PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between David McDonald (ranked 3746 p4p, 407 weight class) and Barry Reaves (ranked 4197 p4p, 449 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

McDonald
vs
Reaves

186 cm
31
200 lbs
12 - 9 - 0

188 cm
26
195 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 12 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, David McDonald!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Barry Reaves!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Felipe Paraventi and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

McDonald instigates a clinch.

McDonald drags the fight down to the ground.
McDonald looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Reaves working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Reaves trying to control the position from guard on top but McDonald is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Reaves must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Reaves postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Reaves trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
McDonald controlling Reaves's posture.
Reaves trying to control the position from guard on top but McDonald is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

McDonald has his foot on Reaves's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Reaves works his way back into a safe position though.
Reaves throwing strikes but missing.
Reaves trying to control but McDonald is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reaves postures up.
McDonald looking to hit a scissor sweep but Reaves is one step ahead there.
McDonald is controlling Reaves's posture.
Reaves stopping the sweep attempt from McDonald.
McDonald looking to control.
McDonald is really struggling to control Reaves but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Reaves trying to control the position from guard on top but McDonald is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two 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 sweep here. No luck so far.
McDonald trying to control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
McDonald stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and McDonald wants it to stay on the feet.
Reaves slaps away a takedown attempt from McDonald, before circling back to the center of the mat.
McDonald moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Reaves is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by McDonald.
Reaves thumps McDonald with a low kick.
Nice sprawl there from Reaves as McDonald shoots in.
Reaves drops down looking to force a counter takedown but McDonald defends it well.
Reaves swats away the attempt to clinch by McDonald.
A combination from McDonald does no damage.
McDonald shoots for a takedown but Reaves saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for David McDonald. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

McDonald shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Reaves manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
McDonald slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Reaves is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
McDonald prevents Reaves from getting back to his feet.

Reaves isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. McDonald stacks Reaves on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by McDonald!
Reaves is looking to reverse the position.

McDonald decides to take the fight back to the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McDonald moves in looking to clinch but Reaves pushes him off.
McDonald shoots in looking for a takedown but Reaves manages to keep the fight standing, pushing McDonald's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Reaves with the counter takedown but McDonald avoids it easily.
McDonald shoots in looking for a takedown but Reaves manages to keep the fight standing, pushing McDonald's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
McDonald looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Reaves is fending him off so far but McDonald persists. Nope, Reaves circles away and we're back to standing.
Reaves shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with McDonald but McDonald pushes him off and we're back to square one.
McDonald throws a body kick that misses.
And Reaves tries to counter it with a takedown but McDonald pushes his down on his head and steps out.
The fight stays on the outside here - McDonald looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

McDonald drives through and clinches with Reaves against the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Reaves tries to score a body lock takedown but McDonald shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Reaves gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from McDonald.

McDonald breaks from the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

David McDonald dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

McDonald steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Reaves.
Barry Reaves seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McDonald fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
McDonald looks for a takedown but Reaves sprawls well.

Reaves gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows McDonald to score an easy takedown into full guard.
McDonald passes Reaves's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McDonald is thwarting Reaves's attempts to control the position.
McDonald moves nicely into side control.
McDonald wants to control but Reaves is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reaves can't do much from the bottom here.
McDonald is looking to take a break and control but Reaves is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
McDonald landing a few strikes.
David McDonald overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Reaves is trying to control McDonald's posture but McDonald avoids it.
Reaves tries to buck McDonald off but McDonald is having none of it.
McDonald advances to full mount.
Reaves can't escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reaves is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Reaves in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
McDonald with a couple of short strikes.
BOOM! McDonald connects with a massive shot to the dome!
McDonald looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McDonald controlling from mount.

Reaves reaches up to try and pull McDonald in and control his posture, but McDonald latches on to an arm and pivots quickly for an armbar! Reaves taps out and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:51 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). David McDonald!