PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Conor McGregor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Larry Cucumber (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cucumber has chosen https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhRXn2NRiWI as his entrance music. 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
Cucumber

175 cm
22
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

150 cm
22
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Intelligent

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Conor McGregor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Larry Cucumber!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Igor Prikhodko and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cucumber closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming McGregor to the mat! McGregor manages to get full guard.
McGregor is looking to stand back up but Cucumber counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by McGregor.

Cucumber is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
McGregor desperately trying to maintain half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Cucumber is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McGregor wants to stand back up but Cucumber manages to pass into side control.
Cucumber controlling the position from side mount.
Cucumber wants to stand but McGregor is controlling his arm.
McGregor is looking for a sweep.
You can see the frustration on McGregor's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McGregor pushes Cucumber away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Cucumber gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
McGregor is trying to improve his position.
Cucumber in side control lands a decent elbow.
Cucumber content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Cucumber wants to stand but McGregor is controlling his arm.
McGregor is not content to let Cucumber control the position.

Cucumber thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McGregor can't do much from the bottom here.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
McGregor works Cucumber's body with a nice hook.

Cucumber throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. McGregor was covering up waiting for the punch and Cucumber finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Cucumber seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
McGregor will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cucumber distracts McGregor with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Cucumber controls from within his opponent's guard.
Cucumber passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
McGregor tries to bench press Cucumber off him but Cucumber keeps the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Larry Cucumber dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

McGregor throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Cucumber tries to counter by closing the distance.

Cucumber forces McGregor back against the cage and clinches.
McGregor tries to pull guard but Cucumber forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Cucumber is struggling to control the position.
Cucumber stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
McGregor is pushing Cucumber up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cucumber avoids the elbow strike from McGregor, against the cage.

McGregor manages to break the clinch.
Conor McGregor is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Cucumber closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Cucumber lands in his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cucumber wants to pass the guard but McGregor is keeping the position.
McGregor is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
McGregor 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 is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Cucumber controlling from the top position.
McGregor is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

McGregor had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Cucumber defends it easily.
Cucumber working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Cucumber sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed McGregor's guard.
Cucumber has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Cucumber tries to stand but can't do so whilst McGregor controls his leg.
Cucumber perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
The fighters circling - Cucumber throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Cucumber looking to score a takedown here. McGregor is defending well but Cucumber drives through and ends up in McGregor's guard.
Cucumber is standing up over McGregor. McGregor looks to escape but Cucumber dives into side control.

Cucumber landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
McGregor is looking to get back to his feet here but Cucumber is keeping cool and he's managed to take McGregor's back.

Cucumber is persistently looking for the submission but McGregor is defending it well.
Larry Cucumber has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McGregor trying to control the hands but Cucumber won't let him.
Cucumber should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
What can McGregor do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Cucumber tightening his grip on McGregor, looking for the choke.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Larry Cucumber showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

McGregor tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Cucumber looks like he wants to counter punch here.

Cucumber bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

McGregor throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
A jab lands there for McGregor.
McGregor slips a jab and a cross from Cucumber.
Cucumber throws a shot from downtown. McGregor moves away and avoids it.

Cucumber gets the takedown into side control.
McGregor wants to get back to his feet but Cucumber is dominant here and he's now got McGregor's back!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Cucumber looking for the choke but no joy.
McGregor looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cucumber slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
McGregor covers up after that shot from Cucumber.

McGregor is rocked!
McGregor just trying to survive but Cucumber is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
McGregor is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

McGregor preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Cucumber.
Cucumber lands shots from the back.
Will Cucumber go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?

McGregor showing good submission defense here.
McGregor tries to break free.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cucumber is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. McGregor knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften McGregor for a finish.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Cucumber controlling the positon.
McGregor trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
I really don't envy McGregor right now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
What can McGregor do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!

Cucumber is looking for the choke from the back position but McGregor is controlling his hands well.

McGregor fending off the submission attempt from Cucumber.
McGregor wants to escape the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cucumber loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can McGregor hold on?
Conor McGregor has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Larry Cucumber is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
McGregor is trying to break free.

And that's the end of the fight!
Larry Cucumber comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Cucumber winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight for Larry Cucumber!
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight for Larry Cucumber!
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight for Larry Cucumber!

Larry Cucumber wins by unanimous decision!