PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Julian McGavin (ranked 3922 p4p, 6181 weight class) and Lio Rush (ranked 226 p4p, 313 weight class). McGavin comes into the arena with Jersey Shore intro song blaring out of the sound system. The crowd seem to be enjoying Rush's choice of entrance music: The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Julian McGavin has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

McGavin
vs
Rush

168 cm
25
132
0 - 1 - 0

150 cm
21
130
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Likes musicals

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Julian McGavin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Lio Rush!
The judges for this bout are Michael Johnstone, Santiago Holmes and Winston Alpacca.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

McGavin shoots in and bounces Rush off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Rush 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.
Rush keeps trying to improve his position.
McGavin controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Rush tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Rush can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as McGavin controls the pace.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McGavin's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Rush looking to hit a scissor sweep but McGavin is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McGavin engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

McGavin avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

McGavin gets to his feet - Rush follows without any prompting.
The fighters circling - Rush throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
McGavin stuffs the takedown.
McGavin seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Rush moves in looking to clinch but McGavin pushes him off.

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.
Nice sprawl there from McGavin as Rush shoots in.
A little feinted left hand from McGavin on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Lio Rush seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rush tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

McGavin gets the takedown into side control.
McGavin will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Rush struggling a bit here.
McGavin is staying tight to Rush's torso, preventing him from escaping.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rush can't do much from the bottom here.
McGavin just content to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rush tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The referee asks McGavin politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. McGavin prefers to stall for the moment though.
McGavin grinds an elbow into Rush's temple.
Rush is looking to regain half guard here but McGavin keeps moving and retains side control.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Rush managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by McGavin.
Rush should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Rush is being controlled here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rush wants to control but McGavin postures up.
McGavin in side control, just content to control the action for now.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rush dives in for a single leg takedown but McGavin sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
McGavin is looking to counter punch.
Julian McGavin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lio Rush.
Nice sprawl there from McGavin as Rush shoots in.
It appears McGavin was looking to counter with a kick there.

McGavin is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Rush's half guard.

McGavin seems to be looking for submissions.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Still in half guard, McGavin seems content to control.
Further stalling from McGavin.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Julian McGavin 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.

Rush fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
McGavin is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rush can do to turn this around?
McGavin shoots for a takedown but Rush saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Rush dives in and grabs McGavin's left leg, looking for a takedown. McGavin pushes down on Rush's head and hops out.
McGavin seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Rush misses with a takedown

and McGavin counters by moving into the clinch.
Julian McGavin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lio Rush.
McGavin stalls.
McGavin lands a right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Good body shot from McGavin.
A nice left hand lands by McGavin.
A short left from McGavin.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rush tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. McGavin smiles and moves away.
Rush shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with McGavin but McGavin pushes him off and we're back to square one.

McGavin closes the distance and clinches.
Still in the clinch, McGavin scores with a nice short uppercut.
Rush has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. McGavin is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
McGavin prevents a body shot from Rush.
Rush changes levels and goes for a takedown here. McGavin fights it off and pushes away nicely.
McGavin lands a jab-cross combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McGavin uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Rush.
Rush shoots for a double leg takedown but McGavin sprawls well. He's pushed Rush's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
It looked like McGavin wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Rush is breathing heavily.

McGavin takes the fight into the clinch.
Rush jumps guard but McGavin turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
McGavin gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Rush jumps guard but McGavin turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from McGavin.
McGavin slows down the pace here.

McGavin breaks the clinch.
Julian McGavin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McGavin tries for a takedown but Rush sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

McGavin pulls Rush into guard.
Rush wants to stand but McGavin has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
McGavin looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

McGavin is working an open guard so Rush takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

McGavin closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Rush did well to prevent McGavin getting side control.
McGavin seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
McGavin not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
McGavin is controlling the pace.
McGavin has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Julian McGavin dominated that second round.
That's time! McGavin's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

McGavin instigates a clinch.

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

McGavin fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Rush, pushing him back against the cage.
McGavin prevents Rush from breaking the clinch.
Rush wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

McGavin gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rush working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. McGavin doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. McGavin manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

McGavin gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.

McGavin closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Rush did well to prevent McGavin getting side control.
Rush keeping control of the position.
McGavin trying to control the pace.
Rush is trying to get back to full guard.

McGavin stands up from half guard.
Rush slaps away a takedown attempt from McGavin, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Rush wants to counter with a clinch but McGavin pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

McGavin rushes Rush and presses him up against the cage.
With the fighters up against the cage, McGavin throws an elbow but misses.
Rush tries to pull guard but McGavin won't allow it.
Rush wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
McGavin content to slow the pace in the clinch.

McGavin breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

McGavin shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
McGavin content to control rather than advance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rush is defending against the submission attempts here by McGavin.
McGavin is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
McGavin prevents Rush from standing back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
McGavin lands strikes from half guard.

McGavin is trying to work for a kimura but Rush is defending well.
Rush tries to roll over but McGavin keeps him under control.
McGavin slows the pace down in half guard.
Rush trying to control from the bottom.
Lio Rush has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Julian McGavin is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

McGavin is looking for a kimura but Rush is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for McGavin to get the leverage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Julian McGavin showed his dominance in that final round.
Well McGavin 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 Michael Johnstone scores the fight 30:27
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight 30:27
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Julian McGavin!
Julian McGavin decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.