PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rayray McDonald (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tyeson Ledbetter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ledbetter has chosen Hero by Sevendust as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. On his way into the cage it seems that Rayray McDonald has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Rayray McDonald seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

McDonald
vs
Ledbetter

171 cm
20
155 lbs
3 - 7 - 0

175 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Malicious Intent Fight Gear

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 3 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rayray McDonald!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tyeson Ledbetter!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Russell Pearce and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

McDonald fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Ledbetter sprawls well initially but McDonald persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
McDonald blocks the strikes from Ledbetter.
McDonald is pressing down on Ledbetter's thigh, looking to free his foot. Ledbetter is holding on for now.

McDonald wants to work for an arm triangle but Ledbetter is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Ledbetter looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

McDonald escapes and gets back to his feet.

Ledbetter forces McDonald back against the cage and clinches.
A short left from McDonald.

McDonald breaks from the clinch.
McDonald lands a high kick!
Ledbetter shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and McDonald holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
McDonald is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

That's one minute gone in the round.

McDonald has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Ledbetter is trying to keep an underhook but McDonald manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Still in half guard, McDonald seems content to control.
Ledbetter trying to hold on to McDonald's head to control him but McDonald postures up.
Ledbetter is looking to improve his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
McDonald seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Ledbetter does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Ledbetter taking some punishment here, with McDonald in his half guard.
Ledbetter trying to hold on to McDonald's head to control him but McDonald postures up.
McDonald tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Ledbetter.
Ledbetter misses with some strikes from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Ledbetter tries to clinch but McDonald moves away

and McDonald counters with a takedown into side control.
McDonald is breathing heavily.

McDonald is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Ledbetter knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Ledbetter tries to strike but it doesn't land.
Ledbetter is looking to work his way out of this bad position but McDonald is controlling him well.
Ledbetter is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on McDonald's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
McDonald prevents Ledbetter from improving his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ledbetter keeping control of the position.
Ledbetter trying to control from the bottom.
McDonald is trying to control the action in half guard but Ledbetter is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
McDonald is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Ledbetter!
McDonald wants to control the pace but Ledbetter is squirming around nicely.
Ledbetter tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
McDonald looking to control but Ledbetter is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
McDonald sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
McDonald cracks Ledbetter with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Ledbetter is trying to escape the mount.
Ledbetter wants to control but McDonald is having none of it.
McDonald trying to control but he's not successful this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rayray McDonald dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Horrible takedown by McDonald or perhaps it was just good defense by Ledbetter which made him look bad.
McDonald looks for the body kick but Ledbetter saw that one coming.
McDonald is looking to clinch.
Ledbetter has a takedown stuffed.

Ledbetter gets a clinch.

McDonald pulls Ledbetter into guard.
Ledbetter cracks McDonald with a solid left hand.
Ledbetter is looking to work some ground and pound but McDonald has wrist control.
Ledbetter with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ledbetter wants to stand but McDonald is controlling his posture from full guard.
Ledbetter trying to control the position from guard on top but McDonald is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ledbetter won't allow McDonald to sweep him here.
Ledbetter has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of McDonald is proving hard to escape from.
McDonald is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Ledbetter is controlling him.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Ledbetter drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
McDonald looking to control.
McDonald keeping moving, preventing Ledbetter from controlling successfully.
Ledbetter is looking to work some ground and pound but McDonald has wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ledbetter slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Ledbetter is looking to advance position but McDonald has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
McDonald breaks from Ledbetter's wrist control and lands an elbow.
McDonald landing punches.
McDonald can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Ledbetter is looking to escape.
Ledbetter tries to hold on but McDonald pushes him away.
McDonald looking to control but Ledbetter is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ledbetter keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Ledbetter slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Ledbetter trying to control but McDonald postures up.
McDonald is taking a breather. Ledbetter says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Ledbetter is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of McDonald's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take McDonald's back!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
McDonald tries to roll but Ledbetter sticks to his back.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
Ledbetter softening up his opponent with strikes here.
Ledbetter wants to control but McDonald manages to buck him off and is now in Ledbetter's guard! Nice work there by McDonald!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Ledbetter had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. McDonald is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Ledbetter Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take McDonald's back instead.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
McDonald manages to reverse the position and now he's in Ledbetter's guard. Nice work there by McDonald.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tyeson Ledbetter 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!

Ledbetter shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and McDonald counters with a shoot takedown. Ledbetter fights it but they end up in guard.
McDonald is in close to Ledbetter's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Ledbetter is looking for a triangle but McDonald pushes his legs off easily.
Ledbetter is trying to control the position but McDonald postures up.
McDonald slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Rayray McDonald overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
McDonald wants to pass the guard but Ledbetter is keeping the position.
McDonald landing some decent shots from guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

McDonald gets to his feet - Ledbetter follows without any prompting.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ledbetter fails with an attempt to clinch.

Ledbetter closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
McDonald is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Ledbetter is controlling him well.
Ledbetter working away.
Ledbetter cracks McDonald with a big right hand but McDonald just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Ledbetter trying to control the action but McDonald is working from the bottom.
McDonald tries to buck Ledbetter off but Ledbetter is having none of it.
Ledbetter wants to control but McDonald is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Ledbetter fails with the takedown

and McDonald counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Ledbetter looking for submissions from the bottom but instead McDonald passes into half guard.
Ledbetter has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. McDonald is working away from the top position though.
McDonald seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Ledbetter does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ledbetter is looking to control McDonald's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Ledbetter avoid being mounted?
Ledbetter looks like he's trying to stand up.
McDonald seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Ledbetter does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Ledbetter wants to get back to full guard.
Ledbetter is refusing to be controlled, as McDonald sits in half guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Ledbetter has his takedown stuffed

and McDonald counters with a nice double leg into side control. Ledbetter won't be happy with that.
Rayray McDonald has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tyeson Ledbetter.
Ledbetter is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, McDonald asserts his dominance and retains side control.
McDonald controlling the position from side mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ledbetter is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Ledbetter is trying to improve his position.
McDonald gets to mount! Ledbetter was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
McDonald looking to control but Ledbetter is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rayray McDonald showed his dominance in that final round.
I think McDonald 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 Joseph Jones scores the fight 29:28
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 29:28

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