PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Granville Avila (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Conor McGregor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Granville Avila has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Avila
vs
McGregor

199 cm
19
140 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

175 cm
18
143 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Granville Avila!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Conor McGregor!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Topper Green and Francis DeMontford.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

McGregor looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
McGregor won't allow Avila to get back to his feet.
Avila manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. McGregor manages to get himself to full guard.

McGregor is trying to control the position but Avila postures up.
McGregor wants to stand but Avila is controlling the position.
McGregor seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now McGregor is on top in guard.

Avila tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McGregor tries to free his leg and advance position but Avila is retaining full guard.
McGregor stays in close to Avila's body and controls the position.
Avila will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
McGregor's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Avila wants to sweep here but McGregor controlling him for the moment.
McGregor passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Avila is being controlled here.

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.
Let's hope that McGregor has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
You can see the frustration on Avila's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Avila is not content to let McGregor control the position.
Avila is trying to control McGregor's posture but McGregor avoids it.
McGregor misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Avila tries to improve position but can't.
McGregor tries to advance to mount but can't.
McGregor trying to control the position but Avila is working away.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Conor McGregor seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Avila tries a head kick but it misses.
Avila defends well against a solid takedown attempt from McGregor.

Avila takes the fight into the clinch.
McGregor is pushing Avila up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Avila looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McGregor lands a nice elbow.

It looks like Granville Avila has been cut.

McGregor breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Avila throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
McGregor is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.

McGregor rushes Avila and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
McGregor is looking for a takedown.

Avila breaks the clinch.
McGregor fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Avila avoids it really well and circles away.
Granville Avila has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Conor McGregor.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
McGregor changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Avila tries to avoid it but McGregor manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Avila to the ground. Avila escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
And Avila counters with a quick kick to the body but McGregor blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Avila tries to keep at a distance but McGregor has taken the fight into the clinch.
McGregor can't get the takedown.
Avila is trying to break the clinch but McGregor is controlling him.

McGregor manages to break the clinch.
McGregor avoids the head kick by Avila.
McGregor wants to counter the offense by Avila and move into the clinch position.
McGregor tries to clinch there but Avila circles away.
Avila shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts McGregor as he jumps to the side.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McGregor dives in and grabs Avila's left leg, looking for a takedown. Avila pushes down on McGregor's head and hops out.
Avila tries to clinch up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McGregor shoots in for a takedown but Avila shows good takedown defense.
Granville Avila has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Conor McGregor.
McGregor throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Granville Avila is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
McGregor throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Avila.
McGregor misses with a takedown
and Avila counters with a left and a right that stings McGregor.
McGregor is breathing heavily.
Avila throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
McGregor blocks a head kick by Avila.
McGregor with the counter takedown but Avila avoids it easily.
McGregor shoots in for a takedown but Avila shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Avila seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from McGregor is defended easily by Avila.
A counter left hand to the body from Avila misses its target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McGregor closes the distance and clinches up with Avila, looking for a takedown. McGregor pushes Avila against the cage but Avila circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Avila scores with a leg kick.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Avila.
McGregor pulls out of a head kick attempt.
McGregor tries to clinch but Avila is having none of it.
Avila shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts McGregor as he jumps to the side.
McGregor tries for a takedown but Avila sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Avila is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Avila throws a shot to the body.
Avila pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Avila moves into the clinch.
Avila is trying to break the clinch but McGregor has him pressed against the cage.
McGregor jumps guard but Avila turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
McGregor slowing the pace effectively.
Avila tries to circle away but McGregor has him pinned against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McGregor wants to take the fight to the mat but Avila manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Avila manages to break the clinch.
Danga de danga de dang - Avila scores with a four punch combination!
Avila misses with a head kick.
McGregor has his takedown stuffed
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
McGregor avoids the head kick by Avila.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
McGregor shoots for a takedown but Avila saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Avila closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Granville Avila dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Granville Avila's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

McGregor gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Avila counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

McGregor has Avila up against the cage in a clinch.
Stalling in the clinch from McGregor.
McGregor fails to pull guard.

McGregor breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
McGregor tries to clinch
and Avila counters with a good low kick that McGregor was not able to check.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Avila tries to close the distance and clinch but McGregor swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Avila 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 takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Avila leaves McGregor with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Granville Avila has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Conor McGregor.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Avila fakes high and swings low for a body shot but McGregor manages to avoid it.
Avila throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
McGregor throws a head kick but Avila moves out of range.
No luck for McGregor with that takedown attempt.
Avila misses with a wild combination.
McGregor with the counter takedown but Avila avoids it easily.
Avila moves in looking to clinch but McGregor pushes him off.
Avila misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
McGregor tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Avila counters with a series of strikes. McGregor will be more careful next time no doubt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Avila misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Avila tries to clinch up
and McGregor counters with a stiff right hand.
McGregor avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
McGregor tries to score a power double leg takedown but Avila sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten McGregor somewhat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Avila goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Avila tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
McGregor shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Avila defends it nicely.
McGregor throws a body kick that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Avila fails with an attempt to clinch.
McGregor keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Avila tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Avila goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
The fight stays on the outside here - Avila looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Avila fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
McGregor goes for a double leg but Avila avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Avila continues to drive forward.
Avila throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

And that's the end of the fight!
Granville Avila showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Avila has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 John Mangel scores the fight 29:28
Judge Topper Green scores the fight 29:28
Judge Francis DeMontford scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Granville Avila!