PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mike Reilly (ranked 2100 p4p, 278 weight class) and James McGuire (ranked 1800 p4p, 235 weight class). Reilly kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is The Whispers - Rock Steady. McGuire is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Metallica - Enter Sandman . This should be fireworks!

Reilly
vs
McGuire

197 cm
34
211 lbs
22 - 17 - 0

192 cm
33
210 lbs
18 - 12 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Hot Spunk

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 22 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mike Reilly!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 12 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, James McGuire!
The judges for this bout are Ben Hemmingworth, Ben Watson and Chris Dean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A lazy body kick from McGuire
enabling Reilly to counter with a crisp jab.

It looks like James McGuire has been cut.
McGuire moves in looking to clinch but Reilly pushes him off.

McGuire closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

McGuire breaks from the clinch.

Reilly forces McGuire back against the cage and clinches.
McGuire tries to land a knee to the head but Reilly blocks with his arms.
Reilly throws an elbow that misses.
Reilly scores with a shot to the side of McGuire's head.
McGuire tries to circle away but Reilly has him pinned against the cage.
McGuire misses with a knee to the head.
We've been informed that McGuire 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.
Reilly lands with a short punch from the clinch.

McGuire breaks from the clinch.

Reilly pushes McGuire up against the cage in a clinch.
A right hook to the body lands for Reilly.
Reilly struggles to land a body shot inside as McGuire controls his hands.
A right hand to the body from Reilly.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
McGuire wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Reilly misses with a punch on the inside.
McGuire tries to break the clinch but Reilly is controlling the position.
A left hand lands to the body for Reilly.
Reilly lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of McGuire backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reilly lands a left hand that snaps the head of McGuire backwards.
McGuire takes a shot to the head.
A head punch on the inside from Reilly fails to land.
McGuire has had enough of the clinch but Reilly keeps him there for the moment.
McGuire is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Reilly is defending well for now.
Reilly lands with a right to the head.
Reilly prevents McGuire from breaking the clinch.
Reilly lands a body shot in the clinch.
Reilly misses with a short punch on the inside.
McGuire wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Reilly has him pressed against the cage.
Reilly lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Reilly scores with a shoulder strike.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Reilly.
Reilly has McGuire pressed against the cage, preventing McGuire from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
McGuire is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Reilly.
Reilly lands a left hand.
Reilly throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Reilly misses with a short punch on the inside.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A short left from Reilly.
A frustrated look appears on McGuire's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Reilly.
A head punch on the inside from Reilly fails to land.
McGuire is trying to break the clinch but Reilly is controlling him.
McGuire stalling in the clinch but Reilly improves position.
McGuire wants to get back to striking at distance but Reilly won't allow it.
I was talking to Reilly's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Reilly makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Reilly prevents McGuire from breaking the clinch.
Reilly softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Reilly misses with a body punch.
McGuire trying to control the position but instead, Reilly has worked for underhooks and has pushed McGuire into the cage.
Reilly lands a body shot in the clinch.
Reilly softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

McGuire pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Reilly throws a series of punches but McGuire avoids them all with ease.
Reilly lands a jab to the head.
McGuire misses the shot to the body.
Reilly connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed McGuire momentarily.

McGuire moves into range and clinches up with Reilly.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McGuire is looking to break free of the clinch but Reilly has double underhooks.
McGuire is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
A right hook to the body lands for Reilly.
McGuire tries for a takedown but Reilly manages to get underhooks.
Reilly working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Reilly misses with a hook to the ribs.

McGuire escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

McGuire gets a clinch.
Reilly misses with the head strike.
Reilly throws a punch but it's blocked by McGuire.
Reilly pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
McGuire blocks an elbow strike from Reilly.
McGuire effectively controlling the action here.
Reilly makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Knees in the clinch landing for McGuire.
Reilly scores with a hook to the body.
Reilly lands with a left to the head.
Reilly tries a body shot but McGuire blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reilly misses with the head strike.

McGuire breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
McGuire doesn't manage to clinch there - Reilly circles away.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Reilly cracks McGuire with a right hand to the side of the head.
Reilly fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and McGuire has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Reilly lands with an uppercut that bounces McGuire off the cage and back into range.
Reilly connects with a leg kick.
McGuire lands a nice hook to Reilly's body. Reilly takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Reilly lands a right hook to the body.
Reilly misses with a wild body shot.
McGuire throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Reilly with the inside leg kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Reilly moves into the clinch.
Reilly lands with a left to the head.
McGuire is trying to break the clinch but Reilly has him pressed against the cage.
McGuire content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Reilly scores with a hook to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Reilly dominated that round.
The cut man is working on James McGuire's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

McGuire throws a body shot but no joy.
Reilly lands a lovely overhand right.

McGuire lands a big head kick that sends Reilly tumbling to the mat! McGuire takes a step backwards and waves Reilly back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Reilly is rocked!

It looks like Mike Reilly has been cut.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
McGuire stuns Reilly with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Oh Reilly is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Reilly circles away from the clinch attempt.

McGuire lands a big uppercut and Reilly crumbles to the floor! The ref thinks about stopping the fight but Reilly looks OK. McGuire waves Reilly back to his feet!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
McGuire gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Reilly throws a sloppy head kick and McGuire moves out of range easily.
McGuire is looking to clinch.
Reilly scores with a jab to the head.
McGuire drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Reilly seems to have got his legs back now.
Reilly keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Reilly misses with an uppercut
and McGuire cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Reilly ducks under a wild hook from McGuire.

Reilly clinches with his opponent.
McGuire has had enough of the clinch but Reilly keeps him there for the moment.
Reilly lands a body shot in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McGuire missing with knees to the body.
Reilly lands a damaging elbow.
McGuire trying to land knees to the body.
Reilly misses with a punch on the inside.
McGuire is trying to drag Reilly to the mat but Reilly just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Reilly tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Reilly is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that McGuire can do to turn this around?
McGuire can't break the clinch.
Reilly misses with a body punch.

McGuire breaks the clinch.
McGuire is looking to clinch but Reilly is avoiding it.
The fight stays on the outside here - McGuire looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Reilly lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
James McGuire seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A good leg kick by Reilly.
Reilly scores with a jab to the jaw.

That has opened up James McGuire's cut even more.
McGuire tries to clinch but Reilly moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McGuire moves in looking to clinch but Reilly pushes him off.
McGuire throws a body punch but Reilly moves out of range.
McGuire is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Reilly rather than just go for the knockout.
McGuire on the wrong end of a nice jab.
McGuire lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
McGuire looks to land a left hand but Reilly moved out of range nicely.
This has been an exciting period of action!
McGuire wants to clinch up but Reilly keeps it at a distance.
McGuire moves in looking to clinch but Reilly pushes him off.
Reilly fails to land with a series of punches.
McGuire throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
McGuire takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Reilly tries a head kick but it misses.

McGuire closes the distance and clinches.
Reilly misses with some punches.

McGuire escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Reilly tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but McGuire paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reilly connects with an inside leg kick.
Reilly throws a nice outside leg kick.
Reilly fails with an attempt to clinch.
McGuire feints a counter leg kick.
McGuire connects with a body shot.
McGuire tries to clinch but Reilly is having none of it.
Reilly connects with a nice looking jab.
McGuire is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Reilly has managed to clinch.
McGuire blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Reilly keeps the fight in the clinch, despite McGuire's efforts to push away.
Reilly misses with a shot to the kidneys.
McGuire blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Reilly lands an uppercut.
Reilly misses with a punch on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McGuire is looking to break free of the clinch but Reilly has double underhooks.
Reilly struggles to land a body shot inside as McGuire controls his hands.
McGuire blocks a body shot from Reilly.
McGuire wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Reilly has him pressed against the cage.
Reilly fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Reilly keeps control of McGuire as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Reilly gets through McGuire's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Reilly presses McGuire against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Reilly misses with the head strike.
McGuire missing with knees to the body.
Reilly lands a hook to the side of the head.
McGuire tries to break the clinch but Reilly is controlling the position.

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

Reilly clinches up with McGuire and pushes him back against the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Reilly lands a left hand that snaps the head of McGuire backwards.

The cut above James McGuire's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Reilly misses with the head strike.
A frustrated look appears on McGuire's face as he tries to break the clinch.
A short uppercut from Reilly.
Reilly is working McGuire over against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Reilly dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Nice shot by McGuire.
McGuire throws a solid leg kick but Reilly takes the impact on his shin and smiles at McGuire.
McGuire keeps the fight on the outside.
No joy there for Reilly, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
James McGuire seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McGuire ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Reilly moves away.
McGuire misses with a head kick.
McGuire ducks right into an uppercut from Reilly.
The fight stays on the outside here - Reilly looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Reilly jabs McGuire right on the nose. McGuire blinks but takes it well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Reilly avoids the body shot from McGuire.
Reilly seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Reilly connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between McGuire's hands.
McGuire lands a jab to the nose.
Reilly tests McGuire's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
McGuire throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reilly tests McGuire's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Reilly punishes McGuire's body with a nice straight punch.
Reilly lands with an overhand left.
Reilly connects with a looping right hand.

McGuire is rocked!
McGuire misses with a leg kick.
Reilly is looking for a counter combo.
McGuire is still on wobbly legs! Can Reilly finish him?

Reilly clinches with his opponent.
McGuire seems to have recovered his senses.

McGuire breaks from the clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
McGuire tries to circle away but Reilly has him pinned against the cage.
Reilly lands a nice uppercut.
Reilly throws an elbow that misses.
Reilly tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Reilly lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of McGuire backwards.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Reilly swings wildly with an uppercut but McGuire uses good head movement to avoid it.
McGuire has had enough of the clinch but Reilly keeps him there for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reilly prevents McGuire from breaking the clinch.
McGuire trying to land knees to the body.
A nice right hand lands inside from Reilly.
Reilly misses with a short punch on the inside.
Mike Reilly has scored more points in the clinch so far.
McGuire working hard to break the clinch.
Reilly working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
James McGuire has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Reilly tries to throw a body punch but McGuire avoids it by throwing Reilly back against the cage.

McGuire breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Reilly throws a body shot but no joy.
McGuire looks like he wants to counter punch here.
McGuire dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Reilly tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A countering left hand to the body from McGuire misses.
Reilly paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Mike Reilly is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

McGuire clinches with his opponent.
Reilly struggles to land a body shot inside as McGuire controls his hands.
Reilly lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
McGuire wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Reilly lands a nice uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Reilly.
Reilly lands a hook to the side of the head.
Reilly scores with a shoulder strike.

James McGuire's cut is absolute horrible now. This looks like something out of a horror film with blood covering both fighters.
Reilly lands with a light punch inside.

McGuire breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
McGuire takes a swing at Reilly's ribcage but misses.
A little feinted left hand from Reilly on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
A jab lands there for Reilly.
Reilly looks to land a combination but McGuire avoids it well.
McGuire moves in looking to clinch but Reilly pushes him off.
A counter left hand to the body from Reilly misses its target.
McGuire wants to clinch up but Reilly keeps it at a distance.
Reilly needs to keep his hands up - McGuire had a free shot at his head there.
McGuire is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Reilly.
McGuire on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
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!
Reilly cracks McGuire with a nasty uppercut that draws ooohs from the crowd and sends McGuire tumbling backwards onto the mat. He tries to recover but Reilly pounces and lands a hail of unanswered strikes that forces the referee to step in to end the fight! McGuire is not happy but he gave the referee no choice!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Mike Reilly!
A relieved looking Mike Reilly thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.