PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Talib Kweli (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Barry McLean (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kweli comes to the cage accompanied by 2Pac - Hit em up . Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Kweli
vs
McLean

160 cm
31
152 lbs
15 - 9 - 0

175 cm
32
155 lbs
18 - 7 - 2

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Popeye’s Spinach - 159 + 158 Proof Supps

- - - - - All Nutrients 160 - - - - -

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Talib Kweli!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 7 - 2, fighting out of Montreal, Barry McLean!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Dillan Fox and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fighters circle momentarily. McLean darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Kweli has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from McLean.
McLean changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Nice straight punches there by McLean. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of McLean.
Kweli bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
McLean works over Kweli's head and body with a nice combination.
Kweli moves forwards but McLean connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Kweli swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kweli shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says McLean as he avoids it easily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
McLean feints and then cracks Kweli's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Kweli down.
McLean connects with a single shot there.
McLean pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Decent striking displayed by McLean there.
Kweli looks to land a combination but McLean avoids it well.
McLean wants to clinch.
McLean misses with an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McLean misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Some wild striking there from Kweli.
McLean moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Kweli looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
McLean defending well as Kweli loads up on a big left hand.
McLean displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Kweli closes the distance and clinches up with McLean, looking for a takedown. Kweli pushes McLean against the cage but McLean circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Talib Kweli. That's going to take a lot out of him.
McLean drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
McLean has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
McLean stuffs the takedown attempt from Kweli. Kweli gets slowly back to his feet.
McLean's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and McLean duly obliges.
This has been an exciting period of action!
McLean throws a nice looking combination but Kweli bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
McLean connects with a looping right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from McLean. No joy for Kweli on that attempt.
McLean is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
McLean throws a quick inside leg kick.
Kweli keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from McLean.

Kweli manages to get an easy takedown there - catching McLean on his heels. He'll look to pass McLean's guard now, I'm sure.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Kweli trying to control the position from guard on top but McLean is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
McLean controlling the position.
McLean wants to get back to his feet but Kweli is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Kweli trying to control but McLean is working from the bottom.

McLean wriggles free and stands up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kweli has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from McLean finds it's way round the side to connect with Kweli's head.
Kweli uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by McLean.
Kweli throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Kweli takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
McLean cracks Kweli with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Kweli shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has McLean pinned against the cage. McLean gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
McLean throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
McLean moves out of range as Kweli strikes.
McLean thuds a left hand into Kweli's body.
McLean throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
McLean ducks right into an uppercut from Kweli.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kweli throws a series of punches but McLean avoids them all with ease.
McLean uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kweli.
McLean scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Good exchange - McLean coming out on top.
Some wild striking there from McLean.
Kweli throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Kweli shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts McLean as he jumps to the side.
McLean fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Kweli throws a right hand that McLean ducks under and follows up with a left that McLean also avoids with ease.
McLean dodges the punch combination from Kweli.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
McLean lands a leg kick that knocks Kweli off balance momentarily.
Kweli on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Barry McLean dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Kweli tries to keep at a distance but McLean has taken the fight into the clinch.
Kweli is looking to break free of the clinch but McLean has double underhooks.
McLean taking a breather.
McLean swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Kweli blocks a punch to the side of the head.
McLean lands an uppercut.
McLean prevents the takedown attempt.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from McLean.
McLean lands with a short punch from the clinch.
McLean tries to throw a body punch but Kweli avoids it by throwing McLean back against the cage.
McLean goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

McLean has Kweli pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. McLean pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Kweli tumbling to the mat - McLean dives into Kweli's guard.
McLean won't allow Kweli to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Kweli trying to control the position.
McLean trying to control the position from guard on top but Kweli is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kweli wants to sweep but no luck.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
McLean postures up.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

McLean instigates a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kweli swings wildly with an uppercut but McLean uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kweli is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
McLean lands a nice uppercut.
McLean is struggling to control the position.
Kweli blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
McLean lands a hook to the side of the head.
Kweli is looking to break free of the clinch but McLean has double underhooks.
McLean lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Kweli looking to stall.
McLean stalls.
McLean scores with an uppercut up the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
McLean drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Kweli gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Kweli taking a breather.
McLean stalling the fight.
Kweli wants to break the clinch but can't.
McLean working aggressively here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kweli trying to control the position but instead, McLean has worked for underhooks and has pushed Kweli into the cage.
Kweli can't break the clinch.
McLean working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
McLean throws a head punch that misses.
McLean stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
McLean avoids a wild elbow strike from Kweli.
McLean fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
McLean lands with a right to the head.
A shot in the inside from McLean.
McLean scores with a nice hook to the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
McLean lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
McLean lands a nice shot to the body.
Kweli swings wildly with an uppercut but McLean uses good head movement to avoid it.
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!
McLean scores with an uppercut up the middle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Barry McLean showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

McLean lands with a shot to the body.
The fighters circling - McLean throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Kweli fails to land the takedown.
Talib Kweli is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kweli takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Kweli will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Kweli closes this distance looking for a takedown but McLean circles away.

McLean has closed the distance and engaged Kweli in a clinch.
McLean changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Kweli fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Kweli walks into a stiff left hand from McLean.
Some wild striking there from Kweli.
McLean displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Kweli.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Talib Kweli. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice body punch from McLean.
McLean throws out a loose jab but Kweli uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kweli avoids the head kick by McLean.
McLean lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
McLean rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kweli moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

McLean clinches up against the cage.
Kweli is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Kweli blocking some punches.
McLean is working Kweli over against the cage.
McLean misses with a body punch.
McLean trying to stall but Kweli improves his position.
Kweli is working for takedown but McLean is calmly controlling the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McLean lands a left hand.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Kweli blocking some punches.
Barry McLean seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
McLean lands a left hand that snaps the head of Kweli backwards.
McLean misses with a body punch.
A head punch on the inside from Kweli fails to land.
McLean lands a right hand.
Kweli trying to land knees to the body.
McLean has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kweli looking to slow down the pace here.
McLean lands with a light punch inside.
McLean is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Kweli is trying to push McLean away but McLean has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
McLean working some nice short punches in the clinch.
McLean managing to block the knees to the body from Kweli.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McLean lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Kweli taking a breather.
McLean trying to stall but Kweli improves his position.
Kweli drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, McLean creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Kweli is trying to maintain a safe position but McLean gets an underhook and turns Kweli into the cage.
Kweli misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from McLean.
McLean lands a right hand that snaps the head of Kweli backwards.
Kweli has a couple of punches blocked by McLean.
Kweli is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables McLean to keep the fight standing.
Kweli is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Kweli taking a breather.
The referee calls for McLean to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kweli is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. McLean is defending well for now.
A short right from McLean.
McLean lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
McLean is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
A short right from McLean on the inside.
Talib Kweli has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A short left from McLean.
Barry McLean is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
A short body shot lands from McLean as the two fighters clinch.
McLean lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
McLean goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Kweli tries to throw a body punch but McLean avoids it by throwing Kweli back against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kweli is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Kweli trying to land knees to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Barry McLean comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well McLean has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 William Peck scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Barry McLean!
An out of breath Barry McLean thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.