PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Virgilio Mclean (ranked 25438 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gonok Groth (ranked 6367 p4p, 0 weight class). Virgilio Mclean has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Mclean
vs
Groth

189 cm
18
140 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

155 cm
24
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

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 London, Virgilio Mclean!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Gonok Groth!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Chris Edwards and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Groth moves into range and clinches up with Mclean.

Mclean manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Mclean really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Mclean keeping moving, preventing Groth from controlling successfully.
Groth loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Groth decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Groth shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Mclean napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Groth looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Mclean is avoiding damage well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Groth looking to control but instead Mclean has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Groth really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Mclean. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Groth trying to control the action but Mclean is working from the bottom.
Groth trying to control from Mclean's half guard. Mclean has other ideas though and has regained full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Groth trying to control the position from guard on top but Mclean is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Groth decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Mclean shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Mclean showed some decent athleticism there.

Groth kicks off Mclean and gets to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mclean shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Mclean was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Groth sneaks out the side door and pushes Mclean away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Mclean gets tackled into the cage by Groth. Groth maintains the clinch.

Mclean pulls Groth into guard.
Groth throws a big elbow that misses.
Groth throwing strikes but missing.
Groth controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Mclean has a closed guard, preventing Groth from standing up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Groth drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Mclean dives on top into guard.

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

Groth looking for a guillotine here but Mclean defends easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Groth controls Mclean momentarily but Mclean frees himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Mclean stands up and waves to Groth to follow him.

Groth moves into the clinch.

Mclean manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Mclean keeping moving, preventing Groth from controlling successfully.

Groth decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gonok Groth dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Mclean blocks a head kick by Groth.
Groth moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

Groth shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Mclean's guard.
Groth wants to control from the top but Mclean keeps moving.
Groth throws a big elbow that misses.
Groth controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Groth stands and throws Mclean's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Groth working the ground and pound but Mclean is defending the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mclean is not content to let Groth control the position.
Groth sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Mclean is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Mclean managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Groth.
Mclean defending against the ground and pound.
Groth has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Groth working the ground and pound but Mclean is defending the strikes.
Groth throwing shots but missing, from side control.

Groth goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Mclean has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Groth but great work by Mclean.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
You can see the frustration on Groth's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mclean lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Groth down.

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

Mclean throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Groth was covering up waiting for the punch and Mclean finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Mclean will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Groth looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Groth wants to hit a switch here but Mclean passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Groth there!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Groth wants to hold on but Mclean pushes him away.
Groth working to try and regain half guard.
Groth throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Groth tries to hold on but Mclean pushes him away.
Groth keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Groth really wants to buck Mclean off and get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Groth tries to lock up and control but Mclean gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Groth can't escape the position.
Groth tries to hold on but Mclean postures up.
Groth takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Mclean lands a nice shot to the head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Groth tries to hold on but Mclean pushes him away.
Groth is trying desperately to improve position.
Groth tries to hold on but Mclean pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Virgilio Mclean dominated that second round.
That's time! Mclean's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Groth rushes Mclean and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Mclean jumps guard.
Mclean wants to sweep here but Groth controlling him for the moment.
Groth wants to pass the guard but Mclean is keeping the position.
Groth is looking to work some ground and pound but Mclean has wrist control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mclean managing to control the position.
Groth looking to sit in guard and control but Mclean gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Groth looking to control.
Groth preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Groth throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Groth looking to control.
Mclean preventing the sweep.
Mclean postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Mclean gets to his feet. Groth looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Mclean gets a takedown into half guard.
Groth is looking to control Mclean's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Groth avoid being mounted?
Groth tries to get to full guard but Mclean has control of the leg.
Mclean thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Groth wants to control but Mclean passes into side.
Groth tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Mclean wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Mclean controls the position from side control.
You can see the frustration on Groth's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Groth tries to bench press Mclean off him but Mclean keeps the position.
Mclean working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Groth looking for a sweep but Mclean has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Groth manages to control the position for a moment.
Groth is looking to improve his position but Mclean isn't that keen on the idea.
Mclean lands a couple of good shots and Groth has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mclean is not going to allow Groth to sit and survive in this position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Virgilio Mclean showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Mclean has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Gold scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Glass scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Virgilio Mclean!