PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Kron McGregor (ranked 2961 p4p, 3620 weight class) and Ja Maica (ranked 324 p4p, 373 weight class). This should be fireworks!

McGregor
vs
Maica

179 cm
21
153
2 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
163
5 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Hawaii Nutrition

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Kron McGregor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ja Maica!
The judges for this bout are Jeff Smith, Ryoma Takatsuka and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maica lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
McGregor paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
A jab from Maica does it's job there.
McGregor walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Maica checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Maica's coach down at Hawaii Gym was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Maica's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
McGregor scores with a body shot.
McGregor changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
A head kick misses from Maica.
Maica connects with an inside leg kick.
McGregor looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
McGregor misses with the combination.
A slow jab from McGregor misses its intended target.
Maica throws a lazy head kick
and McGregor counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
McGregor tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maica takes a swing at McGregor's ribcage but misses.
Maica attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Maica shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. McGregor eats them both and turns towards Maica to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
McGregor dips to his left and cracks Maica with an uppercut!
Sloppy strikes from McGregor. Those never looked like landing.
McGregor checks a leg kick.
Kron McGregor seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Maica looks to land a right hand but McGregor moved out of range.
McGregor tries to clinch up but Maica circles away and keeps his distance.
McGregor throws a shot from downtown. Maica moves away and avoids it.
Maica swings for the body but McGregor moves out of range.
Maica avoids the head kick by McGregor.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A combination from McGregor does no damage.
Maica moves out of range of the strikes.
A nice leg kick from McGregor, right into the meat of the thigh.
Maica looks to score with a jab to the body but McGregor is just out of range.
McGregor scores with a nice right hand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Maica misses with a wild combination.
Maica swings for the body but McGregor moves out of range.
Maica misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
McGregor takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
McGregor throws a hook but Maica avoids it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from McGregor.
Maica flicks out a counter leg kick but McGregor steps away.
McGregor avoids the head kick by Maica.
Nice straight punches there by McGregor. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of McGregor.
Maica attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
A nice combination there by Maica.
Maica ducks down and throws a hook to the body but McGregor moves away.
McGregor cracks Maica with an open hand slap.
Maica lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Maica jabs at McGregor's body.
McGregor feints and then cracks Maica's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Maica down.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maica slips a jab and a cross from McGregor.
Maica is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

McGregor gets in close and instigates a clinch.

McGregor breaks from the clinch.
Maica misses the shot to the body.
McGregor throws a counter high kick but Maica was just alert enough to avoid it.
Maica throws a shot from downtown. McGregor moves away and avoids it.
McGregor with the inside leg kick.
Maica scores with a jab to the head.
McGregor lands a body shot.
Maica throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
McGregor misses with an uppercut
and Maica counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Maica slips a jab and a cross from McGregor.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Kron McGregor will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from McGregor.
McGregor takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Maica stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

McGregor fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Maica, pushing him back against the cage.

McGregor breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Maica lands a nice looking body kick.
Maica throws a low kick but it's checked well by McGregor.
McGregor jabs Maica right on the nose. Maica blinks but takes it well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maica scores with a hook to the body. McGregor takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
A head kick misses from McGregor.
Maica lands a two punch combo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A leg kick checked by McGregor.
A bone on bone clash there as McGregor blocks the leg kick.
McGregor is looking to counter the offense by Maica and move into the clinch.
Ja Maica seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A big right from Maica misses.
McGregor connects with a crisp jab.
McGregor is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Maica swings for the body but McGregor moves out of range.
Maica tests McGregor's chin there with a solid looking shot.
McGregor is looking to score with low kicks.
Maica throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
McGregor tries to counter by clinching up but Maica breaks away and moves out of range.
McGregor misses with a jab, cross combination.
It seemed like Maica was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McGregor misses with a body kick.
Maica wants to counter with a clinch but McGregor pushes him away.
Maica tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and McGregor is able to avoid easily.
Maica throws a sloppy body shot
and McGregor counters with a one-two to the body.
McGregor tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

McGregor closes the distance and clinches.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A frustrated look appears on Maica's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Maica wants to get back to striking at distance but McGregor won't allow it.

McGregor's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
McGregor throws a body kick that misses.
A little jabbing left from Maica on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Maica walks into a stiff left hand from McGregor.
McGregor scores with a shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McGregor takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Maica scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Maica misses with a body shot.
McGregor thinks about countering with a body kick.
Maica is looking to chop away at McGregor's legs.
Maica throws a half hearted mid kick.
It looked like McGregor was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
McGregor's jab looks to have found its range, popping Maica under the eye.
McGregor tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
It seemed like Maica was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
McGregor tries to clinch up but Maica circles away and keeps his distance.
A left and a right from Maica both land. Nice combination.
Maica thuds a left hand into McGregor's body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McGregor lands a really nice looking cross but Maica seems unphased.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Maica throws a body punch but McGregor moves out of range.
McGregor throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
McGregor checks the leg kick.
McGregor checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Maica avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
McGregor misses with a head kick.
Maica is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down McGregor rather than just go for the knockout.
McGregor misses with a combination
and Maica counters with a straight right hand.
McGregor connects with a high kick.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ja Maica will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from McGregor lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Maica has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Maica and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
McGregor backing away here, and Maica unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as McGregor checks a leg kick.
Kron McGregor is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
McGregor avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Maica scores with a jab to the head.
McGregor throws a shot from downtown. Maica moves away and avoids it.
Maica wants to counter with a clinch but McGregor pushes him away.
Maica misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from McGregor.
Maica doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McGregor checks a low kick from Maica.
Maica takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

McGregor rushes Maica and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

McGregor manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McGregor will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
McGregor throws a hook but Maica avoids it easily.
McGregor tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Maica was well out of range. Poor timing from McGregor.
Maica lands a head kick!
McGregor misses with a two punch combination.
A swing and a miss from Maica.
McGregor throws a quick counter kick to the body but Maica avoids it.
McGregor misses with a body punch
and Maica counters with a body kick.
McGregor thows a left - swing and a miss!
Maica lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but McGregor circles away quickly and effectively.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from McGregor. Maica does a little dance to reset his feet.
Maica is on the wrong end of a nice combination from McGregor.
A jab lands there for Maica.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
McGregor throws a right hand that Maica ducks under and follows up with a left that Maica also avoids with ease.
Maica fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Maica swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
McGregor blocks the body kick.
McGregor avoids a punch combination nicely.
McGregor thinks about countering with a head kick.
Maica takes one on the chin but seems OK.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McGregor checks a leg kick nicely.
Maica throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
McGregor avoids a punch combination nicely.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Maica lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and McGregor has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from McGregor and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
McGregor is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Maica.
Left hook, right uppercut from McGregor.
Maica swings for the body but McGregor moves out of range.
Maica scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
McGregor takes a body punch but keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McGregor blocks a head kick by Maica.
McGregor blocks the body kick.
McGregor thuds a left hand into Maica's body.

McGregor clinches with his opponent.
Come on McGregor - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
McGregor keeps control of Maica as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

McGregor breaks from the 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 tries to clinch but Maica moves out of range.
Maica ducks under a wild hook from McGregor.
McGregor lands a body shot.

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 Kron 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 Jeff Smith scores the fight 29:29
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 29:28

The fight is ruled a draw!