PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Connor McGregor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Piero Paniccia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Connor McGregor had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 146.6lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. 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.

McGregor
vs
Paniccia

185 cm
26
160 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

170 cm
24
135 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
Cardio machine

Good takedowns
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Amped Performance

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 6 - 5 - 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 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Piero Paniccia!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, John Kavanagh and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Paniccia throws a right and a left that McGregor avoids nicely.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Paniccia misses with a punch to the body.
McGregor blocks a body shot from Paniccia.
Paniccia lands with a right to the head.
McGregor lands a knee to the head.

It looks like Piero Paniccia has been cut.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from McGregor.
McGregor misses with a short punch on the inside.
Paniccia is looking to take this one to the mat.
Paniccia lands a nice knee to the body.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Paniccia cracks McGregor with a nice body shot.
Paniccia misses with the head strike.
Paniccia tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Paniccia misses with some punches.
McGregor lands a knee to the body.
A short body shot lands from McGregor as the two fighters clinch.
McGregor scores with a shot to the side of Paniccia's head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Paniccia swings wildly with an uppercut but McGregor uses good head movement to avoid it.
Paniccia tries a body shot but McGregor blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paniccia misses with a hook to the ribs.
McGregor tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Paniccia tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
McGregor blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
McGregor doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
McGregor misses with a punch on the inside.
Paniccia throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but McGregor blocks it with crossed arms.
McGregor trying to land knees to the body.
McGregor lands a body shot.
A knee to the head by McGregor.
Paniccia looks winded!
Paniccia struggles to land a body shot inside as McGregor controls his hands.
A knee to the head by McGregor.
McGregor throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Paniccia blocks it with crossed arms.
Paniccia connects with a nasty looking knee right to McGregor's face.
McGregor tries to land knees in the clinch but Paniccia avoids the damage to the body.
Paniccia managing to block the knees to the body from McGregor.
McGregor lands an uppercut.
Paniccia is trying to maintain a safe position but McGregor gets an underhook and turns Paniccia into the cage.
A shot in the inside from McGregor.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
McGregor is leaning against Paniccia and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Paniccia misses with a hook from the clinch.
Paniccia misses with a body punch.
McGregor struggles to land a body shot inside as Paniccia controls his hands.
Paniccia doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Paniccia unloads a knee to the mid-section.
McGregor tries to land knees in the clinch but Paniccia avoids the damage to the body.
McGregor using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Paniccia has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
McGregor makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Paniccia pushes McGregor back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Paniccia tries a body shot but McGregor blocks it.
McGregor with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Paniccia doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Paniccia works on McGregor's body with a couple of short punches.
McGregor blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Paniccia tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Paniccia misses with a hook from the clinch.
Paniccia has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by McGregor after a bit of a struggle.
McGregor looking to throw knees to the head but Paniccia is blocking nicely.
Paniccia tries to land knees in the clinch but McGregor avoids the damage to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McGregor crunches a lovely knee into Paniccia's ribcage.
McGregor utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
McGregor tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Paniccia avoids it.
A left hand lands to the body for Paniccia.
McGregor lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
McGregor tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
McGregor avoiding damage as Paniccia throws knees to the body.

Paniccia manages to pull guard.
McGregor wanted to stand there but Paniccia had control of the position.

Paniccia is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. McGregor is aware though and is defending well.
McGregor wants to stand but Paniccia has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Paniccia looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Paniccia has an active guard here but McGregor has managed to pass into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paniccia is looking to improve his position.
Paniccia is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Paniccia is still trying to improve position.

McGregor decides to stand up.
Paniccia has a takedown stuffed.
Connor McGregor has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Piero Paniccia.
McGregor swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Connor McGregor dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Piero Paniccia's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

McGregor swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Paniccia.
McGregor scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Paniccia doesn't seem bothered though.
Paniccia lands a straight punch to the body, keeping McGregor at a distance.

Paniccia rushes McGregor and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
McGregor is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Paniccia can do to turn this around?
McGregor gets through Paniccia's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
McGregor misses with the head strike.
Paniccia tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. McGregor just stands there and leans against the cage.
McGregor lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A short right from McGregor on the inside.
Paniccia fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Connor McGregor has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Paniccia on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Knees to the body from McGregor.
McGregor lands a hook to the side of the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
McGregor lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Paniccia tries to work over McGregor's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Paniccia lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of McGregor backwards.
Paniccia can't find room to land a body shot as McGregor controls the action.
McGregor lands a good knee to the midsection. Paniccia won't want to take too many of those.
Paniccia is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knees in the clinch landing for McGregor.
Paniccia misses with a body punch.
Paniccia misses with the head strike.
Paniccia tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Paniccia avoiding damage as McGregor throws knees to the body.
McGregor lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
McGregor crunches a lovely knee into Paniccia's ribcage.
Paniccia stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Paniccia misses with the head strike.
McGregor using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Paniccia has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Paniccia jumps guard but McGregor stands there with Paniccia around his waist. Paniccia gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Connor McGregor has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Piero Paniccia.
McGregor lands on the inside with an uppercut.
McGregor lands a hook to the side of the head.
McGregor working some nice short punches in the clinch.
McGregor lands a right hand.
McGregor lands a good knee to the midsection. Paniccia won't want to take too many of those.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A knee to the head by McGregor.
Paniccia misses with the head strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from McGregor - that landed with a thud.
McGregor lands a good knee to the midsection. Paniccia won't want to take too many of those.
McGregor throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Paniccias head.
McGregor lands with a short shot to the head.
McGregor lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

Paniccia is rocked!
McGregor scores with a knee to the head.
Paniccia is still on wobbly legs! Can McGregor finish him?
McGregor working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Paniccia misses with a body punch.
Paniccia working aggressively here.
McGregor lands a left hand that snaps the head of Paniccia backwards.
Paniccia tries to throw a body punch but McGregor avoids it by throwing Paniccia back against the cage.
McGregor with an attempt at a knee that misses.
McGregor tries to land a knee to the head but Paniccia blocks with his arms.
Paniccia tries to throw a body punch but McGregor avoids it by throwing Paniccia back against the cage.
Paniccia takes a knee right on the jaw!
McGregor connects with a nasty looking knee right to Paniccia's face.
McGregor trying to land knees to the body.
McGregor unloads a knee to the mid-section.

Paniccia has hold of one of McGregor's legs. McGregor is fighting the takedown attempt but Paniccia gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.

McGregor pushes Paniccia off and gets back to his feet.
Paniccia fails with the takedown
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from McGregor.
McGregor avoids the body shot from Paniccia.
McGregor dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Paniccia seems to have recovered his senses.
We've been told by McGregor's head coaches at Roosters Coop that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Paniccia misses with a looping left.
Connor McGregor is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A jab from Paniccia misses.
McGregor clobbers Paniccia with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
McGregor wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
McGregor scores with a head kick.
Paniccia blocks a head kick by McGregor.

Paniccia closes the distance and clinches.
Nice body punch from Paniccia - that landed with a thud.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paniccia lands a left hand.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Paniccia.
A shot in the inside from Paniccia.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Paniccia scores with a shot to the side of McGregor's head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for McGregor.
Paniccia lands a left hand that snaps the head of McGregor backwards.
Paniccia on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Paniccia stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
McGregor with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Paniccia blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Paniccia lands a right hand.
Paniccia is looking to control McGregor's arms but McGregor gets an underhook and turns him. Now Paniccia has his back to the cage.
McGregor tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Paniccia avoids it.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
McGregor utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
A shot in the inside from McGregor.
McGregor prevents a body shot from Paniccia.
Paniccia lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of McGregor backwards.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Connor McGregor dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Piero Paniccia's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

McGregor lands a jab.
Connor McGregor seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McGregor throws a sloppy head kick and Paniccia moves out of range easily.
McGregor is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.

McGregor has managed to clinch.
McGregor throws a punch but it's blocked by Paniccia.
Paniccia is trying to pull guard but McGregor has him pressed against the cage.
Paniccia goes for a takedown attempt but McGregor pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Paniccia slips a jab and a cross from McGregor.
Paniccia throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
It looked like McGregor wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Connor McGregor is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Paniccia throws a sloppy head kick and McGregor moves out of range easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Paniccia moves into the clinch.
McGregor blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Paniccia tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Paniccia misses with a punch to the body.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for McGregor.
McGregor lands a knee to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paniccia tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. McGregor smiles and moves away.
Connor McGregor has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Piero Paniccia.

McGregor drives through and clinches with Paniccia against the cage.
McGregor lands a left hand.
McGregor throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
McGregor throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Paniccia blocks it with crossed arms.
Paniccia lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Still in the clinch, Paniccia scores with a nice short uppercut.
Paniccia has a couple of punches blocked by McGregor.
Paniccia on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Paniccia pushes McGregor back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
McGregor tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Paniccia avoids it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
McGregor misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Paniccia.
Paniccia can't find room to land a body shot as McGregor controls the action.
McGregor working aggressively here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McGregor misses with a knee to the head.
McGregor blocks an uppercut.
McGregor lands with a short shot to the head.
Paniccia goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Paniccia swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
McGregor lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Paniccia backwards.
McGregor lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
McGregor is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Paniccia is defending well for now.
Good body shot from Paniccia.
Paniccia lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Paniccia throws a punch but it's blocked by McGregor.
Paniccia tries a knee to the head but McGregor blocks it.
Paniccia missing with knees to the body.
Paniccia tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. McGregor just stands there and leans against the cage.
McGregor tries to land a knee to the head but Paniccia blocks with his arms.
Paniccia tries to work over McGregor's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
McGregor throws a head punch that misses.
Paniccia on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Paniccia is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paniccia misses with a punch on the inside.
McGregor lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
McGregor blocks a body shot from Paniccia.
McGregor blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
McGregor misses with a knee strike.
Paniccia managing to block the knees to the body from McGregor.
Paniccia struggles to land a body shot inside as McGregor controls his hands.
Paniccia presses McGregor against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
McGregor misses with a punch on the inside.
Connor McGregor is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Paniccia tries to pull guard but McGregor holds him up against the cage and eventually Paniccia drops back down to his feet.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Paniccia.
McGregor misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Paniccia.
Paniccia struggles to land a body shot inside as McGregor controls his hands.
McGregor with an attempt at a knee that misses.
A head punch blocked on the inside by McGregor.
Paniccia lands with a short shot to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McGregor misses with a knee to the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by McGregor.
Paniccia misses with a short punch on the inside.
Paniccia tries to pull guard but McGregor won't allow it.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for McGregor.
McGregor managing to block the knees to the body from Paniccia.
McGregor missing with knees to the body.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Paniccia.
McGregor lands with a short shot to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A right handed body shot lands from McGregor.
Piero Paniccia has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
McGregor is working Paniccia over against the cage.
Paniccia has a couple of punches blocked by McGregor.
Paniccia is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. McGregor is defending well for now.
Paniccia lands a left hand that snaps the head of McGregor backwards.
Still in the clinch, Paniccia scores with a nice short uppercut.

And that's the end of the fight!
Connor McGregor showed his dominance in that final round.
Well McGregor 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 John Roberts scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Connor McGregor!
Connor McGregor took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, MayheM sportswear for their support in the buildup to the fight.