PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Art Mcgowan (ranked 3620 p4p, 2971 weight class) and Rick Platsku (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Art Mcgowan has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Mcgowan
vs
Platsku

200 cm
23
275
1 - 3 - 0

189 cm
18
223
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Art Mcgowan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Rick Platsku!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Nard Betker and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mcgowan finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.

Mcgowan shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mcgowan sitting in guard here, content to control.
Mcgowan has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Mcgowan forces his way into half guard.
Platsku tries to roll over but Mcgowan keeps him under control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Platsku keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Still in half guard, Mcgowan seems content to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mcgowan missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Mcgowan wants to lay and pray for a moment but Platsku keeps working.
Mcgowan thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Platsku's head.
Mcgowan will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Platsku is looking to control Mcgowan's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Platsku avoid being mounted?
Mcgowan seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Mcgowan decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Platsku throws a right and a left that Mcgowan avoids nicely.
Mcgowan throws a big counter combination but Platsku scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.

Mcgowan darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Mcgowan is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Platsku defends it well.
Mcgowan controlling the pace.
Mcgowan passes to full mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mcgowan controlling the pace for now.
Mcgowan wants to control the pace but Platsku is squirming around nicely.
Platsku is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Mcgowan controlling from the full mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Platsku slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

Mcgowan is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Platsku defends it well.
Mcgowan takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Platsku avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Mcgowan.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Mcgowan closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Platsku did well to prevent Mcgowan getting side control.
Mcgowan tries to pass the half guard into mount. Platsku knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Platsku can do anything to dispel that myth.
Platsku throws a strike from the bottom but Mcgowan passes into side control!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Mcgowan decides to stand up, so the ref orders Platsku to his feet.

Mcgowan closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Platsku bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
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!

Mcgowan moves into the clinch.
Mcgowan is defending well against a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Platsku takes a knee to the side of the body.
Platsku is breathing heavily.
A frustrated look appears on Platsku's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Mcgowan tightens his grip and picks Platsku up, before dumping him to the ground. Platsku manages to land in guard.
Platsku keeping moving, preventing Mcgowan from controlling successfully.
Platsku wants to control but Mcgowan passes easily into half guard.
Mcgowan passes to side control.

Mcgowan stands up and beckons Platsku to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mcgowan gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Mcgowan ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Mcgowan no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Mcgowan managing to control the position.
Platsku won't allow Mcgowan to sweep him here.

Platsku is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Mcgowan is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Mcgowan has escaped and now he's on top!

Mcgowan is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mcgowan is pushing down on Platsku's leg trying to pass to half guard. Platsku is fighting to maintain full guard but Mcgowan has managed to sneak the leg through.
Mcgowan controlling the pace.
Mcgowan sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Platsku defending well though.
Mcgowan moves into full mount! Platsku won't be happy about that!
Platsku can't escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mcgowan punching from mount but Platsku doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Platsku tries to hold on but Mcgowan postures up.
Mcgowan controlling the pace for now.

Mcgowan looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Platsku tries to lock up and control but Mcgowan gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Art Mcgowan dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Platsku fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Mcgowan to the ground. Platsku is now in Mcgowan's guard.

Mcgowan kicks Platsku off and gets to his feet.

Mcgowan closes the distance and clinches.
Mcgowan is pressed up against the cage. Platsku has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Mcgowan down to the mat. Mcgowan avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Platsku drives through with a takedown into guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Mcgowan manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Mcgowan breaks from the clinch.

Mcgowan gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Mcgowan has picked Platsku up - he's going for a ride! Mcgowan dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Mcgowan is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Platsku can do to turn this around?
Mcgowan not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Platsku really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Mcgowan. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Mcgowan thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Platsku wants to control the action here but instead Mcgowan manages to pass to full mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Platsku avoids a series of strikes thrown by Mcgowan.
Platsku holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Mcgowan tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Mcgowan throwing strikes here but Platsku is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Platsku takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Mcgowan controlling from the full mount.

Mcgowan is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Platsku has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Platsku!
Mcgowan wants to stand and escape but Platsku is having none of it.
Platsku trying to control the position from guard on top but Mcgowan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Platsku throwing strikes but missing.
Mcgowan manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Platsku manages to get himself to full guard.

Mcgowan advances position into side control!
Platsku tries to buck Mcgowan off but Mcgowan is having none of it.
Platsku struggling a bit here.
Platsku gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mcgowan looking to secure an arm triangle but Platsku defends it well.
Mcgowan misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Mcgowan misses with a head shot.
Mcgowan throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Rick Platsku has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Platsku is desperately trying to improve his position but Mcgowan has a good base and remains in mount.

Mcgowan looking for a guillotine from mount but Platsku is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Platsku avoids a series of strikes thrown by Mcgowan.
Mcgowan trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Mcgowan looking to secure an arm triangle but Platsku defends it well.
Mcgowan sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Art Mcgowan is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

And that's the end of the fight!
Art Mcgowan showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Mcgowan has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Saam Ante scores the fight 30:27
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 30:27
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Art Mcgowan!