PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Connor McGregor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hongi Hika (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Connor McGregor has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

McGregor
vs
Hika

176 cm
19
145 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

190 cm
24
142 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Powerful

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Connor McGregor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Hongi Hika!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Jeff Smith and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice sprawl there from McGregor as Hika shoots in.
No luck for Hika with that takedown attempt.
McGregor throws a shot to the body.
McGregor scores with a nice head shot.

Hika drives through with a takedown into McGregor's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Hika postures up in McGregor's guard and throws a big left but McGregor blocks it.
McGregor has Hika pulled in close to control his posture.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McGregor preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Hika loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Hika stands up over McGregor, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
McGregor preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
McGregor might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hika with a flurry of punches that miss.
McGregor has control of Hika's left arm, preventing Hika from doing any damage.
McGregor looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Hika postures up.
McGregor on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if McGregor tries to get out of the position.
Hika throwing strikes but missing.
McGregor working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hika.
Hika is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
McGregor working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hika.
McGregor is adopting a defensive guard.
Hika wants to control from the top but McGregor keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
McGregor waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Hika.
McGregor throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
McGregor looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Hika with a lazy takedown attempt
and McGregor cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Connor McGregor has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hongi Hika.

Hika 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.
Hika loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Hika trying to control the position from guard on top but McGregor is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
McGregor preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Hika is working McGregor over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
McGregor keeping moving, preventing Hika from controlling successfully.
Hika working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Hika chips away with some ground and pound.
Hika postures up in McGregor's guard and throws a big left but McGregor blocks it.
Hika trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Hika has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Hika trying to control but McGregor is working from the bottom.
Hika postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hika connects with a couple of short punches.
McGregor preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
McGregor working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hika.
McGregor tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hika cracks McGregor with a solid left hand.
Hika trying to control the position from guard on top but McGregor is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hika landing some decent shots from guard.
Hika lands a couple of elbows.
Hika working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of McGregor's head.
Hika working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
McGregor has momentary wrist control but Hika slips an elbow through the middle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hika content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Hika missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Hika with a flurry of punches that miss.
Hika chips away with some ground and pound.
Hika throws a big right hand that misses.
Hika throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as McGregor works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
McGregor is breathing heavily.
Hika keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of McGregor's head.
Hika stands up over McGregor, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Hika is looking to work some ground and pound but McGregor has wrist control.
Hika landing some decent shots from guard.
McGregor has momentary wrist control but Hika slips an elbow through the middle.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hika postures up and lands a big shot to McGregor's brow.
McGregor throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Hika is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hongi Hika dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Hika closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming McGregor to the mat! McGregor manages to get full guard.
McGregor has momentary wrist control but Hika slips an elbow through the middle.
Hika connects with a couple of short punches.
Hika makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
McGregor pulls Hika in to control the position.
McGregor looking to control.
Hika makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

McGregor is rocked!
Hika postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Oh McGregor is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Hika connects with a couple of short punches.
Hika distracts McGregor with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Hika lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Hika is in close to McGregor's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Hika working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Hika is pushing down on McGregor's leg trying to pass to half guard. McGregor is fighting to maintain full guard but Hika has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hika thows a huge punch but McGregor dodges it nicely.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hika scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Hika lands with a punch from half guard.
Hika seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but McGregor does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Hika lands a nice short elbow.
McGregor keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
McGregor on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
McGregor trying to control here.
Hika takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Hika missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
McGregor seems to have got his legs back now.
Nice strikes from Hika there.
McGregor taking some punishment here, with Hika in his half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hika missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Hika working McGregor over with strikes.
Hika is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Hongi Hika has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hika looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Hika landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Hika lands with a punch from half guard.
McGregor is in trouble now - Hika has advanced to mount!
Hika loads up on a couple of big shots to the head that have McGregor scrambling to escape. He can't get free though and several more unanswered shots from Hika land to the head. The referee has no choice but to stop the fight. Hika stands and salutes the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Hongi Hika!