PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Joel Freeman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chris McDonald (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Freeman comes to the cage accompanied by Time to Pretend. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Freeman
vs
McDonald

171 cm
23
151 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

191 cm
24
159 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Joel Freeman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Chris McDonald!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, James Glass and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Freeman clinches.
Freeman wants a takedown but no success here.
McDonald tries to break the clinch but Freeman is controlling the position.
Freeman with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Freeman fails to pull the fight into his guard.

McDonald's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
The fight stays on the outside here - McDonald looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Freeman fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. McDonald looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
McDonald circles away from the clinch attempt
and McDonald counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

It looks like Joel Freeman has been cut.
Freeman throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Freeman keeps the fight on the outside.

Freeman closes the distance and pushes McDonald back into the cage.

McDonald is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Freeman can't fight it off and eventually McDonald manages to take the fight to the floor. Freeman looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
McDonald stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Freeman swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McDonald trying to control but Freeman is working from the bottom.

Freeman has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but McDonald can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
McDonald trying to control the position from guard on top but Freeman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
McDonald is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
McDonald looking to sit in guard and control but Freeman gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Freeman missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Freeman being controlled here momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Freeman preventing the sweep.
Freeman pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. McDonald is keeping the position for now.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
McDonald controls Freeman momentarily but Freeman frees himself.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
A head kick misses from McDonald.
Freeman tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but McDonald paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Freeman tries to clinch but fails miserably

and McDonald decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Freeman's guard.
McDonald looks gassed!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Freeman is striking from the bottom but McDonald uses the opportunity to pass into half guard.
Freeman might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
McDonald is thwarting Freeman's attempts to control the position.
Freeman wants to improve his position but McDonald is controlling well.
McDonald looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Freeman with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
McDonald not landing any meaningful shots this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris McDonald dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Joel Freeman's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Freeman scores a takedown into full mount!
Freeman with a couple of short strikes.
McDonald wants to control but Freeman is having none of it.
Freeman looking to finish McDonald with some ground and pound. This is bad for McDonald!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
McDonald slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Freeman missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
McDonald is breathing heavily.
McDonald blocking the ground and pound attempt from Freeman.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Freeman wants to get back to his feet.
McDonald trying to hold on to Freeman's head to control him but Freeman postures up.
Freeman throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Freeman thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed McDonald's head.

McDonald pushes Freeman off and gets back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Freeman shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in McDonald's guard.
McDonald seems keen to control Freeman's posture.
Freeman working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Freeman postures up.
Freeman tries to free his leg and advance position but McDonald is retaining full guard.

Freeman stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McDonald circles away from the clinch attempt

and McDonald moves into the clinch.
A bit of stalling here from Freeman.
Freeman blocks an elbow strike from McDonald.
McDonald blocks the elbow strike.
Freeman tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

McDonald turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and McDonald manages to end up in side control.
McDonald is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Freeman's shoulder. That is not cool.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Freeman regains half guard.
McDonald prevents Freeman from standing back up.
Freeman trying to get back to full guard but McDonald takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
The referee warns Freeman that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joel Freeman dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Joel Freeman's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Freeman wants to clinch

and McDonald counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Well, if McDonald is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
McDonald looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Freeman with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
McDonald takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Freeman tries to get to full guard but McDonald has control of the leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Freeman is trying to stand.
McDonald blocks the strikes from Freeman.
Freeman has a hand on McDonald's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. McDonald takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
McDonald putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

That's two 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.
McDonald wants to control the pace but Freeman is squirming around nicely.
Freeman is looking to improve his position but McDonald isn't that keen on the idea.
Freeman swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Freeman manages to regain half guard. Good work.
McDonald not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Freeman tries to roll over but McDonald keeps him under control.
Freeman tries to kick McDonald off in order to stand up. McDonald Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
McDonald working the head with strikes.
Freeman is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
McDonald throwing shots but Freeman is blocking nicely.
McDonald throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

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.
McDonald thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Freeman to regain full guard.
Freeman looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but McDonald puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
McDonald throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Freeman is looking for a sweep. McDonald is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Freeman wants to sweep but McDonald has passed to side control!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Freeman is trying to control McDonald's posture but McDonald avoids it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chris McDonald comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think McDonald 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight for Chris McDonald!
Judge James Glass scores the fight for Chris McDonald!
Judge William Gold scores the fight for Chris McDonald!

Chris McDonald wins by unanimous decision!