PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Brano Mc Gregor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rodrigo Akenzua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Brano Mc Gregor has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Mc Gregor
vs
Akenzua

188 cm
25
180 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

179 cm
20
174 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Highland Clothing

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 St Petersburg, Brano Mc Gregor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Rodrigo Akenzua!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Illya Tyunina and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Akenzua rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Mc Gregor moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Mc Gregor looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Akenzua tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Mc Gregor manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Akenzua is defended easily by Mc Gregor.

Mc Gregor gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Mc Gregor works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Akenzua looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Akenzua wants to stand up but Mc Gregor is controlling him.
Mc Gregor chips away with some ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mc Gregor slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Mc Gregor swings around for an armbar but Akenzua sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Mc Gregor's guard.

Mc Gregor has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Akenzua off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
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!

Mc Gregor darts in and clinches Akenzua up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akenzua goes for a takedown in the clinch but Mc Gregor prevents it.
Akenzua fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Brano Mc Gregor has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rodrigo Akenzua.

Mc Gregor has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Akenzua uses from the top position.

Akenzua thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Akenzua wants to control from the top but Mc Gregor keeps moving.

Mc Gregor isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Akenzua stacks Mc Gregor on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Akenzua!
Mc Gregor manages to work his way to half guard, despite Akenzua's best efforts.
Mc Gregor is trying to get back to full guard.
Mc Gregor gets back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akenzua prevents Mc Gregor from getting back to his feet.

Akenzua got a little sloppy there for a moment and Mc Gregor has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Akenzua has managed to get both his arms back between Mc Gregor's legs - danger averted.
Mc Gregor wants to sweep but no luck.
Mc Gregor is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Akenzua advances to half guard.
Mc Gregor trying to hold on to Akenzua's head to control him but Akenzua postures up.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Mc Gregor is pressing down on Akenzua's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Akenzua wants to stand but Mc Gregor has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Akenzua looks winded!

Mc Gregor working for a triangle but Akenzua defends it easily.
Mc Gregor looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mc Gregor escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Akenzua gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Mc Gregor wants to sweep here but Akenzua controlling him for the moment.

Mc Gregor looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Akenzua is looking to pass into half guard but Mc Gregor pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Mc Gregor is in guard.

Mc Gregor wants to pass the guard but Akenzua is keeping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mc Gregor passes Akenzua's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Mc Gregor is working for a kimura from half guard. He's really concentrating on the hold and it's allowed Akenzua to slip a leg under and get back to full guard.
Mc Gregor wants to stand but Akenzua is controlling his posture from full guard.
Mc Gregor is working Akenzua over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Mc Gregor is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Mc Gregor trying to control but Akenzua is working from the bottom.
Mc Gregor looking to pass the guard.
Mc Gregor stays in close to Akenzua's body and controls the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brano Mc Gregor dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Mc Gregor has managed to clinch.
Akenzua is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Mc Gregor tries to score a body lock takedown but Akenzua shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Mc Gregor's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Akenzua lands a leg kick that knocks Mc Gregor off balance momentarily.

Mc Gregor darts in and clinches Akenzua up against the cage.
Mc Gregor lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Akenzua backwards.
Mc Gregor wants a takedown but no success here.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Mc Gregor creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Mc Gregor prevents Akenzua from breaking the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Akenzua goes for a takedown in the clinch but Mc Gregor prevents it.
Mc Gregor lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Akenzua is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Mc Gregor working some nice short punches in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mc Gregor scores with a nice hook to the head.

Mc Gregor manages to break the clinch.

Mc Gregor closes the distance and clinches.
Mc Gregor lands a hook that snaps the head of Akenzua backwards.

Mc Gregor's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Mc Gregor clinches up against the cage.
Mc Gregor wants to break free but Akenzua has control.
Akenzua tries to pull guard but Mc Gregor forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Brano Mc Gregor has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rodrigo Akenzua.
Mc Gregor is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Akenzua drops down looking for an ankle pick but Mc Gregor pulls his leg out and moves away.
Akenzua is breathing heavily.

Mc Gregor rushes Akenzua and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Mc Gregor lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Akenzua backwards.
Mc Gregor taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Mc Gregor tries to break the clinch but Akenzua is controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mc Gregor has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Akenzua after a bit of a struggle.
A nice right hand lands inside from Mc Gregor.

Mc Gregor ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Mc Gregor no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mc Gregor is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Brano Mc Gregor overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Mc Gregor has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Akenzua has passed into side control.
Mc Gregor tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Akenzua presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Mc Gregor regains half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akenzua tries to stand and escape but Mc Gregor is controlling the position.
Mc Gregor looks like he's trying to stand up.
Akenzua lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Akenzua wants to take a breather but Mc Gregor is having none of it.
Mc Gregor moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Akenzua stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mc Gregor swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Mc Gregor is trying to control the position but Akenzua postures up.

Mc Gregor looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Akenzua passes into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mc Gregor is pressing down on Akenzua's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Mc Gregor is working actively from the bottom, looking for submissions. He's escaped his hips to the side and he's going for an armbar! Akenzua has his hands clasped together but Mc Gregor extends and breaks Akenzua's desperate grasp, forcing a tap out due to armbar! Nice BJJ displayed there by Mc Gregor.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:34 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Brano Mc Gregor!
A determined Brano Mc Gregor didn't want to dwell on this fight in his post fight interview. Instead he was more keen to state he wants a title shot. Let's see if he gets it!