PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Bjorn Vjorgensen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tim McIlrath (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Vjorgensen might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Training. Bjorn Vjorgensen has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Vjorgensen
vs
McIlrath

167 cm
20
150 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

170 cm
19
152 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Bjorn Vjorgensen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Tim McIlrath!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Matheus Silva and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vjorgensen on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Vjorgensen moves out of range of the strikes.
Vjorgensen takes one on the button.
Tim McIlrath seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McIlrath jabbing away but nothing is landing.
McIlrath moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
McIlrath lands with a shot to the body.
Vjorgensen bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Vjorgensen gets cracked with a nice right hand there by McIlrath.
McIlrath misses the shot to the body.
McIlrath throws a lazy right hand but Vjorgensen sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
McIlrath lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Vjorgensen throws a sloppy head kick and McIlrath moves out of range easily.
McIlrath connects with the punch.
Vjorgensen displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as McIlrath throws out the jab.
McIlrath connects with a body shot.
Vjorgensen connects with a solid leg kick.
Vjorgensen throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Vjorgensen misses with an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McIlrath connects with a jab.
McIlrath ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Vjorgensen moves away.
Vjorgensen lets loose with a powerful body kick. McIlrath will feel that in the morning.
McIlrath misses with a straight left.
A big left from McIlrath misses.
Vjorgensen steps to the side to avoid the strikes from McIlrath.
Nice defenses there by Vjorgensen.
McIlrath lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Vjorgensen looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

Vjorgensen shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Vjorgensen is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
McIlrath is staying active underneath Vjorgensen, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Vjorgensen is working for a submission of some sort.
McIlrath trying to hold on to Vjorgensen's head to control him but Vjorgensen postures up.
McIlrath is trying to get back to full guard.

Vjorgensen is looking for a kimura here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vjorgensen tries to pass the half guard into mount. McIlrath knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Vjorgensen passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for McIlrath!
McIlrath is wriggling around trying to escape.

Vjorgensen is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but McIlrath is surviving well by controlling Vjorgensen's body position as best he can.
McIlrath working to try and regain half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Vjorgensen looking to ground and pound but McIlrath is blocking nicely.
McIlrath can't escape the position.
Vjorgensen looking to control but McIlrath is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
McIlrath wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Vjorgensen.
Vjorgensen trying to control but McIlrath is having none of it.
Vjorgensen throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
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 Bjorn Vjorgensen will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Nice takedown defense from McIlrath. No joy for Vjorgensen on that attempt.
Vjorgensen will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Vjorgensen fails to land the takedown.
Vjorgensen attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Nice cross by McIlrath.
Vjorgensen misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Vjorgensen looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bjorn Vjorgensen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
McIlrath looks to land a right hand but Vjorgensen moved out of range.

Vjorgensen clinches up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McIlrath is looking to break free of the clinch but Vjorgensen has double underhooks.
McIlrath can't break the clinch.
McIlrath takes a knee right on the jaw!
Vjorgensen keeps control of McIlrath as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Vjorgensen looking to slow down the pace here.
Vjorgensen keeps control of McIlrath as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
McIlrath wants to break the clinch but can't.
McIlrath has a couple of punches blocked by Vjorgensen.
Knees in the clinch landing for Vjorgensen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McIlrath wants to break free but Vjorgensen has control.
McIlrath working aggressively here.
McIlrath misses with a body punch.
A short right from McIlrath.
Vjorgensen using the Thai plumb to throw knees but McIlrath has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Vjorgensen pushes off an throws an elbow but McIlrath leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
McIlrath is looking to break free of the clinch but Vjorgensen has double underhooks.
Vjorgensen lands a right hand.
Vjorgensen lands with a right to the head.
Vjorgensen lands a shot to the body.
McIlrath wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
McIlrath is trying to break the clinch but Vjorgensen has him pressed against the cage.
Vjorgensen tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
A short right from McIlrath on the inside.
A body shot lands from McIlrath.
McIlrath wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
McIlrath blocks a punch to the side of the head.
McIlrath is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
McIlrath swings wildly with an uppercut but Vjorgensen uses good head movement to avoid it.
McIlrath wants to break free but Vjorgensen has control.
McIlrath is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
McIlrath is trying to break the clinch but Vjorgensen has him pressed against the cage.
Vjorgensen blocks an uppercut.
McIlrath takes an elbow to the temple.
McIlrath fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Vjorgensen tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
McIlrath tries to break the clinch but Vjorgensen is controlling the position.
Vjorgensen lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Vjorgensen misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from McIlrath.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McIlrath wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Vjorgensen has him pressed against the cage.
Vjorgensen keeps control of McIlrath as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
McIlrath has had enough of the clinch but Vjorgensen keeps him there for the moment.
Vjorgensen lands a left hand.
McIlrath is trying to break the clinch but Vjorgensen has him pressed against the cage.
McIlrath is looking to break free of the clinch but Vjorgensen has double underhooks.
McIlrath doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
McIlrath is trying to break the clinch but Vjorgensen has him pressed against the cage.
Vjorgensen missing with knees to the body.
Vjorgensen with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Vjorgensen throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but McIlrath blocks it with crossed arms.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
McIlrath swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Vjorgensen using the Thai plumb to throw knees but McIlrath has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Vjorgensen prevents McIlrath from breaking the clinch.
McIlrath lands a hook that snaps the head of Vjorgensen backwards.
McIlrath wants to break free but Vjorgensen has control.
Vjorgensen keeps control of McIlrath as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
McIlrath throws a head punch that misses.
Vjorgensen keeps control of McIlrath as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, McIlrath creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Vjorgensen lands a nice knee to the body.
Vjorgensen landing knees to the head.
McIlrath avoiding damage as Vjorgensen throws knees to the body.
Vjorgensen is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but McIlrath is keeping busy.
McIlrath misses with the head strike.
McIlrath tries to throw a body punch but Vjorgensen avoids it by throwing McIlrath back against the cage.
McIlrath can't break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vjorgensen is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Vjorgensen tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
A looping hook to the body misses from McIlrath. Vjorgensen does a little dance to reset his feet.
McIlrath might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
McIlrath swats away the attempt to clinch by Vjorgensen.
McIlrath throws a body punch but Vjorgensen moves out of range.
Vjorgensen defending well as McIlrath loads up on a big left hand.
McIlrath throws a big shot that misses.
McIlrath takes a head kick and keeps coming.
McIlrath swats away the attempt to clinch by Vjorgensen.
Vjorgensen showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from McIlrath.
Vjorgensen doesn't manage to clinch there - McIlrath circles away.
Vjorgensen uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from McIlrath.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Vjorgensen blocks a jab.
McIlrath lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
McIlrath lands with a nice body punch.
Vjorgensen closes the distance and clinches up with McIlrath, looking for a takedown. Vjorgensen pushes McIlrath against the cage but McIlrath circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
McIlrath lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
McIlrath listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
McIlrath moves out of range as Vjorgensen throws a body kick.
Vjorgensen lands with a nice body kick.
McIlrath scores with a jab. Vjorgensen acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Vjorgensen misses with a head kick.
Vjorgensen defending well as McIlrath loads up on a big left hand.
McIlrath avoids the head kick by Vjorgensen.
McIlrath throws a jab but it's blocked by Vjorgensen.
McIlrath blocks the body kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Tim McIlrath will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

McIlrath throws out a loose jab but Vjorgensen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Tim McIlrath seems to be getting the better of the standup.
McIlrath misses with a hook.
McIlrath throws a right and a left that both miss.
McIlrath thows a left - swing and a miss!
Vjorgensen looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? McIlrath is fending him off so far but Vjorgensen persists. Nope, McIlrath circles away and we're back to standing.
McIlrath misses with a few strikes there.
A decent looking cross lands there for McIlrath.
McIlrath lands with a hook. Vjorgensen tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
McIlrath tests Vjorgensen's chin there with a solid looking shot.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Vjorgensen looking to stall.
McIlrath is looking to break free of the clinch but Vjorgensen has double underhooks.
McIlrath has had enough of the clinch but Vjorgensen keeps him there for the moment.
Vjorgensen stalling in the clinch but McIlrath improves position.
A knee to the head by Vjorgensen.
Vjorgensen keeps control of McIlrath as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McIlrath wants to break the clinch but can't.
McIlrath misses with a punch on the inside.
Vjorgensen lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
McIlrath wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
McIlrath is trying to break free.
Vjorgensen trying to land knees to the body.
McIlrath wants to break free but Vjorgensen has control.
McIlrath can't break the clinch.
McIlrath wants to get back to striking at distance but Vjorgensen won't allow it.
Vjorgensen trying to land knees to the body.
Vjorgensen dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Vjorgensen tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
McIlrath tries to break the clinch but Vjorgensen is controlling the position.
McIlrath wants to break free but Vjorgensen has control.
Vjorgensen blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Vjorgensen blocking some punches.
Vjorgensen tries to land knees in the clinch but McIlrath avoids the damage to the body.
Vjorgensen lands a knee to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Vjorgensen using the Thai plumb to throw knees but McIlrath has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
McIlrath is looking to break free of the clinch but Vjorgensen has double underhooks.
Vjorgensen holding his opponent close, against the cage.
McIlrath wants to break the clinch but can't.
Vjorgensen lands an elbow just above McIlrath 's eye.
McIlrath wants to get back to striking at distance but Vjorgensen won't allow it.
McIlrath has had enough of the clinch but Vjorgensen keeps him there for the moment.

That's two 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.
McIlrath wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Vjorgensen tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Vjorgensen lands a knee to the head.
Vjorgensen with a knee to the head.
Vjorgensen is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Knees to the body from Vjorgensen.
A head punch on the inside from McIlrath fails to land.
McIlrath wants to break the clinch but can't.
Vjorgensen misses with a knee strike.
McIlrath wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Vjorgensen has him pressed against the cage.
Vjorgensen with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Vjorgensen tries to land knees in the clinch but McIlrath avoids the damage to the body.
McIlrath is looking to break free of the clinch but Vjorgensen has double underhooks.
Vjorgensen landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Vjorgensen misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from McIlrath.
Vjorgensen prevents McIlrath from breaking the clinch.
Vjorgensen lands a knee to the body.
McIlrath wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
McIlrath prevents a body shot from Vjorgensen.

McIlrath escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
The fighters circle momentarily. McIlrath darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
McIlrath misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Vjorgensen slips under a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vjorgensen showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from McIlrath.
McIlrath misses with the combination.
A big right from McIlrath misses.
Vjorgensen throws a head kick but McIlrath moves out of range.
A decent looking cross lands there for McIlrath.
McIlrath jabbing away but nothing is landing.
McIlrath lands a nice shot that snaps Vjorgensen's head back.
McIlrath's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and McIlrath duly obliges.
No joy there for McIlrath, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
McIlrath swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Vjorgensen has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Vjorgensen there as he acknowledges the shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McIlrath scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
McIlrath fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Vjorgensen on the side of the head.
McIlrath loads up on a big right hand but Vjorgensen slips the punch.
Tim McIlrath is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Vjorgensen tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Vjorgensen throws a head kick but McIlrath moves out of range.
Vjorgensen throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Vjorgensen throws a head kick that misses.
Vjorgensen throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
McIlrath lands with a nice body punch.
McIlrath misses the jab.
A chopping leg kick lands by Vjorgensen.
McIlrath looks to throw the jab but Vjorgensen is out of range.
McIlrath scores with a hook to the body. Vjorgensen takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Vjorgensen tries a head kick but it misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tim McIlrath comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think McIlrath 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 28:30
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tim McIlrath!