PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Masada The Zealot (ranked 1282 p4p, 154 weight class) and Gregory McVaughn (ranked 1914 p4p, 225 weight class). Gregory McVaughn acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

The Zealot
vs
McVaughn

190 cm
36
162 lbs
17 - 18 - 0

171 cm
40
155 lbs
19 - 13 - 2

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Masada The Zealot!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 13 - 2, fighting out of New York, Gregory McVaughn!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Gwen Towbar and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McVaughn is looking to clinch.
The Zealot throws a combination but it was largely blocked by McVaughn.
McVaughn is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
The Zealot lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as McVaughn backs up against the cage.
McVaughn thows a left - swing and a miss!

McVaughn clinches.
The Zealot wants to break free but McVaughn has control.
A head punch on the inside from McVaughn fails to land.
McVaughn misses with some punches.
McVaughn effectively controlling the action here.
McVaughn working some nice short punches in the clinch.
McVaughn with a knee to the head.
The Zealot blocks a body shot from McVaughn.
McVaughn struggles to land a body shot inside as The Zealot controls his hands.
McVaughn effectively controlling the action here.
McVaughn working some nice short punches in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McVaughn unloads a knee to the mid-section.
McVaughn misses with the head strike.
McVaughn tries to land knees in the clinch but The Zealot avoids the damage to the body.
McVaughn works on The Zealot's body with a couple of short punches.
The Zealot wants to get back to striking at distance but McVaughn won't allow it.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
McVaughn content to slow the pace in the clinch.
McVaughn continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.
McVaughn misses with a hook from the clinch.
Our sources have told us that The Zealot has been working on his knees in the buildup to the fight.
McVaughn misses with a hook to the ribs.
McVaughn tries to throw a body punch but The Zealot avoids it by throwing McVaughn back against the cage.
A hook to the body from McVaughn.
McVaughn tried to land a shot to the body but connects with The Zealot's elbow.
McVaughn misses with the head strike.
We've been informed that McVaughn has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McVaughn lands a right hand that snaps the head of The Zealot backwards.
McVaughn misses with a hook from the clinch.
McVaughn lands a shoulder strike.
The Zealot avoids the elbow strike from McVaughn, against the cage.
McVaughn controlling the action here for a moment.
The Zealot blocks a punch to the side of the head.
McVaughn lands an elbow just above The Zealot 's eye.
McVaughn is leaning against The Zealot and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
McVaughn looking to throw knees to the head but The Zealot is blocking nicely.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
McVaughn tried to land a shot to the body but connects with The Zealot's elbow.
A nice left hand lands by McVaughn.
McVaughn lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of The Zealot backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McVaughn tried to land a shot to the body but connects with The Zealot's elbow.
McVaughn swings away with an uppercut that misses.
The Zealot prevents a body shot from McVaughn.
McVaughn controlling the action here for a moment.
McVaughn is leaning against The Zealot and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
McVaughn tries to throw a body punch but The Zealot avoids it by throwing McVaughn back against the cage.
McVaughn has The Zealot pushed against the cage.
McVaughn is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
McVaughn swings away with an uppercut that misses.
McVaughn throws a head punch that misses.
McVaughn working aggressively here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McVaughn working aggressively here.
McVaughn misses with a knee strike.
McVaughn connects with a nasty looking knee right to The Zealot's face.
The Zealot is trying to push McVaughn away but McVaughn has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
McVaughn misses with a body punch.
The Zealot blocks an elbow strike.
The Zealot managing to block the knees to the body from McVaughn.
The Zealot blocks a punch to the side of the head.
The Zealot on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

The Zealot breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
The Zealot really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

McVaughn closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
McVaughn looks to throw an elbow but misses.
A head punch on the inside from McVaughn fails to land.
McVaughn tries to land a knee to the head but The Zealot blocks with his arms.
The Zealot blocking some punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gregory McVaughn dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

McVaughn wants to clinch
and The Zealot counters with a lovely straight right hand!
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by The Zealot.

McVaughn closes the distance and clinches.
The Zealot blocks the elbow strike.
McVaughn throws a punch but it's blocked by The Zealot.
The Zealot blocks an uppercut.
McVaughn misses with a hook from the clinch.
The Zealot is trying to break free.
McVaughn has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
McVaughn scores with a nice hook to the head.
McVaughn working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
McVaughn stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McVaughn misses with a hook from the clinch.
McVaughn using the Thai plumb to throw knees but The Zealot has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
The Zealot has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
McVaughn unloads a knee to the mid-section.
McVaughn lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for McVaughn.

The Zealot's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
McVaughn misses with a lunging right hand
letting The Zealot counter with a right hand.

McVaughn moves into the clinch.
McVaughn using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
McVaughn will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning The Zealot up against the cage.
The Zealot is trying to break the clinch but McVaughn is controlling him.
McVaughn pushes The Zealot back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
McVaughn gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

The Zealot's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
The Zealot scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

McVaughn rushes The Zealot and presses him up against the cage.
Gregory McVaughn seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
McVaughn is leaning against The Zealot and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
McVaughn scores with a shoulder strike.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
McVaughn misses with a short punch on the inside.
McVaughn lands a hook that snaps the head of The Zealot backwards.
McVaughn can't find room to land a body shot as The Zealot controls the action.
McVaughn keeps control of The Zealot as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
McVaughn is pushing The Zealot up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
A head punch on the inside from McVaughn fails to land.
The Zealot is trying to push McVaughn away but McVaughn has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
A nice glancing elbow lands by McVaughn.
McVaughn lands a nice uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McVaughn tries a body shot but The Zealot blocks it.
McVaughn tried to land a shot to the body but connects with The Zealot's elbow.
McVaughn misses with a shot to the kidneys.
McVaughn fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A left hand lands to the body for McVaughn.
A head punch on the inside from McVaughn fails to land.
McVaughn lands a left hand.
The Zealot is trying to push McVaughn away but McVaughn has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
McVaughn misses with a hook from the clinch.
McVaughn fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
McVaughn is trying to maintain a safe position but The Zealot gets an underhook and turns McVaughn into the cage.
McVaughn throws a head punch that misses.
McVaughn lands a hook that snaps the head of The Zealot backwards.
The Zealot can't break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for McVaughn.
McVaughn taking a breather.
McVaughn misses with a hook to the ribs.
McVaughn swings away with an uppercut that misses.
McVaughn lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

The Zealot manages to break the clinch.
The Zealot will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
McVaughn feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits The Zealots jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!

McVaughn has managed to clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
McVaughn can't find room to land a body shot as The Zealot controls the action.
McVaughn throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
McVaughn throws a punch but it's blocked by The Zealot.
A head punch on the inside from McVaughn fails to land.
McVaughn swings away with an uppercut that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gregory McVaughn showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

The Zealot misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
The Zealot stalks McVaughn and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into McVaughn's face. McVaughn staggers backwards, shaken.
McVaughn tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
McVaughn wants to clinch but The Zealot slips to the side
and The Zealot counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
The Zealot lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
The Zealot swats away the attempt to clinch by McVaughn.
The Zealot appears to be looking for a big counter.
McVaughn's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and McVaughn duly obliges.
McVaughn moves in looking to clinch but The Zealot pushes him off.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The Zealot ducks under a wild hook from McVaughn.

McVaughn gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
McVaughn tries to throw a body punch but The Zealot avoids it by throwing McVaughn back against the cage.
A bit of stalling here from McVaughn.
McVaughn lands with a short head shot on the inside.
McVaughn misses with some punches.
McVaughn working The Zealot over with knees to the body.
A head punch on the inside from McVaughn fails to land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McVaughn struggles to land a body shot inside as The Zealot controls his hands.
McVaughn tries a body shot but The Zealot blocks it.
McVaughn using the Thai plumb to throw knees but The Zealot has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
McVaughn lands a right hand.
McVaughn misses with an elbow strike.
A right hook to the body lands for McVaughn.
McVaughn has a couple of punches blocked by The Zealot.
The Zealot blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
McVaughn landing some nice looking knees to the body.
McVaughn scores with a shot to the side of The Zealot's head.
McVaughn lands an uppercut.
McVaughn using the Thai plumb to throw knees but The Zealot has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
McVaughn stalling against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McVaughn misses with a hook to the ribs.
McVaughn works on The Zealot's body with a couple of short punches.
McVaughn throws a knee to the head but misses.
With the fighters up against the cage, McVaughn throws an elbow but misses.
McVaughn is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
McVaughn is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
The Zealot is trying to break free.
McVaughn lands with a right to the head.
A right hand to the body from McVaughn.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A head punch blocked on the inside by The Zealot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McVaughn stalls.
McVaughn misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from The Zealot.
The Zealot looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
McVaughn lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
McVaughn misses with some punches.
McVaughn displaying some good clinch control by pressing The Zealot up against the cage.
McVaughn throws a knee to the head but misses.
McVaughn has a couple of punches blocked by The Zealot.
McVaughn is trying to stall.
McVaughn tries to land a knee to the head but The Zealot blocks with his arms.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McVaughn goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
The Zealot wants to break free but McVaughn has control.
A head punch on the inside from McVaughn fails to land.
McVaughn misses with a short punch on the inside.
McVaughn lands on the inside with an uppercut.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for McVaughn.
McVaughn trying to stall but The Zealot improves his position.
McVaughn slows down the pace here.
A knee to the head by McVaughn.
McVaughn lands a shoulder strike.
McVaughn stalling in the clinch but The Zealot improves position.
A right handed body shot lands from McVaughn.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gregory McVaughn really dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

McVaughn fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with The Zealot, pushing him back against the cage.
McVaughn throws a punch but it's blocked by The Zealot.
McVaughn has a couple of punches blocked by The Zealot.
McVaughn keeps control of The Zealot as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
McVaughn trying to land knees to the body.

The Zealot manages to break the clinch.
McVaughn has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from McVaughn there as he acknowledges the shot.
Some wild striking there from McVaughn.
McVaughn throws the left hand but The Zealot avoids the punch easily.
The Zealot avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The Zealot cracks McVaughn with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
The Zealot throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
McVaughn tries to clinch but fails miserably
and The Zealot counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
McVaughn is looking to clinch but The Zealot is avoiding it.
The Zealot was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
McVaughn tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and The Zealot cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The Zealot throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
McVaughn takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
McVaughn throws a head kick but The Zealot moves out of range.
The Zealot throws a right and a left that both miss.
Nice body punch from The Zealot.
McVaughn looks to score with a jab to the body but The Zealot is just out of range.
McVaughn tries to close the distance and clinch up but The Zealot swats him away and circles back towards the center.
The Zealot is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
The Zealot scores with a jab to the jaw.
Gregory McVaughn seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McVaughn fails in his attempt to clinch.
The Zealot is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
McVaughn is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
The Zealot keeps the fight on the outside.
A nice leg kick lands there from McVaughn.
The Zealot connects with a looping right hand.
McVaughn is looking to clinch.
The fighters circling - The Zealot throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Masada The Zealot is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The Zealot will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

McVaughn moves into the clinch.
The Zealot takes an elbow to the forehead.
The Zealot looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, McVaughn just misses with a elbow thrown towards The Zealot's brow.
McVaughn misses with a punch on the inside.
McVaughn has The Zealot pressed against the cage.

The Zealot breaks from the clinch.
The Zealot jabs McVaughn to the body, keeping him at a distance.
McVaughn lands a jab to the nose.
McVaughn tries to clinch but The Zealot is having none of it.

McVaughn clinches up against the cage.
McVaughn tries a knee to the head but The Zealot blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McVaughn lands with a short head shot on the inside.
The Zealot blocking some punches.
McVaughn can't find room to land a body shot as The Zealot controls the action.
McVaughn misses with some punches.
McVaughn lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
McVaughn throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
McVaughn throws a punch but it's blocked by The Zealot.
McVaughn is trying to stall.
The Zealot's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
McVaughn softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
McVaughn with an attempt at a knee that misses.
McVaughn fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from McVaughn fails to land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The Zealot is trying to force a seperation but McVaughn has the dominant position.
The Zealot can't break the clinch.
McVaughn tries to work over The Zealot's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
McVaughn swings wildly with an uppercut but The Zealot uses good head movement to avoid it.
The Zealot is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
McVaughn misses with a knee strike.
McVaughn looking to throw knees to the head but The Zealot is blocking nicely.
McVaughn tries to land knees in the clinch but The Zealot avoids the damage to the body.
McVaughn misses with a knee to the head.

The Zealot escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
McVaughn wants to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close fourth round but Gregory McVaughn will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

McVaughn takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
McVaughn defending well as The Zealot loads up on a big left hand.
McVaughn tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but The Zealot paws at him with a jab and circles away.
The Zealot tries to bum rush McVaughn with a series of wild strikes but McVaughn uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
McVaughn walks into a straight right hand from The Zealot.
The Zealot ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Sloppy strikes from The Zealot. Those never looked like landing.
McVaughn throws out a counter right but The Zealot avoids it with no problem.
McVaughn ducks right into an uppercut from The Zealot.
McVaughn darts in trying to clinch
and The Zealot counters with a lovely shot to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

McVaughn darts in and clinches The Zealot up against the cage.
The Zealot wants to break the clinch but can't.
McVaughn has a couple of punches blocked by The Zealot.
McVaughn misses with the head strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McVaughn lands a left hand that snaps the head of The Zealot backwards.
McVaughn scores with a nice hook to the head.
The Zealot has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
McVaughn working aggressively here.
A short right from McVaughn on the inside.
McVaughn misses with a body punch.
A short right from McVaughn.
McVaughn tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Stalling in the clinch from McVaughn.
McVaughn lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
McVaughn is stalling here.
A head punch blocked on the inside by The Zealot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McVaughn tries a body shot but The Zealot blocks it.
The Zealot blocks a punch to the side of the head.
The Zealot avoids the elbow strike from McVaughn, against the cage.
McVaughn creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through The Zealot's defenses.
McVaughn working aggressively here.
McVaughn taking a breather.
McVaughn throws an elbow that misses.
McVaughn throws a blind hook that connects with the side of The Zealots head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
McVaughn swings wildly with an uppercut but The Zealot uses good head movement to avoid it.
McVaughn tries to work over The Zealot's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, McVaughn just misses with a elbow thrown towards The Zealot's brow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The Zealot blocks a body shot from McVaughn.
The Zealot blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by The Zealot as McVaughn tries to tie him up.
McVaughn misses with a short punch on the inside.
Masada The Zealot has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
McVaughn misses with a knee strike.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
A nice left hand lands by The Zealot.
McVaughn keeps the fight in the clinch, despite The Zealot's efforts to push away.
McVaughn misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A head punch on the inside from McVaughn fails to land.
McVaughn tries a knee to the head but The Zealot blocks it.
McVaughn swings wildly with an uppercut but The Zealot uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McVaughn holding his opponent close, against the cage.
McVaughn throws an elbow that misses.

The Zealot breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
The Zealot avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
The Zealot is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
The Zealot keeps the fight on the outside.
The Zealot appears to be looking for a big counter.
The Zealot throws a hook but McVaughn avoids it easily.
McVaughn fails with an attempt to clinch.
McVaughn feints and then cracks The Zealot's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow The Zealot down.
McVaughn on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
McVaughn tries to clinch up
and The Zealot counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
McVaughn misses the jab.
McVaughn throws a big shot that misses.
The Zealot lands a really nice looking cross but McVaughn seems unphased.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Gregory McVaughn.
I've got McVaughn winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 45:50
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 45:50
Judge George Francis scores the fight 45:50

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