PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Edwardo Welch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Conor McGregor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Welch
vs
McGregor

222 cm
24
140 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

180 cm
23
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Edwardo Welch!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Conor McGregor!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Hirohito Nitta and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

McGregor throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Welch was covering up waiting for the punch and McGregor finishes the takedown easily into guard.
McGregor must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
McGregor wants to control from the top but Welch keeps moving.

McGregor postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Welch is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of McGregor, into his guard.

McGregor controls Welch momentarily but Welch frees himself.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Welch wants to stand but McGregor is controlling his posture from full guard.

McGregor looking for a guillotine here but Welch defends easily.
McGregor trying to keep a closed guard but Welch is proving a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Welch wants to control from the top but McGregor keeps moving.
Welch throwing strikes from guard but McGregor blocks nicely.
Welch pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. McGregor is keeping the position for now.
Welch trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Welch connects with a couple of short punches.
Welch scoring with punches to the head and body.
Welch postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McGregor trying to control the position.
Welch trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Welch stands up from guard. Let's bang!

McGregor forces Welch back against the cage and clinches.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
McGregor wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

McGregor lands a takedown into guard.

Welch looking for a guillotine here but McGregor defends easily.
Welch wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McGregor is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Welch really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

McGregor drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Welch dives on top into guard.

McGregor wants to sweep but no luck.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Welch working some strikes from top position.
Welch landing with the ground and pound.
Welch works over McGregor with some ground and pound from guard.
Welch throws a big right hand that misses.
McGregor controls Welch momentarily but Welch frees himself.
Welch connects with a couple of short punches.
Welch throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
McGregor controls Welch momentarily but Welch frees himself.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
McGregor has his hands on Welch's head, controlling the position.
Welch will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Welch lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Edwardo Welch dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Welch throws a chopping leg kick but McGregor manages to avoid taking any serious damage.

McGregor closes the distance and clinches.
McGregor prevents Welch from breaking the clinch.

Welch breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

McGregor gets a takedown into half guard.

McGregor is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Welch is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute McGregor jumps into side control!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Welch struggling a bit here.

McGregor is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Welch knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Welch is looking for a sweep.
McGregor working away.
Welch misses with a strike from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Welch avoids any damage from the ground and pound of McGregor.
McGregor grinds an elbow into Welch's temple.
Welch is trying to improve his position.
McGregor working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Welch tries to improve position but can't.
McGregor working away.
Welch sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Welch slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Welch has his foot on McGregor's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. McGregor works his way back into a safe position though.

Welch has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but McGregor can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Welch has his foot on McGregor's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. McGregor works his way back into a safe position though.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
McGregor trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
McGregor with a flurry of punches that miss.
McGregor throws a strike but Welch rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Welch makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

McGregor escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Welch gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
McGregor controls Welch momentarily but Welch frees himself.
Welch postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Welch wants to stand but McGregor is controlling his posture from full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
McGregor has momentary wrist control but Welch slips an elbow through the middle.
Welch throws an elbow that misses. McGregor uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Welch's guard. Nice move by McGregor!

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Conor McGregor showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

McGregor closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Welch did well to prevent McGregor getting side control.
McGregor wants to stand but Welch has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. McGregor lands a nice short elbow.

Welch is rocked!

McGregor is trying to work for a kimura but Welch is defending well.
McGregor slows the pace down in half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Welch looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Welch is looking to control McGregor's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Welch avoid being mounted?
Welch makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Welch.
McGregor trying to control the position from guard on top but Welch is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Welch throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
McGregor works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Welch is not content to let McGregor control the position.
Welch is looking to improve his position.
Welch is trying to control but can't.
McGregor wants to take a breather but Welch is having none of it.
McGregor is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Welch has a hand on McGregor's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. McGregor takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
McGregor has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

McGregor is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Welch has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Welch!
McGregor utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Welch landing some decent shots from guard.
McGregor trying to keep a closed guard but Welch is proving a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Welch distracts McGregor with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Welch chips away with some ground and pound.
Welch landing some decent shots from guard.
Conor McGregor has got the better of the ground game so far.
Welch throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Welch wants to pass the guard but McGregor is keeping the position.
Welch is in close to McGregor's body, working some short punches and elbows.

McGregor has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Welch can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
McGregor pulls Welch in close to prevent any damage.
McGregor takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Welch working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of McGregor's head.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Conor McGregor.
I think McGregor 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 Taro Takaoka scores the fight 28:29
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Conor McGregor!