PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Diogo Pires (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mack McKuchi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mack McKuchi will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Pires
vs
McKuchi

180 cm
18
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
19
204 lbs
3 - 6 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Diogo Pires!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Mack McKuchi!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, James Glass and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pires fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
McKuchi throws a shot from downtown. Pires moves away and avoids it.
McKuchi blocks a head kick by Pires.
Pires could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
McKuchi throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
McKuchi fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
McKuchi looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Pires looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
McKuchi throws a series of punches but Pires avoids them all with ease.
Pires shoots for a takedown but McKuchi saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
McKuchi checks a low kick from Pires.
Pires fails to land with a series of punches.
McKuchi misses with a few strikes there.
McKuchi defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Pires.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from McKuchi! But no joy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Diogo Pires. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pires looks for a takedown but McKuchi sprawls well.
McKuchi slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.

It looks like Diogo Pires has been cut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
McKuchi uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Mack McKuchi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pires moves into the clinch.
Pires can't get the takedown.
Pires slowing the pace effectively.
McKuchi prevents the takedown attempt.

Pires breaks from the clinch.
McKuchi throws a right and a left that Pires avoids nicely.
McKuchi looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Pires forces McKuchi back against the cage and clinches.
McKuchi wants to break free but Pires has control.
Pires jumps guard but McKuchi turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Pires is pushing McKuchi up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Pires is breathing heavily.
Pires fails to pull the fight into his guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McKuchi looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

McKuchi escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
McKuchi throws a right and a left that both miss.

Pires closes the distance and clinches.
McKuchi letting Pires take a breather here.
Come on Pires - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
McKuchi's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pires looking for a takedown.

Pires drags the fight down to the ground.
Pires tries to land a sweep but no joy.
McKuchi has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Pires is proving hard to escape from.

McKuchi stands up from guard. Let's bang!
A punch combination from Pires misses.
Pires showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from McKuchi.

Pires closes the distance and clinches.

Pires breaks the clinch.
McKuchi throws a series of punches but Pires moves out of range.
McKuchi lands a glancing blow to the side of Pires's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McKuchi lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Pires circles away quickly and effectively.
Pires on the wrong end of a nice jab.
McKuchi slaps away a takedown attempt from Pires, before circling back to the center of the mat.
This has been an exciting period of action!
McKuchi swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Mack McKuchi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McKuchi bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Pires's head.
McKuchi swings for the body but Pires moves out of range.
McKuchi lands a head shot.
McKuchi misses with the combination.
McKuchi misses the shot to the body.
Pires shoots in for a takedown but McKuchi shows good takedown defense.
Pires shoots in for a double leg but McKuchi sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Pires takes one to the side of the head.

Diogo Pires's cut is getting worse.
McKuchi throws a series of punches but Pires moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mack McKuchi dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Diogo Pires's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

A right-left combo lands from McKuchi.
McKuchi throws a right and a left that Pires avoids nicely.
Pires with a lazy takedown attempt
and McKuchi counters with a lovely shot to the body.
No joy there for McKuchi, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
McKuchi misses with a two punch combination.
Pires tries to counter by clinching up but McKuchi breaks away and moves out of range.
Pires shoots in for a double leg but McKuchi sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
A punch combination from McKuchi misses.
McKuchi throws a nice looking combination but Pires bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Pires appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
McKuchi throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Pires.
McKuchi dips to his left and cracks Pires with an uppercut!
McKuchi shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Pires eats them both and turns towards McKuchi to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
McKuchi misses with a two punch combination.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Pires.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Diogo Pires. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pires shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has McKuchi pinned against the cage. McKuchi gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McKuchi slaps away a takedown attempt from Pires, before circling back to the center of the mat.
McKuchi misses with a series of wild punches.
McKuchi looks to land a right hand but Pires moved out of range.
Jab by McKuchi.
McKuchi with a nice cross.
A punch combination from McKuchi misses.
Pires looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
McKuchi with a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pires takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Horrible takedown attempt by Pires or perhaps it was just good defense by McKuchi, which made it look bad.
McKuchi scores with a one two! Pires had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Pires showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from McKuchi.
Pires is looking for a counter combo.
Pires fails with a takedown attempt.
Pires shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as McKuchi sprawls well. McKuchi wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Pires gets slowly back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McKuchi throws a series of punches but Pires avoids them all with ease.
McKuchi misses with a jab, cross combination.

Pires clinches up against the cage.
McKuchi is trying to break the clinch but Pires has him pressed against the cage.
Pires misses with a knee strike.
Pires has McKuchi pressed against the cage, preventing McKuchi from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Pires has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. McKuchi is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

McKuchi escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
McKuchi darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
McKuchi throws out a loose jab but Pires uses good head movement to avoid it.
McKuchi throws a right and a left that Pires avoids nicely.
Diogo Pires is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pires will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
McKuchi misses with a double jab.
As McKuchi looks to move away, Pires throws a big counter combo but McKuchi just gets out of the way.
McKuchi misses with a two punch combination.
Pires closes this distance looking for a takedown but McKuchi circles away.
McKuchi swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Pires darts in looking for a takedown but McKuchi gets double underhooks and turns Pires into the cage.
McKuchi has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
McKuchi dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
McKuchi might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
McKuchi scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
McKuchi misses with a double jab
and Pires counters with a series of strikes. McKuchi will be more careful next time no doubt.
McKuchi throws a combination. Pires tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
No luck for Pires with that takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mack McKuchi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Diogo Pires's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Pires is on the wrong end of a nice combination from McKuchi.
McKuchi rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Pires moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
McKuchi blocks a head kick by Pires.
McKuchi is looking for the big counter here.
McKuchi throws a right hand that Pires ducks under and follows up with a left that Pires also avoids with ease.

Pires rushes McKuchi and presses him up against the cage.
Pires jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as McKuchi walks away with a smile on his face. Pires gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
McKuchi throws a body shot but no joy.
Pires shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has McKuchi pinned against the cage. McKuchi gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Some wild striking there from McKuchi.
McKuchi misses with a series of wild punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.

McKuchi gets tackled into the cage by Pires. Pires maintains the clinch.
Pires fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Diogo Pires. That's going to take a lot out of him.
McKuchi is looking to break free of the clinch but Pires has double underhooks.
Nice body punch from Pires - that landed with a thud.
Pires jumps guard but McKuchi stands there with Pires around his waist. Pires gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Pires has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by McKuchi after a bit of a struggle.
McKuchi has had enough of the clinch but Pires keeps him there for the moment.
Pires gets through McKuchi's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
McKuchi has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pires jumps guard but McKuchi stands there with Pires around his waist. Pires gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
McKuchi gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Pires.
McKuchi looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Pires keeps the fight in the clinch, despite McKuchi's efforts to push away.
McKuchi is trying to force a seperation but Pires has the dominant position.

McKuchi pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McKuchi misses with a wild body shot.
Pires shoots in and drives through. McKuchi sprawls well.
McKuchi throws a series of punches but Pires avoids them all with ease.
Pires misses with a low kick.
McKuchi rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Pires moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Mack McKuchi seems to be getting the better of the standup.
McKuchi fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
McKuchi closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Pires tries a head kick but it misses.
McKuchi slaps away a takedown attempt from Pires, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Pires goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
McKuchi is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
McKuchi bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Pires's head.
McKuchi throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McKuchi cracks a nice hook into Pires's ribs.
Pires fails to land the takedown.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
McKuchi misses with a two punch combination.
Pires tries to score a power double leg takedown but McKuchi sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Pires somewhat.
Pires walks into a straight right hand from McKuchi.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
McKuchi falls off balance throwing a combination

and Pires counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Diogo Pires has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mack McKuchi is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Pires gets control of McKuchi's arms and successfully pulls guard. Pires will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mack McKuchi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got McKuchi winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 26:30
Judge James Glass scores the fight 26:30
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mack McKuchi!