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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Conor McCracken (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Julius Birch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). McCracken's entrance music is Rebels Song - Come out and Fight. A fine choice. Julius Birch is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.
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| 177 cm
24
155 lbs
11 - 9 - 0 |
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180 cm
22
168 lbs
3 - 2 - 0 |
Abu Dhabi Champ
Great low kicks
Cardio machine |
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BJJ Brown Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin |
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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
11 - 9 - 0, fighting out of London, Conor McCracken!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Julius Birch!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Birch misses with a double jab.
Birch scores with a nice head shot.
Birch swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Birch tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but McCracken was well out of range. Poor timing from Birch.
Birch keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from McCracken.
Birch misses with a wild body shot.
McCracken drops down looking for a counter takedown but Birch sprawls and moves away.
McCracken lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Birch throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around McCracken's waist but McCracken gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Birch off to one side.
Birch connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Birch shoots in but McCracken avoids the takedown attempt easily.
McCracken has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
McCracken closes the distance and clinches.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Birch has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
A right hook to the body lands for McCracken.
McCracken tries to land a knee to the head but Birch blocks with his arms.
McCracken lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
That's one minute gone in the round.
McCracken scores a nice knee to the body.
McCracken is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Birch is defending well for now.
McCracken lands a body punch in the clinch.
McCracken lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Birch backwards.
McCracken lands a right hand.
A knee to the head by McCracken.
Birch throws a head punch that misses.
Birch tried to land a shot to the body but connects with McCracken's elbow.
Birch pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
McCracken misses with a takedown attempt - Birch sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
McCracken fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
McCracken scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Birch looks to land a left hand but McCracken moved out of range nicely.
Birch missing with a left hand there. McCracken was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Birch connects with a looping right hand.
McCracken throws a body shot but no joy.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Birch throws a series of punches but McCracken avoids them all with ease.
Birch fails to land with a series of punches.
Birch throws a nice looking combination but McCracken bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
McCracken dodges the punch combination from Birch.
McCracken scores with a head kick.
Birch shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as McCracken sprawls well. McCracken wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Birch gets slowly back to his feet.
Conor McCracken has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Julius Birch.
McCracken scores with a jab. Birch acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
That kick from McCracken tenderised Birch's leg. Birch is trying to keep his angry face on.
A swing and a miss from Birch.
McCracken misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Birch takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
McCracken connects with a leg kick. Birch looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Conor McCracken seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McCracken throws a head kick that misses.
Birch lands a head shot.
Birch misses with a wild body shot.
McCracken ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Birch dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
McCracken tries to clinch up but Birch circles away and keeps his distance.
McCracken works Birch's body with a nice hook.
McCracken connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
The fight stays on the outside here - McCracken looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Birch misses with a few strikes there.
McCracken moves to clinch but Birch breaks away
and Birch counters with a lovely straight right hand!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
McCracken connects with a body shot that sends Birch's belly button to the back.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCracken misses with a body punch
enabling Birch to counter with a crisp jab.
An inside leg kick lands from McCracken.
Birch throws a jab but it's blocked by McCracken.
McCracken thinks about countering with a body kick.
McCracken uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Birch.
Birch on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by McCracken. McCracken obviously looking to wear him down.
Nice body punch from Birch.
McCracken gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Birch.
McCracken closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McCracken is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Birch defends it well.
Birch felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Birch keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Birch actively working from the bottom here.
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 Conor McCracken will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!
McCracken misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Birch.
McCracken tries to score with a low kick but Birch moves his leg out of the way.
McCracken throws a predictable looking body shot
letting Birch counter with a right hand.
McCracken fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Birch.
Birch throws a right hand that McCracken ducks under and follows up with a left that McCracken also avoids with ease.
McCracken scoring well with a low kick there.
Birch throws a right and a left that both miss.
Birch misses with a straight left.
McCracken moves out of range of the strikes.
A solid leg kick lands there for McCracken.
McCracken misses with a body shot
and Birch connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
McCracken throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
McCracken scores with a shot to the body.
Birch misses with a right hand
and McCracken counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A looping hook to the body misses from Birch. McCracken does a little dance to reset his feet.
A chopping leg kick lands by McCracken.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Birch moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Birch throws a body shot but no joy.
McCracken lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Julius Birch seems to be getting the better of the standup.
McCracken looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Birch!
McCracken moves into full mount!
McCracken takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, McCracken cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
McCracken raining down shots from the mount!
McCracken looking to ground and pound but Birch is blocking nicely.
McCracken working Birch over with strikes here.
BOOM! McCracken connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Birch stops McCracken from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Birch wants to hold on but McCracken pushes him away.
Birch is trying desperately to improve position.
McCracken can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Birch is looking to escape.
Birch wants to hold on but McCracken pushes him away.
Birch holds on to McCracken around his waist, trying desperately to prevent any attacks.
McCracken has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
McCracken is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Birch is surviving well by controlling McCracken's body position as best he can.
McCracken throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Birch because McCracken loaded up on that one.
Poor strikes thrown by McCracken there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCracken content just to control the position here.
Birch sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
McCracken is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
McCracken passes to side control.
McCracken tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no McCracken has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Birch tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but McCracken wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Birch struggling a bit here.
McCracken is looking to take a break and control but Birch is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
McCracken remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
McCracken trying to control the position but Birch is working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Conor McCracken dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!
Birch stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from McCracken.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Birch.
Birch misses with an uppercut
and McCracken counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Birch thinking.
McCracken is looking to wear down Birch with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Birch misses with a looping left.
McCracken keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A quick step to the side and McCracken tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
McCracken scores with a head kick.
McCracken tries a low kick but Birch avoids it.
Birch throws a shot to the body.
Birch's corner calls for a 1-2. Birch obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A low kick from McCracken misses
and Birch counters with a series of strikes. McCracken will be more careful next time no doubt.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Birch throws a lazy uppercut
and McCracken counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Birch on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Birch misses with a hook
and McCracken connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Birch works McCracken's body with a nice hook.
That's one minute gone in the round.
McCracken moves out of range of the strikes.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by McCracken.
A swing and a miss from Birch.
Nice defenses there by McCracken.
McCracken throws a leg kick
and Birch counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Birch swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Birch loads up on a big right hand but McCracken slips the punch.
Birch misses with a hook.
The fighters circle momentarily. McCracken darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Birch 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.
Birch misses with a looping right.
McCracken connects with a solid leg kick.
Birch misses with a body shot.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from McCracken, right into the meat.
Birch misses with a wild combination.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
McCracken keeps Birch at a distance using the push kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Birch misses with a series of wild punches.
A nice leg kick lands there from McCracken.
McCracken scores with a body shot.
McCracken gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
McCracken lands an elbow that stopped Birch in his tracks for a moment.
Birch wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Birch tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Birch is pushing McCracken up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Julius Birch has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
McCracken blocks a punch to the side of the head.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCracken struggles to land a body shot inside as Birch controls his hands.
A right handed body shot lands from McCracken.
Birch's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Birch swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Birch is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
McCracken scores a nice knee to the body.
Birch takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
The referee is keeping an eye on McCracken - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
McCracken controlling the action here for a moment.
Still in the clinch, McCracken scores with a nice short uppercut.
Birch wants to break free but McCracken has control.
McCracken landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Birch dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
McCracken is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Conor McCracken is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Birch working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
McCracken manages to pull guard.
McCracken is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
McCracken is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Birch throws a big elbow that misses.
McCracken looking for a sweep. Not yet McCracken, not yet.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now McCracken is on top in guard.
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!
McCracken stands and throws Birch's legs to the side, diving into side control.
McCracken working away.
McCracken trying to control the position but Birch is working away.
And that's the end of the fight!
Conor McCracken showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for McCracken, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Conor McCracken!
During a confident post fight interview, Conor McCracken thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
65% |
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