PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jeromy Mccullough (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ruatfela Michael (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Mccullough
vs
Michael

186 cm
19
177 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
20
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
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 Montreal, Jeromy Mccullough!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ruatfela Michael!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Trevor Gratis and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Michael throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Mccullough's waist but Mccullough gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Michael off to one side.
Mccullough has a takedown stuffed.
Mccullough defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Michael.
Mccullough darts in looking for a takedown but Michael gets double underhooks and turns Mccullough into the cage.
Michael wants to break free but Mccullough has control.
Michael prevents Mccullough from breaking the clinch.
Mccullough tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Michael blocks an elbow strike from Mccullough.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Mccullough.
A head punch on the inside from Michael fails to land.
Mccullough tries to pull guard but Michael holds him up against the cage and eventually Mccullough drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jeromy Mccullough. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Mccullough breaks the clinch.
Michael is looking to clinch but Mccullough is avoiding it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Michael has taken the fight to the clinch.
Michael misses with a hook from the clinch.
Michael drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Mccullough wants a takedown but no success here.
Michael is struggling to control the position.
Stalling in the clinch from Mccullough.
Mccullough looking for a takedown.
Mccullough is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Michael jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Mccullough walks away with a smile on his face. Michael gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Michael drives through with a takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Michael trying to control the position from guard on top but Mccullough is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Michael passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Mccullough tries to bench press Michael off him but Michael keeps the position.
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!
Michael postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Mccullough struggling a bit here.
Michael trying to control the position but Mccullough is working away.
Michael tries to move into full mount but can't pass Mccullough's legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The strikes coming from Michael are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Michael wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mccullough keeps working.
Mccullough is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Michael stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Mccullough tries to clinch but Michael moves away

and Michael counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Michael is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Mccullough sees it coming and defends easily.
Mccullough keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Michael passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Mccullough!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Michael trying to control but Mccullough is having none of it.
Michael sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Michael looking to ground and pound but Mccullough is blocking nicely.
Michael landing strikes from the mount and Mccullough is in trouble!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Michael tries to score a power double leg takedown but Mccullough sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Michael somewhat.
Michael wants to clinch.
Mccullough shoots in for a double leg but Michael sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Mccullough slaps away a takedown attempt from Michael, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Mccullough shoots in and drives through. Michael sprawls well.
Mccullough tries to clinch but Michael is having none of it.
Michael tries to clinch but Mccullough moves out of range.
Mccullough tries to clinch but Michael moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Michael tries for a takedown but Mccullough sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Jeromy Mccullough has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ruatfela Michael.
Michael shoots in looking for a takedown. Mccullough tries to sprawl out of it but Michael keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Mccullough manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Mccullough misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Mccullough closes this distance looking for a takedown but Michael circles away.
Jeromy Mccullough is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Michael tries to close the distance and clinch up but Mccullough swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Michael tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Mccullough swivels and escapes.
Michael slaps away a takedown attempt from Mccullough, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Mccullough lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
A nice combination there by Michael.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mccullough is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Mccullough.
Michael shoots in and drives through. Mccullough sprawls well.
Michael shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Mccullough sprawls well. Mccullough wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Michael gets slowly back to his feet.
Michael shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Mccullough as he avoids it easily.
Mccullough darts in looking for a takedown but Michael gets double underhooks and turns Mccullough into the cage.
Michael jumps guard but Mccullough stands there with Michael around his waist. Michael gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mccullough is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
A short uppercut from Mccullough.

Mccullough manages to break the clinch.
Mccullough throws the kick towards the body but Michael avoids it.
Michael tries to clinch there but Mccullough circles away.
Mccullough takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Mccullough tries to clinch there but Michael circles away.
Michael fails with a takedown attempt.
Michael circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mccullough has a takedown stuffed.
Mccullough tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Michael swivels and escapes.
Mccullough shoots in and drives through. Michael sprawls well.

Michael rushes Mccullough and presses him up against the cage.

Michael escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mccullough swats away the attempt to clinch by Michael.
Michael tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Mccullough swivels and escapes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ruatfela Michael will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Michael.
Michael looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Mccullough is fending him off so far but Michael persists. Nope, Mccullough circles away and we're back to standing.
Michael circles away from the clinch attempt.
Michael tries to score a power double leg takedown but Mccullough sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Michael somewhat.
Jeromy Mccullough has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ruatfela Michael.
Michael tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Mccullough swivels and escapes.
Michael tries to close the distance and clinch but Mccullough swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Michael scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Michael takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Michael closes this distance looking for a takedown but Mccullough circles away.
Mccullough goes for a double leg but Michael avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Michael continues to drive forward.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mccullough is working for takedown but Michael is calmly controlling the position for now.
Michael wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Michael has Mccullough pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Mccullough manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Mccullough breaks the clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Mccullough is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Michael is defending well.
Mccullough's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

Mccullough breaks the clinch.
Ruatfela Michael seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Mccullough shoots in looking for a takedown but Michael manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Mccullough's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mccullough fails with the takedown.
Michael shoots in and drives through. Mccullough sprawls well.
Michael fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Mccullough pushes Michael up against the cage in a clinch.

Mccullough breaks from the clinch.
Mccullough lands a head kick!
Mccullough looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Michael is fending him off so far but Mccullough persists. Nope, Michael circles away and we're back to standing.
Michael shoots in looking for a takedown. Mccullough tries to sprawl out of it but Michael keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Mccullough manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mccullough shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Michael as he avoids it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Michael throws a nice outside leg kick.
Mccullough stuffs the takedown attempt from Michael. Michael gets slowly back to his feet.
Mccullough shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Michael as he avoids it easily.
Michael punishes Mccullough's body with a nice straight punch.
Mccullough fails with the takedown.
Michael looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Mccullough is fending him off so far but Michael persists. Nope, Mccullough circles away and we're back to standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mccullough misses with a takedown attempt - Michael sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Michael throws a series of punches but Mccullough avoids them all with ease.
Mccullough swats away the attempt to clinch by Michael.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Michael.
Mccullough throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mccullough looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Nice sprawl there from Mccullough as Michael shoots in.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Jeromy Mccullough.
I think Michael 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 William Peck scores the fight 28:30
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ruatfela Michael!
An out of breath Ruatfela Michael thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.