PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gavin McLaughlin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Danny Stephens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Stephens has chosen Yeah by Usher as his entrance music. Danny Stephens is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

McLaughlin
vs
Stephens

191 cm
18
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

181 cm
20
199 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 Los Angeles, Gavin McLaughlin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Danny Stephens!
The judges for this bout are , Don Winkell and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McLaughlin lands a leg kick that knocks Stephens off balance momentarily.
Stephens chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before McLaughlin can pounce on him.
McLaughlin lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
McLaughlin pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
McLaughlin will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.

McLaughlin rushes Stephens and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
McLaughlin lands an elbow inside.
Nice elbow from McLaughlin.
Stephens takes an elbow to the forehead.
McLaughlin lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Nice elbow from McLaughlin.
McLaughlin lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Stephens ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Stephens no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
McLaughlin has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Stephens is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
McLaughlin is looking to stand up but Stephens won't let him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stephens keeping moving, preventing McLaughlin from controlling successfully.

Stephens is looking for a triangle but McLaughlin pushes his legs off easily.
McLaughlin wants to control from the top but Stephens keeps moving.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Stephens is on top in guard.

A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Stephens accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stephens controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Stephens gets to his feet - McLaughlin follows without any prompting.
McLaughlin displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Stephens.
McLaughlin connects with an inside leg kick.

Stephens closes the distance and clinches.
McLaughlin lands an elbow just above Stephens 's eye.
Stephens blocks a body shot from McLaughlin.
Stephens tries to score a body lock takedown but McLaughlin shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Stephens looks winded!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stephens tries to circle away but McLaughlin has him pinned against the cage.
McLaughlin misses with a shot to the kidneys.
McLaughlin misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Stephens is trying to stall.
McLaughlin lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
McLaughlin throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
McLaughlin will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Stephens up against the cage.
McLaughlin is pushing Stephens up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Nice body punch from McLaughlin.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Stephens jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as McLaughlin walks away with a smile on his face. Stephens gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Gavin McLaughlin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Danny Stephens.

McLaughlin tries to keep at a distance but Stephens has taken the fight into the clinch.
McLaughlin lands a nice elbow.
With the fighters up against the cage, McLaughlin throws an elbow but misses.
McLaughlin throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Nice elbow from McLaughlin.
Stephens wants a takedown.
McLaughlin holding his opponent close, against the cage.
McLaughlin slows down the pace here.
McLaughlin lands an elbow inside that Stephens shrugs off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gavin McLaughlin dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Stephens misses with a takedown attempt
and McLaughlin counters with a big head kick but Stephens shrugs it off.
McLaughlin throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
McLaughlin is looking to clinch.
McLaughlin blocks the body kick.
McLaughlin stuffs the takedown.
McLaughlin tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
McLaughlin finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Stephens! But no joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stephens fails with a takedown attempt.
Gavin McLaughlin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Danny Stephens.
Horrible takedown attempt by Stephens or perhaps it was just good defense by McLaughlin, which made it look bad.
McLaughlin throwing a counter right hand but Stephens manages to avoid it.
Stephens is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McLaughlin connects with a leg kick. Stephens looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Stephens misses with a takedown attempt - McLaughlin sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
A nice inside leg kick there by McLaughlin. That's going to slow Stephens down.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Stephens walks into a left hand.
Stephens tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but McLaughlin swivels and escapes.

McLaughlin has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McLaughlin manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
McLaughlin doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
McLaughlin pressing his opponent against the cage.
McLaughlin tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Stephens's elbow.
A hook to the body from McLaughlin.
A short right hand to the side of the head by McLaughlin.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Stephens blocks a body shot from McLaughlin.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McLaughlin looking to throw knees to the head but Stephens is blocking nicely.
McLaughlin lands an elbow just above Stephens 's eye.
McLaughlin with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Stephens tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. McLaughlin just stands there and leans against the cage.
McLaughlin lands a damaging elbow.
McLaughlin is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Stephens can do to turn this around?
McLaughlin tries to throw a body punch but Stephens avoids it by throwing McLaughlin back against the cage.
Stephens wants to take the fight to the mat but McLaughlin manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Stephens tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. McLaughlin just stands there and leans against the cage.
McLaughlin throws a head punch that misses.
Nice elbow from McLaughlin.
McLaughlin lands an elbow that stopped Stephens in his tracks for a moment.
McLaughlin cracks Stephens with a nice body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A nice glancing elbow lands by McLaughlin.
McLaughlin throws an elbow that misses.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as McLaughlin takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
McLaughlin using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Stephens has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Stephens is working for takedown but McLaughlin is calmly controlling the position for now.
McLaughlin lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
A nice glancing elbow lands by McLaughlin.
With the fighters up against the cage, McLaughlin throws an elbow but misses.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Stephens blocks an uppercut.
Stephens is looking for a takedown.
McLaughlin comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gavin McLaughlin dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Stephens shoots in but McLaughlin avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Stephens takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
McLaughlin is looking to land body kicks.
Stephens shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with McLaughlin but McLaughlin pushes him off and we're back to square one.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McLaughlin stuffs the takedown attempt from Stephens. Stephens gets slowly back to his feet.
Gavin McLaughlin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Danny Stephens.
Stephens fails with a takedown attempt.
Stephens takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

McLaughlin drives through and clinches with Stephens against the cage.
Nice elbow from McLaughlin.
McLaughlin lands an elbow just above Stephens 's eye.
Stephens working hard to break the clinch.
McLaughlin stalls.
McLaughlin tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Stephens's elbow.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Stephens.
Stephens tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
McLaughlin lands an elbow inside that Stephens shrugs off.
McLaughlin goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McLaughlin tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
McLaughlin lands a nice elbow.
A bit of stalling here from McLaughlin.
Stephens prevents a body shot from McLaughlin.
McLaughlin controlling the action here for a moment.
Stephens tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. McLaughlin smiles and moves away.
McLaughlin lands a nice looking kick to the body. Stephens takes a step back to recover.
A solid body kick from McLaughlin.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McLaughlin lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
McLaughlin fails with an attempt to clinch.
Stephens throws a nice looking combination but McLaughlin bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
McLaughlin lands with a thumping leg kick.
Gavin McLaughlin is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
McLaughlin throws a nice outside leg kick.
An inside leg kick lands from McLaughlin.
McLaughlin connects with a good right hand that stumbles Stephens. Stephens circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
McLaughlin goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Gavin McLaughlin is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Stephens gets tackled into the cage by McLaughlin. McLaughlin maintains the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A body shot lands from McLaughlin.
McLaughlin throws a knee to the head but misses.

Stephens pulls guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
McLaughlin wants to get up but he can't break Stephens's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Stephens doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
McLaughlin tries to free his leg and advance position but Stephens is retaining full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Stephens lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Danny Stephens has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Stephens throwing strikes from guard but McLaughlin blocks nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gavin McLaughlin showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for McLaughlin, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:26
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 30:26
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gavin McLaughlin!
Danny Stephens spoke after the fight, saying 'I want a title shot!'.