PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Thomas Pusher (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Roland McGregor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Pusher
vs
McGregor

200 cm
24
205 lbs
12 - 9 - 0

192 cm
29
215 lbs
13 - 7 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

ADCC Champion
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 12 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Thomas Pusher!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Roland McGregor!
The judges for this bout are Skip Squint, Steve Erwin and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pusher tries to clinch
and McGregor counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
McGregor misses with a lunging right hand
and Pusher counters with a lovely shot to the body.
McGregor throws a right hand that misses
and Pusher counters with a two punch combo.
Pusher throws an ugly left hook that misses
and McGregor counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
McGregor throws a sloppy body shot

and Pusher counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

McGregor breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Pusher throws a predictable looking body shot
and McGregor counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Pusher throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Thomas Pusher seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McGregor falls off balance throwing a combination
and Pusher counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Pusher wants to land a leg kick but McGregor is out of range.
McGregor lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

McGregor closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - McGregor lands in his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McGregor throws a big right hand that misses.
McGregor trying to control the position from guard on top but Pusher is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
McGregor working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
McGregoris looking to pass into half guard but Pusher pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Pusher is in guard.
McGregor has his hands on Pusher's head, controlling the position.

McGregor is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Pusher is aware though and is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
McGregor working a defensive guard here.
Pusher wants to get up but he can't break McGregor's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Pusher knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for McGregor on the ground.
Pusher trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
McGregor wants to sweep but no luck.
McGregor pulls Pusher in close to his closed guard and prevents Pusher from doing any damage or advancing position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pusher preventing the sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Pusher scores with a nice head shot.
Thomas Pusher is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Pusher misses with a leg kick.
Pusher ducks down and throws a hook to the body but McGregor moves away.
McGregor shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Pusher counters with a straight right hand.
Pusher will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
McGregor misses with an uppercut
and Pusher counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
McGregor fails with the takedown.
The fight stays on the outside here - Pusher looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pusher throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
McGregor misses the body punch
and Pusher counters with a nice body shot.

McGregor shoots in and bounces Pusher off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
McGregor postures up in Pusher's guard and throws a big left but Pusher blocks it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
McGregor postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Pusher keeping moving, preventing McGregor from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Roland McGregor will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

A looping hook to the body misses from McGregor. Pusher does a little dance to reset his feet.

McGregor decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Pusher avoiding damage under a succession of punches from McGregor.
McGregor throws a strike but Pusher avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
McGregor looking to pass the guard.
Pusher utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.

McGregor is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Pusher is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Pusher has escaped and now he's on top!
Pusher won't allow McGregor to sweep him here.
McGregor has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
McGregor is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pusher wants to stand but McGregor is controlling his posture from full guard.

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.
McGregor working a defensive guard here.
McGregor is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Pusher has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Roland McGregor wasn't active enough on the ground.
McGregor misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McGregor takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
McGregor misses with a hook. Pusher ducked under it nicely.
That kick from Pusher tenderised McGregor's leg. McGregor is trying to keep his angry face on.
Pusher scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
McGregor misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Pusher.
Pusher attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
McGregor bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Pusher throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
McGregor shoots in looking for a takedown. Pusher tries to sprawl out of it but McGregor keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Pusher manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Pusher, right into the meat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McGregor tries for a takedown but Pusher circles away easily
and Pusher counters with a straight right hand.
Thomas Pusher has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Roland McGregor.
McGregor tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Pusher is looking to wear down McGregor with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Pusher swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by McGregor.
A jab from Pusher finds it's way through McGregor's defenses.
McGregor swings and misses with a hook to the body.
McGregor misses with a body shot
and Pusher counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps McGregor thinking.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
McGregor takes a body punch but keeps moving.
McGregor is breathing heavily.
McGregor shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Pusher but Pusher pushes him off and we're back to square one.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Pusher dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Pusher misses with a head kick.
Pusher is looking to clinch.
Pusher throws a lazy right hand but McGregor sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Pusher throws a sloppy body shot

and McGregor counters with a takedown into side control.
Pusher defending against the ground and pound.

McGregor looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
McGregor cracks Pusher with a big elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McGregor trying to control the action but Pusher is working from the bottom.
McGregor wants to control for a moment but Pusher uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Pusher keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
McGregor thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Pusher's head.
McGregor thows a huge punch but Pusher dodges it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
McGregor seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Pusher does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
McGregor works his way into full mount!
McGregor lands with some strikes.
McGregor throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Pusher because McGregor loaded up on that one.
McGregor punching from mount but Pusher doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Pusher blocking the ground and pound.
McGregor controlling his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McGregor throwing strikes here but Pusher is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
McGregor has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Pusher's face.

McGregor moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Pusher has worked his arm free - good work by Pusher!
Pusher is looking for a sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pusher is not content to let McGregor control the position.
McGregor throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
McGregor scores with a couple of short elbows.

McGregor swings around for an armbar but Pusher sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into McGregor's guard.
McGregor throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Pusher postures up.
McGregor looking for a sweep. Not yet McGregor, not yet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Roland 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 Skip Squint scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Roland McGregor!