PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joao Cajo Branca (ranked 147 p4p, 309 weight class) and Bryer McGuire (ranked 24 p4p, 51 weight class). Branca comes to the cage accompanied by original score medley. McGuire has chosen Simple Man - Lynyrd Skynyrd as his entrance music. Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Branca
vs
McGuire

194 cm
29
269
23 - 12 - 0

202 cm
29
265
16 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Mile High

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing
Paddy's Enhancing Drugs (160Q)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 23 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Joao Cajo Branca!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Bryer McGuire!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Shigeki Sano and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice shot lands for McGuire.

It looks like Joao Cajo Branca has been cut.
McGuire takes a jab right on the kisser.
McGuire misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
McGuire moves out of range of the strikes.
Branca scores with a hook to the body. McGuire takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Branca on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
McGuire misses with an uppercut.
Branca avoids the body shot from McGuire.
A low kick from McGuire is predictable there
and Branca cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Branca lands a slapping body shot.
McGuire ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Branca moves away.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
McGuire takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
McGuire jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McGuire scores with a leg kick.
McGuire thumps Branca with a low kick.
McGuire throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A little feinted left hand from Branca on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Branca scores with a body shot.
McGuire misses with an uppercut
and Branca counters with a straight right hand.
McGuire misses with a leg kick.
Branca displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as McGuire throws out the jab.

Branca cracks McGuire with a big right hand that sends him crashing to the floor. Branca has the opportunity to follow him to the ground but instead he's beckoning McGuire to stand back up!

McGuire is rocked!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Branca misses with a low kick as McGuire jumps back.
McGuire loads up on a big right hand but Branca slips the punch.
A quick step to the side and Branca tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Branca just misses with a punch to the body.
McGuire appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Branca on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by McGuire. McGuire obviously looking to wear him down.
Branca lands a glancing blow to the side of McGuire's head.
Branca fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but McGuire is out of range.
A leg kick checked by Branca.
McGuire lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
McGuire misses with a few strikes there.

Branca cracks McGuire with a big right hand that sends him crashing to the floor. Branca has the opportunity to follow him to the ground but instead he's beckoning McGuire to stand back up!
McGuire is still on wobbly legs! Can Branca finish him?
Branca misses with a looping left.
McGuire steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Branca.
McGuire seems to have recovered his senses.
McGuire throws a low kick but it's checked well by Branca.
Branca throws a body punch but McGuire moves out of range.
McGuire wants to counter with a clinch but Branca pushes him away.
A jab from McGuire misses.
Branca misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from McGuire.
A nice side step and McGuire releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Branca takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
McGuire blocks the body kick.
Branca blocks a jab.
McGuire misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Branca counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
McGuire will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.

Branca lands a big uppercut and McGuire crumbles to the floor! The ref thinks about stopping the fight but McGuire looks OK. Branca waves McGuire back to his feet!

McGuire gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Branca is working McGuire over against the cage.
Branca misses with the head strike.
Branca scores with a shot to the side of McGuire's head.
McGuire is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Branca is defending well for now.
Branca takes a knee to the side of the body.
Branca is breathing heavily.
Branca tries to land knees in the clinch but McGuire avoids the damage to the body.
McGuire misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Branca is trying to break the clinch but McGuire is controlling him.
McGuire blocks a body shot from Branca.
McGuire is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Knees in the clinch landing for McGuire.
Branca is looking to control McGuire's arms but McGuire gets an underhook and turns him. Now Branca has his back to the cage.
McGuire misses with a hook to the ribs.
Branca tried to land a shot to the body but connects with McGuire's elbow.
Branca has a couple of punches blocked by McGuire.
McGuire misses with a punch to the body.
Branca scores with a nice hook to the head.
McGuire misses with a punch to the body.
Branca creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Branca misses with a punch to the body.
Branca takes a knee to the side of the body.
A head punch blocked on the inside by McGuire.
McGuire fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
McGuire tries to land knees in the clinch but Branca avoids the damage to the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Joao Cajo Branca dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Joao Cajo Branca's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

McGuire ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Branca moves away.
McGuire tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
McGuire throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Branca with the inside leg kick.
A left lands for Branca.
Branca misses with a leg kick
and Branca takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Branca connects with a leg kick.
McGuire cracks Branca with a good jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Branca throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Branca takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

Joao Cajo Branca's cut is getting worse.

McGuire rushes Branca and presses him up against the cage.
Branca is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that McGuire can do to turn this around?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Branca misses with some punches.
Branca tries to land a knee to the head but McGuire blocks with his arms.
McGuire misses with a punch to the body.
McGuire tries a knee to the head but Branca blocks it.
McGuire misses with a hook to the ribs.
Branca blocking some punches.
Branca lands a shoulder strike.

Branca breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
McGuire uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Branca.
Branca is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by McGuire.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from McGuire in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Branca slips under a jab.
Branca throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and McGuire counters with a thumping low kick.

McGuire clinches with his opponent.
McGuire missing with knees to the body.
Come on McGuire - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Branca scores with a nice hook to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McGuire misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Branca blocks an uppercut.
McGuire misses with some punches.
McGuire misses with a hook from the clinch.
Branca lands a body punch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Branca.
Branca gets through McGuire's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for McGuire.
Bryer McGuire seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
McGuire misses with some punches.
Branca gets through McGuire's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
McGuire blocks a body shot from Branca.
Our sources have told us that Branca has been working on his knees in the buildup to the fight.
Come on McGuire - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
McGuire trying to land knees to the body.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Branca.
McGuire is breathing heavily.
Branca tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Branca misses with a hook to the ribs.
Branca avoiding damage as McGuire throws knees to the body.
Branca tries a body shot but McGuire blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McGuire avoiding damage as Branca throws knees to the body.
Branca goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Branca on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Branca misses with some punches.
Branca tries to work over McGuire's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
McGuire misses with a punch on the inside.
Branca swings wildly with an uppercut but McGuire uses good head movement to avoid it.
McGuire struggles to land a body shot inside as Branca controls his hands.
Branca misses with a punch to the body.
A short left from Branca.
Branca is leaning against McGuire and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
McGuire crunches a lovely knee into Branca's ribcage.
McGuire lands a right hand that snaps the head of Branca backwards.
McGuire presses Branca against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Branca creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Branca misses with a body punch.
Branca blocking some punches.
McGuire lands a knee to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McGuire misses with a knee to the head.
Branca tries to throw a body punch but McGuire avoids it by throwing Branca back against the cage.
Branca misses with a short punch on the inside.
Branca lands a right hand that snaps the head of McGuire backwards.
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!
Branca swings wildly with an uppercut but McGuire uses good head movement to avoid it.
McGuire lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Branca backwards.
A shot in the inside from McGuire.
McGuire is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Branca is keeping busy.
McGuire's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
McGuire blocks an uppercut.
Branca misses with a punch on the inside.
Branca takes a knee to the side of the body.
Branca fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A short right from McGuire on the inside.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Bryer McGuire will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Joao Cajo Branca's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Branca moves out of range as McGuire throws a body kick.
Branca ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
McGuire stalks Branca and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Branca's face. Branca staggers backwards, shaken.
Joao Cajo Branca is winning the standup battle so far.
Branca blocks a jab.
Branca scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Branca throws a combination but it was largely blocked by McGuire.
Branca sizes up McGuire with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McGuire looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
McGuire misses with an uppercut
and Branca counters with an inside leg kick.
Branca takes a shot to the body in his stride.
A lazy body kick from McGuire
and Branca counters with a good low kick that McGuire was not able to check.
McGuire takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice leg kick from Branca, right into the meat of the thigh.
McGuire fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Branca looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
McGuire misses with a hook.
Branca rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and McGuire counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

Joao Cajo Branca's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
McGuire scoring well with a low kick there.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Branca crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from McGuire - the referee stops the clock and Branca gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says McGuire. Branca manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
A low kick lands for McGuire.
Branca avoids the head kick by McGuire.
An attempted straight right counter from Branca misses the target.
Branca lands with a thumping leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McGuire ducks under a wild hook from Branca.
A lazy body kick from McGuire
and Branca counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

McGuire closes the distance and clinches.
A nice left hand lands by Branca.
Branca pushes McGuire back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
A shot in the inside from Branca.
McGuire managing to block the knees to the body from Branca.
McGuire throws a punch but it's blocked by Branca.
Branca is working McGuire over against the cage.

Branca manages to break the clinch.
A head kick by McGuire misses
and Branca counters with an inside leg kick.
Branca connects with a solid leg kick.
Branca listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Branca lands a nice hook to McGuire's body. McGuire takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Branca throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Branca lands with a hook. McGuire tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Branca lands a nice hook to McGuire's body. McGuire takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
McGuire looks to land a right hand but Branca moved out of range.
An inside leg kick lands from Branca.
Bryer McGuire seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Branca with a jab.
Branca looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
McGuire tries to clinch up.
Branca ducks under a wild hook from McGuire.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Branca throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Branca throws out a leg kick but McGuire moves out of range and Branca only half commits.
McGuire was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
McGuire missing with a left hand there. Branca was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
McGuire lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
McGuire scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

Jeez, Joao Cajo Branca's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Joao Cajo Branca's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:38 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Bryer McGuire!
During a confident post fight interview, Bryer McGuire thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.