardener. He has hold of a leg but Gardener is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. McNamara persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
McNamara wants to control from the top but Gardener keeps moving.

McNamara gets to his feet. Gardener looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sean McNamara dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Gardener tries to clinch up.

McNamara looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
McNamara with the ground and pound but Gardener uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Gardener wants to stand up but McNamara is controlling him.
McNamara passes into half guard.
Gardener is trying to get back to full guard.
Gardener taking some punishment here, with McNamara in his half guard.

McNamara is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Gardener defends it well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gardener tries to kick McNamara off but McNamara keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McNamara controlling the pace.
Gardener is in trouble now - McNamara has advanced to mount!
McNamara controlling from the full mount.
McNamara with the ground and pound from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

McNamara has hold of Gardener's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Gardener manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Gardener working to try and regain half guard.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, McNamara cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
McNamara can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Gardener is looking to escape.
McNamara lands with some strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McNamara fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Gardener in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
McNamara trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Gardener is working to get back to half guard.

McNamara is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Gardener has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Gardener!
McNamara trying to strike off his back.
McNamara looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gardener is one step ahead there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gardener landing some decent shots from guard.
Gardener controls from within his opponent's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Gardener stands and steps away. McNamara gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Gardener clinches with his opponent.
Gardener can't break the clinch.
Gardener lands a body punch in the clinch.
McNamara goes for a takedown attempt but Gardener pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gardener missing with a left hand there. McNamara was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sean McNamara showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Gardener tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Gardener scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Gardener fails in his attempt to clinch.
Gardener rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but McNamara moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Gardener with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

Gardener shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Gardener with good strikes from the mount here!
McNamara slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
McNamara wants to get back to full guard.
McNamara is positioning himself well to prevent Gardener advancing to mount.
McNamara slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

McNamara had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Gardener is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. McNamara Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Gardener's back instead.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gardener has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McNamara trying to control momentarily.
McNamara takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
McNamara looking to hold on to the position here but Gardener rolls and ends up regaining guard.
Gardener is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst McNamara is controlling him.

McNamara stands up and waves to Gardener to follow him.
Gardener will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Gardener throws a body kick that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Gardener feints and as McNamara raises his hands in defense, Gardener changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
McNamara looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Gardener puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
McNamara trying to control here.
Gardener drops an elbow to the side of McNamara's head.
McNamara works his way to full guard. Good work.

McNamara manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Gardener throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Gardener wants to clinch.
Gardener tries to bum rush McNamara with a series of wild strikes but McNamara uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Gardener closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
McNamara taking punishment in the form of punches.
Gardener just content to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McNamara tries to improve position but can't.
Gardener wants to lay and pray for a moment but McNamara keeps working.
McNamara is looking for a sweep.
Gardener lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear McNamara down.
Gardener prevents McNamara from escaping the position.
Sean McNamara has got the better of the ground game so far.
McNamara on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Gardener tries to stand but McNamara is controlling his head.
McNamara regains half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
McNamara gets back to full guard.
Gardener is looking to work some ground and pound but McNamara has wrist control.
Gardener postures up in McNamara's guard and throws a big left but McNamara blocks it.
Gardener pushing down on McNamara's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Chris Gardener has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gardener working the head and body with strikes.
Gardener drops an elbow to the side of McNamara's head.
Gardener lands strikes from half guard.
McNamara tries to roll over but Gardener keeps him under control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
McNamara on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

McNamara actively working from the bottom here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chris Gardener showed his dominance in that final round.
I think McNamara has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sean McNamara!