PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tiaoali Lvavatai (ranked 4807 p4p, 4798 weight class) and Rory MacGeraghty (ranked 548 p4p, 543 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Lvavatai
vs
MacGeraghty

171 cm
18
159
0 - 0 - 0

186 cm
18
202
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tiaoali Lvavatai !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rory MacGeraghty!
The judges for this bout are Jeff Smith, Ryoma Takatsuka and Josh West.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

MacGeraghty gets a clinch.

MacGeraghty manages to break the clinch.
MacGeraghty scores with a head kick.

It looks like Tiaoali Lvavatai has been cut.
MacGeraghty tries to clinch up.

Lvavatai closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.

MacGeraghty escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

MacGeraghty rushes Lvavatai and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.
MacGeraghty is trying to pull guard but Lvavatai turns him against the ropes and we stay in the clinch.
Lvavatai stops a takedown attempt from MacGeraghty.

MacGeraghty breaks from the clinch.
Lvavatai swats away the attempt to clinch by MacGeraghty.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lvavatai tries a head kick but it misses.
Lvavatai tries to clinch there but MacGeraghty circles away.

Lvavatai darts in and clinches MacGeraghty up against the ropes.
MacGeraghty tries to break free but Lvavatai pushes him back against the ropes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
MacGeraghty tries to pull guard but Lvavatai forces him back to his feet, against the ropes.
Tiaoali Lvavatai has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rory MacGeraghty.
MacGeraghty changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Lvavatai fights it off and pushes away nicely.
MacGeraghty tries a head kick but it misses.

MacGeraghty gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
MacGeraghty is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Lvavatai is keeping busy.
Lvavatai wants to take the fight to the mat but MacGeraghty manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
MacGeraghty fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Lvavatai tries for a takedown. No joy.

MacGeraghty breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
MacGeraghty tries to clinch but Lvavatai moves out of range.

Lvavatai has MacGeraghty up against the ropes in a clinch.

Lvavatai jumps into guard, dragging MacGeraghty to the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Lvavatai is on top in guard.

Lvavatai slips nicely into half guard.

Lvavatai stands up and beckons MacGeraghty to join him on the feet.
MacGeraghty goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Lvavatai gets in close and instigates a clinch.
MacGeraghty is trying to pull guard but Lvavatai turns him against the ropes and we stay in the clinch.

MacGeraghty breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

MacGeraghty gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Lvavatai throws a knee to the head but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lvavatai has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics MacGeraghty uses from the top position.
Lvavatai doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
MacGeraghty wants to pass the guard but Lvavatai is keeping the position.
Lvavatai has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
MacGeraghty trying to control but Lvavatai is working from the bottom.
Lvavatai working a defensive guard here.
MacGeraghty trying to control but Lvavatai is working from the bottom.

Lvavatai throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lvavatai has his foot on MacGeraghty's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. MacGeraghty works his way back into a safe position though.
Lvavatai keeping moving, preventing MacGeraghty from controlling successfully.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

Lvavatai looking for a guillotine here but MacGeraghty defends easily.
Lvavatai bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in MacGeraghty's guard.

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tiaoali Lvavatai dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Tiaoali Lvavatai 's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

MacGeraghty fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Lvavatai , pushing him back against the ropes.
MacGeraghty tries to break the clinch but Lvavatai is controlling the position.
MacGeraghty working hard to break the clinch.

Lvavatai pulls guard.

Lvavatai looking for a guillotine here but MacGeraghty defends easily.
Lvavatai is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Lvavatai is working for a submission here. He's got hold of the far side arm and he's looking for a kimura. He's cranking on the arm and he's got it! MacGeraghty is tapping out! Ouch, that looked like it hurt!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Tiaoali Lvavatai !