PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Bruce Banner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Conor McDonald (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Banner comes to the cage accompanied by Pump Up The Jam. The crowd seem to be enjoying McDonald's choice of entrance music: Hamburger. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Banner
vs
McDonald

180 cm
42
175 lbs
27 - 16 - 0

183 cm
31
182 lbs
18 - 11 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Tokyo United Fightwear

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 27 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Bruce Banner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Conor McDonald!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Matheus Silva and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Banner ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Banner looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
McDonald swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Banner drops down looking for a counter takedown but McDonald sprawls and moves away.
McDonald lunges at Banner with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Banner's hand.
Banner drops his hands momentarily and McDonald takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Banner works McDonald's body with a nice hook.
McDonald throws a shot to the body.
Banner is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
McDonald has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
McDonald throws a head kick that half lands.
Jab, jab by McDonald - just one landing.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from McDonald. Banner shrugs it off though.
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!
McDonald looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Banner tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Banner closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming McDonald to the mat! McDonald manages to get full guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

McDonald had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Banner defends it easily.
McDonald is trying to keep Banner in close.
Banner pushes down on McDonald's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Banner is thwarting McDonald's attempts to control the position.

Banner is looking for a kimura here.
McDonald gets back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Banner looking to pass the guard.
McDonald trying to keep a closed guard but Banner is proving a slippery customer.
McDonald is looking to sweep but instead, Banner has passed into half guard.

McDonald is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Banner pulls his head out easily.
Banner wants to lay and pray for a moment but McDonald keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McDonald tries to get to full guard but Banner has control of the leg.
Banner is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
McDonald is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Banner jumps into side control!
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
The ground and pound from Banner seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
McDonald is trying to get back to half guard.
Banner landing strikes.
Banner lands a nice forearm strike.

Banner working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
McDonald tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Banner presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McDonald sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
McDonald wants to control but Banner passes into side.
McDonald sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
McDonald wants to get back to full guard.
McDonald has a hand on Banner's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Banner takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
McDonald tries to hold on but Banner postures up.

Banner is going oldschool here, as he tries to force McDonald to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so McDonald shrugs it off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Conor McDonald will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

McDonald tries to work over Banner's front leg with a kick but Banner checks it.
McDonald throws an off balance right hand

and Banner counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
McDonald looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Banner puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
McDonald manages to get to full guard.
McDonald wants to sweep but no luck.
McDonald trying to keep a closed guard but Banner is proving a slippery customer.

McDonald is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McDonald striking off his back but it's not causing Banner any problems.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banner throws a big right hand that misses.
Banner wants to pass the guard but McDonald is keeping the position.
Banner wants to control from the top but McDonald keeps moving.
McDonald trying to keep a closed guard but Banner is proving a slippery customer.
McDonald looking for a sweep. Not yet McDonald, not yet.
Banner is pushing down on McDonald's leg trying to pass to half guard. McDonald is fighting to maintain full guard but Banner has managed to sneak the leg through.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McDonald wants to get back to full guard.
McDonald has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Banner is working away from the top position though.
McDonald tries to get to full guard but Banner has control of the leg.

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.
McDonald trying to control from the bottom.
The fighters are battling for position here. McDonald manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
McDonald is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Banner engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Banner trying to control but McDonald is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Conor McDonald seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Banner swings and misses with a shot to the body
and McDonald counters with a slapping leg kick.
A low kick from McDonald is predictable there

and Banner counters with a shoot takedown. McDonald fights it but they end up in guard.
McDonald is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Bruce Banner overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banner blocking the ground and pound attempt from McDonald.

Banner looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
McDonald is trying to control. Banner wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
McDonald not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
McDonald working Banner over with strikes.
Banner taking some punishment here, with McDonald in his half guard.
Banner trying to control here.
McDonald is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
McDonald working the head and body with strikes.
Banner is looking to control McDonald's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Banner avoid being mounted?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McDonald lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Ground and pound from McDonald.
McDonald missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Banner gets full guard.
Banner 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.

Banner throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Banner avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
McDonald landing with the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Conor McDonald will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

McDonald ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Banner moves away.
A jab from McDonald does it's job there.
McDonald tries a low kick but Banner avoids it.
Banner appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
McDonald misses with an attempted mid kick.
McDonald throws out a leg kick but Banner moves out of range and McDonald only half commits.
McDonald scores with a jab. Banner acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
McDonald lands a right hook to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Banner lands a lovely overhand right.
Banner avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
McDonald defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Banner.
A nice side step and McDonald releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Banner takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banner takes one to the chin there.
Banner smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
The fighters circle momentarily. Banner darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
McDonald lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
McDonald looks to score with a jab to the body but Banner is just out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - McDonald looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
McDonald lands a head kick. Banner smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Banner throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Bruce Banner has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Banner shoots and misses
and McDonald cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
McDonald throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
McDonald works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Banner has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from McDonald.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Banner moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Banner looks to land a left hand but McDonald moved out of range nicely.

Banner scores with a takedown into McDonald's guard.
Banner pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. McDonald is keeping the position for now.
Banner won't allow McDonald to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McDonald is trying to control the position but Banner postures up.
McDonald bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Banner's guard.

Banner avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
McDonald throws an elbow that misses. Banner uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in McDonald's guard. Nice move by Banner!

McDonald is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Banner wants to control from the top but McDonald keeps moving.
Banner scoring with punches to the head and body.
Banner postures up in McDonald's guard and throws a big left but McDonald blocks it.
Banner stands and throws McDonald's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on McDonald's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Banner creates some space and throws a big elbow, but McDonald sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
McDonald is trying to improve his position.
Conor McDonald is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Banner misses with the ground and pound.

Banner wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by McDonald, who protects the arm well.
McDonald is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Banner is controlling him well.
Banner working away.
Banner looking to punish the body of his opponent here but McDonald is avoiding damage well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Conor McDonald comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got McDonald winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 28:30
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Conor McDonald!
An out of breath Conor McDonald thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.