PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ascension Bjj Expert (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mannix McGuiness (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). McGuiness is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Bare in the Basin - Gaelic Storm. 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.

Bjj Expert
vs
McGuiness

170 cm
34
155 lbs
14 - 14 - 0

175 cm
27
145 lbs
9 - 7 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ascension Bjj Expert!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Mannix McGuiness!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Andrew Berry and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McGuiness fails with the takedown

and Bjj Expert counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Bjj Expert stands up and beckons McGuiness to join him on the feet.

Bjj Expert closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
McGuiness is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Bjj Expert has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
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!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Bjj Expert.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McGuiness misses with a takedown attempt

so Bjj Expert counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Bjj Expert gets to his feet - McGuiness follows without any prompting.

Bjj Expert feints and as McGuiness raises his hands in defense, Bjj Expert changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
McGuiness wants to stand but Bjj Expert is controlling the position.
Bjj Expert is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Bjj Expert's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

McGuiness is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bjj Expert wanted to stand there but McGuiness had control of the position.
Bjj Expert looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Ascension Bjj Expert.
McGuiness tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Bjj Expert defends well and McGuiness ends up having to push Bjj Expert into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Ascension Bjj Expert has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mannix McGuiness.
McGuiness has Bjj Expert pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Bjj Expert manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

McGuiness manages to pull guard.
Bjj Expert preventing the sweep.
Bjj Expert won't allow McGuiness to get back to his feet.
Bjj Expert trying to stand up but can't free himself from McGuiness's guard.

McGuiness is working an open guard so Bjj Expert takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bjj Expert dives in and grabs McGuiness's left leg, looking for a takedown. McGuiness pushes down on Bjj Expert's head and hops out.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Bjj Expert enables McGuiness to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Bjj Expert manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as McGuiness accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
McGuiness with a flurry of punches that miss.
McGuiness is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Bjj Expert managing to control the position.
McGuiness looking to pass the guard.
Bjj Expert pulls McGuiness in close to prevent any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Ascension Bjj Expert has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
McGuiness avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Mannix McGuiness seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bjj Expert tries to close the distance and clinch up but McGuiness swats him away and circles back towards the center.
McGuiness misses with a looping right.
No luck for McGuiness with that takedown attempt.
Horrible takedown by McGuiness or perhaps it was just good defense by Bjj Expert which made him look bad.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
McGuiness slaps away a takedown attempt from Bjj Expert, before circling back to the center of the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ascension Bjj Expert dominated that round.
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.

A slow jab from McGuiness misses its intended target.
Bjj Expert tries to close the distance and clinch up but McGuiness swats him away and circles back towards the center.
McGuiness throws a looping overhand right but Bjj Expert ducks down to avoid it.
Horrible takedown by McGuiness or perhaps it was just good defense by Bjj Expert which made him look bad.
McGuiness lands a nice shot that snaps Bjj Expert's head back.
McGuiness tries for a takedown but Bjj Expert sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Bjj Expert shoots in but no luck this time.
Bjj Expert tries to clinch up but McGuiness circles away and keeps his distance.
McGuiness shoots in looking for a takedown. Bjj Expert tries to sprawl out of it but McGuiness keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Bjj Expert manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Ascension Bjj Expert has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mannix McGuiness.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bjj Expert tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but McGuiness swivels and escapes.
McGuiness goes for a double leg but Bjj Expert avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Bjj Expert continues to drive forward.
Bjj Expert gets underhooks to prevent McGuiness's takedown attempt.
Bjj Expert stalling the fight.

Bjj Expert breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

McGuiness drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Bjj Expert is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Bjj Expert throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Bjj Expert swings for the body but McGuiness moves out of range.
McGuiness goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McGuiness throws a body punch but Bjj Expert moves out of range.
McGuiness shoots in for a takedown but Bjj Expert shows good takedown defense.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from McGuiness is defended easily by Bjj Expert.

Bjj Expert drives through with a takedown into McGuiness's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Bjj Expert gets to his feet. McGuiness looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
McGuiness shoots in looking for a takedown. Bjj Expert tries to sprawl out of it but McGuiness keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Bjj Expert manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
McGuiness circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McGuiness looks to land a left hand but Bjj Expert moved out of range nicely.
No luck for McGuiness with that takedown attempt.
McGuiness pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Bjj Expert fails with a takedown attempt.
McGuiness wants to slow Bjj Expert down by chopping away at his legs.
McGuiness darts in looking for a takedown but Bjj Expert gets double underhooks and turns McGuiness into the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bjj Expert missing with knees to the body.
Bjj Expert fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Ascension Bjj Expert will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Bjj Expert walks into a stiff left hand from McGuiness.

Bjj Expert decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
McGuiness is looking to improve his position.

Bjj Expert decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from McGuiness.
McGuiness throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Bjj Expert sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Bjj Expert pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A looping hook to the body misses from Bjj Expert. McGuiness does a little dance to reset his feet.
Bjj Expert ducks under a wild hook from McGuiness.
A jab lands there for McGuiness.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McGuiness fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Bjj Expert closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. McGuiness quickly recovers to half guard.
Bjj Expert not doing much here.

Bjj Expert decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Bjj Expert fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Bjj Expert looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Bjj Expert defends well against a solid takedown attempt from McGuiness.
Ascension Bjj Expert has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mannix McGuiness.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McGuiness tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Bjj Expert defends well and McGuiness ends up having to push Bjj Expert into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
McGuiness takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Bjj Expert is pushing McGuiness up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Bjj Expert drops to a knee looking for a takedown but McGuiness gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Bjj Expert is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. McGuiness is defending well for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stalling in the clinch from Bjj Expert.
McGuiness is looking to take this one to the mat.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
McGuiness has Bjj Expert pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Bjj Expert manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Come on Bjj Expert - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
McGuiness wants a takedown but no success here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bjj Expert controlling the action here for a moment.
McGuiness has Bjj Expert pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Bjj Expert manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Mannix McGuiness has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
McGuiness wants to take the fight to the mat but Bjj Expert manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
McGuiness fails to pull the fight into his guard.
McGuiness has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Bjj Expert avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ascension Bjj Expert showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Bjj Expert, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Phil Schofield scores the fight 30:27
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ascension Bjj Expert!
Ascension Bjj Expert seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.