PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Conor McGregor (ranked 25304 p4p, 25428 weight class) and PK Doyle (ranked 650 p4p, 660 weight class). McGregor's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Notorious. Doyle has chosen Unshaken as his entrance music. 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.

McGregor
vs
Doyle

175 cm
22
155
0 - 3 - 0

178 cm
20
164
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Big right hand

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Conor McGregor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, PK Doyle!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Roosa Järviläinen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McGregor takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
A jab lands there for Doyle.
McGregor checks a leg kick nicely.
Doyle throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Nice takedown defense from Doyle. No joy for McGregor on that attempt.
McGregor shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Doyle's coach down at Wolves of Sydney was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Doyle's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Doyle throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
McGregor lands with a straight right. Doyle didn't see that one coming.
McGregor throws a chopping leg kick but Doyle manages to avoid taking any serious damage.

McGregor rushes Doyle and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

McGregor escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Doyle throws a head kick that misses.
Jab, jab by Doyle - just one landing.
Doyle stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Conor McGregor. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Doyle.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Doyle misses with a two punch combination.
An attempted straight right counter from McGregor misses the target.

McGregor rushes Doyle and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

McGregor breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Doyle lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McGregor gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Doyle counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

McGregor has Doyle up against the cage in a clinch.

McGregor breaks from the clinch.
Doyle lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Doyle misses with a double jab
enabling McGregor to counter with a crisp jab.

McGregor closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - McGregor lands in his opponent's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
McGregor pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Doyle is keeping the position for now.
McGregor trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McGregor wants to control from the top but Doyle keeps moving.
McGregor throws a big right hand that misses.
Doyle wants to stand up but McGregor is controlling him.
McGregor 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.

Doyle manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.

McGregor's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
McGregor moves out of range as Doyle strikes.
McGregor appears to be looking for a big counter.
Doyle throws a half hearted mid kick.
That kick from Doyle tenderised McGregor's leg. McGregor is trying to keep his angry face on.
McGregor is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Doyle misses with a body kick.
McGregor looks to land a left hand but Doyle moved out of range nicely.
McGregor lands with a nice combination. Doyle backs away looking to recover.
McGregor blocks a head kick by Doyle.
McGregor takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Doyle with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Doyle fakes the leg kick and cracks McGregor in the body.
Doyle is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by McGregor.
A jab from Doyle misses.
Doyle throws a push kick but McGregor slaps the foot to one side.
Doyle throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Doyle lands with a thumping leg kick.
Doyle bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Doyle lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Doyle throws a looping overhand right but McGregor ducks down to avoid it.
Doyle lands with a kick to the temple. McGregor shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McGregor tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Doyle misses with a double jab.
Doyle misses with a wild combination.
Doyle fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Doyle connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed McGregor momentarily.
Doyle looks to throw a body kick

and McGregor counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Doyle wants to stand back up but McGregor manages to pass into side control.
McGregor misses with the ground and pound.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
McGregor postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

McGregor decides to stand back up. McGregor steps back and let's Doyle get back to his feet.
Doyle feints a jab promting McGregor to slip. Doyle then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. McGregor slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

PK Doyle 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.

A head kick misses from Doyle.
McGregor takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Doyle defends well against a solid takedown attempt from McGregor.
McGregor scores with a nice right hand.
McGregor misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Doyle.
Donk. Doyle catches McGregor right on the button with a cross.
McGregor works Doyle's body with a nice hook.
McGregor lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
McGregor tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Doyle swivels and escapes.

McGregor closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

McGregor breaks from the clinch.
A jab lands there for Doyle.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
McGregor shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Doyle but Doyle pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Conor McGregor. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice sprawl there from Doyle as McGregor shoots in.
Doyle swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Doyle will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McGregor is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
It seemed like Doyle was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Doyle's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Doyle duly obliges.
Doyle throws a half hearted mid kick.
Doyle thumps McGregor with a low kick.
McGregor takes a head kick and keeps coming.
McGregor takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
McGregor tries a head kick but it misses.
Doyle tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but McGregor was well out of range. Poor timing from Doyle.
McGregor is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Doyle.
McGregor shoots for a takedown but Doyle saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
PK Doyle seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Doyle misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Doyle fakes the leg kick and cracks McGregor in the body.
PK Doyle is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Doyle misses with a body punch
and McGregor counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
A solid leg kick lands there for Doyle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Doyle misses with a body shot.
PK Doyle seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McGregor takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Doyle looks to score with a jab to the body but McGregor is just out of range.
Doyle throws a nice head kick!
McGregor is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Doyle tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and McGregor is able to avoid easily.
A bone on bone clash there as McGregor blocks the leg kick.
McGregor tries for a takedown but Doyle sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
McGregor throws a leg kick
and Doyle counters with a lovely shot to the body.
McGregor will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Doyle lunges at McGregor with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by McGregor's hand.
McGregor is looking to clinch.
McGregor throws a big shot that misses.
Doyle misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Doyle misses with a wild body shot.
Conor McGregor is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Doyle cracks McGregor with an open hand slap.
Doyle swings and misses with a hook to the body.
McGregor is looking to counter with a shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Doyle cracks McGregor with a good jab.
McGregor's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Doyle connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! McGregor scrambles back to his feet.
Doyle fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches McGregor on the side of the head.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Doyle.
Doyle tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Doyle misses with a two punch combination.
Doyle throws a right hand that misses
and McGregor counters with a stiff right hand.
McGregor staying out of range there.
Doyle scores with a head kick. McGregor tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.

McGregor instigates a clinch.

McGregor manages to break the clinch.
McGregor lands with a straight right. Doyle didn't see that one coming.
Doyle tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but McGregor was well out of range. Poor timing from Doyle.
McGregor seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
McGregor moves away from the strike by Doyle.

McGregor has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Doyle is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
I was talking to McGregor's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
A frustrated look appears on Doyle's face as he tries to break the clinch.
McGregor is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
McGregor tries for a takedown. No joy.
McGregor jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Doyle walks away with a smile on his face. McGregor gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Doyle throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
McGregor on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Doyle throws a nice head kick!
Doyle misses the shot to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

PK Doyle showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

A lazy left from Doyle finds it's target.
Doyle throws a wild body kick that McGregor sees coming a mile off.
McGregor tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Doyle defends well and McGregor ends up having to push Doyle into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
It seemed like Doyle was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Doyle tries a head kick but it misses.
Doyle throws a lazy uppercut
and McGregor counters with a stiff right hand.

McGregor darts in and clinches Doyle up against the cage.

McGregor breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Doyle misses with the body kick
and McGregor counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Doyle is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Nice sprawl there from Doyle as McGregor shoots in.
Doyle just misses with a punch to the body.
McGregor tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Doyle throws a series of punches but McGregor moves out of range.
Doyle pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Doyle displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from McGregor.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Conor McGregor. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

McGregor closes the distance and pushes Doyle back into the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

McGregor escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Doyle lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
McGregor fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
McGregor takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Doyle scores with a jab to the body.
Doyle throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Nice body punch from Doyle.
McGregor stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Doyle.
McGregor blocks a head kick by Doyle.
Doyle dodges the punch combination from McGregor.
Doyle jabs McGregor to the body, keeping him at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McGregor doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Doyle pulls out of a head kick attempt.
McGregor moves out of range of the strikes.
Doyle throws a quick head kick that skims the top of McGregor's head.
Doyle misses with a low kick.
Doyle throws out a powerful jab.
Sloppy strikes from Doyle. Those never looked like landing.

McGregor clinches with his opponent.

McGregor has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Doyle uses from the top position.
McGregor trying to keep a closed guard but Doyle is proving a slippery customer.
McGregor looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Doyle gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McGregor has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Doyle.
McGregor chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Doyle can pounce on him.
Nice uppercut lands for Doyle. That snapped McGregor's head back.
Doyle misses with a kick to the body.
Doyle tries a head kick but it misses.
It looked like McGregor was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Doyle.
Doyle throws a lazy uppercut
and McGregor makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Doyle tries to land a front kick but McGregor steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
PK Doyle is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Doyle scores with a sloppy right hand. McGregor should have avoided that one.
McGregor misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Crunch! Doyle slams his shin into McGregor's torso.
Doyle punishes McGregor's body with a nice straight punch.
Doyle slaps away a takedown attempt from McGregor, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Doyle let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
McGregor has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Doyle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Doyle lands a head kick!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Doyle listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Doyle lands with a cross.
Doyle swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and McGregor counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Doyle lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
McGregor avoids the head kick by Doyle.
McGregor shoots in for a takedown but Doyle shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Doyle lands a two punch combo.
McGregor tries to clinch up but Doyle circles away and keeps his distance.
Doyle jabs at McGregor's body.
McGregor takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Conor McGregor has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Doyle lands with a thumping leg kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
PK Doyle comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Doyle winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... PK Doyle!
In his post fight interview, PK Doyle gave a big smile as he said 'I'm young, hungry and damn pretty, feed me anyone Mr. Ashbourne.'.
In defeat, Conor McGregor stepped up to the mic, saying 'He was the better fighter tonight, congrats'.