PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Bible Basher (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hank McGrath (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Basher
vs
McGrath

180 cm
18
159 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

182 cm
18
158 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Good 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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Bible Basher!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Hank McGrath!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Frank Antenori and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McGrath misses with a takedown attempt - Basher sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
A solid body kick from Basher.

Basher rushes McGrath and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Basher pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
McGrath throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Basher blocks a head kick by McGrath.
McGrath blocks a low kick nicely.
Basher 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.
Basher moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Basher throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by McGrath.
A low kick from Basher is predictable there
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
McGrath fails with the takedown
and Basher makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Basher lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Basher throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from McGrath.
Bible Basher has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hank McGrath.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Basher throws a leg kick but McGrath moved away.
Bible Basher seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from McGrath.
A nice inside leg kick there by Basher. That's going to slow McGrath down.

Basher closes the distance and clinches.

Basher manages to break the clinch.
McGrath misses with a takedown attempt
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Basher throws a low kick, looking for McGrath's leg but McGrath calmly moves out of range.
Basher lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from McGrath.

McGrath gets tackled into the cage by Basher. Basher maintains the clinch.

Basher breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Basher connects with an inside leg kick.
McGrath has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Basher.
McGrath 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.
No joy there for McGrath, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
McGrath looks winded!
Basher lands a leg kick that knocks McGrath off balance momentarily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
McGrath wants to clinch but Basher slips to the side
and Basher makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. McGrath really felt that one!
McGrath takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Basher feints and then cracks McGrath's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow McGrath down.
McGrath's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Good leg kick by Basher there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Basher feints and then cracks McGrath's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow McGrath down.
McGrath is looking to clinch but Basher is avoiding it.
McGrath with a poor takedown
and Basher counters with a body kick.
Basher lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

McGrath dives in and scores a takedown into Basher's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McGrath is fighting to break Basher's control of his arms but Basher is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Basher looking to hit a scissor sweep but McGrath is one step ahead there.
Basher has control of McGrath's left arm, preventing McGrath from doing any damage.
Basher keeping moving, preventing McGrath from controlling successfully.
Basher utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Basher has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

Hank McGrath has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Basher dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on McGrath. That did some damage!
Basher connects with a leg kick. McGrath looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Basher lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
McGrath 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.
A solid leg kick lands there for Basher.
Basher plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
McGrath has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Basher.
Basher turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Basher feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to McGrath's calf.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A slapping leg kick lands for Basher.
McGrath shoots for a takedown but Basher saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
A good leg kick by Basher.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Basher throws a head kick that half lands.
A nice inside leg kick there by Basher. That's going to slow McGrath down.
Basher connects with a leg kick. McGrath looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bible Basher dominated that 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.

Basher fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt McGrath.
McGrath tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Basher defends well and McGrath ends up having to push Basher into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
McGrath is trying to drag Basher to the mat but Basher just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Basher breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
McGrath chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Basher can pounce on him.
Basher thumps McGrath with a low kick.
McGrath has his takedown stuffed
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Bible Basher has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hank McGrath.

Basher clinches.

Basher breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
McGrath misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Basher pulls out of a head kick attempt.
McGrath is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Basher connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
A nice leg kick lands there from Basher.
McGrath walks forward, straight into a front kick from Basher.
McGrath has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Basher.
McGrath has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Basher.
A nice inside leg kick there by Basher. That's going to slow McGrath down.
Bible Basher is winning the standup battle so far.
McGrath takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Basher, right into the meat.
Basher fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and McGrath has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Basher chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Basher cracks the inside of McGrath's front leg.
Basher scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Basher - that will leave a mark!
McGrath throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Basher's waist but Basher gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing McGrath off to one side.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Basher gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

Basher pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Basher feints and then cracks McGrath's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow McGrath down.
McGrath takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Basher throws a nice inside leg kick.

Basher clinches with his opponent.

Basher pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
McGrath fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
McGrath takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
McGrath shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Basher scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Basher thumps McGrath with a low kick.
Basher uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by McGrath.
A slapping leg kick lands for Basher.
Basher thows a body kick. McGrath tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Basher with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
McGrath lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Basher scoring well with a low kick there.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Basher will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning McGrath up against the cage.

Basher breaks the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Basher scoring well with a low kick there.
A good leg kick by Basher.

Basher closes the distance and clinches.

Basher breaks from the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Basher throws a nice outside leg kick.
Basher buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Basher is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that McGrath can do to turn this around?

Basher closes the distance and clinches.
Basher blocks a body shot from McGrath.

Basher breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Basher throws a nice inside leg kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
McGrath darts in trying to clinch
and Basher counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bible Basher dominated that second round.
That's time! Basher's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

McGrath blocks a low kick nicely.
McGrath doesn't manage to clinch there - Basher circles away.
Basher moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

Basher moves into the clinch.

Basher breaks the clinch.
Basher throws a leg kick but McGrath sees it coming and checks it nicely.
McGrath fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
McGrath takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
McGrath tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
McGrath moves out of range of the leg kick from Basher.
McGrath tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Basher misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
McGrath is looking to clinch but Basher is avoiding it.
Basher connects with an inside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Basher swats away the attempt to clinch by McGrath.

Basher pushes McGrath up against the cage in a clinch.
Basher misses with a shot to the kidneys.
McGrath jumps guard but Basher stands there with McGrath around his waist. McGrath gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Basher stalling the fight.
McGrath tries to break the clinch but Basher is controlling the position.
Basher blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
McGrath struggles to land a body shot inside as Basher controls his hands.
Basher displaying some good clinch control by pressing McGrath up against the cage.

Basher breaks the clinch.
Bible Basher is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Basher stuffs the takedown.
Bible Basher has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hank McGrath.
McGrath takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Basher enables McGrath to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Basher manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Basher seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
McGrath postures up.
McGrath is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Basher looking for a sweep. Not yet Basher, not yet.
Basher trying to control the position.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
McGrath misses with the combination.
Basher lands with a nice body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Basher fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and McGrath has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

McGrath gets tackled into the cage by Basher. Basher maintains the clinch.

Basher breaks the clinch.
Basher throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Basher fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
McGrath tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Nice takedown defense from Basher. No joy for McGrath on that attempt.
Basher dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on McGrath. That did some damage!
Basher moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
An inside leg kick lands from Basher.
Basher fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and McGrath has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Basher connects with an inside leg kick.
Basher displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from McGrath.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McGrath on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Basher. Basher obviously looking to wear him down.

Basher has managed to clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Basher breaks from the clinch.
Basher connects with a leg kick. McGrath looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Crunch! Basher slams his shin into McGrath's torso.
A chopping leg kick lands by Basher.
McGrath takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

Basher rushes McGrath and presses him up against the cage.

Basher manages to break the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
McGrath takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Basher lands a nice leg kick that just misses McGrath's sensitive parts.
Hank McGrath has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Basher cracks the inside of McGrath's front leg.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bible Basher showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Basher, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27

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