PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Nucky McPharson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cody Garbrandt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Garbrandt has chosen Volbeat - A Warrior's Call as his entrance music. Cody Garbrandt will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

McPharson
vs
Garbrandt

168 cm
26
148 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

179 cm
25
150 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
KO power

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Solid chin

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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Nucky McPharson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Cody Garbrandt!
The judges for this bout are Sandra Marshall, Winston Alpacca and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Garbrandt shoots for a takedown but McPharson saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Garbrandt fails to land with a series of punches.
McPharson is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Garbrandt cracks a nice hook into McPharson's ribs.
Garbrandt tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. McPharson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
McPharson seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Garbrandt looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
McPharson half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Garbrandt lands with a nice combination. McPharson backs away looking to recover.
McPharson lands a slapping body shot.
Garbrandt lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
McPharson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Garbrandt but Garbrandt pushes him off and we're back to square one.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Garbrandt misses with a combination
and McPharson counters with a head kick.
Garbrandt has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McPharson moves out of range of the body kick.
Garbrandt dives in for a single leg takedown but McPharson sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
McPharson looks to land a combination. Garbrandt sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Garbrandt tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. McPharson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Garbrandt throws a sloppy head kick and McPharson moves out of range easily.
Garbrandt avoids the head kick by McPharson.
Garbrandt lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.

McPharson rushes Garbrandt and presses him up against the cage.
McPharson lands a body shot in the clinch.

McPharson drags the fight down to the ground.
McPharson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Garbrandt is one step ahead there.

McPharson working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Garbrandt has passed into half guard!
McPharson might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

McPharson looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Garbrandt seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
McPharson has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Garbrandt is keen to just control but McPharson is a slippery customer.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

McPharson looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Garbrandt winds up and cracks McPharson with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
McPharson is looking for a sweep. Garbrandt is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
McPharson is refusing to be controlled, as Garbrandt sits in half guard.

Garbrandt wants to work for an arm triangle but McPharson is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garbrandt slips a nice elbow through McPharson's hands, connecting with McPharson's forehead.

Garbrandt is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Garbrandt content to control rather than advance.

McPharson looking for submissions off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McPharson wants to improve his position but Garbrandt is controlling well.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
McPharson swings for the body but Garbrandt moves out of range.
Garbrandt tries a head kick but it misses.
McPharson appears to be looking for a big counter.
Garbrandt connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McPharson scores with a nice body kick.

McPharson has Garbrandt up against the cage in a clinch.
McPharson lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
McPharson keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Garbrandt's efforts to push away.
Garbrandt wants to get back to striking at distance but McPharson won't allow it.
A left hand lands to the body for McPharson.

McPharson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Crunch! McPharson slams his shin into Garbrandt's torso.
A bone on bone clash there as McPharson blocks the leg kick.
McPharson looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Nucky McPharson will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Garbrandt looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
McPharson moves in looking to clinch but Garbrandt pushes him off.
Cody Garbrandt seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Garbrandt clinches up against the cage.

McPharson breaks the clinch.
Garbrandt 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.
Garbrandt misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Nucky McPharson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A head kick by McPharson misses

and Garbrandt holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
McPharson can't find room to land a body shot as Garbrandt controls the action.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

McPharson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Garbrandt getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
McPharson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garbrandt throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and McPharson counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Garbrandt throws a quick head kick that skims the top of McPharson's head.
McPharson misses with a wild combination.
Garbrandt lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Danga de danga de dang - Garbrandt scores with a four punch combination!
No joy there for Garbrandt, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A head kick misses from Garbrandt.
Garbrandt tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and McPharson counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Garbrandt looks to land a right hand but McPharson moved out of range.
Garbrandt misses with a wild body shot.
Garbrandt misses with a looping right.
McPharson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Garbrandt looks for the body kick but McPharson saw that one coming.
Garbrandt takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
McPharson throws a quick inside leg kick.
Garbrandt looking to land some kicks to the body here.

McPharson clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McPharson lands a shoulder strike.
McPharson misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Garbrandt.
Garbrandt working hard to break the clinch.
McPharson lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
McPharson lands a body punch in the clinch.
Garbrandt is breathing heavily.
McPharson tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Garbrandt just stands there and leans against the cage.

McPharson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Garbrandt throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
letting McPharson counter with a right hand.
Nice body punch from Garbrandt.

McPharson moves into the clinch.

McPharson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
McPharson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McPharson displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Garbrandt.
McPharson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Garbrandt is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Garbrandt takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
McPharson fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
McPharson slips a jab and a cross from Garbrandt.
A low kick from Garbrandt is predictable there
and McPharson counters with a low kick, right behind Garbrandt 's knee.
Garbrandt ducks under a wild hook from McPharson.
McPharson lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
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 Nucky McPharson will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

McPharson throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Garbrandt.
Left hook, right uppercut from McPharson.
Garbrandt throws a head kick that misses.
Nice takedown defense from Garbrandt. No joy for McPharson on that attempt.
A jab from McPharson does it's job there.
Garbrandt misses with a body shot.
McPharson tries to clinch but Garbrandt is having none of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sloppy strikes from Garbrandt. Those never looked like landing.
McPharson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Garbrandt manages to avoid it.
Garbrandt throws a right and a left that McPharson avoids nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garbrandt throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
McPharson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Garbrandt manages to avoid it.
Garbrandt throws a sloppy head kick and McPharson moves out of range easily.
McPharson scores with a decent looking hook.
McPharson dodges the punch combination from Garbrandt.
Garbrandt takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
McPharson lands a glancing blow to the side of Garbrandt's head.
Garbrandt throws a right and a left that both miss.
It looked like McPharson was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Garbrandt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Garbrandt with a lazy takedown attempt
and McPharson counters with a head kick.
Garbrandt throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
McPharson looks to score with a jab to the body but Garbrandt is just out of range.
Garbrandt tries to counter by closing the distance.

Garbrandt gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Nucky McPharson has scored more points in the clinch so far.
McPharson stalling the fight.
A short right hand to the side of the head by McPharson.
McPharson is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Garbrandt tries to circle away but McPharson has him pinned against the cage.
Garbrandt is trying to push McPharson away but McPharson has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Garbrandt blocks a body shot from McPharson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garbrandt can't break the clinch.

Garbrandt escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Left hook, right uppercut from Garbrandt.
McPharson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Garbrandt paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Garbrandt throws a counter combo.
Garbrandt changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. McPharson tries to avoid it but Garbrandt manages to keep hold of a leg and drag McPharson to the ground. McPharson escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
McPharson stuffs the takedown.
Nucky McPharson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cody Garbrandt.
A nice inside leg kick there by McPharson. That's going to slow Garbrandt down.
McPharson throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Garbrandt's head.
Sloppy strikes from Garbrandt. Those never looked like landing.
Garbrandt on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
A head kick misses from Garbrandt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Garbrandt breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
McPharson throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

McPharson gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Garbrandt gets through McPharson's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Garbrandt tries to break the clinch but McPharson is controlling the position.
McPharson lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Cody Garbrandt has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
McPharson lands a body punch in the clinch.
Nucky McPharson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
McPharson fails to pull the fight into his guard.
The referee calls for McPharson to work.
McPharson lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nucky McPharson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well McPharson has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Sandra Marshall scores the fight 29:28
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nucky McPharson!
Nucky McPharson got down on his knees post fight and begged the management for a title shot. 'Please, I want that title shot so bad! Give it to me!'