PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight kickboxing rules bout between Goki Shibukawa (ranked 6366 p4p, 502 weight class) and Connor McGregor (ranked 3125 p4p, 350 weight class). Shibukawa comes to the ring accompanied by Ramallah - Days Of Revenge. Connor McGregor is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Shibukawa
vs
McGregor

175 cm
25
165 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

165 cm
25
133 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

Decent elbows
Cardio machine

Solid Muay Thai
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Goki Shibukawa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Connor McGregor!
The judges for this bout are Michael Johnstone, Sandra Marshall and Bart Greer.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McGregor throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Shibukawa attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Shibukawa misses with a low kick.
McGregor now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Shibukawa misses with a kick to the body
and McGregor makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Shibukawa throws a head kick but McGregor moves out of range.
Shibukawa throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and McGregor counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Shibukawa wants to land a leg kick but McGregor is out of range.
McGregor misses with a head kick.
Shibukawa appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Shibukawa connects with a solid leg kick.
A solid body kick from McGregor.
Shibukawa throws a leg kick but McGregor sees it coming and moves out of range.
McGregor goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
A solid leg kick lands there for McGregor.
Goki Shibukawa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Shibukawa moves out of range of the body kick.
McGregor throws a nice head kick!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Shibukawa unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Shibukawa pushes off an throws an elbow but McGregor leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.

Shibukawa breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shibukawa looks to land a body kick but McGregor moved away.
Shibukawa tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Shibukawa throws a half hearted mid kick.
McGregor replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Shibukawa blocks it well.

Shibukawa drives through and clinches with McGregor against the ropes.
McGregor throws a head punch that misses.
Shibukawa throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Shibukawa takes a knee right on the jaw!
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, Shibukawa just misses with a elbow thrown towards McGregor's brow.
Shibukawa lands an elbow inside that McGregor shrugs off.
Shibukawa misses with a knee to the head.
McGregor takes an elbow to the forehead.
McGregor presses Shibukawa against the ropes and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, Shibukawa just misses with a elbow thrown towards McGregor's brow.
McGregor misses with a knee strike.

Shibukawa's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
McGregor fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Shibukawa checks it well.
McGregor thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Shibukawa if he has to take too many more of those.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Shibukawa closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McGregor rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Shibukawa moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Shibukawa looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Shibukawa is on the wrong end of a nice combination from McGregor.
Shibukawa throws a head kick that misses.
We've been informed that McGregor 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.
A leg kick checked by McGregor.
McGregor lands a jab to the head.
Shibukawa tries a low kick but McGregor avoids it.
Both fighters circling a little - McGregor finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
A jab from McGregor does it's job there.
Shibukawa throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
McGregor is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Shibukawa with a body shot.
Shibukawa wants to clinch up but McGregor keeps it at a distance.
Shibukawa misses with a kick to the body.
Shibukawa stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from McGregor.
McGregor fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Shibukawa has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
McGregor lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Shibukawa at a distance.
Shibukawa throws a leg kick but McGregor sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Shibukawa looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Shibukawa tries to score with a low kick but McGregor moves his leg out of the way.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McGregor dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Shibukawa. That did some damage!
McGregor tries a head kick but it misses.
McGregor misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Shibukawa.
A shot to the liver by McGregor. Beautiful body shot.
Shibukawa moves forwards but McGregor connects with a nice, crisp jab.
McGregor lands a head kick!
McGregor throws a sloppy head kick and Shibukawa moves out of range easily.
Some bone on bone action there as McGregor checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
McGregor works Shibukawa's body with a nice hook.
McGregor throws a body punch but Shibukawa moves out of range.
Shibukawa takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Shibukawa lands a nice leg kick that just misses McGregor's sensitive parts.
McGregor takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
McGregor is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Shibukawa rather than just go for the knockout.

Shibukawa has closed the distance and engaged McGregor in a clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
McGregor tries to land a knee to the head but Shibukawa blocks with his arms.
Shibukawa is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
McGregor looks winded!
Shibukawa throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but McGregor blocks it with crossed arms.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shibukawa tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and McGregor avoids it.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Shibukawa.
Shibukawa pushes off an throws an elbow but McGregor leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Shibukawa obliges.
Shibukawa unloads a knee to the mid-section. McGregor lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
McGregor on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Shibukawa working McGregor over with knees to the body.
With the fighters up against the ropes, Shibukawa throws an elbow but misses.
Shibukawa lands an elbow inside.
Knees to the body from Shibukawa.
Shibukawa lands a knee to the head.
Shibukawa blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Shibukawa comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Shibukawa putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has McGregor in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
McGregor has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Shibukawa with a knee to the head.
Shibukawa misses with a knee strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Connor McGregor will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business.

McGregor moves out of range of the body kick.
Shibukawa motions for McGregor to come forward. Shibukawa throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
McGregor throws a right and a left that Shibukawa avoids nicely.
A low kick from Shibukawa misses
and McGregor counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Shibukawa throws the kick towards the body but McGregor avoids it.
McGregor throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Shibukawa tries to land a body kick
and McGregor cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Shibukawa misses with a low kick.
Shibukawa fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and McGregor has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
McGregor thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Shibukawa if he has to take too many more of those.
Shibukawa looks to land a body kick but McGregor moved away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McGregor walks forward, straight into a front kick from Shibukawa.
Connor McGregor seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Shibukawa throws a push kick but McGregor slaps the foot to one side.
McGregor looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
McGregor lands a head kick. Shibukawa smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A head kick misses from Shibukawa.
McGregor let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
McGregor throws a hook but Shibukawa blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Shibukawa.
Shibukawa buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
McGregor scores with a kick to the midsection.
McGregor moves out of range of the body kick.
Shibukawa throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
McGregor replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Shibukawa blocks it well.
McGregor takes a swing at Shibukawa's ribcage but misses.
McGregor dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Shibukawa. That did some damage!
McGregor will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.

Shibukawa clinches up with McGregor and pushes him back against the ropes.
Shibukawa tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
McGregor lands a nice elbow.
Shibukawa lands a nice elbow.
McGregor working some nice short punches in the clinch.
McGregor scores with a knee to the head.
Knees to the body from Shibukawa.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Shibukawa using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McGregor digs a right hand into Shibukawa's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Shibukawa's gas tank.
Shibukawa unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Shibukawa will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
McGregor is breathing heavily.
Shibukawa lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Shibukawa with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Shibukawa with a knee to the head.
Shibukawa missing with knees to the body.
With the fighters up against the ropes, Shibukawa throws an elbow but misses.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Shibukawa obliges.
Shibukawa misses with a knee strike.
Shibukawa throws an elbow that misses.
Shibukawa misses with a knee strike.
McGregor looks to throw an elbow but misses.
McGregor using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Shibukawa has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Shibukawa gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Shibukawa throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but McGregor blocks it with crossed arms.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. McGregor obliges.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shibukawa tries to land knees in the clinch but McGregor avoids the damage to the body.
McGregor lands with a short punch from the clinch.
McGregor with an attempt at a knee that misses.
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, Shibukawa just misses with a elbow thrown towards McGregor's brow.
Shibukawa missing with knees to the body.
Goki Shibukawa has scored more points in the clinch so far.
McGregor tries to land a knee to the head but Shibukawa blocks with his arms.
McGregor is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.
McGregor avoiding damage as Shibukawa throws knees to the body.
McGregor lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Shibukawa.
McGregor avoiding damage as Shibukawa throws knees to the body.
McGregor lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
McGregor pushes Shibukawa back against the ropes and unloads with a body punch.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Shibukawa.
Shibukawa tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
McGregor tries to land knees in the clinch but Shibukawa avoids the damage to the body.
Shibukawa on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shibukawa throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but McGregor blocks it with crossed arms.
McGregor blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
McGregor misses with a body punch.
Shibukawa has McGregor pressed against the ropes, preventing McGregor from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
McGregor looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Shibukawa using the Thai plumb to throw knees but McGregor has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Shibukawa with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Shibukawa tries to land a knee to the head but McGregor blocks with his arms.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
McGregor throws an elbow that misses.
Shibukawa tries to land knees in the clinch but McGregor avoids the damage to the body.
With the fighters up against the ropes, Shibukawa throws an elbow but misses.
A short right hand to the side of the head by McGregor.
McGregor blocks an elbow strike.
McGregor missing with knees to the body.
Shibukawa with an attempt at a knee that misses.
McGregor tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
McGregor cracks Shibukawa with a nice body shot.
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 Goki Shibukawa will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Both fighters circling a little - McGregor finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Shibukawa looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
McGregor swats away the attempt to clinch by Shibukawa.
Shibukawa attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Shibukawa throws a sloppy head kick
and McGregor counters with a stiff right hand.
McGregor lands a nice shot that snaps Shibukawa's head back.
A clash of legs there as McGregor blocks the low kick.
Shibukawa moves to clinch but McGregor breaks away
and McGregor counters with a series of strikes. Shibukawa will be more careful next time no doubt.
Shibukawa misses with a head kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McGregor slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
McGregor bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Shibukawa's head backwards.
Shibukawa takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
This has been an exciting period of action!
McGregor keeps the fight on the outside.
McGregor swats away the attempt to clinch by Shibukawa.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McGregor throws a head kick that Shibukawa semi-blocks.
McGregor lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
McGregor jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Shibukawa tried to counter with a leg kick but McGregor avoided it.
Shibukawa tries a low kick but McGregor avoids it.
McGregor appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
McGregor throws a body kick that misses.
Shibukawa throws a head kick that misses.
A lazy body kick from Shibukawa
and McGregor counters with a left to the body.
McGregor avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
McGregor scores with a kick to the midsection.
McGregor is looking to slow Shibukawa down with leg kicks.
Shibukawa lands a head kick. McGregor smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Shibukawa lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Shibukawa moves out of range of the body kick.
A head kick misses from McGregor.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Shibukawa throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Shibukawa tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Shibukawa lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
McGregor checks a leg kick nicely.
McGregor lands a leg kick that knocks Shibukawa off balance momentarily.
Shibukawa is looking to land body kicks.
McGregor buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
McGregor takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
McGregor misses with a kick to the body.
McGregor takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
McGregor steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
McGregor scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Shibukawa throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and McGregor counters with a three punch combo that has Shibukawa backing up. Shibukawa nods at McGregor to acknowledge the strikes.
McGregor lands a lovely overhand right.
McGregor looking to land some kicks to the body here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shibukawa blocks the body kick.
McGregor tries a head kick but it misses.
A head kick misses from McGregor.
McGregor tries to land a front kick but Shibukawa steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Shibukawa.
Shibukawa lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Shibukawa lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Shibukawa tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Shibukawa throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Shibukawa uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from McGregor.
Shibukawa takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Shibukawa throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Nice body kick from Shibukawa.
Shibukawa tries to clinch up.
McGregor doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Shibukawa is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
McGregor's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shibukawa scores with a push kick.
McGregor swinging wildly here.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Shibukawa thumps McGregor with a low kick.
Shibukawa will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
McGregor scores with a shot to the body.
Shibukawa wants to slow McGregor down by chopping away at his legs.
Shibukawa walks forward, straight into a front kick from McGregor.
Shibukawa throws a leg kick that is checked
and McGregor counters with a good low kick that Shibukawa was not able to check.

Shibukawa clinches.
McGregor wants to break free but Shibukawa has control.
Shibukawa lands a nice knee to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Connor McGregor comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think McGregor 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 Michael Johnstone scores the fight 29:29
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 29:29
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 29:28

The fight is ruled a majority draw!