PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Georges Hari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matthew McIlhone (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying McIlhone's choice of entrance music: Set the World Afire. Both fighters really staring eachother down here, as Matthew McIlhone enters the cage!

Hari
vs
McIlhone

180 cm
19
165 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

172 cm
18
175 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Georges Hari!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Matthew McIlhone!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McIlhone misses with a two punch combination.
Hari swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and McIlhone counters by moving into the clinch.
McIlhone has Hari pressed against the cage, preventing Hari from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Hari blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Hari wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but McIlhone has him pressed against the cage.
McIlhone can't get the takedown.
McIlhone taking a breather.
McIlhone goes for a takedown in the clinch but Hari prevents it.
Hari gets underhooks to prevent McIlhone's takedown attempt.
Georges Hari has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matthew McIlhone.

McIlhone pulls Hari into guard.

McIlhone pushes Hari off and scrambles back to his feet.
Hari throws a combination but it was largely blocked by McIlhone.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hari throws a right and a left that McIlhone avoids nicely.
Hari thuds his right hand into McIlhone's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
McIlhone misses with a head kick.

McIlhone has closed the distance and engaged Hari in a clinch.
McIlhone is trying to drag Hari to the mat but Hari just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

McIlhone breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hari throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Hari misses with a jab, cross combination.
McIlhone throws a head kick but Hari moves out of range.
Hari throws out a loose jab but McIlhone uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hari throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and McIlhone counters with a right hand to the body.
Hari is breathing heavily.
A punch combination from Hari misses.
McIlhone misses with a combination
and Hari counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
McIlhone shoots in and drives through. Hari sprawls well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hari stuffs the takedown attempt from McIlhone. McIlhone gets slowly back to his feet.
Hari scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
McIlhone fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Hari misses with a wild combination.
Hari looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
McIlhone fails to land the takedown.
Hari lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
No luck with that takedown attempt from McIlhone.
McIlhone avoids a punch combination nicely.
McIlhone will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from McIlhone.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Left hook, right uppercut from McIlhone.
Matthew McIlhone seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McIlhone throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Hari counters with a stiff right hand.
Hari tries to bum rush McIlhone with a series of wild strikes but McIlhone uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
McIlhone falls off balance throwing a combination
and McIlhone takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
McIlhone dives in and grabs Hari's left leg, looking for a takedown. Hari pushes down on McIlhone's head and hops out.
McIlhone looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Hari is fending him off so far but McIlhone persists. Nope, Hari circles away and we're back to standing.
McIlhone shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Hari pinned against the cage. Hari gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Hari misses with the combination.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from McIlhone is defended easily by Hari.
McIlhone slips a jab and a cross from Hari.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
McIlhone shoots in for a double leg but Hari sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Hari misses with a double jab

and McIlhone holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
McIlhone jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Hari walks away with a smile on his face. McIlhone gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
McIlhone slips a jab and a cross from Hari.
McIlhone misses with a series of wild punches.
Hari misses with a combination

and McIlhone counters with a takedown into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McIlhone prevents Hari from escaping the position.
McIlhone throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Hari wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Matthew McIlhone will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

McIlhone forces Hari back against the cage and clinches.

McIlhone breaks from the clinch.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from McIlhone.
McIlhone doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Hari counters with a series of strikes. McIlhone will be more careful next time no doubt.
Hari is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
A right-left combo lands from Hari.
Hari scores with a jab.
Hari misses with a double jab.
McIlhone shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Hari pinned against the cage. Hari gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Georges Hari has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matthew McIlhone.
Hari misses with the combination.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hari stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Hari wants it to stay on the feet.
Hari throws a combination but it was largely blocked by McIlhone.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McIlhone misses with a combination
and Hari connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from McIlhone is defended easily by Hari.
Hari stalks McIlhone and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into McIlhone's face. McIlhone staggers backwards, shaken.
Hari throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and McIlhone counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Hari's guard now.
McIlhone is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
McIlhone loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
McIlhone throws a strike but Hari rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Hari wants to stand but McIlhone is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

McIlhone manages to escape and get back to his feet.
McIlhone fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Georges Hari is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

McIlhone shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Hari manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
McIlhone postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
McIlhone stays in close to Hari's body and controls the position.
McIlhone throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
McIlhone loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Hari is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst McIlhone is controlling him.
McIlhone cracks Hari with a solid left hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matthew McIlhone showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

McIlhone throws a left and a right that both miss
and Hari counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
McIlhone shoots in and drives through. Hari sprawls well.
McIlhone closes this distance looking for a takedown but Hari circles away.
McIlhone slips a jab and a cross from Hari.
Hari misses with a double jab

and McIlhone counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
McIlhone tries to pull guard but Hari holds him up against the cage and eventually McIlhone drops back down to his feet.
Georges Hari has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matthew McIlhone.
A bit of stalling here from McIlhone.
McIlhone doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McIlhone lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Hari.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
McIlhone drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Hari gets the underhooks and prevents it.
McIlhone jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Hari walks away with a smile on his face. McIlhone gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McIlhone misses with a double jab
and Hari counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Hari misses with a jab, cross combination.
McIlhone closes this distance looking for a takedown but Hari circles away.
Hari tries to bum rush McIlhone with a series of wild strikes but McIlhone uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
McIlhone throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Hari's waist but Hari gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing McIlhone off to one side.
Georges Hari is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

McIlhone clinches with his opponent.
McIlhone drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Hari tries to break free but McIlhone pushes him back against the cage.
McIlhone is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Hari pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Hari prevents the takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hari wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
McIlhone has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Hari avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Hari wants to break free but McIlhone has control.
McIlhone lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
A shot in the inside from McIlhone.
Hari stops a takedown attempt from McIlhone.
Hari is trying to force a seperation but McIlhone has the dominant position.

McIlhone breaks the clinch.
Hari throws a combination but it was largely blocked by McIlhone.
McIlhone dives in and grabs Hari's left leg, looking for a takedown. Hari pushes down on McIlhone's head and hops out.
A combination from Hari does no damage.
Hari misses with a few strikes there.
McIlhone tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Hari swivels and escapes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hari will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
McIlhone fails with a takedown attempt.
Hari misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

McIlhone has Hari up against the cage in a clinch.

McIlhone jumps guard.
Matthew McIlhone is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
McIlhone has his hands on Hari's head, controlling the position.
Hari would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
McIlhone looking for a sweep. Not yet McIlhone, not yet.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Georges Hari.
I think McIlhone 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matthew McIlhone!