PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Liam Mcgregor (ranked 6294 p4p, 6209 weight class) and Jean Yves Theriault (ranked 574 p4p, 571 weight class). Jean Yves Theriault struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 156.7lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Mcgregor
vs
Theriault

181 cm
27
162
3 - 4 - 0

185 cm
22
169
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Liam Mcgregor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jean Yves Theriault!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, John Kavanagh and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Theriault keeps the fight on the outside.
Mcgregor throws a series of punches but Theriault avoids them all with ease.
Theriault looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Theriault misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Mcgregor avoids the head kick by Theriault.
Mcgregor misses with the combination.
Theriault goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

Mcgregor gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Mcgregor misses with some punches.
Mcgregor looking to slow down the pace here.
Theriault tries to work over Mcgregor's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mcgregor lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Theriault backwards.
Mcgregor lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Theriault stalling against the cage.
Mcgregor tries to pull guard but Theriault holds him up against the cage and eventually Mcgregor drops back down to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Mcgregor is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Theriault is keeping busy.
Mcgregor seems a little flustered. He's come in with the intention of controlling the clinch but Theriault is preventing him from doing so, at least for the moment.
Mcgregor is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Theriault gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Theriault displaying some good clinch control by pressing Mcgregor up against the cage.
Mcgregor can't get the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Liam Mcgregor. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Theriault breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Theriault avoids a punch combination nicely.
Theriault blocks the body kick.
Theriault blocks a leg kick.
Theriault looks for the body kick but Mcgregor saw that one coming.
Jean Yves Theriault is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Mcgregor works over Theriault's head and body with a nice combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Theriault misses with an attempted mid kick.

Theriault tries to keep at a distance but Mcgregor has taken the fight into the clinch.
Mcgregor scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Mcgregor softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Theriault prevents the takedown attempt.
Theriault blocks an uppercut.

Theriault escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Liam Mcgregor seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mcgregor throws a one two combo.
Mcgregor tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Theriault paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Theriault has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Mcgregor moves out of range as Theriault throws a body kick.
Mcgregor is looking to clinch but Theriault is avoiding it.
Theriault takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Theriault misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A punch lands to the side of Theriault 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Theriault plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Theriault takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Mcgregor tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Theriault manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Theriault is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Theriault tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Mcgregor was well out of range. Poor timing from Theriault.
Mcgregor was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Theriault lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Mcgregor throws a right hand that Theriault ducks under and follows up with a left that Theriault also avoids with ease.
A punch combination from Mcgregor misses.
Theriault drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Theriault misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
It looked like Mcgregor was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Theriault takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Mcgregor scores with a three punch combo!
Mcgregor lands a two punch combo.
Theriault scores with a nice body kick.
Mcgregor is breathing heavily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mcgregor jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Mcgregor misses with a combination
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Theriault fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Mcgregor on the side of the head.
Mcgregor avoids a kick to the body.
Theriault throws a head kick but Mcgregor moves out of range.
As Theriault looks to move away, Mcgregor throws a big counter combo but Theriault just gets out of the way.
Mcgregor looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Mcgregor dives in for a single leg takedown but Theriault sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Mcgregor misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mcgregor swings wildly with an uppercut but Theriault uses good head movement to avoid it.

Mcgregor breaks from the clinch.
Theriault lands with a kick to the ribs.
Theriault misses with a body kick.
Theriault swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Mcgregor tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Theriault paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Mcgregor throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Theriault lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Mcgregor throws a right hand that Theriault ducks under and follows up with a left that Theriault also avoids with ease.
Mcgregor's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Mcgregor duly obliges.
Mcgregor tries to clinch up.
Theriault thinks about the counter body kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Theriault throws a body kick that misses.
Mcgregor is working the combinations to good effect here.
Mcgregor misses with the combination.
Mcgregor blocks the body kick.
Theriault is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Liam Mcgregor dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Mcgregor throws a combination. Theriault tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Left hook, right uppercut from Mcgregor.
Theriault waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Mcgregor.
Mcgregor tries to bum rush Theriault with a series of wild strikes but Theriault uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Mcgregor throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A left lands for Theriault.
Mcgregor misses with a low kick.
Despite the aggression on Theriault's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Theriault throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Theriault lands a leg kick that knocks Mcgregor off balance momentarily.
Theriault throws an overhand right that lands on Mcgregor's shoulder, as Mcgregor tries to avoid the shot.

Mcgregor instigates a clinch.
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!

Mcgregor escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Mcgregor misses with a double jab
and Theriault counters with a nice body kick.
Mcgregor wants to clinch up but Theriault keeps it at a distance.
Mcgregor tries to bum rush Theriault with a series of wild strikes but Theriault uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Liam Mcgregor is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Crunch! Theriault slams his shin into Mcgregor's torso.
Theriault misses with a body kick.
Theriault throws a head kick that misses.
Mcgregor blocks the body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Theriault lands with a nice body kick.
Liam Mcgregor is winning the standup battle so far.
Theriault swats away the attempt to clinch by Mcgregor.
Mcgregor slips under a jab from Theriault.
Mcgregor takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Mcgregor keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Theriault.
Mcgregor seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Mcgregor misses with a double jab.
Theriault misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Mcgregor.
As Theriault looks to move away, Mcgregor throws a big counter combo but Theriault just gets out of the way.
Mcgregor stalks Theriault and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Theriault's face. Theriault staggers backwards, shaken.

Mcgregor pushes Theriault up against the cage in a clinch.
Theriault tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Mcgregor missing with knees to the body.
Mcgregor tries to pull guard but Theriault forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Theriault manages to break the clinch.
Theriault is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Mcgregor.
Mcgregor fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Theriault scores with a push kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Theriault waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Mcgregor.
Theriault lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Mcgregor takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Mcgregor moves away from the strike by Theriault.

Mcgregor gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Theriault takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Mcgregor is looking to control Theriault's arms but Theriault gets an underhook and turns him. Now Mcgregor has his back to the cage.
Theriault misses with a body punch.
Theriault misses with a punch on the inside.
Mcgregor is looking for a takedown.
Theriault misses with a punch to the body.
Theriault slows down the pace here.
Mcgregor takes a shot to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mcgregor trying to stall but Theriault improves his position.

Theriault escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Theriault thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Mcgregor if he has to take too many more of those.
Mcgregor cracks a nice hook into Theriault's ribs.
Theriault scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
A punch combination from Mcgregor misses.
Theriault raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Theriault misses with a body shot.
Mcgregor takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Theriault goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Theriault walks into a jab.
Mcgregor shoots in looking for a takedown but Theriault manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Mcgregor's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Liam Mcgregor. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Theriault lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Mcgregor avoids a kick to the body.
Mcgregor goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mcgregor moves out of range of the body kick from Theriault.
Theriault throws a head kick but Mcgregor moves out of range.
Mcgregor will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mcgregor moves out of range of the body kick from Theriault.
Theriault explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Mcgregor walks forward, straight into a front kick from Theriault.
Mcgregor fails to land with a series of punches.
Mcgregor tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Theriault delivers a nice body kick.
It looks like Mcgregor has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Crunch! Theriault slams his shin into Mcgregor's torso.
Theriault misses with a body kick.
Mcgregor tries to clinch up but Theriault circles away and keeps his distance.
Mcgregor avoids the body shot from Theriault.
Theriault throws out a loose jab but Mcgregor uses good head movement to avoid it.
Mcgregor fails to land with a series of punches.
Theriault throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mcgregor throws a right and a left that Theriault avoids nicely.
Mcgregor avoids the head kick by Theriault.
Mcgregor fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Theriault throws a fast counter high kick but Mcgregor manages to duck under it in time.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jean Yves Theriault showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Theriault throws a push kick but Mcgregor slaps the foot to one side.
Mcgregor throws a half hearted mid kick.
Theriault feints a counter leg kick.
Mcgregor throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Theriault on the side of the head.

Mcgregor moves into the clinch successfully.

Mcgregor manages to break the clinch.
Mcgregor fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Mcgregor displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Mcgregor lands a lovely overhand right.
Theriault misses with a head kick.
Theriault is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Mcgregor.
Mcgregor defending well as Theriault loads up on a big left hand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Theriault displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Mcgregor.
Theriault swats away the attempt to clinch by Mcgregor.
Theriault throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Mcgregor looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Theriault thinks about the counter body kick.
Mcgregor will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Mcgregor fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Theriault, pushing him back against the cage.
Mcgregor tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Theriault smiles and moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice leg kick from Theriault, right into the meat of the thigh.
Mcgregor tries to clinch there but Theriault circles away.
Theriault feints a counter leg kick.
Mcgregor throws a nice looking combination but Theriault bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
No joy there for Mcgregor, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Theriault only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Theriault looks to throw the jab but Mcgregor is out of range.
Mcgregor swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Theriault misses with a kick to the body.
Theriault thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Mcgregor if he has to take too many more of those.
Theriault looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Mcgregor moves out of range as Theriault strikes.
Mcgregor shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Theriault eats them both and turns towards Mcgregor to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Mcgregor takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Sloppy strikes from Mcgregor. Those never looked like landing.
Theriault lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Theriault lands with a shot to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Theriault tries a head kick but it misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Theriault tries to land a front kick but Mcgregor steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Theriault has worked on his takedown defense in the runup to this fight and it is paying off so far.
Mcgregor is looking to clinch but Theriault is avoiding it.
Mcgregor is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Theriault.
Mcgregor swinging wildly here.
Mcgregor misses with a jab, cross combination.
Theriault connects with an inside leg kick.
Mcgregor throws a series of punches but Theriault avoids them all with ease.
A punch combination from Mcgregor misses.
Theriault is trying to counter with his kicks.
Mcgregor on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
A combination from Mcgregor does no damage.
Theriault throws a big counter head kick but Mcgregor avoids it with no problem.
Sloppy strikes from Theriault. Those never looked like landing.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Theriault.
Mcgregor throws a big counter combination but Theriault scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Mcgregor's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Mcgregor duly obliges.
Theriault throws a push kick but Mcgregor slaps the foot to one side.
As Theriault looks to move away, Mcgregor throws a big counter combo but Theriault just gets out of the way.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mcgregor throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Theriault counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Theriault buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Mcgregor takes a kick to the side of the head.
Mcgregor sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Mcgregor darts in looking for a takedown but Theriault gets double underhooks and turns Mcgregor into the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Liam Mcgregor. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Theriault tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Theriault breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Mcgregor moves out of range as Theriault throws a body kick.
Theriault swats away the attempt to clinch by Mcgregor.
Theriault throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Theriault takes a swing at Mcgregor's ribcage but misses.
A punch combination from Mcgregor misses.
Mcgregor defending well as Theriault loads up on a big left hand.
Theriault thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Mcgregor if he has to take too many more of those.
Theriault throws a head kick that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mcgregor scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mcgregor throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Theriault.
Mcgregor uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Mcgregor misses with a double jab.
Mcgregor feints a jab promting Theriault to slip. Mcgregor then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Theriault slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Theriault.
Theriault lands a head kick!
Mcgregor lands with a nice combination. Theriault backs away looking to recover.
Theriault throws a head kick but Mcgregor moves out of range.
Mcgregor fails with an attempt to clinch.
Mcgregor fails to land with a series of punches.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mcgregor fails to land with a series of punches.
Theriault pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Theriault throws a nice head kick!

Mcgregor moves into range and clinches up with Theriault.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Liam Mcgregor.
I think Mcgregor has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Jorge Garcia scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Liam Mcgregor!
A relieved looking Liam Mcgregor thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.