PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ali Basra (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike McGuire (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). McGuire comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Johnny Cash sings The Battle Hymn Of The Republic kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Basra
vs
McGuire

180 cm
23
168 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

180 cm
24
167 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Good low kicks
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 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ali Basra!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mike McGuire!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Basra fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but McGuire is out of range.
McGuire thows a left - swing and a miss!
Some wild striking there from Basra.
McGuire misses with the combination.
Basra finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
McGuire moves into range and connects with a jab.
McGuire wants to clinch but Basra slips to the side
and Basra counters with an inside leg kick.
McGuire circles away from the clinch attempt.
Mike McGuire seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Basra takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Nice body punch from Basra.
McGuire looks for the body kick but Basra saw that one coming.
Basra looks to score with a jab to the body but McGuire is just out of range.
McGuire throws a hook but Basra avoids it easily.
McGuire looks to land a left hand but Basra moved out of range nicely.
McGuire has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Basra.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as McGuire checks a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big left from McGuire misses.
McGuire takes a swing at Basra's ribcage but misses.
McGuire throws a nice looking combination but Basra bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
McGuire shoots in for a double leg but Basra sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
A low kick from Basra misses
and McGuire counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Basra thinking.
McGuire with a hook.
McGuire swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
McGuire avoids the head kick by Basra.
Basra moves forwards but McGuire connects with a nice, crisp jab.
McGuire throws a body kick that misses.
McGuire wants to clinch up but Basra keeps it at a distance.
Basra thows a body shot but no joy.
A head kick misses from Basra.
Basra takes a swing at McGuire's ribcage but misses.
McGuire scores with a hook.
Basra swings for the body but McGuire moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Basra throws a big shot that misses.
Basra lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Basra misses with a body kick.
McGuire takes a jab right on the kisser.
McGuire with a nice cross.
A slapping body kick lands there for McGuire.
McGuire moves in looking to clinch but Basra pushes him off.
McGuire wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Basra bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

McGuire gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

McGuire manages to break the clinch.
An inside leg kick from McGuire misses.
Basra tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and McGuire is able to avoid easily.
McGuire looks to land a combination. Basra sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
McGuire throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Basra throws a leg kick that misses.
McGuire motions for Basra to come forward. McGuire throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Basra is looking to wear down McGuire with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Basra takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
McGuire tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Basra paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A looping hook to the body misses from Basra. McGuire does a little dance to reset his feet.
Good exchange - McGuire coming out on top.
Basra moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Basra looks to land a body kick but McGuire moved away.
Basra swings and misses with a hook to the body.
McGuire loads up on a big right hand but Basra slips the punch.
Basra scoring well with a low kick there.
McGuire bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Basra's head backwards.
Basra fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Basra throws a leg kick but McGuire sees it coming and moves out of range.
McGuire's jab looks to have found its range, popping Basra under the eye.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

McGuire gets in close and instigates a clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Basra lands a right hand.
Basra is trying to break the clinch but McGuire has him pressed against the cage.
Basra's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Basra misses with a punch on the inside.
Basra has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
McGuire working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Basra misses with a hook to the ribs.
Basra throws a blind hook that connects with the side of McGuires head.
McGuire doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Basra stops a takedown attempt from McGuire.
McGuire scores with a nice hook to the head.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Basra tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Basra.
McGuire keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Basra's efforts to push away.
Basra misses with some punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike McGuire dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Basra tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and McGuire is able to avoid easily.
McGuire thows a body shot but no joy.
Basra thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on McGuire if he has to take too many more of those.
McGuire tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Basra tries to land a front kick but McGuire steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
McGuire misses with a lunging right hand
and Basra counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
McGuire jabs at Basra's body.
Basra fails with an attempt to clinch.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Basra, right into the meat.
Basra does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
McGuire throws a low kick but Basra moves out of range easily.

McGuire gets tackled into the cage by Basra. Basra maintains the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by McGuire as Basra tries to tie him up.
Basra tried to land a shot to the body but connects with McGuire's elbow.
A nice left hand lands by McGuire.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Basra working some nice short punches in the clinch.
McGuire misses with a shot to the kidneys.
McGuire lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Basra prevents a body shot from McGuire.
McGuire stalling in the clinch but Basra improves position.
Basra misses with a punch on the inside.
McGuire struggles to land a body shot inside as Basra controls his hands.
Basra swings wildly with an uppercut but McGuire uses good head movement to avoid it.
McGuire stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
McGuire misses with some punches.
McGuire throws a punch but it's blocked by Basra.
Basra goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
McGuire tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Basra lands with a short punch from the clinch.
McGuire displaying some good clinch control by pressing Basra up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McGuire doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Basra has a couple of punches blocked by McGuire.
Basra can't break the clinch.

The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Basra's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Basra scores with a kick to the body.
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 avoids the head kick by Basra.
Basra looks to land a body kick but McGuire moved away.
McGuire throws the left hand but Basra avoids the punch easily.
A shot to the body from McGuire misses
and Basra counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Basra throws a leg kick but McGuire checks it.
Basra wants to slow McGuire down by chopping away at his legs.
Basra connects with a leg kick. McGuire looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Basra throws a low kick but McGuire moves out of range easily.
Basra misses with a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McGuire missing with a left hand there. Basra was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
McGuire thows a body shot but no joy.
Basra misses with a low kick.
McGuire goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
McGuire just misses with a punch to the body.
McGuire throws a leg kick that misses.
Basra tries to clinch there but McGuire circles away.
Ali Basra is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

McGuire gets a clinch.
McGuire controlling the action here for a moment.
Mike McGuire seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Basra can't find room to land a body shot as McGuire controls the action.
McGuire scores with a nice hook to the head.
A short uppercut from Basra.
Basra stalling in the clinch but McGuire improves position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Basra tries a body shot but McGuire blocks it.

Basra breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
McGuire fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Basra manages to avoid it.
Basra misses the shot to the body.
McGuire shoots for a takedown but Basra saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
McGuire takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
McGuire fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Basra manages to avoid it.
Basra slips under a jab.
McGuire has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Basra finds it's way round the side to connect with McGuire's head.
Basra circles away from the clinch attempt.
Basra throws a head kick but McGuire moves out of range.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
McGuire tries to close the distance and clinch up but Basra swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Basra just misses with a punch to the body.
Basra avoids the body shot from McGuire.
Good exchange - McGuire coming out on top.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Ali Basra will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Basra connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
A solid leg kick lands there for McGuire.
Basra moves out of range as McGuire throws a body kick.
McGuire scores with a punch to the head.
McGuire throws a jab when Basra was well out of range.
McGuire throws a shot to the body.
Basra throws a predictable looking body shot
and McGuire connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
McGuire throws a big shot that misses.

Basra rushes McGuire and presses him up against the cage.
Basra can't break the clinch.
McGuire works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Stalling in the clinch from Basra.
Basra is trying to push McGuire away but McGuire has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Basra struggles to land a body shot inside as McGuire controls his hands.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Basra escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McGuire ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Basra moves away.
Basra slips under a jab from McGuire.
The fight stays on the outside here - McGuire looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nice cross by McGuire.
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.
A low kick from McGuire is predictable there
and Basra counters with a nice body shot.
The fight stays on the outside here - Basra looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Basra throws a low kick, looking for McGuire's leg but McGuire calmly moves out of range.
McGuire works over Basra's head and body with a nice combination.
Basra gets cracked with a nice right hand there by McGuire.

Basra is rocked!
Basra looks for the body kick but McGuire saw that one coming.
McGuire throws a lazy right hand but Basra sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Mike McGuire seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Basra thuds a left hand into McGuire's body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McGuire waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Basra.
McGuire misses with a double jab
and Basra counters with a nice leg kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Basra scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Basra swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Basra clinches up with McGuire and pushes him back against the cage.
McGuire misses with a punch to the body.
Basra wants to stall.
Basra swings wildly with an uppercut but McGuire uses good head movement to avoid it.
McGuire presses Basra against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
McGuire tries to score a body lock takedown but Basra shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, McGuire creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Basra looking to slow down the pace here.
A right hand to the body from McGuire.
Basra lands a shoulder strike.
McGuire misses with a body punch.
McGuire is leaning against Basra and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
McGuire tries to score a body lock takedown but Basra shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
McGuire softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
McGuire keeps control of Basra as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
A head punch on the inside from McGuire fails to land.
McGuire prevents a body shot from Basra.
Basra goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
McGuire throws a punch but it's blocked by Basra.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by McGuire as Basra tries to tie him up.
McGuire struggles to land a body shot inside as Basra controls his hands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, McGuire creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
McGuire tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Basra's elbow.
Basra struggles to land a body shot inside as McGuire controls his hands.
McGuire tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Basra throws a blind hook that connects with the side of McGuires head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Basra.
A short left from McGuire.
Basra misses with a body punch.
McGuire wants to stall.
A nice right hand lands inside from McGuire.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Basra misses with the head strike.
McGuire is looking to take this one to the mat.
Ali Basra has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mike McGuire.
Basra is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
McGuire tries to throw a body punch but Basra avoids it by throwing McGuire back against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mike McGuire comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well McGuire has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mike McGuire!
A relieved looking Mike McGuire thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.