PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Connor McGregor (ranked 2918 p4p, 298 weight class) and Mircea Lucarescu (ranked 1575 p4p, 178 weight class). Connor McGregor had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 146.2lbs, 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. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

McGregor
vs
Lucarescu

185 cm
27
160 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

171 cm
25
144 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Nuggetori's Nutritionals
Amped Performance

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Connor McGregor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mircea Lucarescu!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lucarescu misses with a body shot.
We've been told by McGregor's head coaches at Roosters Coop that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Lucarescu uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from McGregor.

McGregor drives through and clinches with Lucarescu against the cage.
Lucarescu looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
McGregor keeps control of Lucarescu as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
McGregor misses with some punches.
McGregor tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
McGregor is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Lucarescu is defending well for now.
McGregor missing with knees to the body.
Lucarescu's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
McGregor fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
McGregor misses with some punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McGregor tries a body shot but Lucarescu blocks it.

Lucarescu manages to break the clinch.
Lucarescu throws a hook but McGregor avoids it easily.
Lucarescu looks to throw the jab but McGregor is out of range.
McGregor seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.

McGregor has managed to clinch.
Lucarescu blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McGregor prevents Lucarescu from breaking the clinch.

Lucarescu breaks the clinch.
Lucarescu ducks down and throws a hook to the body but McGregor moves away.
McGregor is looking to clinch.
McGregor swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Lucarescu uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from McGregor.
McGregor looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Lucarescu connects with a nice looking jab.
McGregor takes one on the button.
McGregor wants to clinch up but Lucarescu keeps it at a distance.
Lucarescu lands a nice looking body shot.
Lucarescu bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps McGregor's head backwards.
McGregor uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Lucarescu.
McGregor swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Lucarescu punishes McGregor's body with a nice straight punch.
McGregor misses with a body punch
and McGregor takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Mircea Lucarescu seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
McGregor lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Lucarescu circles away quickly and effectively.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McGregor closes the distance but Lucarescu moves to the side
enabling Lucarescu to counter with a crisp jab.
McGregor is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Lucarescu throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
The fighters circle momentarily. Lucarescu darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
McGregor throws a sloppy head kick and Lucarescu moves out of range easily.
McGregor is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
McGregor takes a swing at Lucarescu's ribcage but misses.
Lucarescu misses with an uppercut.
McGregor fails with an attempt to clinch.
Lucarescu misses with a straight left.
A punch combination from McGregor misses.
Nice cross by Lucarescu.
McGregor bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
It looked like McGregor was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Lucarescu.
Lucarescu misses with a hook to the body
and McGregor counters with a nice uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lucarescu throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Sloppy strikes from McGregor. Those never looked like landing.
McGregor displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Lucarescu throws out the jab.
McGregor ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
McGregor throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Lucarescu.
Lucarescu connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Lucarescu takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Lucarescu keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Lucarescu checks a low kick from McGregor.
Lucarescu takes a swing at McGregor's ribcage but misses.
McGregor misses with a looping right.
Lucarescu lands a slapping body shot.
A shot to the liver by Lucarescu. Beautiful body shot.
Lucarescu throws a big shot that misses.
McGregor looks to land a body kick but Lucarescu moved away.
McGregor is looking to clinch but Lucarescu is avoiding it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A kick lands to the mid section there for McGregor.
Lucarescu throws a body shot but no joy.
McGregor throws a jab when Lucarescu was well out of range.
McGregor throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Lucarescu makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
McGregor swinging wildly here.

McGregor moves into the clinch.

Lucarescu manages to break the clinch.
McGregor gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Lucarescu.
Danga de danga de dang - Lucarescu scores with a four punch combination!
Lucarescu swings and misses with a hook to the body.
McGregor misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Lucarescu misses with a wild body shot.
McGregor ducks under a wild hook from Lucarescu.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mircea Lucarescu dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

McGregor ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Lucarescu moves away.
Lucarescu scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
McGregor misses with a body shot.
Lucarescu dodges the punch combination from McGregor.
The fight stays on the outside here - McGregor looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
McGregor is looking to wear down Lucarescu with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
McGregor lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
McGregor tries to clinch but Lucarescu is having none of it.
Connor McGregor is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lucarescu misses with a hook.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lucarescu throws a body shot but no joy.
McGregor wants to clinch.
Lucarescu now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
McGregor misses with a wild combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McGregor wants to clinch.
Lucarescu connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed McGregor momentarily.
McGregor looks to land a combination but Lucarescu avoids it well.
Lucarescu looks to throw the jab but McGregor is out of range.
McGregor tries a head kick but it misses.
The fighters circle momentarily. McGregor darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
McGregor throws a predictable looking body shot
and Lucarescu counters with a nice uppercut.
McGregor is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Lucarescu throws out a counter right but McGregor avoids it with no problem.
Lucarescu lands with a nice body punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McGregor has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from McGregor there as he acknowledges the shot.
McGregor ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Lucarescu misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from McGregor.
Lucarescu misses the shot to the body.
McGregor looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Lucarescu keeps the fight on the outside.
A shot to the liver by Lucarescu. Beautiful body shot.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
McGregor misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Lucarescu! But no joy.
McGregor tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Lucarescu paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Lucarescu throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A swing and a miss from Lucarescu.
Lucarescu throws a body shot but no joy.
McGregor throws a head kick but Lucarescu moves out of range.
Lucarescu tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but McGregor was well out of range. Poor timing from Lucarescu.
McGregor lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Lucarescu circles away quickly and effectively.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McGregor throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
McGregor tries to move into range but Lucarescu moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Lucarescu misses with a wild body shot.
McGregor swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Lucarescu swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Lucarescu comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
McGregor throws a leg kick
and Lucarescu counters with a nice uppercut.
McGregor wants to clinch.
McGregor rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Lucarescu moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Lucarescu has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
McGregor throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Lucarescu counters with a stiff right hand.
McGregor keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
McGregor ducks under a wild hook from Lucarescu.
McGregor went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Jab, jab by McGregor - just one landing.
McGregor takes a swing at Lucarescu's ribcage but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lucarescu misses with a body shot.
McGregor thows a left - swing and a miss!
McGregor will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
McGregor throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Lucarescu's head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
McGregor tries to close the distance and clinch but Lucarescu swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
McGregor avoids the body shot from Lucarescu.
McGregor takes one on the button.
McGregor wants to clinch
and Lucarescu counters with a lovely straight right hand!
McGregor misses with a left hand
and Lucarescu counters with a straight right hand.
Lucarescu dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Lucarescu avoids the head kick by McGregor.
McGregor avoids the body shot from Lucarescu.
Lucarescu getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mircea Lucarescu showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

McGregor tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
McGregor tries to clinch but fails miserably
enabling Lucarescu to counter with a crisp jab.
Lucarescu connects with a body shot.
Lucarescu misses with a jab, cross combination.
McGregor is looking for a counter combo.
A looping hook to the body misses from Lucarescu. McGregor does a little dance to reset his feet.
As Lucarescu looks to move away, McGregor throws a big counter combo but Lucarescu just gets out of the way.
McGregor swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Lucarescu is clearly trying to counter these attacks from McGregor with a body shot.
Lucarescu scores with a body shot.
McGregor misses with a two punch combination.
McGregor tries to close the distance and clinch up but Lucarescu swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Nice uppercut there from McGregor.
McGregor uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Lucarescu.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lucarescu misses with a left hand

and McGregor holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
McGregor misses with a punch on the inside.
McGregor has Lucarescu pressed against the cage, preventing Lucarescu from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Lucarescu wants to get back to striking at distance but McGregor won't allow it.
McGregor misses with the head strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McGregor landing knees to the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for McGregor.
McGregor trying to land knees to the body.

Lucarescu pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A big left from McGregor misses.
McGregor throws a nice head kick!
McGregor throws a head kick but Lucarescu moves out of range.
McGregor wants to clinch but Lucarescu slips to the side
and Lucarescu makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
McGregor throws a predictable looking body shot
and Lucarescu cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
McGregor tries to clinch there but Lucarescu circles away.
McGregor takes a body punch but keeps moving.
A telegraphed right hand from Lucarescu misses the target.
A telegraphed right hand from McGregor misses the target.
McGregor throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
McGregor moves forwards but Lucarescu connects with a nice, crisp jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A swing and a miss from Lucarescu.
A jab from Lucarescu finds it's way through McGregor's defenses.
Lucarescu avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
McGregor has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from McGregor there as he acknowledges the shot.
Lucarescu fakes high and swings low for a body shot but McGregor manages to avoid it.
McGregor cracks Lucarescu with a good jab.
Jab, jab by Lucarescu - just one landing.

McGregor rushes Lucarescu and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
McGregor trying to land knees to the body.
McGregor tries a knee to the head but Lucarescu blocks it.
McGregor missing with knees to the body.
McGregor throws a head punch that misses.
McGregor utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Lucarescu looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
McGregor misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Lucarescu.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lucarescu wants to break free but McGregor has control.
McGregor is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Lucarescu is defending well for now.
McGregor scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Lucarescu is looking to break free of the clinch but McGregor has double underhooks.
Lucarescu is trying to break free.
Lucarescu looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Lucarescu is trying to break the clinch but McGregor has him pressed against the cage.
Lucarescu managing to block the knees to the body from McGregor.
Connor McGregor has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Lucarescu can't break the clinch.
McGregor tries to land a knee to the head but Lucarescu blocks with his arms.
Lucarescu blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
McGregor with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Lucarescu blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
McGregor goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
McGregor trying to land knees to the body.
Lucarescu can't break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A frustrated look appears on Lucarescu's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Lucarescu working hard to break the clinch.
McGregor missing with knees to the body.
Lucarescu wants to get back to striking at distance but McGregor won't allow it.
Lucarescu takes a knee right on the jaw!
McGregor goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
McGregor lands with a short shot to the head.
McGregor tries a knee to the head but Lucarescu blocks it.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Lucarescu.

Lucarescu manages to break the clinch.
McGregor wants to clinch.
Lucarescu showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from McGregor.
Lucarescu changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Connor McGregor showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Lucarescu 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 Antenori scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mircea Lucarescu!
Mircea Lucarescu was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.