PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Connor McGregor (ranked 3200 p4p, 152 weight class) and Theodore Nouveau (ranked 4578 p4p, 190 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Theodore Nouveau enters the cage!

McGregor
vs
Nouveau

165 cm
25
133 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

168 cm
22
140 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Connor McGregor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Theodore Nouveau!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, Dirk Anderson and David Hoff.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McGregor throws a quick inside leg kick.
A punch lands to the side of Nouveau 's head but he takes it in his stride.
McGregor definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
McGregor lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Nouveau misses with a takedown
and McGregor connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
McGregor lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
McGregor keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
McGregor jabs Nouveau right on the nose. Nouveau blinks but takes it well.

Nouveau shoots in and gets a takedown into McGregor's guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nouveau trying to control the position from guard on top but McGregor is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nouveau is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
It looks like Nouveau might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
McGregor is trying to control the position but Nouveau postures up.
Nouveau has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Temp Spar Gym. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McGregor preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Nouveau advances to half guard.
Nouveau 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.
Nouveau might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control McGregor haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

Nouveau is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
McGregor knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Nouveau on the ground.
McGregor is looking to improve his position.
Nouveau scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Nouveau has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Nouveau performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Nouveau prevents McGregor from improving his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nouveau sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Nouveau not landing any meaningful shots this time.
McGregor wants to control but Nouveau is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Nouveau wants to work for an arm triangle but McGregor is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Nouveau thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
McGregor is looking to control Nouveau's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can McGregor avoid being mounted?

Nouveau wants to work for an arm triangle but McGregor is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
McGregor is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nouveau is nestled in close to McGregor, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

Nouveau stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Nouveau shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts McGregor as he jumps to the side.
Connor McGregor has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Theodore Nouveau.
Nouveau with a lazy takedown attempt
and McGregor counters with a nice body shot.

Nouveau clinches up with McGregor and pushes him back against the cage.
McGregor being controlled against the cage.
McGregor lands with a short punch from the clinch.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McGregor pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Nouveau tries to counter by closing the distance.
Theodore Nouveau seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Nouveau fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. McGregor sprawls well initially but Nouveau persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Nouveau is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

McGregor is defending against the submission attempts here by Nouveau.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
McGregor moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Nouveau preventing the sweep.
Nouveau works over McGregor with some ground and pound from guard.
McGregor keeping moving, preventing Nouveau from controlling successfully.
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 Connor McGregor will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Nouveau closes the distance looking to clinch
and McGregor counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
McGregor lands a slapping body shot.
Nouveau doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Theodore Nouveau is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
McGregor scores with a jab to the body.
McGregor keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Nouveau dives in for a single leg takedown but McGregor sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Connor McGregor is winning the standup battle so far.
Nouveau takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Nouveau needs to keep his hands up - McGregor had a free shot at his head there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nouveau with a poor takedown
and McGregor counters with a nice leg kick.
Connor McGregor has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Theodore Nouveau.
Nouveau throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
McGregor stuns Nouveau with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Nouveau gets a clinch.
McGregor lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McGregor lands an elbow just above Nouveau 's eye.

McGregor is fighting off a takedown attempt but Nouveau is just too persistent for him and manages to trip McGregor to the mat. McGregor regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Nouveau landing some decent shots from guard.
McGregor working a defensive guard here.
Theodore Nouveau has got the better of the ground game so far.
Nouveau wants to control from the top but McGregor keeps moving.
McGregor is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Nouveau can do to turn this around?
Nouveau throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as McGregor works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nouveau trying to control but McGregor is working from the bottom.
McGregor is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McGregor is stalling here. Nouveau is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! McGregor seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Nouveau has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
McGregor is looking to reverse the position.

Nouveau stands up and beckons McGregor to his feet.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nouveau walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
McGregor displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Nouveau.
McGregor dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Nouveau. That did some damage!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McGregor moves out of range as Nouveau throws a body kick.
McGregor lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Nouveau looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nouveau fails with the takedown.
McGregor thuds a left hand into Nouveau's body.
Nouveau takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Nouveau has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from McGregor finds it's way round the side to connect with Nouveau's head.
Nouveau misses with a takedown
letting McGregor counter with a right hand.
Nouveau is breathing heavily.
McGregor connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
McGregor fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Nouveau shoots in and drives through. McGregor sprawls well.
Nouveau fails with a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nouveau takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Nouveau tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and McGregor counters with a nice uppercut.
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!
Nouveau throws a leg kick but McGregor sees it coming and moves out of range.
Nouveau has a takedown stuffed.
Nouveau takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Nouveau tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but McGregor paws at him with a jab and circles away.
McGregor is looking to counter punch.
Nouveau shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says McGregor as he avoids it easily.
McGregor feinted there with a counter leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Connor McGregor dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Nouveau fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
McGregor takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Nouveau shoots and misses
and McGregor counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
McGregor lands with an overhand left.

Nouveau is rocked!
A head kick from McGregor lands but Nouveau takes it in his stride.
Nouveau is still on wobbly legs! Can McGregor finish him?
Nouveau takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
McGregor is looking to slow Nouveau down with leg kicks.
McGregor drops a shoulder and throws an uppercut that cracks Nouveau right on the button. Nouveau goes down! McGregor follows him to the mat and finishes the job with more strikes! McGregor gets the win via TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:32 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Connor McGregor!
After the fight, Connor McGregor was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.