PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Nathanial Roesler (ranked 4432 p4p, 457 weight class) and Conor Mcgregor (ranked 4865 p4p, 479 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.

Roesler
vs
Mcgregor

178 cm
19
156 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
154 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Likes musicals

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Nathanial Roesler!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Conor Mcgregor!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Sergei Dronov and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mcgregor finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Roesler shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Mcgregor pinned against the cage. Mcgregor gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Roesler fails with a takedown attempt.
Roesler throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Roesler tries for a takedown but Mcgregor circles away easily
and Mcgregor counters with a two punch combo.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nathanial Roesler. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mcgregor chopping away at his opponent's legs.
A lazy body kick from Mcgregor
and Roesler counters with a three punch combo that has Mcgregor backing up. Mcgregor nods at Roesler to acknowledge the strikes.
The fight stays on the outside here - Roesler looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Roesler gets caught flat footed, as Mcgregor shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Roesler is striking off his back. Mcgregor thinks nothing of it though and passes easily into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roesler is looking for a sweep. Mcgregor is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Roesler wants to control but Mcgregor is keeping busy.
Roesler trying to get back to full guard but Mcgregor takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Roesler wants to control but Mcgregor is having none of it.
Roesler is looking to get to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roesler wants to control but Mcgregor is having none of it.
Roesler is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Mcgregor controlling from the full mount.
Roesler is trying to escape the mount.
Roesler is working hard here to advance position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mcgregor controlling from mount.

That's four 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.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Let's hope that Mcgregor has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Roesler is trying desperately to improve position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Roesler tries to lock up and control but Mcgregor gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Mcgregor controlling his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Mcgregor tries to bum rush Roesler with a series of wild strikes but Roesler uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Mcgregor gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Roesler.
Mcgregor is looking to clinch.
Mcgregor connects with a high kick.
Left hook, right uppercut from Roesler.
Roesler moves out of range of the body kick from Mcgregor.
Roesler slaps away a takedown attempt from Mcgregor, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Roesler blocks the body kick.
Nathanial Roesler is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Roesler swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
We've been informed that Mcgregor has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Mcgregor shoots for a takedown but Roesler saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Roesler tries for a takedown but Mcgregor sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Roesler does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Roesler throws a series of punches but Mcgregor moves out of range.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mcgregor defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Roesler.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roesler tries to score a power double leg takedown but Mcgregor sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Roesler somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nathanial Roesler. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Roesler displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Mcgregor moves in looking to clinch but Roesler pushes him off.
Mcgregor is trying hard to land a takedown here. Roesler sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Roesler wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Roesler tries to close the distance and clinch up but Mcgregor swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Mcgregor shoots in for a takedown but Roesler shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Roesler misses with a low kick.
Conor Mcgregor seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mcgregor attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.

Roesler has Mcgregor up against the cage in a clinch.
Roesler tries to pull guard but Mcgregor won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Roesler manages to break the clinch.
Nathanial Roesler is winning the standup battle so far.
Mcgregor shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Roesler sprawls well. Roesler wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Mcgregor gets slowly back to his feet.
Mcgregor misses with a few strikes there.
Roesler stuffs the takedown attempt from Mcgregor. Mcgregor gets slowly back to his feet.
Roesler tries to counter by clinching up but Mcgregor breaks away and moves out of range.
Mcgregor is breathing heavily.

Roesler scores with a takedown into Mcgregor's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Roesler tries to free his leg and advance position but Mcgregor is retaining full guard.
Roesler trying to control but Mcgregor is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roesler is really struggling to control Mcgregor but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Conor Mcgregor has got the better of the ground game so far.
Roesler wants to pass the guard but Mcgregor is keeping the position.
Mcgregor wants to stand up but Roesler is controlling him.
Roesler controls from within his opponent's guard.

Roesler stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Mcgregor tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Roesler defends well and Mcgregor ends up having to push Roesler into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Mcgregor leaves Roesler with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Mcgregor gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Mcgregor wants to get back to his feet but Roesler is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Roesler is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Mcgregor is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nathanial Roesler dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Roesler shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Mcgregor manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Roesler slaps away a takedown attempt from Mcgregor, before circling back to the center of the mat.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Roesler.
Mcgregor lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A head kick misses from Roesler.
Mcgregor throws a low kick, looking for Roesler's leg but Roesler calmly moves out of range.

Mcgregor instigates a clinch.

Roesler breaks the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mcgregor tries a head kick but it misses.
Roesler tries to clinch there but Mcgregor circles away.
Mcgregor steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Roesler.
Mcgregor dives in for a single leg takedown but Roesler sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
It looked like Roesler wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
A head kick misses from Roesler.
Roesler closes the distance and clinches up with Mcgregor, looking for a takedown. Roesler pushes Mcgregor against the cage but Mcgregor circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Roesler has managed to clinch.
Roesler blocking some punches.
Mcgregor lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Roesler jumps guard but Mcgregor turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nathanial Roesler. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Roesler tries to score a body lock takedown but Mcgregor shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Mcgregor.
Roesler slows down the pace here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Roesler manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Mcgregor gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Mcgregor avoids the head kick by Roesler.
Roesler shoots in and drives through. Mcgregor sprawls well.
Mcgregor misses with a wild body shot.
Mcgregor throws a head kick that misses.
Roesler stuffs the takedown.
A counter left hand to the body from Roesler misses its target.
Mcgregor takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Roesler shoots for a takedown but Mcgregor saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
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!
Mcgregor falls off balance throwing a combination

and Roesler counters by moving into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Roesler breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Mcgregor shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Roesler as he jumps to the side.

Mcgregor has Roesler up against the cage in a clinch.
Roesler tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Mcgregor just stands there and leans against the cage.
Mcgregor has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Roesler is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Mcgregor lands a nice shot to the body.
Roesler drops down looking for an ankle pick but Mcgregor pulls his leg out and moves away.
Mcgregor stuffs the takedown.

Mcgregor clinches up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Roesler breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Mcgregor moves to clinch but Roesler breaks away
and Roesler counters with a stiff right hand.
Mcgregor scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Roesler tries to clinch but Mcgregor is having none of it.
Mcgregor misses with an attempted mid kick.
Roesler scores with a head kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Roesler closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Mcgregor quickly recovers to half guard.

Mcgregor kicks Roesler off and gets back to his feet.

Roesler has Mcgregor up against the cage in a clinch.
Roesler throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Mcgregors head.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Conor Mcgregor.
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 Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Conor Mcgregor!
Post fight, an emotional Conor Mcgregor said 'I talk the talk and I walk the walk, motha fouka.'.