PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between John MacTavish (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brad Brennan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

MacTavish
vs
Brennan

188 cm
27
235 lbs
14 - 9 - 0

185 cm
21
260 lbs
2 - 8 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 14 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, John MacTavish!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Brad Brennan!
The judges for this bout are Ben Watson, John Mangel and Chris Dean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A right-left combo lands from Brennan.

It looks like John MacTavish has been cut.
MacTavish swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Brennan takes one on the button.

It looks like Brad Brennan has been cut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
MacTavish slips a jab and a cross from Brennan.
Brennan tries to clinch up but MacTavish circles away and keeps his distance.

Brennan shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. MacTavish is trying to defend but Brennan finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
MacTavish wants to get back to his feet.
Brennan wants to pass to mount but MacTavish is defending the position.
Brennan moves nicely into side control.
Brennan throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Brennan lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear MacTavish down.

Brennan decides to stand back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brennan misses with a wild combination.
Brennan tries to clinch there but MacTavish circles away.
Brennan throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
enabling MacTavish to counter with a crisp jab.
MacTavish throws a nice looking combination but Brennan bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

MacTavish has Brennan up against the cage in a clinch.
MacTavish wants to break the clinch but can't.
MacTavish is trying to break free.
Brennan lands a shot to the body.
MacTavish is breathing heavily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
MacTavish gets underhooks to prevent Brennan's takedown attempt.

Brennan manages to break the clinch.
Brennan is looking to clinch but MacTavish is avoiding it.
Brennan looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
MacTavish tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Brennan paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Brennan tries to close the distance and clinch up but MacTavish swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Brennan doesn't manage to clinch there - MacTavish circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
MacTavish misses with a few strikes there.
MacTavish circles away from the clinch attempt.
MacTavish keeps the fight on the outside.

Brennan drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
MacTavish takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Brennan in side control, throwing shots but MacTavish defends.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
MacTavish avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Brennan.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
MacTavish is not content to let Brennan control the position.
Brennan has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
The ground and pound from Brennan seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
MacTavish taking punishment in the form of punches.
Brennan trying to control the position but MacTavish is working away.
Brennan creates some space and throws a big elbow, but MacTavish sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

Brennan working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Brennan cracks MacTavish with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Brennan looks up at the clock and then as MacTavish takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Brennan smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Brennan landing strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
MacTavish wants to control but Brennan postures up.
MacTavish defending against the ground and pound.
Brennan landing strikes.
Brennan scoring with punches and elbows.
Brennan grinds an elbow into MacTavish's temple.
The strikes coming from Brennan are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

Brennan thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
MacTavish is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Brennan wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by MacTavish, who protects the arm well.

Brennan tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brad Brennan dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

MacTavish avoids a punch combination nicely.
John MacTavish is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nice cross by MacTavish.

Brennan darts in and clinches MacTavish up against the cage.
Brennan prevents MacTavish from breaking the clinch.

Brennan breaks the clinch.

Brennan closes the distance and pushes MacTavish back into the cage.
MacTavish avoiding damage as Brennan throws knees to the body.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Brennan.
MacTavish is defending well against a takedown attempt.
MacTavish is trying to force a seperation but Brennan has the dominant position.

Brennan manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
MacTavish with a nice head shot there.
MacTavish passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brennan regains full guard. Nicely done.
Brennan throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
MacTavish cracks Brennan with a solid left hand.
Brennan manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. MacTavish manages to get himself to full guard.
Brennan landing some decent shots from guard.
Brennan wants to control from the top but MacTavish keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Brennan throwing strikes but missing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Brennan is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Brennan postures up in MacTavish's guard and throws a big left but MacTavish blocks it.
Brad Brennan has got the better of the ground game so far.
Brennan throws a strike but MacTavish rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Brennan lands a good elbow from the bottom.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
MacTavish throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
MacTavish is fighting to break Brennan's control of his arms but Brennan is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Brennan can do anything to dispel that myth.
Brennan throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

MacTavish is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Brennan is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Brennan has escaped and now he's on top!
Brennan with a flurry of punches that miss.
Brennan is working MacTavish over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Brennan distracts MacTavish with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
MacTavish working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Brennan.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Brennan makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

MacTavish is working an open guard so Brennan takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
MacTavish misses with a leg kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Brennan fails in his attempt to clinch.

Brennan moves into the clinch successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Brennan stops a takedown attempt from MacTavish.
Brennan has MacTavish pressed against the cage, preventing MacTavish from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Brennan breaks the clinch.

Brennan moves into the clinch.
Brennan lands a nice shot to the body.
MacTavish looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Brennan has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Brennan lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

Brennan manages to break the clinch.
MacTavish showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Brennan.
Brennan fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
MacTavish misses with a hook
and Brennan cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Brennan is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Brennan lands a jab-cross combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brad Brennan showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Brennan avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Jab by Brennan.
The fight stays on the outside here - Brennan looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Brennan keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from MacTavish.
MacTavish keeps the fight on the outside.
Brennan throws a head kick but MacTavish moves out of range.
MacTavish throws a body punch but Brennan moves out of range.
Brennan throws a series of punches but MacTavish moves out of range.

Brennan closes the distance and pushes MacTavish back into the cage.
Brennan can't find room to land a body shot as MacTavish controls the action.
Brennan is trying to pull guard but MacTavish turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Brennan breaks from the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - MacTavish looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Brennan throws a right hand that MacTavish ducks under and follows up with a left that MacTavish also avoids with ease.

That's one minute gone in the round.
MacTavish misses with a right hand
and Brennan counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Brennan is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
An inside leg kick from MacTavish misses.
Brennan slips a straight right by MacTavish.
John MacTavish seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
MacTavish slips a jab and a cross from Brennan.
MacTavish wants to clinch up but Brennan keeps it at a distance.
Brennan throws the left hand but MacTavish avoids the punch easily.
A decent looking cross lands there for MacTavish.
MacTavish is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Brennan is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Brennan throws a body punch but MacTavish moves out of range.
Brad Brennan seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Brennan uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by MacTavish.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Brennan throws a right and a left that MacTavish avoids nicely.
Brennan takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Brennan lands a slapping body shot.

MacTavish takes the fight into the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Brennan breaks the clinch.
MacTavish gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Brennan counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Brennan is looking to clinch but MacTavish is avoiding it.
Good exchange - MacTavish coming out on top.
The fight stays on the outside here - Brennan looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Brennan lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but MacTavish circles away quickly and effectively.
MacTavish jabs Brennan right on the nose. Brennan blinks but takes it well.
MacTavish throws a right hand that misses
and Brennan counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Brennan feints and as MacTavish raises his hands in defense, Brennan changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Brennan controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Brennan gets to his feet - MacTavish follows without any prompting.
MacTavish misses with a double jab.
Brennan feints a jab promting MacTavish to slip. Brennan then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. MacTavish slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Brennan tries to clinch but MacTavish moves out of range.
Brennan is looking to clinch.
MacTavish on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Brennan misses with a two punch combination.
Brennan fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
MacTavish misses with an uppercut. Brennan saw that one coming.
MacTavish lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

That has opened up Brad Brennan's cut even more.
MacTavish looks to land a left hand but Brennan moved out of range nicely.
MacTavish throws a low kick but it's checked well by Brennan.
A telegraphed right hand from MacTavish misses the target.

Brennan scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Brad Brennan is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
MacTavish is trying to control Brennan's posture but Brennan avoids it.
Brennan controls the position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

And that's the end of the fight!
Brad Brennan comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Brennan has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Ben Watson scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Dean scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brad Brennan!