PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rory OReilly (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tyler Kershaw (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.

OReilly
vs
Kershaw

186 cm
25
182 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

186 cm
21
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Hellbent

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 Sydney, Rory OReilly!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Tyler Kershaw!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Summer Carpenter and Ben Hemmingworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kershaw connects with a single shot there.
Kershaw throws a leg kick that misses.
Kershaw tries to clinch but OReilly is having none of it.
Kershaw closes the distance looking to clinch

and OReilly holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Kershaw is trying to break the clinch but OReilly has him pressed against the cage.
OReilly looking for a takedown.

Kershaw pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Kershaw throws a shot to the body.

Kershaw closes the distance and clinches.
Kershaw wants to break the clinch but can't.
OReilly has Kershaw pressed against the cage, preventing Kershaw from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Kershaw tries to break the clinch but OReilly is controlling the position.
OReilly tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
OReilly scores with a shoulder strike.
OReilly drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rory OReilly. That's going to take a lot out of him.
OReilly changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Kershaw fights it off and pushes away nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
OReilly circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kershaw throws a series of strikes that have OReilly backpedaling.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kershaw looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
OReilly tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Kershaw lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Kershaw tries to clinch up but OReilly circles away and keeps his distance.
A punch combination from Kershaw misses.
Kershaw throws a left and a right that both miss

and OReilly counters with a shoot takedown. Kershaw fights it but they end up in guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
OReilly stops Kershaw from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

OReilly thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain 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!
OReilly prevents Kershaw from getting back to his feet.
Kershaw looks winded!

Kershaw has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. OReilly is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.

Kershaw's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kershaw tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and OReilly counters with a left and a right that stings Kershaw.
Kershaw fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Tyler Kershaw is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
OReilly fails with the takedown.
Tyler Kershaw seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Horrible takedown attempt by OReilly or perhaps it was just good defense by Kershaw, which made it look bad.

OReilly shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Kershaw is trying to defend but OReilly finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

OReilly is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Kershaw is trying to stand back up but OReilly is controlling him

OReilly is looking for a kimura but Kershaw is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for OReilly to get the leverage.
Kershaw keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Kershaw is trying to stand back up but OReilly is controlling him

Kershaw pushes OReilly off and gets back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kershaw leaves OReilly with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
A head kick misses from Kershaw.
A head kick misses from Kershaw.

Kershaw closes the distance and clinches.
Kershaw is trying to break the clinch but OReilly is controlling him.
Kershaw wants to break free but OReilly has control.
OReilly jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Kershaw walks away with a smile on his face. OReilly gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
OReilly shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Kershaw as he jumps to the side.
Kershaw swings away with a leg kick that misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kershaw tries to clinch but OReilly moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tyler Kershaw dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Kershaw throws the kick towards the body but OReilly avoids it.
Kershaw looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Kershaw tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but OReilly paws at him with a jab and circles away.
OReilly on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Kershaw swings for the body but OReilly moves out of range.
OReilly shoots in for a double leg but Kershaw sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Kershaw lands with a slapping head kick.
Kershaw closes the distance but OReilly moves to the side

and OReilly counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Kershaw's guard now.
Kershaw keeping moving, preventing OReilly from controlling successfully.
Kershaw is breathing heavily.
OReilly is stalling in the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Rory OReilly wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Kershaw misses with a jab, cross combination.
Kershaw is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

OReilly fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Kershaw to the ground. OReilly is now in Kershaw's guard.
OReilly stops Kershaw from standing up.

OReilly drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and OReilly jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Kershaw pushes OReilly off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Kershaw doesn't manage to clinch there - OReilly circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kershaw moves in looking to clinch but OReilly pushes him off.
Kershaw throws a body punch but OReilly moves out of range.
OReilly dives in for a single leg takedown but Kershaw sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
OReilly is working for takedown but Kershaw is calmly controlling the position for now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rory OReilly. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kershaw can't break the clinch.
Kershaw can't break the clinch.
OReilly tries to pull guard but Kershaw forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

OReilly pulls guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

OReilly had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Kershaw defends it easily.
Kershaw would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kershaw is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Kershaw wants to stand and escape but instead OReilly has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
OReilly trying to control the position from guard on top but Kershaw is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

OReilly thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Kershaw wants to get back to his feet but OReilly is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
OReilly is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
OReilly stops Kershaw from standing up.
OReilly trying to control but Kershaw is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
OReilly is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kershaw wants to get back to his feet but OReilly is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
OReilly is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rory OReilly dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Kershaw throws a body kick despite being completely out of range

and OReilly counters with a takedown into side control.

OReilly decides to stand back up. OReilly steps back and let's Kershaw get back to his feet.
OReilly shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Kershaw as he jumps to the side.
Kershaw misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kershaw tries to clinch but OReilly moves out of range.
Tyler Kershaw seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from OReilly.

Kershaw takes the fight into the clinch.

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

OReilly closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kershaw is not content to let OReilly control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
OReilly prevents Kershaw from standing back up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

OReilly is trying to work for a kimura but Kershaw is defending well.
OReilly performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Kershaw is trying to escape back to his feet but OReilly uses the scramble to pass into side control.
Kershaw is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
OReilly wants to control but Kershaw is keeping him busy.

OReilly is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Kershaw has escaped the position, nice work there.

OReilly is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Kershaw is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

OReilly has an Americana. Kershaw didn't react quickly enough there and he's in big trouble now! He tries to squirm out but is forced to tap! OReilly is delighted and gyrates in front of the ring girls. They seem to like the attention - it'll be interesting to see if OReilly hooks up with any of them at the after show party.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:54 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Rory OReilly!