PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ralph McGuire (ranked 752 p4p, 632 weight class) and Ko Van Den Born (ranked 108 p4p, 93 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think McGuire might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Confederate Railroad - Daddy Never Was The Cadillac Kind. 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.

McGuire
vs
Van Den Born

190 cm
23
206
7 - 2 - 0

190 cm
23
205
5 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Brooklyn Apothecary
Conviction

Urban Fighter
UnderGround Clothing Co.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ralph McGuire!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ko Van Den Born!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, Jorge Garcia and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McGuire throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Van Den Born fails to land with a series of punches.
McGuire takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
McGuire takes a swing at Van Den Born's ribcage but misses.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Van Den Born! But no joy.
McGuire throws a leg kick that is checked
and Van Den Born connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
McGuire has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Rivers Edge Gym in the buildup to the fight.
McGuire ducks under a wild hook from Van Den Born.
Van Den Born scores with a push kick.
McGuire cracks Van Den Born with a good jab.
McGuire scores with a nice right hand.

It looks like Ko Van Den Born has been cut.
McGuire throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A little jabbing left from Van Den Born on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
McGuire throws a low kick but Van Den Born avoids it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A kick lands to the mid section there for McGuire.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McGuire tries a head kick but it misses.
Despite the aggression on Van Den Born's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Van Den Born looks to land a right hand but McGuire moved out of range.
Nice shot by McGuire.
We've been informed that Van Den Born has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
McGuire lands a high kick!
Van Den Born throws a body shot but no joy.
McGuire throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Van Den Born scores with a decent looking hook.
Van Den Born waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract McGuire.
McGuire throws a body kick, spinning off balance
enabling Van Den Born to counter with a crisp jab.
Van Den Born fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
McGuire tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Van Den Born uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by McGuire.
McGuire tries to land a leg kick but Van Den Born saw it coming and moves away.
Van Den Born looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Van Den Born misses the jab.
Van Den Born has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Van Den Born throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
McGuire tries to work over Van Den Born's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
McGuire misses with the head strike.
Van Den Born misses with some punches.
Van Den Born tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
McGuire tries a body shot but Van Den Born blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by McGuire.
A nice left hand lands by McGuire.
Van Den Born lands a body punch in the clinch.
McGuire lands a shoulder strike.
McGuire blocks an uppercut.
Van Den Born scores with an uppercut up the middle.
A head punch on the inside from Van Den Born fails to land.
Van Den Born misses with some punches.
Van Den Born lands a body shot in the clinch.
Van Den Born lands with a short shot to the head.
Van Den Born misses with a hook from the clinch.
McGuire lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Van Den Born backwards.
McGuire misses with a punch on the inside.
McGuire lands with a left to the head.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Van Den Born creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
McGuire working aggressively here.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Van Den Born.
McGuire blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
McGuire tries to break free but Van Den Born pushes him back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McGuire throws a head punch that misses.
McGuire is trying to stall.
McGuire misses with a short punch on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Van Den Born.
McGuire lands on the inside with an uppercut.
McGuire pushes Van Den Born back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Van Den Born throws a punch but it's blocked by McGuire.
Van Den Born tried to land a shot to the body but connects with McGuire's elbow.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Van Den Born creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

McGuire breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Van Den Born slips a jab from McGuire.
Van Den Born ducks down and throws a hook to the body but McGuire moves away.
Van Den Born slips under a jab.
McGuire on the wrong end of a nice hook.
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 Ralph McGuire will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Ko Van Den Born's cut.
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.

McGuire avoids the head kick by Van Den Born.
McGuire swings widly with a right hand
and Van Den Born counters with a nice uppercut.
Van Den Born scores with a head kick. McGuire tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
The fighters circle momentarily. Van Den Born darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
McGuire scores with a jab. Van Den Born acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
McGuire lands with a kick to the ribs.
A low kick lands for McGuire.
McGuire tries to land a leg kick but Van Den Born saw it coming and moves away.
Van Den Born takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
McGuire connects with a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Den Born misses with a body shot
and McGuire counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That has opened up Ko Van Den Born's cut even more.
Van Den Born checks a leg kick.
Van Den Born throws out a counter right but McGuire avoids it with no problem.
A jab from McGuire finds it's way through Van Den Born's defenses.
McGuire rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Van Den Born moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A little jabbing left from Van Den Born on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Van Den Born takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Van Den Born pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
McGuire scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Van Den Born throws a body shot but no joy.
McGuire chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Van Den Born walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McGuire misses with a straight left.
A countering left hand to the body from Van Den Born misses.
McGuire with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Van Den Born has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from McGuire.
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!
McGuire throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Van Den Born throws a series of punches but McGuire avoids them all with ease.
McGuire throws a body punch but Van Den Born moves out of range.
Van Den Born swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
McGuire's corner calls for a 1-2. McGuire obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Van Den Born drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

The cut above Ko Van Den Born's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
An inside leg kick lands from McGuire.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McGuire wants to land a leg kick but Van Den Born is out of range.
McGuire swats away the attempt to clinch by Van Den Born.
McGuire changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Van Den Born throws a wild body kick that McGuire sees coming a mile off.
McGuire lands with a slapping head kick.
McGuire swings widly with a right hand
and Van Den Born cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
McGuire throws a low kick but it's checked well by Van Den Born.
As McGuire backs off Van Den Born throws a huge counter combo but McGuire manages to avoid it all.
McGuire throws a low kick but Van Den Born avoids it.
Van Den Born now looks to counter with a shot at the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McGuire throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Van Den Born tries to counter with a clinch but McGuire shakes him off and moves away.
McGuire connects with a nice looking jab.

Ko Van Den Born's cut is absolute horrible now. This looks like something out of a horror film with blood covering both fighters.
A slow jab from McGuire misses its intended target.
Van Den Born misses with a straight left.
McGuire throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Van Den Born.
McGuire is looking to slow Van Den Born down with leg kicks.
Van Den Born blocks a head kick by McGuire.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
McGuire throws a body kick that misses.
Ralph McGuire is winning the standup battle so far.
Van Den Born slips a straight right by McGuire.
Van Den Born unleashes a big counter combination but McGuire bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ralph McGuire dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Ko Van Den Born's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

McGuire swings widly with a right hand
and Van Den Born counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
McGuire throws a right hand that misses

and Van Den Born counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Van Den Born.
McGuire misses with a short punch on the inside.
A quick uppercut on the inside from McGuire.
Van Den Born fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Van Den Born fails to land.
Van Den Born is struggling to control the position.
McGuire is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Van Den Born is keeping busy.
Van Den Born lands with a left to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for McGuire.
McGuire doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
McGuire can't find room to land a body shot as Van Den Born controls the action.
Van Den Born working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

McGuire manages to break the clinch.
McGuire misses with a right hand
and Van Den Born counters with a nice uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McGuire doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Van Den Born uses good head movement to avoid the hook from McGuire.
McGuire connects with a looping right hand.
McGuire tries to land a leg kick but Van Den Born saw it coming and moves away.
McGuire misses with a head kick.
McGuire misses with a wild body shot.
Van Den Born appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Van Den Born staying out of range there.
Van Den Born listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Van Den Born throws a leg kick that is checked
and McGuire counters with a thumping low kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Den Born takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Van Den Born misses with a hook.
McGuire fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Van Den Born manages to avoid it.
McGuire misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

McGuire gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
A head punch on the inside from McGuire fails to land.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Good body shot from McGuire.
Van Den Born can't find room to land a body shot as McGuire controls the action.
McGuire is trying to push Van Den Born away but Van Den Born has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
McGuire tries to throw a body punch but Van Den Born avoids it by throwing McGuire back against the cage.
Van Den Born scores with a nice hook to the head.
Van Den Born's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
McGuire lands a body shot.
Van Den Born tried to land a shot to the body but connects with McGuire's elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Den Born fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Van Den Born breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A left lands for McGuire.
McGuire tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Van Den Born was well out of range. Poor timing from McGuire.
Van Den Born looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
McGuire misses with a looping right.
Van Den Born dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on McGuire. That did some damage!
Van Den Born takes a kick to the side of the head.
Van Den Born throws a head kick that McGuire semi-blocks.
Ko Van Den Born has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
McGuire tries to clinch but Van Den Born is having none of it.
A little jabbing left from Van Den Born on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Van Den Born chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before McGuire can pounce on him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A low kick from McGuire is predictable there
letting Van Den Born counter with a right hand.
McGuire swings for the body but Van Den Born moves out of range.
Van Den Born steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
McGuire is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Van Den Born.
McGuire throws a head kick but Van Den Born moves out of range.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
McGuire swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
McGuire doesn't manage to clinch there - Van Den Born circles away.
McGuire buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Van Den Born avoids a kick to the body.
McGuire moves away from the strike by Van Den Born.
McGuire wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Ralph McGuire.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for McGuire, 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 Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 30:27

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