PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Phillip McGee (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Preston Driver (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Driver has chosen Candy Paint as his entrance music. Preston Driver is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

McGee
vs
Driver

165 cm
22
141 lbs
12 - 5 - 1

180 cm
28
157 lbs
16 - 10 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Purple 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 12 - 5 - 1, fighting out of London, Phillip McGee!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Preston Driver!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Arvi Lind and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McGee slips under a jab.
McGee takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
McGee throws a low kick but it's checked well by Driver.
McGee slips under a jab.
McGee misses with a looping right.
McGee looking to land some kicks to the body here.
A slow jab from McGee misses its intended target.
McGee misses the jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McGee fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Driver checks it well.
Driver throws an uppercut from half a mile away. McGee sees it coming and avoids it easily.
McGee throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Driver sees it coming and avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Driver misses with a hook.

McGee closes the distance and clinches.
McGee blocks a punch to the side of the head.
McGee scores with a nice hook to the head.
McGee blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Driver changes levels and goes for a takedown here. McGee fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Driver misses with a looping right.
McGee lands a body shot.
Driver takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Phillip McGee seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McGee fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Driver loads up on a big right hand but McGee slips the punch.
A telegraphed right hand from Driver misses the target.
McGee lands with a straight right. Driver didn't see that one coming.
Driver throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

McGee shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Driver napping and manages to drive through into side control!
McGee working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
An elbow from McGee crashes against the mat.
Driver pushes McGee away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, McGee gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
McGee working away.
Driver manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McGee is nestled in close to Driver, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
McGee is trying to control the action in half guard but Driver is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
McGee sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Driver defending well though.
Driver tries to kick McGee off but McGee keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
McGee is looking to stall here but Driver recovers full guard.
McGee throwing strikes from guard but Driver blocks nicely.
Driver preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

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.
McGee trying to control the position from guard on top but Driver is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Driver looking to control.
McGee trying to control the position from guard on top but Driver is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

We're going to have a standup here because Phillip McGee wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
A big left from Driver misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Phillip McGee 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.

Driver throws a shot from downtown. McGee moves away and avoids it.
Nice defenses there by McGee.
Driver thows a left - swing and a miss!
Driver steps to the side to avoid the strikes from McGee.
Driver loads up on a big right hand but McGee slips the punch.
McGee tests Driver's chin there with a solid looking shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McGee getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Driver throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McGee throws the left hand but Driver avoids the punch easily.
Driver misses with a hook. McGee ducked under it nicely.
McGee avoids the body shot from Driver.
McGee throws a solid leg kick but Driver takes the impact on his shin and smiles at McGee.
McGee throws an overhand right that lands on Driver's shoulder, as Driver tries to avoid the shot.
Driver steps to the side to avoid the strikes from McGee.
Driver 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.
Driver takes a swing at McGee's ribcage but misses.
McGee throws the left hand but Driver avoids the punch easily.
A telegraphed right hand from Driver misses the target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
McGee lands a nice shot to the body.

McGee shoots in and bounces Driver off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Driver is looking to stand up but McGee isn't so interested in that idea.
McGee trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Driver looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Driver pushes McGee off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
McGee slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Driver misses with a hook.
Driver throws a jab when McGee was well out of range.
Preston Driver is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
McGee lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
McGee keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Driver.
Driver throws an uppercut from half a mile away. McGee sees it coming and avoids it easily.
McGee scores with a jab. Driver acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
McGee digs a good hook to Driver's body.
Driver keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
McGee bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Driver throws an uppercut from half a mile away. McGee sees it coming and avoids it easily.
McGee uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Driver.
McGee misses with an uppercut.
McGee misses the body punch
and Driver connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Driver blocks a jab.
Driver bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of McGee's head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
McGee misses with an uppercut. Driver saw that one coming.
Driver throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Phillip McGee dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Driver looks to land a right hand but McGee moved out of range.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Driver, as that shot connected.
Driver looks to throw the jab but McGee is out of range.
McGee throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Driver on the side of the head.
McGee bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
McGee punishes Driver's body with a nice straight punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McGee swings for the body but Driver moves out of range.
McGee lands with a kick to the ribs.
McGee throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Driver sees it coming and avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Driver scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. McGee doesn't seem bothered though.
McGee cracks a nice hook into Driver's ribs.
Driver throws a body punch but McGee moves out of range.
McGee uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Driver.
Driver waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract McGee.
McGee ducks under a wild hook from Driver.
McGee takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Driver buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Driver takes one on the chin but keeps coming.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McGee uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Driver.
McGee slips a jab from Driver.
A solid leg kick lands there for McGee.
Driver lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Driver looks to land a right hand but McGee moved out of range.
Driver uses good head movement to avoid the hook from McGee.
Driver throws a looping overhand right but McGee ducks down to avoid it.
McGee throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Driver misses with a looping right.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McGee misses with a body punch
and Driver counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Preston Driver has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Driver looks to land a right hand but McGee moved out of range.
Driver takes one to the chin there.
McGee dips to his left and cracks Driver with an uppercut!
Driver throws a hook but McGee avoids it easily.
Driver takes a jab right on the kisser.
A swing and a miss from Driver.
Driver takes one on the chin but seems OK.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big right from McGee misses.
Driver throws out a powerful jab.
A swing and a miss from Driver.
McGee misses with a body kick.
McGee ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Driver looks to land a right hand but McGee moved out of range.
Driver misses with the body kick

and McGee counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Driver gets full guard.

Driver is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and McGee defends well.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Preston Driver.
I think McGee has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:28
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Phillip McGee!