PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Damon Reigns (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Konor MacKregor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Reigns comes to the cage accompanied by The Truth Reigns. 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.

Reigns
vs
MacKregor

182 cm
24
161 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

175 cm
19
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Brawler
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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Damon Reigns!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Konor MacKregor!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Chris Edwards and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
MacKregor tries for a takedown but Reigns circles away easily

and Reigns counters with a nice double leg into side control. MacKregor won't be happy with that.
Reigns is staying tight to MacKregor's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Reigns wants to lay and pray for a moment but MacKregor keeps working.
Reigns tries to stand but MacKregor controls the position and pulls Reigns into his guard.
Reigns is on the wrong end of a couple of strikes there.
MacKregor has Reigns pulled in close to control his posture.
MacKregor looking for a sweep. Not yet MacKregor, not yet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
MacKregor is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Reigns has hold of MacKregor's hands but MacKregor slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
MacKregor wants to lay and pray for a moment but Reigns keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.
MacKregor thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. MacKregor connects with a nice short shot to Reigns's temple.
Reigns avoiding damage under a succession of punches from MacKregor.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
MacKregor is trying to control. Reigns wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

MacKregor seems to be working for a kimura but Reigns defends the submission attempt.
Reigns is looking to improve his position.
MacKregor misses with a head shot. Reigns uses the momentum to regain guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
MacKregor is looking to work some ground and pound but Reigns has wrist control.
Reigns utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
MacKregor trying to control the position from guard on top but Reigns is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
MacKregor is in close to Reigns's body, working some short punches and elbows.

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

Reigns trying to control but MacKregor is working from the bottom.
MacKregor pulls Reigns in to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
MacKregor's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

MacKregor throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
MacKregor is pulling down on Reigns's head to control his posture.

MacKregor pushes Reigns off and scrambles back to his feet.

MacKregor gets in close and instigates a clinch.

MacKregor successfully pulls guard.
MacKregor has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
MacKregor is pulling down on Reigns's head. It's preventing any offense from Reigns, at least for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reigns stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. MacKregor swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Reigns stopping the sweep attempt from MacKregor.

MacKregor pushes Reigns off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Reigns leaves MacKregor with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
MacKregor rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Reigns moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

MacKregor closes the distance and clinches.

MacKregor has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Reigns clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!

MacKregor is looking for the choke from the back position but Reigns is controlling his hands well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Konor MacKregor dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

MacKregor shoots in for a takedown but Reigns shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Reigns shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. MacKregor defends it nicely.
MacKregor drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Reigns defends it well.

Reigns has closed the distance and engaged MacKregor in a clinch.

MacKregor breaks the clinch.
Reigns throws a body shot but no joy.
MacKregor feints the counter takedown.
Reigns throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Reigns throws a combination but it was largely blocked by MacKregor.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
MacKregor shoots in looking for a takedown but Reigns manages to keep the fight standing, pushing MacKregor's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Reigns misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Reigns stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Reigns wants it to stay on the feet.
Damon Reigns has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Konor MacKregor.
Reigns misses with a two punch combination.
Reigns looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Damon Reigns is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
MacKregor changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Reigns tries to avoid it but MacKregor manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Reigns to the ground. Reigns escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
MacKregor shoots in looking for a takedown. Reigns tries to sprawl out of it but MacKregor keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Reigns manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Horrible takedown attempt by MacKregor or perhaps it was just good defense by Reigns, which made it look bad.
Reigns appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
MacKregor drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Reigns jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as MacKregor walks away with a smile on his face. Reigns gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
MacKregor shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Reigns but Reigns pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Excellent takedown into side control there by MacKregor.
Konor MacKregor has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The strikes coming from MacKregor are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
MacKregor sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Reigns is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
MacKregor works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.

MacKregor is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Reigns has escaped the position, nice work there.
MacKregor wants to control but Reigns is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reigns is trying to get back to half guard.
MacKregor misses with the ground and pound.
MacKregor scoring with punches and elbows.
Reigns is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, MacKregor asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Reigns has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
MacKregor landing a few strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

MacKregor thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
MacKregor creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
MacKregor tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
MacKregor is chipping away with strikes.

MacKregor goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Reigns rolls with the submission and now he's on top in MacKregor's guard! Nice work there by Reigns!
MacKregor is controlling Reigns's posture.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Reigns trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Konor MacKregor will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

MacKregor fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
MacKregor misses the shot to the body.
Reigns tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but MacKregor was well out of range. Poor timing from Reigns.
MacKregor wants to clinch.

MacKregor closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Reigns's guard.
Reigns is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
MacKregor trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
MacKregor wants to control from the top but Reigns keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
MacKregor postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
MacKregor pushing down on Reigns's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

MacKregor is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Reigns is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
MacKregor thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

MacKregor is working for a submission of some sort.
MacKregor is trying to control. Reigns wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
MacKregor throwing shots but Reigns is blocking nicely.
Reigns taking some punishment here, with MacKregor in his half guard.

MacKregor is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Reigns is just riding it out for now. MacKregor eventually gives up the hold.
MacKregor not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

MacKregor is working for a submission of some sort.

MacKregor is working for a kimura but Reigns is defending it quite comfortably.

MacKregor is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Reigns sees it coming and defends easily.
MacKregor is nestled in close to Reigns, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
MacKregor trying to control from half guard but Reigns is working away.

MacKregor seems to be looking for submissions.
MacKregor thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

MacKregor is working for a kimura but Reigns is defending it quite comfortably.
Damon Reigns has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
MacKregor wants to pass to mount but Reigns is defending the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Konor MacKregor comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got MacKregor 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 William Gold scores the fight for Konor MacKregor!
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight for Konor MacKregor!
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight for Konor MacKregor!

Konor MacKregor wins by unanimous decision!