PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Earnest Hebert (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Conor McGregor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). McGregor has chosen El Chapo as his entrance music. 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.

Hebert
vs
McGregor

171 cm
23
177 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

178 cm
25
173 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Intelligent

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 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Earnest Hebert!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Conor McGregor!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, John Kavanagh and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hebert closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming McGregor to the mat! McGregor manages to get full guard.
McGregor looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!

McGregor looking for a guillotine here but Hebert defends easily.
Hebert landing some decent shots from guard.

Hebert drops back looking for a leg! McGregor is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and McGregor manages to kick Hebert off! Hebert jumps back into McGregor's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McGregor has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hebert throws an elbow that misses. McGregor uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Hebert's guard. Nice move by McGregor!

Hebert working for a triangle but McGregor defends it easily.
Hebert looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Hebert is looking for a triangle but McGregor pushes his legs off easily.
McGregor lands a couple of elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McGregor tries to free his leg and advance position but Hebert is retaining full guard.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
McGregor gets to his feet - Hebert follows without any prompting.
Hebert throws a nice outside leg kick.

Hebert gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Hebert working for a triangle but McGregor defends it easily.
McGregor lands a couple of elbows.

Hebert looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Hebert could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Hebert looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hebert has momentary wrist control but McGregor slips an elbow through the middle.

Hebert looking for a guillotine here but McGregor defends easily.
McGregor looking to sit in guard and control but Hebert gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Hebert keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of McGregor's head.
McGregor utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
McGregor trying to keep a closed guard but Hebert is proving a slippery customer.
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.
Hebert prevents McGregor from getting back to his feet.
Hebert connects with a couple of short punches.
McGregor 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.
Hebert loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hebert content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hebert accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
McGregor looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hebert is one step ahead there.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Earnest Hebert will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

McGregor avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Hebert throws a leg kick which misses McGregor's front leg but catches the back leg as McGregor tries to avoid it.

McGregor gets a double leg takedown into Hebert's guard.

Hebert 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.
Hebert thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

Hebert throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Hebert 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.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hebert has an active guard here but McGregor has managed to pass into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hebert strikes from the bottom but McGregor uses the opportunity to move to side control.
McGregor in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
McGregor cracks Hebert with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Hebert knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for McGregor on the ground.
McGregor landing a few strikes.
Hebert tries to strike but it doesn't land.
Hebert is trying to control McGregor's posture but McGregor avoids it.
McGregor is looking to take a break and control but Hebert is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hebert tries to improve position but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes there by McGregor.
Hebert is trying to control McGregor's posture but McGregor avoids it.
McGregor in side control lands a decent elbow.
Hebert tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but McGregor wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Hebert striking from the bottom but nothing landed.
Hebert on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Hebert is trying to control McGregor's posture but McGregor avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

McGregor tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Hebert throwing some weak shots from the bottom that do no damage.
Hebert is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on McGregor's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Hebert makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Hebert.
McGregor throwing strikes from guard but Hebert blocks nicely.
McGregor stopping the sweep attempt from Hebert.

That's four 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.
Hebert working a defensive guard here.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Hebert keeping moving, preventing McGregor from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Hebert gets a clinch.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Hebert takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Hebert is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but McGregor is defending well.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hebert taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

McGregor wants the takedown. Hebert is fighting it off but McGregor persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Hebert's guard against the cage.

Hebert pushes McGregor off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
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.
That's time! 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.

Hebert is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Hebert shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says McGregor as he avoids it easily.
McGregor stuffs the takedown.
Hebert dives in for a single leg takedown but McGregor sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Earnest Hebert. That's going to take a lot out of him.

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

Hebert is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but McGregor pulls his head out easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McGregor landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
McGregor wants to free his trapped foot but Hebert is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

McGregor is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hebert is not content to let McGregor control the position.
Hebert trying to hold on to McGregor's head to control him but McGregor postures up.
McGregor tries to stand but can't do so whilst Hebert controls his leg.

Hebert looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
McGregor wants to pass to mount but Hebert is defending the position.

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.
McGregor thows a huge punch but Hebert dodges it nicely.

Hebert looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Hebert actively working from the bottom here.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Hebert on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Hebert controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Hebert works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hebert throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
McGregor working some strikes from top position.
Hebert is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Conor McGregor seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McGregor misses with a jab, cross combination.
Hebert fires out a quick counter leg kick but McGregor just manages to avoid it.
McGregor throws a push kick but Hebert slaps the foot to one side.
McGregor has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

McGregor darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Still in half guard, McGregor seems content to control.
Hebert taking some punishment here, with McGregor in his half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McGregor not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
McGregor trying to control the action but Hebert is working from the bottom.
Hebert wants to control but McGregor is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Hebert tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Hebert slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Hebert looking to control.
McGregor is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
McGregor has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
McGregor landing some decent shots from guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Conor McGregor comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 Jonathan Paton scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 28:29
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Conor McGregor!
A less than humble Conor McGregor misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.