PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ed Driver (ranked 111 p4p, 12 weight class) and Bryer McGuire (ranked 665 p4p, 96 weight class). 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.

Driver
vs
McGuire

183 cm
32
215 lbs
19 - 9 - 1

193 cm
25
210 lbs
8 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Aspire Clothing
Aspire Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Ed Driver!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Bryer McGuire!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Shirou Masuda and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McGuire avoids the body shot from Driver.
Driver lands with a hook. McGuire tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
McGuire 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.
Driver throws a jab but it's blocked by McGuire.
Driver looks to score with a jab to the body but McGuire is just out of range.
Driver is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by McGuire.

Driver tries to keep at a distance but McGuire has taken the fight into the clinch.
Driver tries to break free but McGuire pushes him back against the cage.
McGuire lands a right hand.
Driver blocks a body shot from McGuire.
McGuire tries to throw a body punch but Driver avoids it by throwing McGuire back against the cage.
Driver lands with a short punch from the clinch.
McGuire keeps control of Driver as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Driver manages to break the clinch.
McGuire blocks a jab.
McGuire pushes Driver away with a front kick.
Driver misses with a straight left.
Driver takes a swing at McGuire's ribcage but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McGuire scores with a hook to the body. Driver takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Driver throws a hook but McGuire blocks it.
Driver bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Driver is looking for a counter combo.
McGuire uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Driver.
Driver waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract McGuire.
McGuire staying out of range there.
McGuire tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Driver manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
A telegraphed right hand from Driver misses the target.
Driver looks to score with a jab to the body but McGuire is just out of range.
Ed Driver seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McGuire misses with a leg kick
and Driver counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Driver loads up on a big right hand but McGuire slips the punch.
McGuire paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Driver keeps the fight on the outside.
Driver looks to throw the jab but McGuire is out of range.
An inside leg kick lands from McGuire.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Driver misses with a straight left.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts McGuire, as that shot connected.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
McGuire bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
McGuire takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Driver misses with a looping right.
Driver scores with a nice right hand.
McGuire dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Driver. That did some damage!
Nice uppercut there from Driver.
Driver throws a hook but McGuire blocks it.
Driver changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Driver definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
McGuire on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
McGuire on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

McGuire closes the distance and clinches.
McGuire tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Driver's elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Driver is trying to break the clinch but McGuire has him pressed against the cage.
McGuire throws a head punch that misses.
Driver lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Driver wants to break free but McGuire has control.
Driver works on McGuire's body with a couple of short punches.
Still in the clinch, Driver scores with a nice short uppercut.
Nice body punch from Driver - that landed with a thud.
Driver scores with a shoulder strike.
McGuire blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
McGuire scores with a shot to the side of Driver's head.
A shot in the inside from Driver.
A nice right hand lands inside from Driver.
Driver lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Driver throws a punch but it's blocked by McGuire.
McGuire prevents a body shot from Driver.
Driver blocks an uppercut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A short left from Driver.
Driver fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Driver takes a shot to the head.
McGuire misses with the head strike.
Driver blocks a body shot from McGuire.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McGuire swings wildly with an uppercut but Driver uses good head movement to avoid it.
McGuire scores with a shoulder strike.
McGuire throws a head punch that misses.
Driver tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
McGuire keeps control of Driver as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
McGuire blocks an uppercut.
Driver scores with a nice hook to the head.
Driver tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
McGuire misses with a short punch on the inside.
McGuire works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Driver lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Driver blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Driver has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Driver manages to break the clinch.
Driver scores with a shot to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
McGuire wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
McGuire fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Driver.
Driver scores with a sloppy right hand. McGuire should have avoided that one.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ed Driver dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Driver dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
McGuire defending well as Driver loads up on a big left hand.
McGuire steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Ed Driver is winning the standup battle so far.
Driver pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
McGuire is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Driver avoids a kick to the body.
McGuire displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Driver throws out the jab.
Driver swings for the body but McGuire moves out of range.
McGuire misses with a looping right.
Driver swings widly with a right hand
and McGuire counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
The fighters circling - McGuire throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Driver looks to score with a jab to the body but McGuire is just out of range.
McGuire throws out a counter right but Driver avoids it with no problem.
Driver throws a body shot but no joy.
A shot to the body from Driver misses
and McGuire counters with a thumping low kick.
A telegraphed right hand from Driver misses the target.
McGuire lands a slapping body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McGuire staying out of range there.
Driver throws a body shot but no joy.
Driver jabbing away but nothing is landing.
McGuire pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Driver looks to land a combination but McGuire avoids it well.
McGuire throws a counter combo.
McGuire feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Driver's calf.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from McGuire in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Driver throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
McGuire throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Driver, as that shot connected.
Driver throws out a loose jab but McGuire uses good head movement to avoid it.
McGuire thinks about the counter body kick.
Driver misses with a lunging right hand
and McGuire counters with a nice body kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
McGuire lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Driver takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McGuire lands with a thumping leg kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Driver avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
It looked like Driver wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Driver misses with an uppercut.
Driver is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that McGuire can do to turn this around?
A slow jab from Driver misses its intended target.
McGuire tries a quick counter leg kick but Driver is wise to it.
A big left from Driver misses.
Driver takes a swing at McGuire's ribcage but misses.
McGuire takes a shot right to the bread basket.
McGuire throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
McGuire lands a front kick.
Driver misses with a looping left.
A looping hook to the body misses from Driver. McGuire does a little dance to reset his feet.
Driver takes a swing at McGuire's ribcage but misses.
Driver misses with an uppercut.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Driver scores with a sloppy right hand. McGuire should have avoided that one.
McGuire uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Driver.
Driver swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
McGuire throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Driver has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Driver there as he acknowledges the shot.
McGuire has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Driver throws a right hand that McGuire ducks under and follows up with a left that McGuire also avoids with ease.
Driver rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and McGuire counters with a slapping leg kick.

McGuire clinches with his opponent.
Driver doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
McGuire fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
McGuire lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
McGuire lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
A head punch on the inside from McGuire fails to land.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Driver works on McGuire's body with a couple of short punches.
Driver goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for McGuire.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Driver can't find room to land a body shot as McGuire controls the action.
Driver tries a body shot but McGuire blocks it.
McGuire lands a body punch in the clinch.
Driver has a couple of punches blocked by McGuire.
A short body shot lands from McGuire as the two fighters clinch.
Driver blocks a body shot from McGuire.
McGuire lands with a short punch from the clinch.
McGuire throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Driver takes a shot to the head.
McGuire lands a hook that snaps the head of Driver backwards.
McGuire lands an uppercut.
A short right from McGuire on the inside.
Driver fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A short body shot lands from McGuire as the two fighters clinch.
McGuire lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
McGuire goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A short right hand to the side of the head by McGuire.
A head punch on the inside from Driver fails to land.
McGuire presses Driver against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
McGuire scores with a shoulder strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bryer McGuire showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

A punch lands to the side of Driver 's head but he takes it in his stride.
McGuire throws a quick inside leg kick.
McGuire slips a straight right by Driver.
That kick from McGuire tenderised Driver's leg. Driver is trying to keep his angry face on.
McGuire takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Driver moves out of range as McGuire throws a body kick.
A counter left hand to the body from Driver misses its target.
McGuire slips a straight right by Driver.
McGuire fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Driver on the side of the head.
McGuire circles to his right before unloading a perfect head kick! Driver drops to the canvas, hurt badly! McGuire follows Driver to the ground and unloads with a series of strikes that force the referee to step in and end the fight! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:43 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Bryer McGuire!
Bryer McGuire is the new light heavyweight champion!
Bryer McGuire seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.