PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Conor McGregor (ranked 24621 p4p, 6970 weight class) and Alicia Salvacion (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). McGregor comes to the cage accompanied by Notorious. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Alicia Salvacion was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

McGregor
vs
Salvacion

175 cm
23
155
0 - 5 - 0

165 cm
18
143
1 - 6 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Big right hand

BJJ Blue Belt
Good elbows
Solid chin

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 0 - 5 - 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 1 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Alicia Salvacion!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, George Francis and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

McGregor closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - McGregor lands in his opponent's guard.
Salvacion preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
McGregor stands up over Salvacion, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
McGregor is looking to work some ground and pound but Salvacion has wrist control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Salvacion is looking to sweep but instead, McGregor has passed into half guard.
McGregor throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
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.
McGregor with the ground and pound but Salvacion uses the opportunity to regain guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McGregor throwing strikes from guard but Salvacion blocks nicely.
McGregor throwing strikes from guard but Salvacion blocks nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salvacion looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
McGregor wants to stand but Salvacion has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Salvacion pulls McGregor in close to prevent any damage.
McGregor wants to stand and escape but instead Salvacion has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

McGregor looking for a guillotine here but Salvacion defends easily.
Salvacion must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
McGregor tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salvacion trying to control the position from guard on top but McGregor is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
McGregor is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

McGregor looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Salvacion has picked McGregor up and slammed him! McGregor can't keep hold of the triangle and Salvacion manages to pass to side control!
McGregor is trying to control Salvacion's posture but Salvacion avoids it.
McGregor tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salvacion working the head and body with strikes.
The ground and pound from Salvacion seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Sloppy strikes there by Salvacion.
An elbow from Salvacion crashes against the mat.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
McGregor can't do much from the bottom here.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Salvacion tries to close the distance and clinch but McGregor swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
McGregor scores with a jab to the jaw.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

McGregor moves into range and clinches up with Salvacion.
Salvacion blocks a punch to the side of the head.
McGregor wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Salvacion decides to pull guard.
McGregor throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Salvacion works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Salvacion seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Let's hope that Salvacion has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
McGregor is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Salvacion looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Salvacion can do anything to dispel that myth.
McGregor trying to control the position from guard on top but Salvacion is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Conor McGregor dominated that round.
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.

McGregor is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Salvacion tries a quick counter leg kick but McGregor is wise to it.
McGregor works the jab nicely.
Salvacion tries to score a power double leg takedown but McGregor sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Salvacion somewhat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from McGregor is defended easily by Salvacion.
McGregor lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McGregor shoots in looking for a takedown but Salvacion manages to keep the fight standing, pushing McGregor's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Salvacion was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.

McGregor moves into range and clinches up with Salvacion.
McGregor is trying to break the clinch but Salvacion is controlling him.

McGregor breaks from the clinch.
McGregor will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Conor McGregor. That's going to take a lot out of him.
McGregor bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Salvacion's head backwards.

Salvacion dives in and scores a takedown into McGregor's guard.

McGregor has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Salvacion off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McGregor tries to clinch up.
This has been an exciting period of action!
McGregor has a takedown stuffed.
Salvacion keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Salvacion shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says McGregor as he avoids it easily.
McGregor is looking to clinch but Salvacion is avoiding it.
McGregor tries to clinch up but Salvacion circles away and keeps his distance.
Salvacion appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.

McGregor gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
McGregor lands with a short head shot on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McGregor is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Salvacion to keep the fight standing.
McGregor wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Salvacion has him pressed against the cage.
Salvacion is trying to pull guard but McGregor turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
McGregor is trying to force a seperation but Salvacion has the dominant position.
McGregor fails to pull the fight into his guard.

McGregor breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
McGregor wants to clinch
and Salvacion counters with a leg kick.
McGregor fails in his attempt to clinch.
McGregor darts in looking for a takedown but Salvacion gets double underhooks and turns McGregor into the cage.
Salvacion follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Salvacion shoots in but McGregor avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Salvacion closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into McGregor's guard.
Salvacion is stalling in the full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

McGregor is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
McGregor working a defensive guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Conor McGregor dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

McGregor gets in close and instigates a clinch.
McGregor tries for a takedown. No joy.
McGregor misses with a hook to the ribs.
Salvacion has McGregor pressed against the cage, preventing McGregor from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
McGregor misses with a shot to the kidneys.

McGregor breaks the clinch.
McGregor looks for a takedown but Salvacion sprawls well.
McGregor sets himself, and Salvacion steps forward looking for the clinch! McGregor avoids it this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McGregor misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Salvacion only half commits to the counter leg kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Conor McGregor. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McGregor tries to clinch up but Salvacion circles away and keeps his distance.
Salvacion appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

McGregor gets a clinch.
Salvacion blocking some punches.
McGregor tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Salvacion just stands there and leans against the cage.
Salvacion fails to pull the fight into his guard.
McGregor swings away with an uppercut that misses.
McGregor wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Salvacion has him pressed against the cage.
Salvacion tries to pull guard but McGregor won't allow it.
Salvacion is trying to pull guard but McGregor turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Salvacion prevents McGregor from breaking the clinch.
McGregor wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salvacion keeps control of McGregor as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

McGregor breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

McGregor clinches.
McGregor working some nice short punches in the clinch.

McGregor escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Salvacion avoids the body shot from McGregor.
McGregor tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Salvacion manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

McGregor shoots in and gets a takedown into Salvacion's guard.
Salvacion wants to sweep but no luck.
Salvacion is pulling down on McGregor's head to control his posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McGregor postures up.
McGregor throws a big elbow that misses.
Salvacion looking to control.
We've been hearing that McGregor has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
McGregor wants to control from the top but Salvacion keeps moving.
Salvacion has control of McGregor's left arm, preventing McGregor from doing any damage.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
McGregor shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Salvacion as he jumps to the side.
Salvacion let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Salvacion slaps away a takedown attempt from McGregor, before circling back to the center of the mat.
McGregor backing away here, and Salvacion unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Salvacion shoots in looking for a takedown but McGregor manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Salvacion's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
McGregor shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Salvacion sprawls well. Salvacion wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. McGregor gets slowly back to his feet.
Alicia Salvacion has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Salvacion takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Conor McGregor showed his dominance in that final round.
Well McGregor has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27
Judge George Francis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Conor McGregor!
After winning the bout, Conor McGregor thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.