PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Robert McKenna (ranked 2150 p4p, 302 weight class) and Micke Wagner (ranked 1814 p4p, 252 weight class). McKenna comes to the cage accompanied by Freedom. Robert McKenna is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

McKenna
vs
Wagner

194 cm
20
212 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

190 cm
27
205 lbs
16 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Great low kicks
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Robert McKenna!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Micke Wagner!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Shigeki Sano and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wagner walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. McKenna checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.

McKenna looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
McKenna keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Wagner's head.
Wagner looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
McKenna postures up in Wagner's guard and throws a big left but Wagner blocks it.
McKenna postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
McKenna throws a big right hand that misses.
McKenna landing with the ground and pound.
Wagner is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Wagner throws a strike but McKenna avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Wagner content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Wagner has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
McKenna preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Wagner throws an elbow that misses. McKenna uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Wagner's guard. Nice move by McKenna!

That's one minute gone in the round.
McKenna trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
McKenna with a flurry of punches that miss.
McKenna has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Wagner working for a triangle but McKenna defends it easily.
McKenna throws a big elbow that misses.
McKenna won't allow Wagner to sweep him here.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Wagner holds on and takes a little breather.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells McKenna's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Wagner utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Wagner trying to control the position here.

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.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as McKenna accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Wagner bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in McKenna's guard.

Wagner trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Wagner stands up over McKenna, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Wagner throws an elbow that misses. McKenna uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Wagner's guard. Nice move by McKenna!

Wagner controls McKenna momentarily but McKenna frees himself.
McKenna in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
McKenna landing with the ground and pound.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Wagner holds on and takes a little breather.
McKenna connects with a couple of short punches.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McKenna trying to control but Wagner is working from the bottom.
Wagner bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in McKenna's guard.

McKenna wants to get back to his feet but Wagner is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Wagner makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
McKenna is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Wagner throws an elbow that misses. McKenna uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Wagner's guard. Nice move by McKenna!

McKenna trying to control but Wagner is working from the bottom.
Wagner pulls McKenna in close to prevent any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wagner wants to stand up but McKenna is controlling him.
Wagner looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
McKenna loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
McKenna lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Wagner wants to sweep but no luck.
Wagner is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Wagner keeping moving, preventing McKenna from controlling successfully.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Wagner not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
McKenna postures up in Wagner's guard and throws a big left but Wagner blocks it.
McKenna throwing strikes but missing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Robert McKenna dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

McKenna walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

It looks like Robert McKenna has been cut.
Wagner throws an ugly left hook that misses
and McKenna cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Wagner tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
McKenna throws a sloppy head kick and Wagner moves out of range easily.
Wagner scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
McKenna lands an overhand right.

McKenna looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Wagner wants to sweep but no luck.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Wagner is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Robert McKenna overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Wagner is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Wagner pulls McKenna in close to prevent any damage.
Wagner controls McKenna momentarily but McKenna frees himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as McKenna accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Wagner has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
McKenna stops Wagner from standing up.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Wagner connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
McKenna shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Wagner sprawls well. Wagner wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. McKenna gets slowly back to his feet.
Wagner looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Wagner throws a lazy uppercut

and McKenna counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Wagner!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Wagner's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Wagner manages to get back to half guard.
Wagner keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Wagner wants to sweep but McKenna has passed to side control!
Wagner gets back to half guard.
Wagner is doing well to control the position and prevent McKenna from advancing to side control.
McKenna thows a huge punch but Wagner dodges it nicely.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. McKenna lands a nice short elbow.
McKenna is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Wagner can do to turn this around?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McKenna missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
McKenna thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
McKenna controlling the action here.
Wagner pushes McKenna off but McKenna dives into side control.
McKenna working the strikes but Wagner uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Wagner keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. McKenna lands a nice short elbow.
Wagner trying to control but McKenna postures up.
Wagner is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of McKenna's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take McKenna's back!
McKenna trying to get back to his feet but Wagner is in full control for now.
Wagner throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wagner misses with punches from the back.

Wagner has his opponent's back but McKenna is looking to stand. He manages to get to his feet and shakes off Wagner.
McKenna will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Wagner throws a poor cross that misses

so McKenna counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
McKenna in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Wagner is trying to keep McKenna in close.
Wagner manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. McKenna manages to get himself to full guard.

Wagner throws a big elbow that misses.
McKenna wants to stand and escape but Wagner is having none of it.
Wagner postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
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 Robert McKenna will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Robert McKenna's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

McKenna throws a lazy head kick
and Wagner counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Wagner tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Wagner scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
McKenna lands a leg kick that knocks Wagner off balance momentarily.
A big left from Wagner misses.
Wagner jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Wagner lands a nice shot that snaps McKenna's head back.
McKenna doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Wagner counters with a nice uppercut.
A head kick misses from McKenna.
Wagner changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
McKenna looks to throw a body kick
and Wagner counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

McKenna shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Wagner napping and manages to drive through into side control!
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!
Wagner is looking for a sweep.
Wagner wants to control but McKenna postures up.
McKenna is looking to take a break and control but Wagner is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Wagner holds on tight, trying to prevent any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wagner tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Wagner sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Wagner is trying to stand.
McKenna working the head and body with strikes.
Wagner makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Wagner.
McKenna advances position into side control!
Wagner is trying to control McKenna's posture but McKenna avoids it.
Wagner is looking to reverse the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McKenna working away.
Wagner tries to bench press McKenna off him but McKenna keeps the position.
Wagner is in a bad spot here and he knows it... just holding on for now.
McKenna throws an elbow but Wagner slips to the side and avoids it well.
Wagner is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked McKenna off and has taken his back!
Wagner is controlling the position but McKenna somehow manages to roll and ends up with half guard.
McKenna is looking to escape.
McKenna is not content to let Wagner control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wagner throwing shots but McKenna is blocking nicely.
McKenna is trying to stand up here but Wagner is controlling him well.
Wagner throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Wagner missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Wagner lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Wagner thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed McKenna's head.
Wagner lands with a punch from half guard.
McKenna blocking the ground and pound attempt from Wagner.
McKenna is trying to stand up here but Wagner is controlling him well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
McKenna has hold of Wagner's hands but Wagner slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
McKenna blocking the ground and pound attempt from Wagner.
McKenna wants to get back to his feet.
Micke Wagner has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
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.
A head kick by McKenna misses
and Wagner counters with a nice body shot.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Wagner uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by McKenna.
Wagner looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Wagner throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

Robert McKenna's cut is getting worse.
Wagner misses with a straight left.
Robert McKenna is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Micke Wagner seems to be getting the better of the standup.
McKenna bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
McKenna shoots in for a takedown but Wagner shows good takedown defense.
Wagner lands a nice shot that snaps McKenna's head back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Micke Wagner comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think McKenna has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Yuuki Gou scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 29:28
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Robert McKenna!
During a confident post fight interview, Robert McKenna thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.