PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Steve Vega (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jon McGruder (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). McGruder is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Jesus is a Friend of Mine. 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.

Vega
vs
McGruder

178 cm
27
169 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

186 cm
20
161 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

Decent wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Steve Vega!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jon McGruder!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Bruno Hogan and Damien Edna.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vega checks a low kick from McGruder.
McGruder ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
McGruder connects with a looping right hand.
Vega tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but McGruder was well out of range. Poor timing from Vega.
McGruder lands with a shot to the body.
Vega blocks the body kick.
McGruder uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Vega.
Vega throws a push kick but McGruder slaps the foot to one side.
A jab from McGruder does it's job there.
Vega misses the body punch
and McGruder counters with a thumping low kick.
Some bone on bone action there as McGruder checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McGruder throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Vega stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Vega misses with a wild body shot.
Jon McGruder seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Vega swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Vega on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by McGruder. McGruder obviously looking to wear him down.
Vega swings and misses with a shot to the body
and McGruder counters with a lovely straight right hand!
McGruder avoids the body shot from Vega.
McGruder has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Vega is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Vega misses with a wild body shot.
Vega takes a swing at McGruder's ribcage but misses.
McGruder lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lazy left from McGruder finds it's target.
Vega misses with a body punch
and McGruder connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
McGruder lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Vega has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from McGruder.
McGruder connects with a solid leg kick.
Vega misses with a body shot.
Nice cross by McGruder.
McGruder throws a front kick that sends Vega stumbling back into the cage.
McGruder has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vega shoots for a takedown but McGruder saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
An inside leg kick lands from McGruder.
Vega misses with a series of wild punches.
McGruder avoids a punch combination nicely.
McGruder keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Vega throws a sloppy body shot
and McGruder makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
A nice inside leg kick there by McGruder. That's going to slow Vega down.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McGruder misses with a low kick.
Vega tries a low kick but McGruder avoids it.
McGruder throws a wild body kick that Vega sees coming a mile off.
Vega lands a nice looking body shot.
Jon McGruder is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
McGruder ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
McGruder connects with a looping right hand.
A looping hook to the body misses from Vega. McGruder does a little dance to reset his feet.
Vega is looking to wear down McGruder with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Vega jabs at McGruder's body.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
McGruder scores with a one two! Vega had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jon McGruder dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Vega looks to score with a jab to the body but McGruder is just out of range.
McGruder scores with the left hand. Vega knows he should have avoided that one.
Vega just misses with a punch to the body.
McGruder finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Vega swings for the body but McGruder moves out of range.
Vega takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
McGruder feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Vegas jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
McGruder looks to score with a jab to the body but Vega is just out of range.
Vega throws a solid leg kick but McGruder takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Vega.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McGruder lands a leg kick that knocks Vega off balance momentarily.
Vega throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
McGruder is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Vega tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Jon McGruder seems to be getting the better of the standup.
McGruder pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Vega throws a lazy right hand but McGruder sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Vega swings for the body but McGruder moves out of range.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Vega checks a leg kick.
Vega takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
McGruder scores with a kick to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vega misses with a telegraphed body shot
and McGruder counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Vega thinking.
McGruder throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Vega misses the shot to the body.
Vega dives in for a single leg takedown but McGruder sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
McGruder works on Vega's body with a couple of short punches.
McGruder pressing his opponent against the cage.
Vega goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
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!
McGruder goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A short right from McGruder on the inside.
Nice body punch from McGruder.
A short right hand to the side of the head by McGruder.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McGruder lands a right hand that snaps the head of Vega backwards.
Vega is looking to control McGruder's arms but McGruder gets an underhook and turns him. Now Vega has his back to the cage.
A short right from McGruder on the inside.
McGruder content to slow the pace in the clinch.

McGruder breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Vega misses with a double jab
enabling McGruder to counter with a crisp jab.
McGruder attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Vega takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Vega looks to score with a jab to the body but McGruder is just out of range.
McGruder looks to land a body kick but Vega moved away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vega is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
McGruder connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Vega with a body punch. A glancing blow.
A shot to the body from Vega misses
and McGruder counters with a head kick.
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!
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by McGruder.
Vega will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Vega takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.

Vega is rocked!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
McGruder paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Oh Vega is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
McGruder lands a leg kick that knocks Vega off balance momentarily.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Vega crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from McGruder - the referee stops the clock and Vega gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says McGruder. Vega manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jon McGruder showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

McGruder throws a body kick that misses.
Vega seems to have got his legs back now.
McGruder throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Vega takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
McGruder throws a leg kick which misses Vega's front leg but catches the back leg as Vega tries to avoid it.
McGruder looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
McGruder darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
McGruder lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Vega lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as McGruder backs up against the cage.
A nice leg kick lands there from McGruder.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McGruder scores with a jab to the head.
Vega throws a nice looking combination but McGruder bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Vega takes a swing at McGruder's ribcage but misses.
McGruder walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
McGruder lands a glancing blow to the side of Vega's head.
Vega looks to score with a jab to the body but McGruder is just out of range.
Vega fakes high and swings low for a body shot but McGruder manages to avoid it.
McGruder throws a low kick but Vega moves out of range easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vega works over McGruder's head and body with a nice combination.
Vega takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Vega on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Vega tries to land a leg kick but McGruder saw it coming and moves away.
McGruder leaves Vega with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
McGruder cracks the inside of Vega's front leg.
McGruder scores with a nice body kick.
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!
A nice leg kick lands there from McGruder.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McGruder lands a nice shot to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
McGruder thuds a left hand into Vega's body.
Vega misses with a body shot.
McGruder stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
McGruder goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Vega misses with a body shot.
McGruder lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
McGruder has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
McGruder keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vega misses with a shot to the body
and McGruder counters with an outside leg kick.
McGruder lands with a nice body kick.
Vega looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
McGruder connects with the punch.
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!
Vega takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Vega sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Vega misses with the combination.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A decent looking body kick lands there for McGruder.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jon McGruder really dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Vega tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
McGruder throws a sloppy head kick and Vega moves out of range easily.
Vega missing with a left hand there. McGruder was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Decent striking displayed by McGruder there.
Vega throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
McGruder scores with the left hand. Vega knows he should have avoided that one.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from McGruder, right into the meat.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from McGruder.
Vega fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Vega is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vega misses with a hook. McGruder ducked under it nicely.
McGruder throws a leg kick which misses Vega's front leg but catches the back leg as Vega tries to avoid it.
Vega tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but McGruder was well out of range. Poor timing from Vega.
Ohhhhh! A huge head kick from McGruder! Vega is out on his feet! McGruder rushes in and throws more strikes. The ref is looking closely - Vega is covering up but the punishment is just too much and the ref steps in to stop the fight! Vega is staring into space, just thankful that the beatdown has ended. Brutal finish.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:40 of round 4, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Jon McGruder!
Jon McGruder is the new lightweight champion!
A victorious Jon McGruder thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.