PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rory McDonnell (ranked 2954 p4p, 357 weight class) and Patrick Cleary (ranked 3162 p4p, 372 weight class). McDonnell comes to the cage accompanied by Do the John Wall. Rory McDonnell has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

McDonnell
vs
Cleary

183 cm
30
185 lbs
16 - 8 - 2

172 cm
34
183 lbs
16 - 12 - 2

Good wrestling
World class MT
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 8 - 2, fighting out of Montreal, Rory McDonnell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 12 - 2, fighting out of New York, Patrick Cleary!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Robert Twigg and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice cross by McDonnell.
Cleary looks to land a body kick but McDonnell moved away.
McDonnell lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Cleary tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but McDonnell was well out of range. Poor timing from Cleary.
McDonnell tests Cleary's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Cleary throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
McDonnell fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Cleary.
Cleary misses with a series of wild punches.
Cleary will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Cleary moves out of range as McDonnell throws a body kick.
McDonnell takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

Cleary darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
McDonnell is trying to control but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cleary scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
McDonnell wants to control but Cleary is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cleary missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
McDonnell trying to hold on to Cleary's head to control him but Cleary postures up.
Cleary is looking to take a break and control but McDonnell is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Cleary has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Cleary is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. McDonnell doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Cleary.
Cleary throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Cleary looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Cleary is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, McDonnell has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McDonnell is refusing to be controlled, as Cleary sits in half guard.
McDonnell on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

Cleary wants to work for an arm triangle but McDonnell is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Ground and pound from Cleary.

Cleary is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Cleary seems to be looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cleary wants to free his trapped foot but McDonnell is holding on for dear life with his legs.
McDonnell is looking to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McDonnell is working hard here to advance position.
Cleary wants to pass the guard but McDonnell is defending well.
McDonnell slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Cleary trying to control the position from guard on top but McDonnell is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as McDonnell holds on and takes a little breather.

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.
Cleary working some strikes from top position.
Cleary stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. McDonnell swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Cleary passes McDonnell's left leg - he's now in half guard.
McDonnell slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Cleary throwing strikes but missing.
Cleary makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cleary works over McDonnell with some ground and pound from guard.
Cleary connects with a couple of short punches.
Cleary keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of McDonnell's head.
Cleary tries to free his leg and advance position but McDonnell is retaining full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Patrick Cleary dominated that round.
That's time! McDonnell's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

McDonnell lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
McDonnell lands a body shot.
Nice straight punches there by McDonnell. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of McDonnell.
McDonnell throws a nice inside leg kick.
McDonnell slips a jab and a cross from Cleary.

McDonnell throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Cleary tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. McDonnell is in Cleary's guard.

Cleary throws his legs up looking for a submission but McDonnell uses it to pass to side control.
Cleary is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but McDonnell is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Patrick Cleary has got the better of the ground game so far.
McDonnell works his way to his opponent's back.
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!

McDonnell looking for the choke from the back.
Cleary breaks McDonnell's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

Cleary avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Cleary working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of McDonnell's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cleary postures up and lands a big shot to McDonnell's brow.
Cleary stopping the sweep attempt from McDonnell.
Cleary wants to control from the top but McDonnell keeps moving.
Cleary postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Cleary lands a couple of digs.
Cleary trying to control the position from guard on top but McDonnell is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cleary is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Cleary is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
McDonnell trying to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cleary wants to control from the top but McDonnell keeps moving.
McDonnell is trying to control the position but Cleary postures up.

McDonnell is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Cleary defends well.
Cleary won't allow McDonnell to sweep him here.
Cleary makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
McDonnell will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Cleary pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. McDonnell is keeping the position for now.
McDonnell wants to sweep but no luck.
Cleary is in close to McDonnell's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Cleary is stalling in the full guard.
Cleary is working McDonnell over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McDonnell wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Cleary makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
McDonnell wants to sweep here but Cleary controlling him for the moment.
McDonnell keeping moving, preventing Cleary from controlling successfully.
McDonnell is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Cleary missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Cleary trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Cleary scoring with punches to the head and body.
Cleary stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. McDonnell swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cleary wants to control from the top but McDonnell keeps moving.
McDonnell 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.
McDonnell keeping full guard, as Cleary tries to pass.
McDonnell looking to hit a scissor sweep but Cleary is one step ahead there.
Cleary trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cleary is looking to work some ground and pound but McDonnell has wrist control.

McDonnell is looking for a triangle but Cleary pushes his legs off easily.
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 Rory McDonnell will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Cleary throws a half hearted mid kick.

McDonnell closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Cleary moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Cleary had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. McDonnell defends it easily.
McDonnell sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Cleary's guard.
Cleary has a hand on McDonnell's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. McDonnell takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Cleary tries to reverse the position but McDonnell maintains control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cleary tries to lock up and control but McDonnell gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Cleary working to try and regain half guard.
Cleary looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!

McDonnell working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Cleary tries to roll but McDonnell sticks to his back.
McDonnell is trying to stick to Cleary's back but Cleary is turning into McDonnell. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in McDonnell's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Cleary.
Cleary lands a couple of digs.
Cleary wants to pass the guard but McDonnell is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

McDonnell has an active guard here but Cleary has managed to pass into half guard.

Cleary is working for a kimura but McDonnell is defending it quite comfortably.
McDonnell is looking to control Cleary's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can McDonnell avoid being mounted?
McDonnell is looking to improve his position.
McDonnell is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Cleary's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Cleary's back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

McDonnell has both hooks in and is working for a choke. Cleary is in real trouble here. McDonnell gets an arm under the chin and tightens the submission attempt... is this the end? Yes, Cleary is tapping out! McDonnell wins by rear naked choke!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:21 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Rory McDonnell!
In his post fight interview, Rory McDonnell gave a big smile as he said 'Free OJ!'.