PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Micah Dennis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Philip McGregor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Micah Dennis has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Dennis
vs
McGregor

179 cm
18
177 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

166 cm
18
166 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Micah Dennis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Philip McGregor!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Johanna Lukiainen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

McGregor looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Dennis!
Dennis is looking for a sweep.
McGregor moves into full mount!
McGregor tries to control but Dennis wriggling away.
Dennis looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
Dennis is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McGregor lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.
McGregor lands with a couple of good shots - one to the side of the head and one questionable shot that could be viewed as to the back of the head but the referee lets it go.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dennis tries to break free.
McGregor biding his time, looking for the opening.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dennis is really stuck here.
The referee is taking a good look at Dennis as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from McGregor!
Dennis can't escape the position.
McGregor has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - McGregor's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Dennis breaks McGregor's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Dennis chips away with some ground and pound.
Dennis trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Dennis is working McGregor over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McGregor looking to control.
Dennis with a flurry of punches that miss.
Dennis postures up.
Dennis won't allow McGregor to sweep him here.
McGregor preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Dennis working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
McGregor looks winded!
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Dennis's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Dennis missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dennis postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Micah Dennis is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Dennis is looking to clinch.
McGregor slips a jab and a cross from Dennis.
Dennis tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. McGregor manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Dennis takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

McGregor clinches up against the cage.

McGregor works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Dennis lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Dennis connects with a couple of short punches.
Dennis scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dennis connects with a couple of short punches.
Dennis missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Dennis lands a couple of digs.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Dennis accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
McGregor looking to hit a scissor sweep but Dennis is one step ahead there.
Dennis distracts McGregor with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Dennis loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Philip McGregor dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Dennis tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
McGregor misses with a head kick.

McGregor dives in and scores a takedown into Dennis's guard.
Dennis will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
McGregor stopping the sweep attempt from Dennis.
Dennis manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. McGregor manages to get himself to full guard.

McGregor looking to hit a scissor sweep but Dennis is one step ahead there.
Dennis lands a couple of elbows.
McGregor is breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dennis trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dennis throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

McGregor is working an open guard so Dennis takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

McGregor closes the distance and clinches.

McGregor has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Dennis is trying to keep an underhook but McGregor manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Dennis works his way to full guard. Good work.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Dennis is on top in guard.

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dennis throwing strikes but missing.
Dennis lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Dennis gets to his feet - McGregor follows without any prompting.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dennis wants to clinch up but McGregor keeps it at a distance.
Micah Dennis is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Dennis tries to clinch there but McGregor circles away.
Dennis fails with an attempt to clinch.
Dennis wants to clinch up but McGregor keeps it at a distance.
Dennis tries to clinch up but McGregor circles away and keeps his distance.
Dennis lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but McGregor circles away quickly and effectively.

Dennis takes the fight into the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Dennis wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
McGregor prevents Dennis from breaking the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

McGregor gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Dennis slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Dennis wants to sweep but no luck.
McGregor trying to control but Dennis is working from the bottom.
Dennis looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Dennis is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Dennis seems to be working for a kimura but McGregor defends the submission attempt.

Dennis is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dennis scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Dennis throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dennis throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
McGregor blocking the ground and pound attempt from Dennis.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Micah Dennis will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Dennis pushes McGregor up against the cage in a clinch.
McGregor is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Dennis is defending well for now.
McGregor has had enough of the clinch but Dennis keeps him there for the moment.

McGregor has picked Dennis up - he's going for a ride! McGregor dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Dennis is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of McGregor's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take McGregor's back!
McGregor can't escape the position.

Dennis is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Oooh a big shot gets through from Dennis. Many more shots like that and the referee will have to think about stepping in!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Even with his hooks in, Dennis manages to miss with strikes from the back.
McGregor takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Dennis looking for the choke but no joy.
Dennis looking to soften up his opponent with punches.
McGregor has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Dennis.
Dennis misses with a punch to the head.
McGregor manages to reverse the position and now he's in Dennis's guard. Nice work there by McGregor.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dennis tries to strike from the bottom.

Dennis looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Dennis manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. McGregor manages to get himself to full guard.

Dennis scoring with some ground and pound.
Dennis lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Dennis lands a couple of digs.
McGregor is trying to keep Dennis in close.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dennis with a nice head shot there.
Dennis postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Dennis postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Dennis working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Dennis with a flurry of punches that miss.
Dennis trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Dennis throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as McGregor works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Dennis throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Dennis closes the distance and pushes McGregor back into the cage.
Dennis looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Dennis works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Dennis trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Dennis throws a big right hand that misses.

McGregor looking for subs off his back but Dennis has passed one foot through into half guard.
Dennis prevents McGregor from improving his position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Micah Dennis showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Dennis 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:28
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Micah Dennis!