PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Bashaad Al Hammad (ranked 4619 p4p, 0 weight class) and Conor McGregor Jr (ranked 6952 p4p, 0 weight class). Conor McGregor Jr acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Al Hammad
vs
McGregor Jr

179 cm
36
154 lbs
15 - 23 - 0

185 cm
20
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

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 15 - 23 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Bashaad Al Hammad!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Conor McGregor Jr !
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Mauricio Rocha and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Al Hammad closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. McGregor Jr did well to prevent Al Hammad getting side control.
McGregor Jr is looking to control Al Hammad's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can McGregor Jr avoid being mounted?

Al Hammad is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
McGregor Jr wants to improve his position but Al Hammad is controlling well.
Al Hammad works his foot free and advances to mount.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McGregor Jr really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McGregor Jr swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
McGregor Jr tries to hold on but Al Hammad postures up.
McGregor Jr is in all sorts of trouble here.
Al Hammad manages to capitalize on a mistake by McGregor Jr to take his back!
McGregor Jr tries to break free.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
I really don't envy McGregor Jr right now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Al Hammad working for a choke but McGregor Jr is defending well.
McGregor Jr trying to get back to his feet but Al Hammad is in full control for now.
McGregor Jr looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Al Hammad keeps control of the position easily here as McGregor Jr tries to buck him off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McGregor Jr wants to get back to his feet.
McGregor Jr is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
McGregor Jr can't escape the position.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Al Hammad controlling the positon.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bashaad Al Hammad dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Al Hammad fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

McGregor Jr scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

McGregor Jr stands up and beckons Al Hammad to his feet.
Al Hammad tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but McGregor Jr swivels and escapes.
Bashaad Al Hammad seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Al Hammad throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around McGregor Jr 's waist but McGregor Jr gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Al Hammad off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bashaad Al Hammad. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Al Hammad shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as McGregor Jr sprawls well. McGregor Jr wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Al Hammad gets slowly back to his feet.
Al Hammad moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Al Hammad dives in for a single leg takedown but McGregor Jr sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
A nice side step and McGregor Jr releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Al Hammad shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. McGregor Jr defends it nicely.

McGregor Jr scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McGregor Jr throwing strikes but Al Hammad manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if McGregor Jr can do anything to dispel that myth.
McGregor Jr wants to get back to his feet but Al Hammad drags him back down.
Al Hammad working away.
McGregor Jr is looking for a sweep.
McGregor Jr is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Al Hammad has just dragged him back down to the mat.
McGregor Jr is trying to get back to half guard.
McGregor Jr wants to get back to his feet but Al Hammad is dominant here and he's now got McGregor Jr 's back!

Al Hammad has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
McGregor Jr wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
McGregor Jr tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Al Hammad trying to control but McGregor Jr is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McGregor Jr is in all sorts of trouble here.
McGregor Jr tries to lock up and control but Al Hammad gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Al Hammad controlling his opponent.
McGregor Jr tries to lock up and control but Al Hammad gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
McGregor Jr tries to reverse the position but Al Hammad maintains control.
McGregor Jr tries to improve his position but instead Al Hammad has taken his back!
McGregor Jr is really stuck here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Al Hammad controls the position.
Bashaad Al Hammad overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
McGregor Jr trying to get back to his feet but Al Hammad is in full control for now.
McGregor Jr is really stuck here.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Al Hammad controlling the positon.
Al Hammad not allowing McGregor Jr to control his hands.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Al Hammad looking to break McGregor Jr 's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. McGregor Jr remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Al Hammad will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Conor McGregor Jr will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

McGregor Jr fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Al Hammad looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

McGregor Jr has closed the distance and engaged Al Hammad in a clinch.

McGregor Jr breaks the clinch.

McGregor Jr throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Al Hammad tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. McGregor Jr is in Al Hammad's guard.
McGregor Jr trying to control but Al Hammad is working from the bottom.
McGregor Jr wants to stand but Al Hammad is controlling his posture from full guard.
McGregor Jr postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McGregor Jr looking to sit in guard and control but Al Hammad gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

McGregor Jr keeping full guard, as Al Hammad tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McGregor Jr working a defensive guard here.
Al Hammad stopping the sweep attempt from McGregor Jr .
McGregor Jr bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Al Hammad's guard.

Al Hammad looking to hit a scissor sweep but McGregor Jr is one step ahead there.
McGregor Jr wants to control from the top but Al Hammad keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Al Hammad has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
McGregor Jr throws a big elbow that misses.
McGregor Jr 's corner is telling him to maintain position.
McGregor Jr won't allow Al Hammad to sweep him here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McGregor Jr wants to control from the top but Al Hammad keeps moving.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Al Hammad shoots in for a takedown but McGregor Jr shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

McGregor Jr shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Al Hammad's guard.
Al Hammad pulls McGregor Jr in close to prevent any damage.
McGregor Jr must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
McGregor Jr won't allow Al Hammad to sweep him here.
Al Hammad keeping full guard, as McGregor Jr tries to pass.
McGregor Jr landing with the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Al Hammad has McGregor Jr pulled in close to control his posture.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Al Hammad is on top in guard.

McGregor Jr looking for a guillotine here but Al Hammad defends easily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Al Hammad's corner is telling him to maintain position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Conor McGregor Jr comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think McGregor Jr 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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 28:29
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Conor McGregor Jr !
Conor McGregor Jr decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.