PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sandor McGregor (ranked 5849 p4p, 4045 weight class) and Gabriel Paavola (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

McGregor
vs
Paavola

189 cm
18
211
0 - 1 - 0

182 cm
22
205
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Champion Apparel

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Sandor McGregor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Gabriel Paavola!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Paavola lands a right hook to the body.
McGregor misses with a double jab
and Paavola counters with a nice body shot.
McGregor moves to clinch but Paavola breaks away

and Paavola counters with a shoot takedown. McGregor fights it but they end up in guard.
Paavola makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Paavola looking to pass the guard.
Paavola stops McGregor from standing up.
Paavola lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
McGregor can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Paavola controls the pace.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Paavola lands a couple of digs.
McGregor is looking to stand up but Paavola isn't so interested in that idea.
Paavola in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paavola lands a couple of digs.
McGregor wants to stand but Paavola is controlling the position.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Paavola connects with a couple of short punches.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Paavola prevents McGregor from getting back to his feet.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
McGregor definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
McGregor swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Paavola counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Paavola.
McGregor wants to stand and escape but Paavola is having none of it.
McGregor utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Paavola pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. McGregor is keeping the position for now.
Paavola with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Paavola postures up and lands a big shot to McGregor's brow.
Paavola trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paavola trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Paavola is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Paavola trying to control but McGregor is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
McGregor throws a body punch but Paavola moves out of range.
Paavola tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Paavola keeps the fight on the outside.
Left hook, right uppercut from McGregor.

It looks like Gabriel Paavola has been cut.
McGregor moves to clinch but Paavola breaks away
and Paavola counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
McGregor tries to close the distance and clinch up but Paavola swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Paavola swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
McGregor throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Paavola counters with a single leg into guard. McGregor didn't expect that.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Paavola is working McGregor over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Paavola tries to free his leg and advance position but McGregor is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McGregor avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Paavola prevents McGregor from getting back to his feet.
Paavola stays in close to McGregor's body and controls the position.
McGregor is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Paavola is controlling him.
Paavola throwing strikes from guard but McGregor blocks nicely.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
McGregor swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Paavola counters with a takedown into side control.
Paavola controls the position.
McGregor is pushing Paavola's head away, looking to escape. Paavola manages to hold on to the position though.
McGregor takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paavola scoring with punches from side control.
Paavola controls the position.
McGregor is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Paavola is controlling him well.
McGregor trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Paavola is chipping away with strikes.
McGregor is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Paavola is controlling him well.
Paavola working the head with strikes.
Paavola lands some shots froms side control.
Paavola scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at McGregor to see if he's OK.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Gabriel Paavola dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Gabriel Paavola's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Paavola shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. McGregor is trying to defend but Paavola finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Paavola prevents McGregor from standing back up.
Paavola working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Paavola is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
McGregor on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
McGregor looks like he's trying to stand up.
Paavola seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but McGregor does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Paavola working McGregor over with strikes.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Paavola lands a nice short elbow.
Paavola scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
McGregor is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Paavola scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Paavola lands a nice short elbow.
McGregor is trying to stand up here but Paavola is controlling him well.
Paavola lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Paavola slips a nice elbow through McGregor's hands, connecting with McGregor's forehead.
Nice strikes from Paavola there.
Paavola really doesn't want to stay on the ground with McGregor. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
McGregor is trying to stand.
Paavola looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks McGregor with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
McGregor pushes Paavola off looking to stand but Paavola dives back in and keeps control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Paavola scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Ground and pound from Paavola.
Paavola has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Paavola lands a nice short elbow.
McGregor looks like he's trying to stand up.
Paavola winds up and cracks McGregor with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Gabriel Paavola has got the better of the ground game so far.
McGregor looks like he's trying to stand up.
Paavola seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Paavola takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Paavola tries to pass the half guard into mount. McGregor knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
McGregor is trying to stand back up but Paavola is controlling him
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Paavola connects with a nice short shot to McGregor's temple.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Paavola connects with a nice short shot to McGregor's temple.
Paavola wants to free his trapped foot but McGregor is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Paavola is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Paavola lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Paavola is taking a breather. McGregor says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Paavola wants to take a breather but McGregor is having none of it.
McGregor tries to kick Paavola off but Paavola keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Paavola closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Paavola working the ground and pound from side control.
Paavola looking to control but instead McGregor has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paavola scoring with strikes to the body and head.
McGregor has hold of Paavola's hands but Paavola slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
McGregor tries to kick Paavola off but Paavola keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Paavola trying to pass the guard but McGregor defending well.
McGregor taking some punishment here, with Paavola in his half guard.
Paavola lands strikes from half guard.
Paavola is controlling the pace.
Paavola working the head and body with strikes.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Gabriel Paavola showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Gabriel Paavola's cut.
That's time! McGregor's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

McGregor misses with a double jab.
McGregor swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Paavola counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Paavola working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Paavola must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
McGregor is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Paavola postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Paavola lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Paavola keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of McGregor's head.
Paavola stops McGregor from standing up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McGregor shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Paavola eats them both and turns towards McGregor to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Paavola slips under a jab from McGregor.

McGregor tries to sprawl but Paavola drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
McGregor is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Paavola scores with a couple of nice shots.
McGregor is trying to stand back up but Paavola is controlling him
Paavola controlling the pace.
Paavola slips a nice elbow through McGregor's hands, connecting with McGregor's forehead.
Paavola seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Paavola is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Paavola seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Paavola scoring with strikes to the body and head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paavola looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Paavola seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Paavola prevents McGregor from standing back up.
Paavola lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Paavola lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
McGregor is trying to stand up here but Paavola is controlling him well.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Paavola gets the takedown into side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Paavola working the ground and pound.
McGregor takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.

McGregor is rocked!
McGregor on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Oh McGregor is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Paavola is putting a hurting on McGregor here, landing some big shots from side control.
Paavola moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Paavola lands some shots froms side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paavola scores with a big shot from side control... and another... and another! Oh McGregor is done here - save him referee! More strikes land and eventually the ref does step in and Paavola can finally stop beating on his defenseless opponent!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:23 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Gabriel Paavola!
An out of breath Gabriel Paavola thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.