PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Reggie Walsh (ranked 24889 p4p, 0 weight class) and Conor McGregor (ranked 5564 p4p, 0 weight class). McGregor has chosen Welan edvee Dylan song as his entrance music. Conor McGregor will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Walsh
vs
McGregor

153 cm
19
150 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

178 cm
21
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Reggie Walsh!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Conor McGregor!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Jonathan Paton and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

The fight moves into the clinch position.

McGregor breaks the clinch.

Walsh fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with McGregor, pushing him back against the cage.

McGregor breaks from the clinch.

McGregor looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Walsh!
McGregor works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
McGregor looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Walsh is avoiding damage well.
Walsh is looking to reverse the position.
Walsh is trying to control McGregor's posture but McGregor avoids it.
Who's going to make the next move?

McGregor is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Walsh is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.

McGregor tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Walsh could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
McGregor takes a little break here. Walsh wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Walsh manages to get back to half guard.
Walsh might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Walsh tries to roll over but McGregor keeps him under control.
Walsh is not content to let McGregor control the position.
Walsh is trying is best to control the position here.
McGregor sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Walsh defending well though.

That's two 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.
McGregor wants to control but Walsh is keeping him busy.

McGregor is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Walsh is just riding it out for now. McGregor eventually gives up the hold.
Walsh trying to control here.
Walsh makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Walsh.
McGregor has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

McGregor thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Walsh has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
McGregor controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Walsh tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McGregor wants to control from the top but Walsh keeps moving.

Walsh has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes McGregor off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
McGregor throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

Walsh clinches up with McGregor and pushes him back against the cage.
McGregor is trying to break the clinch but Walsh is controlling him.
McGregor crunches a lovely knee into Walsh's ribcage.
A short left from Walsh.

McGregor escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Walsh pushes McGregor up against the cage in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A frustrated look appears on McGregor's face as he tries to break the clinch.
McGregor wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Walsh has him pressed against the cage.

McGregor pulls guard successfully.
McGregor looks winded!
McGregor controls Walsh momentarily but Walsh frees himself.
McGregor trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Walsh is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Walsh postures up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Walsh working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Walsh won't allow McGregor to sweep him here.
McGregor doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Walsh throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as McGregor works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Conor McGregor will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

McGregor gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Walsh trying to control the position from guard on top but McGregor is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
McGregor throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Walsh looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
McGregor lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
McGregor keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Walsh's head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McGregor stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Walsh swivels though and keeps the full guard.
McGregor prevents Walsh from getting back to his feet.
McGregor preventing the sweep.
McGregor would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McGregor trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Walsh is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst McGregor is controlling him.
McGregor scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
McGregor landing some decent shots from guard.
Conor McGregor has got the better of the ground game so far.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Walsh is on top in guard.

McGregor working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Walsh.
McGregor looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
McGregor is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

McGregor is breathing heavily.

McGregor is trying to work for a kimura but Walsh is defending well.
Walsh tries to roll over but McGregor keeps him under control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Walsh preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Walsh has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. McGregor is working away from the top position though.
Walsh is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
McGregor wants to pass to mount but Walsh is defending the position.

McGregor wants to work for an arm triangle but Walsh is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
McGregor prevents Walsh from standing back up.
Walsh is staying active underneath McGregor, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Walsh keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Walsh works his way to full guard. Good work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McGregor being controlled here momentarily.
Walsh 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.
Walsh working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from McGregor.
Walsh looking to control.
Walsh has McGregor pulled in close to control his posture.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

McGregor rushes Walsh and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

McGregor breaks the clinch.
Conor McGregor is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

McGregor has closed the distance and engaged Walsh in a clinch.
Walsh wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
McGregor prevents Walsh from breaking the clinch.
Walsh taking a breather.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Walsh has McGregor pushed against the cage.

McGregor's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Conor McGregor 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! This is the final round!

McGregor has managed to clinch.

McGregor pulls guard effortlessly.
McGregor is trying to keep Walsh in close.
Walsh controlling from the top position.
Walsh being controlled here momentarily.
McGregor being controlled here, momentarily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Walsh stands up and waves to McGregor to follow him.
McGregor throws a quick inside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.

McGregor forces Walsh back against the cage and clinches.

McGregor pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Walsh gets a double leg takedown into McGregor's guard.
McGregor trying to control the position.
McGregor tries to strike from the bottom.
Walsh content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
McGregor looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
McGregor takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
McGregor wants to get back to his feet but Walsh is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Walsh trying to control but McGregor is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Walsh connects with a couple of short punches.

Walsh drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Walsh jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
McGregor being controlled here, momentarily.
Walsh working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of McGregor's head.
McGregor tries to land a sweep but no joy.

McGregor has his foot on Walsh's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Walsh works his way back into a safe position though.
Walsh has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Walsh thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Walsh drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Walsh jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Walsh is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Walsh trying to control the position from guard on top but McGregor is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Walsh gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Walsh is pulling down on McGregor's head to control his posture.
Walsh lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Conor McGregor is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Walsh thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McGregor doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Walsh would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Walsh 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.
McGregor trying to keep a closed guard but Walsh is proving a slippery customer.
McGregor utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
McGregor is adopting a defensive guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
McGregor throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Reggie Walsh has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Walsh postures up in McGregor's guard and throws a big left but McGregor blocks it.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Reggie Walsh.
I think McGregor has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Columbo Gatti scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 29:29
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!