PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rodrick Mclaughlin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fedor Vovchanchyn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Mclaughlin
vs
Vovchanchyn

171 cm
18
214 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

180 cm
23
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
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 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rodrick Mclaughlin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Fedor Vovchanchyn!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Fedor Mirinova and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vovchanchyn stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Vovchanchyn wants it to stay on the feet.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Mclaughlin.
Vovchanchyn trying to remain calm as Mclaughlin controls from the top position.
Vovchanchyn is trying to improve his position.
Mclaughlin could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Mclaughlin content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Mclaughlin has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
This is a sustained period of stalling by Mclaughlin.

Mclaughlin stands up and we're back to a striking position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Vovchanchyn gets the takedown into side control.
Mclaughlin sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Vovchanchyn wants to free his trapped foot but Mclaughlin is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Vovchanchyn missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Vovchanchyn is keen to just control but Mclaughlin is a slippery customer.
Mclaughlin throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Vovchanchyn keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Mclaughlin avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Vovchanchyn.
Mclaughlin is concentrating on defense, preventing Vovchanchyn from advancing position.
Mclaughlin tries to roll over but Vovchanchyn keeps him under control.
Vovchanchyn is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mclaughlin flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Mclaughlin controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Vovchanchyn is controlling the pace.
Mclaughlin makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Mclaughlin.
Mclaughlin working a defensive guard here.
Mclaughlin is pulling down on Vovchanchyn's head. It's preventing any offense from Vovchanchyn, at least for the moment.
Vovchanchyn must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vovchanchyn wants to control from the top but Mclaughlin keeps moving.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Mclaughlin tries for a takedown but Vovchanchyn sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Mclaughlin shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Vovchanchyn counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Vovchanchyn.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rodrick Mclaughlin. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Vovchanchyn breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Mclaughlin fails with an attempt to clinch.

Vovchanchyn feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Mclaughlin striking off his back but it's not causing Vovchanchyn any problems.
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.
Mclaughlin pulls Vovchanchyn in close to his closed guard and prevents Vovchanchyn from doing any damage or advancing position.
Mclaughlin has a closed guard, preventing Vovchanchyn from standing up.
Vovchanchyn stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mclaughlin swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Vovchanchyn chips away with some ground and pound.
Vovchanchyn slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Vovchanchyn wants to control from the top but Mclaughlin keeps moving.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mclaughlin is trying to keep Vovchanchyn in close.
Mclaughlin lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fedor Vovchanchyn dominated that round.
That's time! Mclaughlin's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Vovchanchyn tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Vovchanchyn throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Mclaughlin was covering up waiting for the punch and Vovchanchyn finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Mclaughlin is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Vovchanchyn trying to control the position from guard on top but Mclaughlin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mclaughlin has Vovchanchyn pulled in close to control his posture.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mclaughlin looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Vovchanchyn trying to control the position from guard on top but Mclaughlin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Fedor Vovchanchyn has got the better of the ground game so far.
Mclaughlin has Vovchanchyn pulled in close to control his posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vovchanchyn stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mclaughlin swivels though and keeps the full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Mclaughlin is on top in guard.

Mclaughlin stays in close to Vovchanchyn's body and controls the position.
Mclaughlin stopping the sweep attempt from Vovchanchyn.

Mclaughlin gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Vovchanchyn looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Vovchanchyn trying to control the action but Mclaughlin is working from the bottom.
Mclaughlin gets full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mclaughlin is striking but Vovchanchyn is not phased and passes to half guard.
Mclaughlin keeping hold of Vovchanchyn's head, controlling as best he can.
Mclaughlin gets full guard.

Vovchanchyn got a little sloppy there for a moment and Mclaughlin has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Vovchanchyn has managed to get both his arms back between Mclaughlin's legs - danger averted.
Vovchanchyn preventing the sweep.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Mclaughlin holds on and takes a little breather.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Vovchanchyn's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Mclaughlin 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vovchanchyn trying to control but Mclaughlin is working from the bottom.
Mclaughlin 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 has a closed guard, preventing Vovchanchyn from standing up.
Vovchanchyn tries to free his leg and advance position but Mclaughlin is retaining full guard.

Vovchanchyn gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Vovchanchyn.
Vovchanchyn trying to control the action but Mclaughlin is working from the bottom.
Mclaughlin is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vovchanchyn wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mclaughlin keeps working.
The fighters are battling for position here. Mclaughlin manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Mclaughlin controlling the position.
Vovchanchyn has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Mclaughlin is proving hard to escape from.
Vovchanchyn has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Mclaughlin is pulling down on Vovchanchyn's head to control his posture.
Mclaughlin bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Vovchanchyn's guard.

Vovchanchyn can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Mclaughlin controls the pace.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Vovchanchyn looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Mclaughlin controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Fedor Vovchanchyn will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Vovchanchyn moves in looking to clinch but Mclaughlin pushes him off.
Mclaughlin looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Vovchanchyn!

It looks like Rodrick Mclaughlin has been cut.

Vovchanchyn closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Vovchanchyn lands in his opponent's guard.
Mclaughlin is pulling down on Vovchanchyn's head to control his posture.
Mclaughlin looking to hit a scissor sweep but Vovchanchyn is one step ahead there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mclaughlin trying to control the position here.
Vovchanchyn wants to stand but Mclaughlin has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mclaughlin trying to strike off his back.

Mclaughlin has managed to work for a loose triangle. I think Vovchanchyn should be able to defend this one pretty easily though. Oh, Mclaughlin has tightened it up now! Vovchanchyn should have reacted faster there - he's in big trouble and yes, he's tapped out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:36 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Rodrick Mclaughlin!