PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Gregor McConor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paul Irvin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Paul Irvin was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

McConor
vs
Irvin

180 cm
25
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

184 cm
19
165 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Inexperienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Gregor McConor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Paul Irvin!
The judges for this bout are Topper Green, Damien Edna and Ben Hemmingworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Irvin shoots and misses
and McConor counters with a three punch combo that has Irvin backing up. Irvin nods at McConor to acknowledge the strikes.
McConor misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A slapping body kick lands there for McConor.
McConor jabs at Irvin's body.
McConor fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Irvin has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

McConor clinches with his opponent.

McConor gets control of Irvin's arms and successfully pulls guard. McConor will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
McConor working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Irvin.
McConor is looking to stand up but Irvin isn't so interested in that idea.
McConor pulls Irvin in close to prevent any damage.
McConor 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.
Irvin wants to pass the guard but McConor is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

McConor is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Irvin is aware though and is defending well.
McConor pulls Irvin in close to his closed guard and prevents Irvin from doing any damage or advancing position.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
McConor throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
McConor paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Irvin shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says McConor as he avoids it easily.
Irvin looks winded!
McConor misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Paul Irvin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Irvin shoots for a takedown but McConor saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Gregor McConor has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paul Irvin.

McConor instigates a clinch.
McConor connects with a nasty looking knee right to Irvin's face.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Irvin drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

McConor pulls guard effortlessly.

McConor throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

McConor working for submissions but it's allowed Irvin to get to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McConor manages to get to full guard.
Irvin passes into half guard.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Irvin is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and McConor defends it well.

Irvin is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

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.
McConor makes his way to full guard. A much better position for McConor.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McConor is adopting a defensive guard.
McConor's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Irvin prevents McConor from getting back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

McConor is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Irvin presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gregor McConor dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Nice sprawl there from McConor as Irvin shoots in.

McConor closes the distance and clinches.

McConor gets a trip takedown into half guard.
McConor knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Irvin on the ground.
McConor has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
McConor controlling from the full mount.
Irvin can't escape the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McConor tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Irvin looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
Irvin is in bad spot here.
Irvin is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

McConor working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Irvin is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Even with his hooks in, McConor manages to miss with strikes from the back.
Irvin rolls, trying to escape but McConor keeps control of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
Irvin is trying to stand back up.
Gregor McConor overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
McConor trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Irvin doesn't escape.

McConor is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
McConor is riding his opponent, not letting Irvin buck him off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

McConor looking for the choke from the back.
Irvin manages to reverse the position and now he's in McConor's guard. Nice work there by Irvin.
Irvin trying to control but McConor is working from the bottom.
McConor is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Irvin has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. McConor is working away from the top position though.
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.
Still in half guard, McConor seems content to control.
Irvin is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute McConor jumps into side control!
The ground and pound from McConor seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Irvin tries to get back to half guard but can't.
McConor just content to control the position.
Irvin is trying to improve his position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gregor McConor dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

McConor throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

McConor moves into range and clinches up with Irvin.
McConor landing knees to the head.

McConor is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Irvin can't fight it off and eventually McConor manages to take the fight to the floor. Irvin looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Irvin keeping full guard, as McConor tries to pass.
McConor throwing strikes but missing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McConor throws an elbow that misses. Irvin uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in McConor's guard. Nice move by Irvin!

McConor striking off his back but it's not causing Irvin any problems.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McConor controlling the position.
Irvin working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
McConor is trying to keep Irvin in close.

McConor has his feet on Irvin's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

McConor forces Irvin back against the cage and clinches.
McConor is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Irvin takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

McConor manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Irvin won't allow McConor to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McConor is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Irvin postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
McConor trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
McConor has his hands on Irvin's head, controlling the position.

Irvin stands up and waves to McConor to follow him.

McConor shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. McConor showed some decent athleticism there.
Irvin moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Irvin keeping full guard, as McConor tries to pass.
Irvin manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. McConor manages to get himself to full guard.

Irvin stopping the sweep attempt from McConor.

Irvin is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! McConor is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! McConor has escaped and now he's on top!

Irvin is looking for a triangle but McConor pushes his legs off easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McConor postures up in Irvin's guard and throws a big left but Irvin blocks it.
McConor stays in close to Irvin's body and controls the position.
Irvin wants to sweep here but McConor controlling him for the moment.

Irvin working for a triangle but McConor defends it easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Irvin throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gregor McConor showed his dominance in that final round.
Well McConor has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Topper Green scores the fight 30:27
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ben Hemmingworth scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gregor McConor!