PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Alex Lifeson (ranked 7269 p4p, 645 weight class) and Anthony McGregor (ranked 24839 p4p, 724 weight class). Lifeson comes to the cage accompanied by Xanadu by Rush. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Lifeson
vs
McGregor

190 cm
25
170 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

182 cm
19
175 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Alex Lifeson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Anthony McGregor!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Aafke Stam and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McGregor throws a head kick but Lifeson moves out of range.
McGregor tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Lifeson counters with a single leg into guard. McGregor didn't expect that.
McGregor is wriggling around but Lifeson manages to pass to half guard.

Lifeson scoring with strikes to the body and head.
McGregor won't allow Lifeson to pass to mount.
Lifeson performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lifeson has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
McGregor trying to control from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McGregor is trying to escape back to his feet but Lifeson uses the scramble to pass into side control.

Lifeson is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. McGregor knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Lifeson working the ground and pound.
A lull in the action here.
The strikes coming from Lifeson are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lifeson landing strikes.

Lifeson wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by McGregor, who protects the arm well.
McGregor avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Lifeson.
Lifeson really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
McGregor is trying to buck Lifeson off.
Lifeson is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt McGregor will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lifeson is putting a hurting on McGregor here, landing some big shots from side control.
Lifeson takes a little break here. McGregor wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lifeson working the head with strikes.
McGregor really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Lifeson. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
McGregor is looking to regain half guard here but Lifeson keeps moving and retains side control.
Lifeson has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for McGregor!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lifeson controlling from mount.
McGregor tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Lifeson is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but McGregor is surviving well by controlling Lifeson's body position as best he can.
McGregor wants to control but Lifeson is having none of it.
Lifeson controlling his opponent.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lifeson lands a big shot there that rocks McGregor but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Lifeson manages to capitalize on a mistake by McGregor to take his back!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Lifeson dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

McGregor uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Lifeson.
McGregor tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Lifeson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
McGregor has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Lifeson is landing a low percentage of strikes.
McGregor is looking to clinch but Lifeson is avoiding it.
McGregor tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from McGregor - that will leave a mark!
Lifeson fails with the takedown.

Lifeson manages to get an easy takedown there - catching McGregor on his heels. He'll look to pass McGregor's guard now, I'm sure.
McGregor is looking to stand back up but Lifeson counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by McGregor.

Lifeson keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alex Lifeson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Lifeson seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down McGregor for as long as he can get away with.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lifeson is working for a submission of some sort.
McGregor is trying to stand back up but Lifeson is controlling him
Lifeson slows the pace down in half guard.
Lifeson thows a huge punch but McGregor dodges it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
McGregor tries to get to full guard but Lifeson has control of the leg.
Lifeson is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Lifeson pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Lifeson controlling from the full mount.
McGregor keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lifeson has control of McGregor's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and McGregor regains control of the situation pretty easily.
McGregor really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Lifeson controlling from mount.
McGregor tries to hold on but Lifeson postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lifeson looking to control and managing it successfully.
McGregor is in a horrible position here. Lifeson smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Lifeson has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Lifeson is landing with some decent strikes but McGregor is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lifeson takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Lifeson dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Lifeson avoids the head kick by McGregor.
McGregor moves in looking to clinch but Lifeson pushes him off.
McGregor throws a head kick that misses

so Lifeson counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
McGregor preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
McGregor can't keep his opponent in guard - Lifeson advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Lifeson performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

Lifeson wants to work for an arm triangle but McGregor is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lifeson is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.

McGregor reaches up to try and pull Lifeson in and control his posture, but Lifeson latches on to an arm and pivots quickly for an armbar! McGregor taps out and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:24 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Alex Lifeson!
After winning the bout, Alex Lifeson thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.