PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Tyler Beard (ranked 24858 p4p, 297 weight class) and Phill McDan (ranked 4473 p4p, 211 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Beard
vs
McDan

225 cm
22
130 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

160 cm
25
135 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tyler Beard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Phill McDan!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Marco Blurström and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Beard throws a head kick that misses.
McDan looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
McDan stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and McDan wants it to stay on the feet.
Beard fails with the takedown.
McDan is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Beard darts in looking for a takedown but McDan gets double underhooks and turns Beard into the cage.
McDan shapes to counter with a head kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tyler Beard. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Beard fails with the takedown
and McDan counters with a good, hard body kick but Beard shrugs it off.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Beard wants to clinch.
McDan is looking for the big counter here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Beard shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts McDan as he jumps to the side.
McDan changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Beard with a poor takedown
and McDan counters with a thumping low kick.
Beard misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Beard shoots in looking for a takedown. McDan tries to sprawl out of it but Beard keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. McDan manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
McDan unleashes a big counter combination but Beard bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.

Beard shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Beard really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McDan is refusing to be controlled, as Beard sits in half guard.
Beard is taking a breather. McDan 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.
McDan avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Beard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Beard not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Beard is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Beard wants to stand but his hand is trapped. McDan uses the opportunity to regain full guard.
Beard postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Beard trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Beard is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

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.

Beard clinches up against the cage.
Beard keeps the fight in the clinch, despite McDan's efforts to push away.
Beard tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. McDan smiles and moves away.
Beard closes the distance and clinches up with McDan, looking for a takedown. Beard pushes McDan against the cage but McDan circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Beard tries to clinch but McDan moves out of range.
McDan wants to counter the offense by Beard and move into the clinch position.
Beard misses with a body kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Phill McDan will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Beard shoots in looking for a takedown. McDan tries to sprawl out of it but Beard keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. McDan manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Beard tries to close the distance and clinch but McDan swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
McDan is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Beard shoots in but McDan avoids the takedown attempt easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Beard ducks down and throws a hook to the body but McDan moves away.
No luck for Beard with that takedown attempt.
McDan changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tyler Beard. That's going to take a lot out of him.
McDan is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Beard closes the distance and clinches.
Beard tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
McDan managing to block the knees to the body from Beard.
Beard wants to take the fight to the mat but McDan manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

McDan manages to break the clinch.
Tyler Beard seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Beard wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Beard is looking for a takedown up against the cage. McDan gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
McDan keeps control of Beard as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
McDan wants to break the clinch but can't.
Beard misses with a punch to the body.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Beard takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Beard leaning his opponent against the cage.
McDan is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Beard drops down looking for an ankle pick but McDan pulls his leg out and moves away.
Sloppy strikes from Beard. Those never looked like landing.
As Beard backs off McDan throws a huge counter combo but Beard manages to avoid it all.
A big right from McDan misses.
Beard wants to clinch up but McDan keeps it at a distance.
Beard backing away here, and McDan unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
McDan leaves Beard with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
McDan feints the counter takedown.

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.

Beard instigates a clinch.
Beard is trying to force a seperation but McDan has the dominant position.
Beard can't get the takedown.
McDan prevents a body shot from Beard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Beard gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Beard trying to control the pace.
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 Tyler Beard will probably get the nod.
That's time! Beard's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Beard gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
McDan is trying to break the clinch but Beard is controlling him.
McDan wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Beard leaning his opponent against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Beard's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
McDan takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McDan displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Beard.
McDan unleashes a big counter combination but Beard bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Beard changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. McDan tries to avoid it but Beard manages to keep hold of a leg and drag McDan to the ground. McDan escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Beard darts in looking for a takedown but McDan gets double underhooks and turns Beard into the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tyler Beard. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Beard fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but McDan avoids it really well and circles away.
McDan stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and McDan wants it to stay on the feet.
As Beard backs off McDan throws a huge counter combo but Beard manages to avoid it all.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Beard fails to land the takedown.
McDan thinks about the counter body kick.
McDan avoids the head kick by Beard.
McDan throws a counter combo.
Beard shoots in for a double leg but McDan sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Beard shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts McDan as he jumps to the side.

Beard moves into range and clinches up with McDan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Beard is trying to break the clinch but McDan has him pressed against the cage.

McDan manages to break the clinch.
Beard throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
McDan unleashes a big counter combination but Beard bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Beard tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but McDan swivels and escapes.
Beard looks for a takedown but McDan sprawls well.
As Beard backs off McDan throws a huge counter combo but Beard manages to avoid it all.
McDan fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Beard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McDan stuffs the takedown attempt from Beard. Beard gets slowly back to his feet.
McDan throws a counter combo.
Beard shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says McDan as he avoids it easily.
McDan is looking for the big counter here.
McDan fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

McDan closes the distance and pushes Beard back into the cage.

McDan breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
Phill McDan comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think McDan 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Phill McDan!
Phill McDan seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.