PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Raul Gracie (ranked 2849 p4p, 315 weight class) and Conour McNugget (ranked 3120 p4p, 338 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Gracie
vs
McNugget

175 cm
25
165 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

180 cm
22
161 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

BJJ Red Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Bee Krazy

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Raul Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Conour McNugget!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Chris Dean and Darius Henderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McNugget misses with an uppercut.
McNugget tries a head kick but it misses.
Good exchange - McNugget coming out on top.

Gracie clinches up against the cage.
Gracie lands a right hand that snaps the head of McNugget backwards.

McNugget breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Good exchange - Gracie coming out on top.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from McNugget, right into the meat.
McNugget stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Gracie gets cracked with a nice right hand there by McNugget.
McNugget goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The fighters circling - McNugget throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Gracie appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Gracie fails with an attempt to clinch.
A nice side step and McNugget releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
McNugget swings and misses with a hook to the body.
McNugget fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Gracie half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
An inside leg kick lands from Gracie.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie lands a right hook to the body.
McNugget needs to keep his hands up - Gracie had a free shot at his head there.
Gracie moves out of range of the strikes.
McNugget scores with a crisp jab that stopped Gracie in his tracks.

Gracie gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Gracie lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Gracie displaying some good clinch control by pressing McNugget up against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from McNugget fails to land.
Gracie has McNugget pushed against the cage.
McNugget lands a right hand that snaps the head of Gracie backwards.
McNugget tries to work over Gracie's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A frustrated look appears on McNugget's face as he tries to break the clinch.
McNugget working hard to break the clinch.
A nice left hand lands by Gracie.
Gracie dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Gracie lands an uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gracie lands a shoulder strike.

McNugget breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
McNugget lands the left hand.

Gracie forces McNugget back against the cage and clinches.
Gracie cracks McNugget with a nice body shot.
McNugget tries to break the clinch but Gracie is controlling the position.
A short left from Gracie.
Gracie struggles to land a body shot inside as McNugget controls his hands.
Gracie tries to pull guard but McNugget forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
McNugget misses with a hook to the ribs.

McNugget breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
McNugget pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
McNugget throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
McNugget misses with a straight right.
Gracie on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by McNugget. McNugget obviously looking to wear him down.
Conour McNugget seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McNugget throws a hook but Gracie avoids it easily.
McNugget throws a jab when Gracie was well out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McNugget throws a looping overhand right but Gracie ducks down to avoid it.
McNugget tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Gracie was well out of range. Poor timing from McNugget.
McNugget throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

Gracie pushes McNugget up against the cage in a clinch.
McNugget lands a left hand.
Gracie lands with a short head shot on the inside.

McNugget's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
McNugget throws a hook but Gracie avoids it easily.
Gracie thumps McNugget with a low kick.
McNugget tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Gracie counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Gracie missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
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!
Still in half guard, Gracie seems content to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gracie is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, McNugget has managed to free his arm - good work.
We've been hearing that Gracie has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
McNugget is looking to escape.
Gracie is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Gracie is trying to control the action in half guard but McNugget is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
McNugget trying to control from the bottom.
Gracie controlling the action here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
McNugget throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Gracie displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as McNugget throws out the jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Conour McNugget will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Decent striking displayed by Gracie there.
McNugget throws a right and a left that Gracie avoids nicely.
Gracie displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as McNugget throws out the jab.
McNugget throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
McNugget takes one to the chin there.

Gracie closes the distance and pushes McNugget back into the cage.
McNugget tries to circle away but Gracie has him pinned against the cage.

McNugget breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
McNugget throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
The fighters circling - McNugget throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Conour McNugget seems to be getting the better of the standup.
McNugget misses with a hook.
Gracie tries to counter with a takedown but McNugget is quick to defend against it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from McNugget.
McNugget swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Gracie uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by McNugget.
Nice defenses there by Gracie.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie scores with a takedown into McNugget's guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Gracie stopping the sweep attempt from McNugget.
McNugget looking to control.
McNugget might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Gracie haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Gracie trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McNugget is adopting a defensive guard.
Gracie won't allow McNugget to sweep him here.
McNugget looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie wants to control from the top but McNugget keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Gracie feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
McNugget can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Gracie controls the pace.
McNugget wants to sweep but no luck.
Gracie tries to free his leg and advance position but McNugget is retaining full guard.
Raul Gracie overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Gracie postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
McNugget trying to keep a closed guard but Gracie is proving a slippery customer.
Gracie stands and throws McNugget's legs to the side, diving into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie advances to mount.
McNugget really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Gracie trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Gracie sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

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.
McNugget is squirming around, avoiding Gracie's attempts to control the action.
Gracie working the ground and pound effectively.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gracie sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raul Gracie dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Gracie misses with a kick to the body.
McNugget looks like he wants to counter punch here.
McNugget throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Gracie sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Gracie is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from McNugget.
Gracie uses good head movement to avoid the hook from McNugget.
McNugget on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Gracie. Gracie obviously looking to wear him down.
Gracie uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by McNugget.
McNugget throws out a loose jab but Gracie uses good head movement to avoid it.
McNugget throws a poor cross that misses

and Gracie counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

McNugget manages to escape and get back to his feet!
McNugget tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Gracie was well out of range. Poor timing from McNugget.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
McNugget on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
McNugget throws a right hand that misses

and Gracie counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Gracie.

McNugget has his feet on Gracie's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Gracie slips a straight right by McNugget.
Gracie jabs at McNugget's body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie thuds a left hand into McNugget's body.
McNugget tries to move into range but Gracie moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Gracie keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
McNugget tries to land a leg kick but Gracie saw it coming and moves away.
McNugget lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
A head kick misses from McNugget.
McNugget misses with a series of wild punches.
McNugget swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Gracie scores with a hook.
Conour McNugget is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A head kick misses from McNugget.

McNugget gets caught flat footed, as Gracie shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gracie works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McNugget is trying to stand back up but Gracie is controlling him
Gracie passes to side control.

Gracie looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
McNugget is pushing Gracie's head away, looking to escape. Gracie manages to hold on to the position though.
Gracie trying to control the action but McNugget is working from the bottom.
McNugget is looking for a sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gracie wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by McNugget, who protects the arm well.
McNugget tries to improve position but can't.
Gracie in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Gracie tries to move into full mount but can't pass McNugget's legs.
Gracie happy to just control the position for now.

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.

Gracie is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, McNugget has escaped the position, nice work there.
McNugget is looking to regain half guard here but Gracie keeps moving and retains side control.
Gracie wants to control but McNugget is keeping him busy.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

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 Raul Gracie.
I think Gracie 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 John Mangel scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Dean scores the fight 29:28
Judge Darius Henderson scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Raul Gracie!
After winning the bout, Raul Gracie thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.
Conour McNugget spoke after the fight, saying 'I'll be back'.