PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Mikhail Ligachev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Phillip McGee (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Ligachev
vs
McGee

172 cm
23
151 lbs
13 - 10 - 0

165 cm
23
152 lbs
16 - 6 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Good kicks
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 13 - 10 - 0, fighting out of London, Mikhail Ligachev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 6 - 1, fighting out of London, Phillip McGee!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Tarja Halkonen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ligachev tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Ligachev misses with a body shot
and McGee counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Some bone on bone action there as Ligachev checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Ligachev stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Mikhail Ligachev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ligachev throws a left and a right that both miss
and McGee counters with a low kick, right behind Ligachev 's knee.
McGee lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
McGee goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
McGee lands a nice looking body shot.
Ligachev misses with a body kick.

McGee fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Ligachev sprawls well initially but McGee persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
McGee is nestled in close to Ligachev, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
McGee is figuring out what he wants to do next.
McGee trying to control the action but Ligachev is working from the bottom.
McGee looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ligachev is staying active underneath McGee, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Ligachev desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Ligachev tries to roll over but McGee keeps him under control.

Phillip McGee has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
McGee throws a chopping leg kick but Ligachev manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Ligachev throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Ligachev lands a nice shot to the body.

McGee darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
McGee sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Ligachev defending well though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McGee not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Ligachev is trying is best to control the position here.
Ligachev is not content to let McGee control the position.
Ligachev regains full guard. Nicely done.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McGee being controlled here momentarily.
McGee has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as McGee accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
McGee stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ligachev swivels though and keeps the full guard.
McGee postures up.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
McGee postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Mikhail Ligachev wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Ligachev is looking to clinch.
A low kick from McGee misses
and Ligachev counters with a thumping low kick.
McGee pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A low kick from Ligachev misses

and McGee counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Ligachev's guard now.

McGee has gone for a leg lock! Ligachev slips out almost immediately though and dives into McGee's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
McGee keeping moving, preventing Ligachev from controlling successfully.
McGee is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Ligachev dives into side control.
McGee is trying to buck Ligachev off.
Ligachev trying to control the position but McGee is working away.
McGee wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Phillip McGee dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

McGee thows a leg kick but Ligachev checks it
and Ligachev counters with a big head kick but McGee shrugs it off.
McGee shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Ligachev throws a leg kick
and McGee counters with an inside leg kick.
Ligachev steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from McGee. That one must have hurt.
McGee moves forwards but Ligachev connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Ligachev tries to land a body kick
and Ligachev takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
McGee circles away from the clinch attempt
and McGee counters with a low kick, right behind Ligachev 's knee.
Ligachev slips a straight right by McGee.
Good exchange - McGee coming out on top.
Ligachev checks a low kick from McGee.
Ligachev throws a lazy head kick
and McGee counters with a thumping low kick.
McGee throws an overhand right that lands on Ligachev's shoulder, as Ligachev tries to avoid the shot.
McGee throws out a leg kick but Ligachev moves out of range and McGee only half commits.
McGee misses with a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McGee throws a leg kick
and Ligachev counters with a stiff right hand.
McGee fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Ligachev is out of range.
Ligachev misses with a wild combination.
Ligachev swings for the body but McGee moves out of range.

McGee closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Ligachev is looking to improve his position.
McGee throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Ligachev blocking the ground and pound attempt from McGee.
Nice strikes from McGee there.
McGee tries to pass to full mount but Ligachev defends it.
McGee thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Ligachev's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ligachev wants to get back to full guard but McGee has mounted him!
Ligachev tries to hold on but McGee pushes him away.
Ligachev takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
McGee dominating with strikes here.
McGee tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
McGee dominating with strikes here.
McGee looking to ground and pound but Ligachev is blocking nicely.
McGee sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McGee is in the full mount, landing strikes.
McGee working some short elbows here. He postures up to throw some more ground and pound but Ligachev slips a leg through to get back to half guard. Nice work.
McGee works his foot free and advances to mount.
McGee working away from the top, dropping strikes.

McGee looking to secure an arm triangle but Ligachev defends it well.
McGee controlling from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McGee tries to control but Ligachev wriggling away.
McGee controlling the position easily from mount.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ligachev is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Phillip McGee showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. 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.

Ligachev uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by McGee.
McGee finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.

McGee darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

McGee wants to work for an arm triangle but Ligachev is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

McGee is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Ligachev trying to control here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McGee performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Ligachev is controlling McGee's trapped leg to prevent McGee from advancing to side control.
Ligachev is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
McGee controlling the pace.
McGee takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Mikhail Ligachev has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Ligachev is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
McGee seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Ligachev does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Ligachev trying to control from the bottom.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Ligachev swings widly with a right hand
and McGee finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
McGee's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and McGee duly obliges.
McGee ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ligachev moves away.
Ligachev is looking to land body kicks.
Ligachev leaves McGee with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
McGee moves out of range of the leg kick from Ligachev.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McGee throws a right and a left that both miss.
A telegraphed right hand from Ligachev misses the target.
McGee throws a lazy head kick
and Ligachev counters with a good low kick that McGee was not able to check.
Ligachev connects with an inside leg kick.
McGee lands a jab.
Ligachev throws a leg kick

and McGee counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by McGee.
McGee throwing strikes but missing.
McGee landing with the ground and pound.
McGee chips away with some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McGee's corner is telling him to maintain position.
McGee preventing the sweep.
McGee wants to pass the guard but Ligachev is keeping the position.
Ligachev keeping moving, preventing McGee from controlling successfully.
McGee landing some decent shots from guard.
Ligachev wants to improve his position but instead McGee has moved into half guard.
Ligachev is trying to maintain the position but McGee is very close to passing his half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Phillip McGee comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got McGee 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30

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