PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Micah Hill (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Conor Macguire (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Macguire has chosen This Fire Burns as his entrance music. Conor Macguire will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Hill
vs
Macguire

194 cm
22
279 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
225 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Prefers standup

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Micah Hill!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Conor Macguire!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, James Ackerman and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Macguire bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Hill's head backwards.
We've been informed that Macguire has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Macguire throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Hill closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Macguire quickly recovers to half guard.
Macguire is looking to get back to is feet but Hill passes into side control.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Hill in side control lands a decent elbow.
Macguire managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Hill.
Macguire looks winded!
Hill controlling from side mount.
Hill throws an elbow but Macguire slips to the side and avoids it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hill working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Hill cracks Macguire with an elbow. That is naaassty.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Macguire parries the strikes from Hill easily there. Hill is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Macguire to escape.
Hill could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Macguire can't do much from the bottom here.

Hill swings around for an armbar but Macguire sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Hill's guard.
Hill will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Macguire wants to pass the guard but Hill is keeping the position.
Hill is controlling Macguire's posture.

Macguire drops back, looking for a kneebar! Hill looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Hill looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Hill!

Hill is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Macguire is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hill remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Hill throws a strike aimed at the side of Macguire's head but Macguire avoids it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Hill is trying to get an arm triangle but Macguire is defending well.

Hill tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Hill working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Micah Hill dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Macguire moves to clinch but Hill breaks away

and Hill decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Macguire's guard.
Hill missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hill accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Hill postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Hill throws a big right hand that misses.
Micah Hill overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hill working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Macguire is breathing heavily.
Macguire avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Hill throws a big right hand that misses.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hill clinches up against the cage.
Hill has Macguire pressed against the cage.
A short right from Hill.
Hill pressing his opponent against the cage.
Hill tries to land knees in the clinch but Macguire avoids the damage to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hill is trying to pull guard but Macguire has him pressed against the cage.
Macguire misses with a knee strike.

Hill lands a takedown into guard.
Macguire is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Hill drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Macguire manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Hill has Macguire in his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hill seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Hill working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Macguire.
Macguire being controlled here momentarily.
Macguire throws an elbow that misses. Hill uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Macguire's guard. Nice move by Hill!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Hill is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Macguire looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Hill scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hill accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Hill missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Micah Hill dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Macguire throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Hill holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Hill keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Macguire's efforts to push away.
Hill manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

Hill breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Macguire takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hill avoids the body shot from Macguire.
A head kick misses from Macguire.
Macguire is looking to clinch but Hill is avoiding it.
Hill swinging wildly here.
Macguire tries to clinch up

and Hill counters with a shoot takedown. Macguire fights it but they end up in guard.
Hill keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Macguire's head.
Hill is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Hill throws a big right hand that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hill in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Hill lands a couple of elbows.
Macguire working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hill.
Hill missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Hill landing with the ground and pound.
Hill loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hill lands a couple of elbows.
Macguire looking to control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Hill shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Macguire keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Macguire blocking the ground and pound attempt from Hill.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hill not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Hill lands a nice short elbow.
Hill missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Hill is trying to work for a kimura but Macguire is defending well.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Hill winds up and cracks Macguire with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Micah Hill showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Hill, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 William Gold scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Glass scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Micah Hill!
In defeat, Conor Macguire stepped up to the mic, saying 'A loss is a loss there is nothing I can say except just carry on training and and come back stronger.'.