PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Lathem McGuire (ranked 816 p4p, 1445 weight class) and Charles Bukowski (ranked 104 p4p, 168 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Charles Bukowski enters the cage!

McGuire
vs
Bukowski

188 cm
33
185
22 - 14 - 0

183 cm
34
190
22 - 20 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Conquer
Conviction

KOMBAT KLOTHING
Conquest Nutrition™ (160Q) $89

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 22 - 14 - 0, fighting out of New York, Lathem McGuire!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 20 - 0, fighting out of London, Charles Bukowski!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Paul Tew and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bukowski lands a nice shot to the body.
Bukowski moves in looking to clinch but McGuire pushes him off.
Bukowski sizes up McGuire with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
McGuire scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Bukowski keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Bukowski feints and as McGuire raises his hands in defense, Bukowski changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

McGuire scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bukowski misses with a body shot.
McGuire takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

Bukowski shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Bukowski was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Bukowski prevents McGuire from escaping the position.
McGuire is not content to let Bukowski control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bukowski controlling the position.
Bukowski wants to lay and pray for a moment but McGuire keeps working.
Bukowski landing strikes.
Bukowski throws an elbow but McGuire slips to the side and avoids it well.
Sloppy strikes there by Bukowski.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Bukowski working the head with strikes.
The strikes coming from Bukowski are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
McGuire knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Bukowski on the ground.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
McGuire takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sloppy strikes there by Bukowski.
Bukowski throws an elbow but McGuire slips to the side and avoids it well.
Bukowski throwing shots but missing, from side control.
A lull in the action here.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
McGuire wants to get back to his feet but Bukowski drags him back down.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bukowski cracks McGuire with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Bukowski fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. McGuire looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

Bukowski clinches with his opponent.
McGuire lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Bukowski can't get the takedown.

Bukowski turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Bukowski manages to end up in side control.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
McGuire takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Bukowski connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused McGuire some visible discomfort.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bukowski is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt McGuire will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
McGuire is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Bukowski asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Bukowski is chipping away with strikes.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bukowski throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Bukowski throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Bukowski looking to punish the body of his opponent here but McGuire is avoiding damage well.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Bukowski manages to get an easy takedown there - catching McGuire on his heels. He'll look to pass McGuire's guard now, I'm sure.
Bukowski slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
McGuire keeping moving, preventing Bukowski from controlling successfully.
Bukowski throwing strikes from guard but McGuire blocks nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bukowski throws a big right hand that misses.
Bukowski working some strikes from top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bukowski wants to control from the top but McGuire keeps moving.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Bukowski controlling from the top position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Bukowski throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Bukowski is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down McGuire rather than just go for the knockout.

Bukowski clinches up with McGuire and pushes him back against the cage.
Bukowski has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
A shot in the inside from Bukowski.
McGuire is pressed up against the cage. Bukowski has hold of a leg and is looking to drag McGuire down to the mat. McGuire avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
McGuire slips under a jab.

Bukowski closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Bukowski lands in his opponent's guard.

McGuire pushes Bukowski off and scrambles back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bukowski misses with a body shot
and McGuire counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
McGuire is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

Bukowski has managed to clinch.
Bukowski blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Bukowski has a couple of punches blocked by McGuire.

Bukowski pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Charles Bukowski seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Bukowski connects with a jab.
Bukowski dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Bukowski scores with a shot to the body.
Bukowski misses with a wild body shot.
Bukowski throws a hook to the side of McGuire's head but McGuire sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Bukowski misses with an uppercut. McGuire saw that one coming.
McGuire lands a nice looking body shot.
Bukowski misses with a hook. McGuire ducked under it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bukowski lands a straight punch to the body, keeping McGuire at a distance.
Bukowski fails with an attempt to clinch.
McGuire misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Bukowski.
McGuire gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Bukowski.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Bukowski is defended easily by McGuire.
It looked like McGuire wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
McGuire lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Bukowski at a distance.
McGuire lands with an overhand left.
Bukowski cracks McGuire with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
McGuire misses with a wild body shot.
Bukowski cracks McGuire with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McGuire throws the left hand but Bukowski avoids the punch easily.
McGuire moves out of range of the strikes.
McGuire appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Good exchange - McGuire coming out on top.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Decent striking displayed by McGuire there.

Bukowski drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Bukowski trying to control the position but McGuire is working away.
Bukowski creates some space and throws a big elbow, but McGuire sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Bukowski scores with a couple of short elbows.
Bukowski has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Bukowski tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Charles Bukowski will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! McGuire's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

A chopping leg kick lands by McGuire.
Bukowski displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as McGuire throws out the jab.
McGuire throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by McGuire.
McGuire misses with an uppercut
and Bukowski cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Bukowski checks a leg kick nicely.
Bukowski scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.

Bukowski drives through with a takedown into guard.
Bukowski postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
McGuire on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if McGuire tries to get out of the position.
Bukowski slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Bukowski working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bukowski throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as McGuire works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Bukowski content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
McGuire preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Bukowski throws a big right hand that misses.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

McGuire gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Bukowski postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Charles Bukowski has got the better of the ground game so far.
Bukowski controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Bukowski accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McGuire has momentary wrist control but Bukowski slips an elbow through the middle.
Bukowski cracks McGuire with a solid left hand.
Bukowski throws a big right hand that misses.
McGuire preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Bukowski throws a big right hand that misses.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Bukowski controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Lathem McGuire is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Bukowski closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming McGuire to the mat! McGuire manages to get full guard.
Bukowski throws a big elbow that misses.
Lathem McGuire has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bukowski connects with a couple of short punches.
Bukowski postures up in McGuire's guard and throws a big left but McGuire blocks it.
Bukowski is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Bukowski makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Bukowski controls from within his opponent's guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Bukowski lands with a cross.

Bukowski darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Bukowski working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Bukowski working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Bukowski thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Bukowski slows the pace down in half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

And that's the end of the fight!
Charles Bukowski comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Bukowski has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Andrew Berry scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 27:30
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Charles Bukowski!
Charles Bukowski decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.