PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Michael McDonald (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Maciej Gorski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

McDonald
vs
Gorski

183 cm
25
179 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

181 cm
25
169 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Michael McDonald!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Maciej Gorski!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Tarja Halkonen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McDonald misses with a double jab

and Gorski counters by moving into the clinch.
Gorski blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
McDonald just leaning against Gorski, taking a breather.

Gorski jumps into guard, dragging McDonald to the mat.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
McDonald postures up in Gorski's guard and throws a big left but Gorski blocks it.
Gorski preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
McDonald content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
McDonald trying to control the position from guard on top but Gorski is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
McDonald throwing strikes from guard but Gorski blocks nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Gorski holds on and takes a little breather.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Gorski looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Gorski is pulling down on McDonald's head. It's preventing any offense from McDonald, at least for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Maciej Gorski wasn't active enough on the ground.
McDonald fakes the leg kick and cracks Gorski in the body.
Gorski tries to clinch but McDonald moves out of range.
McDonald shoots in but no luck this time.
McDonald lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
McDonald fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

McDonald pushes Gorski up against the cage in a clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gorski is trying to drag McDonald to the mat but McDonald just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Gorski is fighting off a takedown attempt but McDonald is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Gorski to the mat. Gorski regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gorski has control of McDonald's left arm, preventing McDonald from doing any damage.
McDonald trying to control the position from guard on top but Gorski is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gorski wants to stand up but McDonald is controlling him.
Gorski bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in McDonald's guard.

Gorski stands up and waves to McDonald to follow him.

McDonald shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Gorski's guard.
McDonald knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Gorski on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gorski controlling McDonald's posture.
McDonald stopping the sweep attempt from Gorski.

Gorski has his foot on McDonald's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. McDonald works his way back into a safe position though.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gorski is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Gorski is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Michael McDonald will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

McDonald misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
McDonald tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Gorski swivels and escapes.

Gorski shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. McDonald manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Gorski decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on McDonald, up you get!

Gorski shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Gorski was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Gorski stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Gorski looks for a takedown but McDonald sprawls well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McDonald misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael McDonald. That's going to take a lot out of him.
McDonald shoots in looking for a takedown. Gorski tries to sprawl out of it but McDonald keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Gorski manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
McDonald keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

McDonald gets tackled into the cage by Gorski. Gorski maintains the clinch.
McDonald gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Gorski.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McDonald has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Gorski after a bit of a struggle.

McDonald manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Maciej Gorski has got the better of the ground game so far.
McDonald not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Gorski won't allow McDonald to get back to his feet.

Gorski gets to his feet. McDonald looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
McDonald misses with a takedown attempt

and Gorski counters with a nice double leg into side control. McDonald won't be happy with that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gorski decides to stand back up.
Nice takedown defense from McDonald. No joy for Gorski on that attempt.
Nice sprawl there from McDonald as Gorski shoots in.
McDonald shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Gorski counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Gorski stands up from McDonald's guard - Gorski perhaps looking for a knockout.
McDonald leaves Gorski with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
McDonald misses with a low kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McDonald shoots in but Gorski avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Michael McDonald seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
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!

Gorski fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. McDonald sprawls well initially but Gorski persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
McDonald is trying to control but Gorski manages to pass to mount!

Gorski gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gorski fails to land the takedown.

McDonald closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maciej Gorski showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

McDonald drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
McDonald looking to pass the guard.
McDonald has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Gorski is proving hard to escape from.
Gorski has his hands on McDonald's head, controlling the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
McDonald trying to control but Gorski is working from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Gorski has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes McDonald off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gorski closes the distance and clinches up with McDonald, looking for a takedown. Gorski pushes McDonald against the cage but McDonald circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
McDonald shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Gorski as he avoids it easily.
Gorski shoots in for a double leg but McDonald sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Gorski blocks a head kick by McDonald.
McDonald shoots and misses

and Gorski counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Gorski gets to his feet - McDonald follows without any prompting.
Gorski tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but McDonald paws at him with a jab and circles away.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gorski gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Gorski decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
McDonald shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Gorski sprawls well. Gorski wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. McDonald gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael McDonald. That's going to take a lot out of him.
McDonald keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Michael McDonald is winning the standup battle so far.
McDonald tries a head kick but it misses.

Gorski dives in and scores a takedown into McDonald's guard.

Gorski gets to his feet. McDonald looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

McDonald gets the takedown into side control.
Gorski is trying to control McDonald's posture but McDonald avoids it.
A lull in the action here.
McDonald trying to control the position but Gorski is working away.

McDonald stands up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gorski fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
McDonald shoots in for a double leg but Gorski sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Gorski closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. McDonald did well to prevent Gorski getting side control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Gorski gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Gorski gets a double leg takedown into McDonald's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Maciej Gorski comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Gorski 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Maciej Gorski!