PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Harold McGee (ranked 5289 p4p, 3988 weight class) and Steven French (ranked 500 p4p, 435 weight class). Harold McGee had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 206.9lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. Steven French has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Harold McGee's chin.

McGee
vs
French

193 cm
18
220
1 - 1 - 0

190 cm
18
205
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

High Quality Beef 🐄

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Harold McGee!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Steven French!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Richard Clark and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McGee needs to keep his hands up - French had a free shot at his head there.

McGee drives through and clinches with French against the cage.

McGee breaks from the clinch.
French throws a sloppy head kick

and McGee counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
French tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
McGee is trying to break the clinch but French has him pressed against the cage.
French wants to break the clinch but can't.

McGee escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
McGee uses good head movement to avoid the hook from French.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
French misses with a kick to the body
and McGee counters with a series of strikes. French will be more careful next time no doubt.

McGee gets in close and instigates a clinch.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
McGee smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
French misses with a kick to the body.
McGee has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Cozad MMA Los Angeles in the buildup to the fight.
McGee throws a hook but French avoids it easily.
McGee feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Frenchs jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
McGee uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from French.
McGee takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
McGee manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

McGee pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McGee lands with a cross.
McGee slips a jab and a cross from French.
French misses with an uppercut.
McGee appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
McGee takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
McGee misses the shot to the body.
McGee takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A jab from French does it's job there.
McGee moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
French throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

McGee has closed the distance and engaged French in a clinch.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
French lands a jab to McGee's midsection.
French tries to land a front kick but McGee steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
McGee moves out of range as French throws a body kick.
McGee misses with a combination
and French counters with a head kick.
French swings for the body but McGee moves out of range.
McGee appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
McGee throws a right and a left that both miss.
French lands a nice looking body kick.
French dodges the punch combination from McGee.
A countering left hand to the body from French misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
French misses with a two punch combination.
McGee walks into a straight right hand from French.

McGee gets a clinch.
French is defending well against a takedown attempt.

French breaks from the clinch.
French slips a jab from McGee.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
McGee misses with a few strikes there.
French connects with a body shot.
McGee takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
French avoids a punch combination nicely.
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 Harold McGee will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

French scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Steven French seems to be getting the better of the standup.
French throws a quick head kick that skims the top of McGee's head.
McGee misses with the combination.
McGee moves out of range as French strikes.
French throws out a loose jab but McGee uses good head movement to avoid it.
French slips a jab and a cross from McGee.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
French fakes the leg kick and cracks McGee in the body.
A nice combination there by McGee.
McGee swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Harold McGee is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
French lands a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
French misses with a body kick.
McGee avoids the body shot from French.
McGee walks forward, straight into a front kick from French.
French looking to land some kicks to the body here.
French tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
French misses with a head kick.

McGee moves into the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by McGee.
McGee is looking to break free of the clinch but French has double underhooks.
McGee is trying to break the clinch but French has him pressed against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McGee cracks French with a nice body shot.
McGee missing with knees to the body.
A head punch on the inside from French fails to land.
McGee stalling against the cage.

McGee manages to break the clinch.
McGee uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by French.

McGee drives through and clinches with French against the cage.
McGee is trying to push French away but French has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McGee tries to land knees in the clinch but French avoids the damage to the body.

McGee jumps guard.

French stands and steps away. McGee gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
French swings and misses with a hook to the body.

McGee closes the distance and clinches.
McGee blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
McGee tries to pull guard but French forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
McGee fails to pull guard.
French letting McGee take a breather here.
McGee is looking to break free of the clinch but French has double underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McGee lands with a left to the head.
French has had enough of the clinch but McGee keeps him there for the moment.
McGee is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. French is defending well for now.
McGee is trying to break the clinch but French has him pressed against the cage.
McGee is trying to pull guard but French turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Harold McGee. That's going to take a lot out of him.
French tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
McGee jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as French walks away with a smile on his face. McGee gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
McGee ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
An attempted straight right counter from McGee misses the target.
French swings and misses with a hook to the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Steven French will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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. This is the final round!

French scores with a shot to the body.

McGee moves into the clinch.
French misses with a hook to the ribs.
McGee blocks a body shot from French.
A short right from McGee on the inside.

It looks like Steven French has been cut.
McGee wants to take the fight to the mat but French manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
McGee tries to land knees in the clinch but French avoids the damage to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
French prevents McGee from breaking the clinch.
French tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
French fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
French wants to get back to striking at distance but McGee won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
French misses with a punch to the body.
French misses with a shot to the kidneys.
French has had enough of the clinch but McGee keeps him there for the moment.
McGee leaning against his opponent.
McGee lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of French backwards.
McGee tries to break the clinch but French is controlling the position.
Harold McGee has scored more points in the clinch so far.
French gets underhooks to prevent McGee's takedown attempt.
McGee wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
French is looking to break free of the clinch but McGee has double underhooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
A frustrated look appears on French's face as he tries to break the clinch.
McGee has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. French avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Harold McGee. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
McGee is struggling to control the position.
French tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
French tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
McGee wants a takedown but no success here.
French blocks an elbow strike.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for French.
McGee is stalling here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McGee keeps control of French as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
French throws a head punch that misses.
McGee is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for French.

McGee jumps guard and drags French to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

McGee has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. French is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
McGee stalling.
French misses with a punch to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
French tries to throw a body punch but McGee avoids it by throwing French back against the cage.
McGee blocking some punches.
French wants to break free but McGee has control.
French fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
McGee has French pressed against the cage.
French misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
A head punch blocked on the inside by McGee.
A head punch blocked on the inside by McGee.
McGee is looking to break free of the clinch but French has double underhooks.

And that's the end of the fight!
Harold McGee showed his dominance in that final round.
I think McGee 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 Andrew Berry scores the fight 29:28
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 30:28
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Harold McGee!
Harold McGee bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.