PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Joe Calzaghe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leo McGarry (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Calzaghe comes to the cage accompanied by The Pride of Wales. The crowd seem to be enjoying McGarry's choice of entrance music: Welcome to the Machine. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Calzaghe
vs
McGarry

182 cm
29
173 lbs
20 - 13 - 1

175 cm
27
175 lbs
12 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Great elbows
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 13 - 1, fighting out of London, Joe Calzaghe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Leo McGarry!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Tiny Johnson and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McGarry is looking to clinch.
McGarry tries to clinch but Calzaghe is having none of it.
Calzaghe cracks McGarry with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
A cross from Calzaghe lands.
Calzaghe slips a jab and a cross from McGarry.
Calzaghe swings for the body but McGarry moves out of range.

McGarry rushes Calzaghe and presses him up against the cage.
Calzaghe lands with a short head shot on the inside.

McGarry pulls guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Calzaghe won't allow McGarry to sweep him here.
Calzaghe postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
McGarry keeping moving, preventing Calzaghe from controlling successfully.

McGarry looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Calzaghe trying to control the position from guard on top but McGarry is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.

McGarry is looking for a triangle but Calzaghe pushes his legs off easily.
Calzaghe passes into half guard.
McGarry gets back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McGarry trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
McGarry keeping moving, preventing Calzaghe from controlling successfully.
McGarry wants to sweep here but Calzaghe controlling him for the moment.
Calzaghe controls from within his opponent's guard.
Calzaghe slips nicely into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McGarry moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
McGarry looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

McGarry has an active guard here but Calzaghe has managed to pass into half guard.

McGarry looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Calzaghe trying to control the action but McGarry is working from the bottom.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

McGarry is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Calzaghe pulls his head out easily.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
McGarry is looking to improve his position.
Calzaghe missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
McGarry throws a strike from the bottom but Calzaghe passes into side control!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Calzaghe blocks the strikes from McGarry.
Calzaghe wants to control but McGarry is keeping him busy.
Calzaghe gets to mount! McGarry was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
McGarry avoids a series of strikes thrown by Calzaghe.
McGarry is wriggling around trying to escape.
McGarry regains half guard.

Calzaghe is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, McGarry has managed to free his arm - good work.
McGarry tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Calzaghe has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
McGarry looks very frustrated and is flailing away with strikes from the bottom. His corner are telling him to stay calm.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Calzaghe throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for McGarry because Calzaghe loaded up on that one.
McGarry regains half guard.

McGarry is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Calzaghe pulls his head out easily.
Calzaghe is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for McGarry!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
McGarry regains half guard.
Calzaghe trying to control the action but McGarry is working from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Calzaghe wants to stand up but McGarry has a hold of him and won't allow it.

McGarry is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Calzaghe pulls his head out easily.
McGarry throws a strike from the bottom but Calzaghe passes into side control!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Leo McGarry will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Calzaghe works the jab nicely.
Calzaghe thows a body shot but no joy.
Calzaghe scores with a jab. McGarry acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Calzaghe keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
McGarry is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
McGarry wants to clinch up but Calzaghe keeps it at a distance.
McGarry tries to bum rush Calzaghe with a series of wild strikes but Calzaghe uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Calzaghe throws a jab but it's blocked by McGarry.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Calzaghe throws a looping overhand right but McGarry ducks down to avoid it.
Calzaghe throws a big shot that misses.
Calzaghe throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
McGarry shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Calzaghe but Calzaghe pushes him off and we're back to square one.
A right-left combo lands from McGarry.
Calzaghe swings and misses with a shot to the body

and McGarry moves into the clinch.
Calzaghe is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but McGarry is keeping busy.
Calzaghe tries to work over McGarry's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Calzaghe is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
McGarry lands with a short shot to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McGarry has Calzaghe pushed against the cage.
Calzaghe blocks an elbow strike from McGarry.
McGarry is working for takedown but Calzaghe is calmly controlling the position for now.
Joe Calzaghe has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Leo McGarry.
McGarry wants a takedown but no success here.
McGarry lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Come on Calzaghe - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
McGarry creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Calzaghe's defenses.

McGarry's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A jab from Calzaghe misses.

McGarry clinches up with Calzaghe and pushes him back against the cage.
McGarry goes for a takedown attempt but Calzaghe pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from McGarry.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Calzaghe checks the leg kick.
Joe Calzaghe is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Calzaghe lands a nice hook to McGarry's body. McGarry takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Calzaghe misses with a series of wild punches.
McGarry lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Calzaghe circles away quickly and effectively.
Leo McGarry is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Calzaghe rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but McGarry moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Calzaghe misses with a body shot.
Joe Calzaghe seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Calzaghe throws a body punch but McGarry moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Calzaghe misses with an uppercut
and McGarry counters with a stiff right hand.
Calzaghe misses with a hook. McGarry ducked under it nicely.
McGarry swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Calzaghe counters with a stiff right hand.
McGarry is looking to clinch.
Calzaghe uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before McGarry has time to react.
McGarry doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Calzaghe lands with a straight right. McGarry didn't see that one coming.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Calzaghe fakes high and swings low for a body shot but McGarry manages to avoid it.
Calzaghe throws an off balance right hand
and McGarry counters with a nice uppercut.
McGarry swings for the body but Calzaghe moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Calzaghe dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

McGarry throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
McGarry takes a shot right to the bread basket.
McGarry's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Calzaghe connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! McGarry scrambles back to his feet.
McGarry closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Calzaghe misses with a wild combination.
McGarry uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Calzaghe.
Calzaghe throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
McGarry tries to close the distance and clinch up but Calzaghe swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Calzaghe loads up on a big right hand but McGarry slips the punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Calzaghe throws a left and a right that both miss

and McGarry counters by clinching up.
Calzaghe on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

McGarry manages to break the clinch.
McGarry misses with a wild body shot.
McGarry darts in trying to clinch
and Calzaghe counters with a straight right hand.

It looks like Leo McGarry has been cut.
Calzaghe swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Calzaghe misses the body punch
and McGarry counters with a three punch combo that has Calzaghe backing up. Calzaghe nods at McGarry to acknowledge the strikes.
Calzaghe connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Calzaghe throws the left hand but McGarry avoids the punch easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McGarry moves away from the strike by Calzaghe.
Joe Calzaghe is winning the standup battle so far.
Calzaghe throws a shot from downtown. McGarry moves away and avoids it.

McGarry shoots in and bounces Calzaghe off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Calzaghe utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Leo McGarry has got the better of the ground game so far.
McGarry postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
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!
McGarry cracks Calzaghe with a solid left hand.
McGarry won't allow Calzaghe to sweep him here.
Calzaghe trying to control the position.
McGarry with a flurry of punches that miss.
Calzaghe looking to control.
McGarry working some strikes from top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McGarry postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
McGarry working some strikes from top position.
McGarry makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
McGarry missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Calzaghe is on top in guard.

Calzaghe got a little sloppy there for a moment and McGarry has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Calzaghe has managed to get both his arms back between McGarry's legs - danger averted.
Calzaghe looking to pass the guard.
McGarry has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

McGarry working for submissions but it's allowed Calzaghe to get to half guard.
Calzaghe works his way into side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
McGarry is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Calzaghe seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
McGarry striking from the bottom.

McGarry is defending against the submission attempts here by Calzaghe.
Well, if Calzaghe is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

Calzaghe is looking for a kimura but McGarry is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Calzaghe to get the leverage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
McGarry throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
McGarry misses with some strikes from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Leo McGarry.
I think McGarry has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Leo McGarry!
After winning the bout, Leo McGarry thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.