PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Norbert Grupe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Connor McGuinness (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Grupe comes to the cage accompanied by Organized Konfusion - Bring It On (Buckwild Remix) . The crowd seem to be enjoying McGuinness's choice of entrance music: Foggy Dew / Hypnotize Remix . Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Grupe
vs
McGuinness

186 cm
38
178 lbs
20 - 16 - 0

183 cm
24
185 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

AnonymouS

GREEN!160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Norbert Grupe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Connor McGuinness!
The judges for this bout are , Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

McGuinness shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Grupe manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Grupe avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Grupe keeping moving, preventing McGuinness from controlling successfully.
Grupe tries to land a sweep but no joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Grupe controlling McGuinness's posture.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
McGuinness throws a big right hand that misses.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McGuinness wants to clinch but Grupe slips to the side
and Grupe counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Grupe swings for the body but McGuinness moves out of range.
Grupe avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that McGuinness has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
McGuinness fails with an attempt to clinch.
Grupe's jab looks to have found its range, popping McGuinness under the eye.

It looks like Connor McGuinness has been cut.
McGuinness tries to clinch up.
Grupe swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Connor McGuinness seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

McGuinness gets a double leg takedown into Grupe's guard.
Grupe pulls McGuinness in close to prevent any damage.
Grupe keeping moving, preventing McGuinness from controlling successfully.
McGuinness is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McGuinness stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Grupe swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Grupe is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Grupe wants to stand and escape but McGuinness is having none of it.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
McGuinness tries to clinch up.

McGuinness gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Grupe blocks a body shot from McGuinness.
McGuinness fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

McGuinness lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.

McGuinness is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Grupe is looking for a sweep. McGuinness is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

McGuinness seems to be trying to get a kimura but instead Grupe has recovered full guard.
Grupe keeping moving, preventing McGuinness from controlling successfully.
Grupe controlling McGuinness's posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grupe working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from McGuinness.
Grupe trying to control the position.

Grupe has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. McGuinness has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
McGuinness lands with a light punch inside.
Grupe throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but McGuinness blocks it with crossed arms.
Grupe throws an elbow but it's blocked.

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

McGuinness is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Grupe is aware though and is defending well.

Grupe got a little sloppy there for a moment and McGuinness has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Grupe has managed to get both his arms back between McGuinness's legs - danger averted.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Connor McGuinness dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Connor McGuinness's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Grupe gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows McGuinness to score an easy takedown into full guard.
McGuinness scoring with some ground and pound.

Grupe is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Grupe lands a body shot in the clinch.
Grupe lands with a light punch inside.

Grupe manages to break the clinch.

McGuinness clinches up against the cage.
Grupe tries to land knees in the clinch but McGuinness avoids the damage to the body.

Grupe manages to break the clinch.

McGuinness changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Grupe looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Grupe is not content to let McGuinness control the position.
Grupe tries to escape but McGuinness is in control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McGuinness trying to control the position but Grupe is working away.
Grupe is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

McGuinness is working for a kimura but Grupe is defending it quite comfortably.
Grupe is trying to stand up here but McGuinness is controlling him well.
McGuinness tries to pass to full mount but Grupe defends it.
Grupe works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's two 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.
McGuinness trying to control the position from guard on top but Grupe is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Grupe wants to get back to his feet but McGuinness is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Grupe utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Grupe has his hands on McGuinness's head, controlling the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
McGuinness doesn't manage to clinch there - Grupe circles away.
Grupe throws a big counter combination but McGuinness scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
McGuinness tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Grupe counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

McGuinness gets a clinch.
Grupe goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
McGuinness cracks Grupe with a nice body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grupe with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

McGuinness has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Grupe clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Grupe rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Grupe tries to kick McGuinness off but McGuinness keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
McGuinness wants to lay and pray for a moment but Grupe keeps working.
McGuinness throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Grupe wants to get back to his feet.

McGuinness is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Grupe is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

McGuinness is working for a submission of some sort.

McGuinness seems to be working for a kimura but Grupe defends the submission attempt.

Grupe has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but McGuinness is on him like a limpet, forcing Grupe back against the cage.
McGuinness is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Grupe prevents a body shot from McGuinness.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Connor McGuinness will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Connor McGuinness's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

McGuinness fails in his attempt to clinch.
Grupe drops down looking for a counter takedown but McGuinness sprawls and moves away.
McGuinness fails with an attempt to clinch.
Grupe swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Grupe misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from McGuinness.
Grupe scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

McGuinness closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
McGuinness trying to control from Grupe's half guard. Grupe has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
McGuinness won't allow Grupe to get back to his feet.
McGuinness wants to pass the guard but Grupe is keeping the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Grupe has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
McGuinness trying to control but Grupe is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grupe throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
McGuinness pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Grupe is keeping the position for now.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Grupe kicks McGuinness off and gets to his feet.
McGuinness takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

McGuinness gets a double leg takedown into Grupe's guard.
McGuinness takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Grupe bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in McGuinness's guard.

Grupe is looking to stand up but McGuinness won't let him.
Grupe has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Grupe postures up in McGuinness's guard and throws a big left but McGuinness blocks it.
McGuinness trying to keep a closed guard but Grupe is proving a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McGuinness is trying to control the position but Grupe postures up.
Connor McGuinness has got the better of the ground game so far.

Grupe gets to his feet. McGuinness looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Grupe lands a right hook to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
McGuinness wants to clinch.

McGuinness gets a takedown into half guard.
Grupe is controlling McGuinness's position as best he can from this difficult position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grupe trying to control here.
Grupe is pressing down on McGuinness's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Grupe avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Grupe keeping moving, preventing McGuinness from controlling successfully.
McGuinness in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Grupe wants to sweep here but McGuinness controlling him for the moment.
Grupe keeping full guard, as McGuinness tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Grupe manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. McGuinness manages to get himself to full guard.

Norbert Grupe has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Grupe wants to stand but McGuinness is controlling his posture from full guard.

McGuinness had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Grupe defends it easily.

McGuinness looking for a guillotine here but Grupe defends easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Grupe tries to stand but McGuinness is controlling from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Norbert Grupe showed his dominance in that final round.
I think McGuinness has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Connor McGuinness!
A less than humble Connor McGuinness misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.
In defeat, Norbert Grupe stepped up to the mic, saying 'sorry fans, sorry boss, sorry organisation but i will retire now!'.