PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Connor McGregor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hifives Ghost (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Connor McGregor has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

McGregor
vs
Ghost

185 cm
24
157 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

168 cm
23
155 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
Very strong

Good wrestler
Good kicks
Good gas tank

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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Connor McGregor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hifives Ghost!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, John Roberts and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McGregor throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
McGregor looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Horrible takedown attempt by Ghost or perhaps it was just good defense by McGregor, which made it look bad.
Ghost has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Hifives Ghost seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Ghost crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from McGregor - the referee stops the clock and Ghost gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says McGregor. Ghost manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
McGregor misses with a wild combination.
McGregor tries a head kick but it misses.
McGregor tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
McGregor lands a jab to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McGregor ducks under a wild hook from Ghost.
McGregor throws a sloppy head kick and Ghost moves out of range easily.

Ghost closes the distance and clinches.
Ghost misses with the head strike.
Ghost blocks a body shot from McGregor.
McGregor misses with a knee strike.
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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ghost keeps control of McGregor as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
McGregor swings wildly with an uppercut but Ghost uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ghost tries a body shot but McGregor blocks it.
Ghost misses with some punches.
McGregor lands a left hand.
A quick uppercut on the inside from McGregor.
McGregor prevents a body shot from Ghost.
Ghost goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
McGregor lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
A head punch on the inside from Ghost fails to land.
McGregor blocks a body shot from Ghost.
Ghost blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Ghost tries to work over McGregor's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
McGregor scores with a nice hook to the head.
McGregor blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McGregor is trying to break the clinch but Ghost has him pressed against the cage.
McGregor is trying to break the clinch but Ghost has him pressed against the cage.
McGregor trying to land knees to the body.
McGregor scores with an uppercut up the middle.
McGregor is trying to force a seperation but Ghost has the dominant position.
McGregor unloads a knee to the mid-section. Ghost lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

McGregor pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
McGregor closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
McGregor throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Ghost throws a shot to the body.
McGregor throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
McGregor throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
McGregor lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
McGregor uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Ghost.
McGregor misses with a few strikes there.
Ghost tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Ghost looks to score with a jab to the body but McGregor is just out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McGregor tries a head kick but it misses.
McGregor lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
McGregor tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
McGregor misses with a head kick.
Ghost appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Connor McGregor is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ghost listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Ghost looks to score with a jab to the body but McGregor is just out of range.
Ghost swings and misses with a hook to the body.
McGregor scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
McGregor takes one to the chin there.
McGregor looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
A looping hook to the body misses from Ghost. McGregor does a little dance to reset his feet.
McGregor throws a quick counter head kick but Ghost was just out of range.
Ghost throws a leg kick which misses McGregor's front leg but catches the back leg as McGregor tries to avoid it.
Ghost tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but McGregor swivels and escapes.
Ghost smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
McGregor throws a sloppy head kick and Ghost moves out of range easily.
Ghost is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down McGregor rather than just go for the knockout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ghost is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
McGregor plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
McGregor misses with a kick to the body.
McGregor cracks Ghost with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Ghost misses with a wild body shot.
McGregor keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Ghost.
Ghost lands with a nice body punch.
Ghost dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
McGregor takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Ghost misses the body punch
and McGregor counters with a nice uppercut.
Ghost throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Ghost misses with a kick to the body.
Ghost blocks a head kick by McGregor.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Ghost blocks a head kick by McGregor.
A head kick from McGregor lands but Ghost takes it in his stride.
It looks like McGregor has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Ghost throws a hook but McGregor blocks it.
McGregor ducks under a wild hook from Ghost.
Ghost takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Ghost swings and misses with a shot to the body
and McGregor counters with a one-two to the body.
Ghost fails with an attempt to clinch.
McGregor is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Ghost moves in looking to clinch but McGregor pushes him off.
A thudding body kick lands there by McGregor!
Ghost throws a predictable looking body shot
and McGregor counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Ghost is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Ghost walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. McGregor checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Ghost throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
McGregor throws a head kick that half lands.

Ghost is rocked!
This has been an exciting period of action!
McGregor takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Ghost is still on wobbly legs! Can McGregor finish him?
McGregor is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
McGregor avoids the body shot from Ghost.
Ghost seems to have recovered his senses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McGregor slips under a jab.
Ghost misses with a body shot.
Ghost swinging wildly here.
Ghost misses with a hook
and McGregor cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
McGregor avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Connor McGregor is winning the standup battle so far.
Ghost is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by McGregor.
Ghost takes one on the chin but seems OK.

Ghost instigates a clinch.

McGregor escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ghost takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Ghost tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but McGregor paws at him with a jab and circles away.
McGregor fires out a quick counter leg kick but Ghost just manages to avoid it.
Ghost lands a really nice looking cross but McGregor seems unphased.
McGregor is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ghost can do to turn this around?
McGregor misses with a few strikes there.
McGregor takes a jab right on the kisser.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ghost misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from McGregor.
McGregor throws a head kick that half lands.
McGregor avoids the body shot from Ghost.
McGregor connects with a crisp jab.
Ghost throws out a loose jab but McGregor uses good head movement to avoid it.
No joy there for McGregor, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Ghost moves out of range as McGregor throws a body kick.
Ghost throws a body kick that misses.
A big right from Ghost misses.
Ghost tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but McGregor was well out of range. Poor timing from Ghost.
Ghost thows a left - swing and a miss!
McGregor misses the jab.
McGregor walks into a jab.
Ghost lands a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Ghost gets a takedown into half guard.

McGregor is rocked!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Ghost is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
McGregor is not content to let Ghost control the position.
Ghost prevents McGregor from standing back up.
Ghost throwing shots but McGregor is blocking nicely.
McGregor wants to get back to his feet.
McGregor trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ghost content to control rather than advance.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Ghost missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McGregor avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Ghost.
Ghost is controlling the pace.
Ghost missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
McGregor keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Ghost has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Ghost prevents McGregor from standing back up.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Connor McGregor will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

McGregor misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Ghost throws a leg kick but McGregor moved away.
Ghost throws a leg kick that misses.
Ghost throws a hook but McGregor blocks it.
A jab from Ghost misses.
McGregor bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Ghost's head.
Ghost takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Ghost takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

Ghost feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

McGregor pushes Ghost off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
This has been an exciting period of action!
McGregor pulls out of a head kick attempt.
McGregor looks to land a combination but Ghost avoids it well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ghost takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
A jab from Ghost finds it's way through McGregor's defenses.
McGregor tries to land a front kick but Ghost steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ghost tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and McGregor is able to avoid easily.
Ghost avoids a kick to the body.
Ghost tries to clinch
and McGregor counters with a body kick that stops Ghost in his tracks momentarily.
McGregor clobbers Ghost with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
McGregor lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Ghost throws a poor cross that misses
and McGregor cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Ghost throws a right hand that McGregor ducks under and follows up with a left that McGregor also avoids with ease.
McGregor avoids the body shot from Ghost.
Ghost closes this distance looking for a takedown but McGregor circles away.
Ghost scores with a head kick.
Oh McGregor is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

Ghost gets a takedown into half guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Ghost thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Well, if Ghost is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
McGregor avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Ghost.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McGregor keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Ghost is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and McGregor defends it well.
McGregor looks like he's trying to stand up.
Ghost thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
McGregor seems to have got his legs back now.
Ghost thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
McGregor has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Ghost is working away from the top position though.
Ghost is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McGregor is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
McGregor won't allow Ghost to pass to mount.
Nice strikes from Ghost there.
Ghost thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Connor McGregor is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
McGregor is not content to let Ghost control the position.
Ghost performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
A swing and a miss from McGregor.
Ghost ducks down and throws a hook to the body but McGregor moves away.
A nice leg kick lands there from McGregor.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ghost misses with a wild body shot.
A head kick misses from McGregor.
Ghost throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Connor McGregor is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
McGregor looks to land a combination. Ghost sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Ghost throws a hook but McGregor blocks it.
McGregor throws a counter high kick but Ghost was just alert enough to avoid it.
Ghost fakes high and swings low for a body shot but McGregor manages to avoid it.
McGregor swinging wildly here.
Ghost looks to land a right hand but McGregor moved out of range.
McGregor misses with a body shot.
Ghost throws a sloppy head kick
and McGregor counters with a big head kick but Ghost shrugs it off.
McGregor lands the left hand.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ghost ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Ghost is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Hifives Ghost has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
McGregor falls off balance throwing a combination

and Ghost counters with a shoot takedown. McGregor fights it but they end up in guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Connor McGregor showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for McGregor, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Kavanagh scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 30:27
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Connor McGregor!