PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight kickboxing rules bout between Ricco McGregor (ranked 7176 p4p, 189 weight class) and Rafael Mendes (ranked 4455 p4p, 95 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

McGregor
vs
Mendes

212 cm
20
300 lbs
16 - 2 - 0

175 cm
27
143 lbs
13 - 4 - 0

Excellent boxer
Very strong

Counter fighter
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the super heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ricco McGregor!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rafael Mendes!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Alan Glass and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McGregor ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
McGregor throws a nice looking combination but Mendes bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
McGregor misses with a wild combination.
Mendes is looking for the big counter here.
Mendes avoids the body shot from McGregor.
Mendes thinks about the counter body kick.
McGregor lands a nice shot that snaps Mendes's head back.
Mendes blocks the body kick.
Mendes steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
McGregor feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Mendess jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
McGregor blocks the body kick.
Mendes will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts McGregor, as that shot connected.
McGregor dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendes swings away with a body shot that misses
and McGregor counters with a stiff right hand.
Mendes takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Mendes moves forwards but McGregor connects with a nice, crisp jab.
McGregor looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Mendes slips under a jab from McGregor.
Mendes is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
McGregor lands a jab to the head.
McGregor scores with a hook.
Mendes throws an off balance right hand
and McGregor counters with a straight right hand.
Mendes gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

Mendes is rocked!
That kick from McGregor tenderised Mendes's leg. Mendes is trying to keep his angry face on.
Mendes throws a sloppy head kick and McGregor moves out of range easily.
Ricco McGregor is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mendes avoids the body shot from McGregor.
McGregor just misses with a punch to the body.
Ricco McGregor seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McGregor with a nice cross.
Mendes takes one on the chin but seems OK.
McGregor misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Mendes.
Mendes uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by McGregor.
Mendes takes a swing at McGregor's ribcage but misses.
Mendes throws a series of punches but McGregor moves out of range.
Mendes rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but McGregor moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Mendes uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by McGregor.
McGregor is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
A punch lands to the side of Mendes 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Mendes dodges the punch combination from McGregor.
Mendes throws a fast counter high kick but McGregor manages to duck under it in time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendes uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by McGregor.
Mendes uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from McGregor.
Despite the aggression on Mendes's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
McGregor looks to score with a jab to the body but Mendes is just out of range.
McGregor connects with a crisp jab.
McGregor missing with a left hand there. Mendes was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Mendes has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Mendes there as he acknowledges the shot.
Mendes tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
A swing and a miss from McGregor.
McGregor misses with a straight left.
A swing and a miss from McGregor.
McGregor ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Mendes moves away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendes misses with a looping left.
McGregor lands a head shot.
McGregor lands a nice shot to the body.
Mendes checks a low kick from McGregor.
A lazy left from McGregor finds it's target.
This has been an exciting period of action!
McGregor blocks a head kick by Mendes.
McGregor is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
McGregor misses with a body shot.
McGregor moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Mendes takes a kick to the side of the head.
Mendes will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Mendes defending well as McGregor loads up on a big left hand.
Mendes throws a counter combo.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricco McGregor dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

McGregor throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Ricco McGregor is winning the standup battle so far.
A left lands for McGregor.
Mendes avoids the body shot from McGregor.
McGregor ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Mendes moves away.
Mendes is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Mendes slips a jab from McGregor.
McGregor is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Mendes can do to turn this around?
McGregor moves out of range of the body kick from Mendes.
McGregor misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Mendes.
McGregor cracks a nice hook into Mendes's ribs.
McGregor slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
An inside leg kick from McGregor misses.
McGregor lands with a kick to the temple. Mendes shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
McGregor throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
McGregor misses with a wild body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McGregor moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
McGregor avoids the head kick by Mendes.
Mendes's hands are dropping dangerously low here and McGregor connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Mendes scrambles back to his feet.
McGregor looks to score with a jab to the body but Mendes is just out of range.
Mendes feints a counter leg kick.
Mendes defending well as McGregor loads up on a big left hand.
McGregor misses with a low kick.
McGregor throws a hook but Mendes blocks it.
Mendes tries a head kick but it misses.
McGregor throws out a powerful jab.
McGregor throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
McGregor throws a body shot but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendes takes one on the chin but seems OK.
McGregor blocks a leg kick.
McGregor tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Mendes was well out of range. Poor timing from McGregor.
Mendes misses with a two punch combination.
Mendes tries a head kick but it misses.
A slow jab from Mendes misses its intended target.
McGregor blocks a leg kick.
McGregor looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Mendes has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Mendes swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mendes ducks under a wild hook from McGregor.
Mendes is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Mendes avoids the body shot from McGregor.
Mendes throws a fast counter high kick but McGregor manages to duck under it in time.
Mendes throws a hook but McGregor avoids it easily.
Mendes keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendes tries a low kick but McGregor avoids it.
McGregor throws a shot to the body.
McGregor checks a low kick from Mendes.
McGregor half committed to a counter leg kick.
Mendes throws an overhand right that lands on McGregor's shoulder, as McGregor tries to avoid the shot.
Mendes slips under a jab.
McGregor misses the shot to the body.
McGregor moves out of range of the body kick from Mendes.
Rafael Mendes is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mendes takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
McGregor throws a nice looking combination but Mendes bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Mendes shapes to counter with a head kick.
McGregor scores with a nice strike.
McGregor connects with a right hand. Mendes shakes it off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Mendes.
McGregor misses with a wild body shot.
Mendes throws a fast counter high kick but McGregor manages to duck under it in time.
McGregor cracks a nice hook into Mendes's ribs.
McGregor goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Mendes throws an overhand right that lands on McGregor's shoulder, as McGregor tries to avoid the shot.
Mendes pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
McGregor scores with a jab. Mendes acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
The fighters circling - McGregor throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Mendes misses with a series of wild punches.
Mendes misses with a jab, cross combination.
McGregor attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricco McGregor 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!

Sloppy strikes from Mendes. Those never looked like landing.
McGregor misses with a body shot.
Mendes doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Good leg kick by McGregor there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
McGregor is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
A slow jab from McGregor misses its intended target.
Mendes on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Mendes throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A jab from McGregor finds it's way through Mendes's defenses.
Jab by McGregor.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McGregor scores with a body shot.
McGregor throws the left hand but Mendes avoids the punch easily.
McGregor showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Mendes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendes throws the kick towards the body but McGregor avoids it.
Mendes loads up on a big right hand but McGregor slips the punch.
McGregor pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Mendes slips a jab from McGregor.
McGregor dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Mendes throws a half hearted mid kick.
McGregor is looking to counter punch.
Nice body punch from McGregor.
McGregor fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Mendes manages to avoid it.
Mendes throws a counter combo.
Mendes throws a sloppy head kick and McGregor moves out of range easily.
McGregor misses with a straight right.
McGregor misses with a body shot.
Mendes is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McGregor dodges the punch combination from Mendes.
Mendes takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
McGregor loads up on a big right hand but Mendes slips the punch.
McGregor comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Mendes connects with a high kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mendes misses with a low kick as McGregor jumps back.
Mendes fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but McGregor is out of range.
McGregor was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Mendes throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
McGregor throws a body punch but Mendes moves out of range.
Mendes raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendes ducks right into an uppercut from McGregor.
A lazy body kick from Mendes
enabling McGregor to counter with a crisp jab.
A low kick from Mendes misses
and McGregor connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
McGregor feints and then cracks Mendes's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Mendes down.
Mendes takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Mendes is still on wobbly legs! Can McGregor finish him?
McGregor paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
McGregor throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Mendes counters with a body kick.
McGregor is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Mendes throws a head kick but McGregor moves out of range.
A cross from McGregor lands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McGregor tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Mendes seems to have recovered his senses.
Mendes is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Mendes fakes high and swings low for a body shot but McGregor manages to avoid it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
McGregor throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
McGregor blocks a head kick by Mendes.
McGregor throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
McGregor lands a nice shot to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mendes moves out of range as McGregor strikes.
McGregor throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Mendes sees it coming and avoids it easily.
McGregor throws a head kick that half lands.
McGregor throws a big shot that misses.
As McGregor backs off Mendes throws a huge counter combo but McGregor manages to avoid it all.
Rafael Mendes has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ricco McGregor is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Mendes throws a head kick that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ricco McGregor showed his dominance in that final round.
Well McGregor has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ricco McGregor!
Ricco McGregor retains his super heavyweight title!