PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Gilberto Mofirga (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike McKinley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying McKinley's choice of entrance music: Swing That Tambourine. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Mofirga
vs
McKinley

182 cm
18
165 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

185 cm
20
170 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Great elbows
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Gilberto Mofirga!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mike McKinley!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Luis Engracia and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McKinley throws a chopping leg kick but Mofirga manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Mofirga fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

McKinley has taken the fight to the clinch.
McKinley lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

McKinley jumps guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now McKinley is on top in guard.
McKinley is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
McKinley working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Mofirga is trying to control the position from the bottom.
McKinley postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
McKinley throws a big right hand that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McKinley works a leg free and moves into half guard.
McKinley not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Mofirga wants to control but McKinley is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Mofirga blocking the ground and pound attempt from McKinley.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Mofirga darts in trying to clinch

and McKinley counters by moving into the clinch.

Mofirga breaks from the clinch.

Mofirga gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows McKinley to score an easy takedown into full guard.
McKinley seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Mofirga working a defensive guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McKinley with a flurry of punches that miss.
McKinley throwing strikes but missing.
McKinley throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Mofirga works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
McKinley landing some decent shots from guard.
McKinley wants to pass the guard but Mofirga is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mofirga is working an open guard so McKinley takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Mofirga throws a head kick but McKinley moves out of range.
Gilberto Mofirga is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
McKinley fails with an attempt to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Mofirga looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

McKinley shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Mofirga napping and manages to drive through into side control!
The ground and pound from McKinley seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

McKinley is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Mofirga is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
McKinley looks gassed!

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
McKinley has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mofirga wants to clinch

and McKinley counters with a nice double leg into side control. Mofirga won't be happy with that.
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!
McKinley taking a break here but Mofirga is having none of it and regains half guard.

McKinley seems to be looking for submissions.
Mofirga is looking to improve his position.
Mofirga is trying to maintain the position but McKinley is very close to passing his half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike McKinley dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Mofirga wants to clinch.
A head kick misses from Mofirga.
McKinley keeps the fight on the outside.
McKinley shoots in but Mofirga avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Mofirga defends well against a solid takedown attempt from McKinley.
Mofirga tries to clinch but fails miserably

and McKinley counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by McKinley.
McKinley jumps guard but Mofirga stands there with McKinley around his waist. McKinley gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Gilberto Mofirga has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mike McKinley.
Mofirga lands a damaging elbow.

It looks like Mike McKinley has been cut.
Mofirga creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through McKinley's defenses.
Mofirga wants to stall.
McKinley is trying to break the clinch but Mofirga is controlling him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mofirga using the Thai plumb to throw knees but McKinley has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
McKinley is breathing heavily.

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

Mofirga clinches with his opponent.
Mofirga throws a knee to the head but misses.
Mofirga unloads a knee to the mid-section. McKinley lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

Mofirga breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Mofirga tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Mofirga tries to clinch but fails miserably

and McKinley counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McKinley throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Mofirga works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Mofirga is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
McKinley trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Mofirga knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for McKinley on the ground.
Mofirga looking to hit a scissor sweep but McKinley is one step ahead there.
Mofirga keeping full guard, as McKinley tries to pass.
Mofirga wants to stand up but McKinley is controlling him.

That's two 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.
Mofirga working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from McKinley.
McKinley throws a big right hand that misses.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Mofirga leaves McKinley with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
McKinley avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
McKinley is looking to clinch.
McKinley circles away from the clinch attempt.
McKinley fails with a takedown attempt.
Mofirga looks to land a combination but McKinley avoids it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mofirga moves into the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on McKinley's face as he tries to break the clinch.
McKinley fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Mofirga pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Mofirga is looking to clinch.
McKinley avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Mofirga wants to clinch up but McKinley keeps it at a distance.
Mofirga tries to clinch but McKinley moves away

and McKinley counters with a nice double leg into side control. Mofirga won't be happy with that.
McKinley throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
McKinley tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Mofirga tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Mofirga can't do much from the bottom here.
Mofirga parries the strikes from McKinley easily there. McKinley is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Mofirga to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

McKinley stands up and beckons Mofirga to his feet.
Mofirga throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Mofirga throws a head kick but McKinley moves out of range.

Mofirga pushes McKinley up against the cage in a clinch.
Mofirga putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has McKinley in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Mofirga looking to throw knees to the head but McKinley is blocking nicely.
Mofirga landing knees to the head.
McKinley tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Mofirga just stands there and leans against the cage.
Mofirga can't break the clinch.
Mofirga crunches a lovely knee into McKinley's ribcage.
Mofirga lands a nice elbow.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mofirga lands a knee to the head.

Mofirga manages to break the clinch.
Mofirga moves in looking to clinch but McKinley pushes him off.
Mofirga tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Mofirga clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Mike McKinley will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Mike McKinley's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Mofirga tries to close the distance and clinch but McKinley swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Mofirga gets a clinch.
Mofirga wants to stall.
Maybe Mofirga would be better served going for some more strikes rather than trying to control so much.
McKinley has Mofirga pressed against the cage, preventing Mofirga from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
McKinley unloads a knee to the mid-section. Mofirga lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
McKinley avoiding damage as Mofirga throws knees to the body.
A nice glancing elbow lands by McKinley.
McKinley avoiding damage as Mofirga throws knees to the body.
Come on McKinley - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
With the fighters up against the cage, McKinley throws an elbow but misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mofirga blocks an elbow strike from McKinley.
Mofirga tries a knee to the head but McKinley blocks it.
Mofirga is looking to break free of the clinch but McKinley has double underhooks.

McKinley pulls guard successfully.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
McKinley lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Mofirga!
McKinley thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mofirga is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
McKinley thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
McKinley landing strikes from the mount and Mofirga is in trouble!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McKinley working the ground and pound effectively.
McKinley throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
McKinley punching from mount but Mofirga doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Mofirga is looking to improve his position but McKinley isn't that keen on the idea.
Mofirga is working hard here to advance position.
McKinley misses with a head shot.
Mike McKinley has got the better of the ground game so far.
McKinley pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McKinley throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
McKinley throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Mofirga because McKinley loaded up on that one.
Mofirga wants to hold on but McKinley pushes him away.
Mofirga is trying to stand up.
McKinley thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
McKinley sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
McKinley throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
McKinley tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

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.
McKinley tries to control but Mofirga wriggling away.
Mike McKinley is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Gilberto Mofirga has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
McKinley tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Let's hope that McKinley has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mike McKinley comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got McKinley winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 27:30
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mike McKinley!