PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Connor McGregor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tanner Wylder (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.

McGregor
vs
Wylder

175 cm
25
151 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
22
153 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Self confident

Good wrestler
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Connor McGregor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Tanner Wylder!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, Summer Carpenter and Ron Honeybunn.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wylder tries for a takedown but McGregor circles away easily
and McGregor counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
McGregor looks to throw the jab but Wylder is out of range.
Wylder tried to score with a low kick but McGregor checks it.
Wylder throws a leg kick but McGregor sees it coming and checks it nicely.
McGregor drops down looking for a counter takedown but Wylder sprawls and moves away.
Horrible takedown attempt by Wylder or perhaps it was just good defense by McGregor, which made it look bad.
McGregor has a takedown stuffed.
Wylder steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from McGregor. That one must have hurt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wylder doesn't manage to clinch there - McGregor circles away.
McGregor scores with a head kick. Wylder tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.

McGregor clinches up against the cage.
Wylder misses with a body punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McGregor is pressed up against the cage. Wylder has hold of a leg and is looking to drag McGregor down to the mat. McGregor avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Connor McGregor has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tanner Wylder.

Wylder drives through with a takedown into McGregor's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

McGregor throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Wylder wants to pass the guard but McGregor is keeping the position.
McGregor is trying to control the position but Wylder postures up.
McGregor on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if McGregor tries to get out of the position.
Wylder looking to pass the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McGregor lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Wylder keeping moving, preventing McGregor from controlling successfully.

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

McGregor trying to control the position.
McGregor keeping moving, preventing Wylder from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McGregor wants to hit a switch here but Wylder passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for McGregor there!
McGregor is looking to get to half guard.
McGregor tries to hold on but Wylder pushes him away.
Wylder controlling from mount.
McGregor tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wylder working McGregor over with strikes here.
Wylder working away from the top, dropping strikes.
McGregor is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
McGregor is working hard here to advance position.
Wylder content just to control the position here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Tanner Wylder will probably get the nod.
That's time! McGregor's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

McGregor has managed to clinch.
McGregor wants a takedown but no success here.
Wylder trying to control the position but instead, McGregor has worked for underhooks and has pushed Wylder into the cage.

McGregor drags the fight down to the ground.
McGregor is looking to sweep but instead, Wylder has passed into half guard.
McGregor trying to hold on to Wylder's head to control him but Wylder postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wylder takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
McGregor is trying to stand back up but Wylder is controlling him
Wylder is thwarting McGregor's attempts to control the position.
Wylder prevents McGregor from improving his position.
Wylder seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
The fight stays on the outside here - McGregor looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Connor McGregor is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's two 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.

Wylder closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
McGregor is trying to improve his position.
Tanner Wylder has got the better of the ground game so far.

Wylder is trying to get an arm triangle but McGregor is defending well.
McGregor is trying to control Wylder's posture but Wylder avoids it.
The ground and pound from Wylder seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McGregor tries to buck Wylder off but Wylder is having none of it.
Wylder connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused McGregor some visible discomfort.
McGregor tries to get back to half guard but can't.
McGregor is trying to control Wylder's posture but Wylder avoids it.
Wylder scoring with punches from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Wylder decides to stand back up.
Horrible takedown attempt by McGregor or perhaps it was just good defense by Wylder, which made it look bad.
McGregor fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Connor McGregor. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Wylder misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Wylder has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Wylder is breathing heavily.
McGregor shoots in and drives through. Wylder sprawls well.
A head kick from McGregor lands but Wylder takes it in his stride.

It looks like Tanner Wylder has been cut.
The fight stays on the outside here - Wylder looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Wylder shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Wylder tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tanner Wylder showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Tanner Wylder's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Wylder gets tackled into the cage by McGregor. McGregor maintains the clinch.
McGregor lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
McGregor looking for a takedown.

McGregor pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Wylder closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. McGregor quickly recovers to half guard.

McGregor pushes Wylder off and gets back to his feet.
Wylder shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with McGregor but McGregor pushes him off and we're back to square one.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Wylder fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but McGregor avoids it really well and circles away.
A counter left hand to the body from McGregor misses its target.
Wylder takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

McGregor closes the distance and clinches.

McGregor breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Wylder closes the distance and clinches up with McGregor, looking for a takedown. Wylder pushes McGregor against the cage but McGregor circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Connor McGregor has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tanner Wylder.
McGregor throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Wylder's waist but Wylder gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing McGregor off to one side.
No luck with that takedown attempt from McGregor.

McGregor clinches up with Wylder and pushes him back against the cage.
McGregor wants to take the fight to the mat but Wylder manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
McGregor stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wylder is pressed up against the cage. McGregor has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Wylder down to the mat. Wylder avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
McGregor fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
McGregor fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Wylder fails to land the takedown.
McGregor keeps the fight on the outside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McGregor fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Wylder avoids it really well and circles away.

McGregor rushes Wylder and presses him up against the cage.

McGregor's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Wylder shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with McGregor but McGregor pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Wylder gets tackled into the cage by McGregor. McGregor maintains the clinch.
McGregor is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wylder is trying to pull guard but McGregor has him pressed against the cage.

McGregor pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Wylder stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Wylder wants it to stay on the feet.
McGregor is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Connor McGregor is winning the standup battle so far.

McGregor takes the fight into the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
McGregor tries for a takedown. No joy.
Connor McGregor has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tanner Wylder is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
McGregor utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Connor McGregor showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Wylder 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 Steve Erwin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ron Honeybunn scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tanner Wylder!