PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Tony Bunker (ranked 686 p4p, 76 weight class) and Mike McLaughlin (ranked 927 p4p, 105 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Bunker
vs
McLaughlin

173 cm
24
144 lbs
13 - 6 - 2

178 cm
23
148 lbs
10 - 4 - 1

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

RAGS of a RONIN
Urban Fighter

Arcticus University: London

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 13 - 6 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tony Bunker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Mike McLaughlin!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Steven Brown and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bunker misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
McLaughlin looks like he wants to counter punch here.
We've been hearing reports that Bunker has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
McLaughlin keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Bunker.
McLaughlin digs a good body shot into Bunker's ribs.
Bunker connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
We've been informed that McLaughlin has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
McLaughlin misses with an uppercut. Bunker saw that one coming.
McLaughlin throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Bunker rushes McLaughlin and presses him up against the cage.
Bunker working aggressively here.
McLaughlin misses with a hook to the ribs.
McLaughlin misses with a punch to the body.

McLaughlin breaks from the clinch.
McLaughlin avoids the body shot from Bunker.
McLaughlin throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Bunker clinches with his opponent.
A head punch blocked on the inside by McLaughlin.
Bunker throws a punch but it's blocked by McLaughlin.
Bunker blocking some punches.
McLaughlin tries to throw a body punch but Bunker avoids it by throwing McLaughlin back against the cage.

McLaughlin breaks from the clinch.
McLaughlin is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bunker moves into the clinch.
Bunker makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Bunker is leaning against McLaughlin and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
McLaughlin goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A short right hand to the side of the head by McLaughlin.
McLaughlin swings wildly with an uppercut but Bunker uses good head movement to avoid it.
Bunker scores with a nice hook to the head.
McLaughlin lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Bunker lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
McLaughlin misses with a hook to the ribs.
McLaughlin misses with a punch to the body.
Bunker makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Bunker has a couple of punches blocked by McLaughlin.
Bunker misses with a short punch on the inside.
Bunker lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down McLaughlin.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bunker stalling against the cage.
McLaughlin throws a head punch that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McLaughlin lands a right hand.
McLaughlin tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
McLaughlin misses with a punch on the inside.
Bunker misses with a body punch.
McLaughlin tries a body shot but Bunker blocks it.
Bunker tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
McLaughlin misses with a shot to the kidneys.
McLaughlin misses with some punches.
Bunker misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A short uppercut from Bunker.
McLaughlin working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Good body shot from McLaughlin.
Bunker misses with a hook from the clinch.
Bunker fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Bunker looking to slow down the pace here.
McLaughlin working aggressively here.

McLaughlin manages to break the clinch.
Bunker steps to the side to avoid the strikes from McLaughlin.
Bunker misses with an uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McLaughlin misses with a wild body shot.
McLaughlin lands a really nice looking cross but Bunker seems unphased.
McLaughlin missing with a left hand there. Bunker was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
McLaughlin throws a lazy right hand but Bunker sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
McLaughlin scores with a nice right hand.
Bunker moves out of range of the strikes.
McLaughlin throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
McLaughlin takes one on the button.
McLaughlin fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Bunker manages to avoid it.
Bunker is looking to land body kicks.
Bunker ducks under a wild hook from McLaughlin.
McLaughlin moves away from the strike by Bunker.

Bunker has McLaughlin up against the cage in a clinch.
McLaughlin tries to throw a body punch but Bunker avoids it by throwing McLaughlin back against the cage.
McLaughlin doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Bunker lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of McLaughlin backwards.
McLaughlin lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
Bunker throws a punch but it's blocked by McLaughlin.
Bunker lands a nice uppercut.
McLaughlin works on Bunker's body with a couple of short punches.
Bunker lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of McLaughlin backwards.
McLaughlin fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
McLaughlin tries to work over Bunker's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Bunker swings wildly with an uppercut but McLaughlin uses good head movement to avoid it.
A shot in the inside from Bunker.
Bunker working aggressively here.
Bunker is leaning against McLaughlin and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.

McLaughlin escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Bunker thuds his shin into the meat of McLaughlin's side.
Donk. McLaughlin catches Bunker right on the button with a cross.
McLaughlin on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Bunker. Bunker obviously looking to wear him down.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
McLaughlin swings widly with a right hand
and McLaughlin takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Bunker throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
McLaughlin throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Bunker is looking to counter punch.
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 Tony Bunker will probably get the nod.
That's time! Bunker's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Nice defenses there by McLaughlin.
McLaughlin looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Bunker is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Bunker throws a sloppy head kick and McLaughlin moves out of range easily.
McLaughlin throws a body shot but no joy.
McLaughlin moves out of range as Bunker strikes.
Bunker scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
McLaughlin ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bunker moves away.
Bunker tries to land a leg kick but McLaughlin saw it coming and moves away.
McLaughlin looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Bunker crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from McLaughlin - the referee stops the clock and Bunker gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says McLaughlin. Bunker manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
McLaughlin jabs Bunker right on the nose. Bunker blinks but takes it well.
McLaughlin scores with a hook.
Mike McLaughlin seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Bunker tries to clinch but McLaughlin is having none of it.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Bunker takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
McLaughlin tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Bunker was well out of range. Poor timing from McLaughlin.
A jab from McLaughlin does it's job there.
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!
Bunker listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
McLaughlin will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bunker lands with an overhand left.
Bunker connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
McLaughlin avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
McLaughlin misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Bunker.
McLaughlin throws the left hand but Bunker avoids the punch easily.
Bunker misses with a body shot.
Bunker has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
McLaughlin throws a hook but Bunker blocks it.
McLaughlin lands with a cross.
McLaughlin just misses with a punch to the body.
Bunker missing with a left hand there. McLaughlin was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
No joy there for Bunker, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Bunker throws a hook to the side of McLaughlin's head but McLaughlin sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
McLaughlin throws a right hand that misses
and McLaughlin takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
A telegraphed right hand from McLaughlin misses the target.
A counter left hand to the body from Bunker misses its target.
Bunker works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McLaughlin takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
McLaughlin scores with a body shot.
Bunker pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from McLaughlin! But no joy.
McLaughlin throws an overhand right that lands on Bunker's shoulder, as Bunker tries to avoid the shot.
Bunker swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Nice defenses there by McLaughlin.
McLaughlin swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Bunker's corner calls for a 1-2. Bunker obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
McLaughlin misses with a right hand
and Bunker counters with a nice uppercut.
Bunker lands with a nice body kick.
McLaughlin scores with a hook.
Bunker uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from McLaughlin.
McLaughlin connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Bunker's hands.
Bunker connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
McLaughlin tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Bunker blocks a leg kick.
McLaughlin swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Bunker lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Nice shot lands for McLaughlin.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McLaughlin ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bunker moves away.
McLaughlin takes one on the button.
Bunker's jab looks to have found its range, popping McLaughlin under the eye.
Bunker throws a hook but McLaughlin avoids it easily.
Bunker misses the jab.
McLaughlin just misses with a punch to the body.
Bunker swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Bunker throws a chopping leg kick but McLaughlin manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
McLaughlin throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.

Bunker rushes McLaughlin and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Bunker swings away with an uppercut that misses.
McLaughlin tries a body shot but Bunker blocks it.
A short body shot lands from McLaughlin as the two fighters clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Bunker creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

McLaughlin pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
McLaughlin avoids the head kick by Bunker.
Bunker staying out of range there.
Some bone on bone action there as Bunker checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McLaughlin on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Bunker. Bunker obviously looking to wear him down.
McLaughlin throws a lazy right hand but Bunker sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bunker misses with a jab to the body
and McLaughlin counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Bunker with a body punch. A glancing blow.
McLaughlin keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
McLaughlin throws a front kick that sends Bunker stumbling back into the cage.
McLaughlin scores with a decent looking hook.
Bunker misses with a body shot.
McLaughlin changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Bunker drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
McLaughlin misses with a right hand
and Bunker counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
McLaughlin swings for the body but Bunker moves out of range.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nice shot lands for McLaughlin.
Bunker lands a head kick!
Bunker throws a body kick that misses
and McLaughlin counters with a nice uppercut.
A looping hook to the body misses from McLaughlin. Bunker does a little dance to reset his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Tony Bunker will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Bunker misses with a body shot.
Bunker jabbing away but nothing is landing.
McLaughlin scores with a jab.
A punch lands to the side of McLaughlin 's head but he takes it in his stride.

Bunker forces McLaughlin back against the cage and clinches.
Bunker swings wildly with an uppercut but McLaughlin uses good head movement to avoid it.
McLaughlin has a couple of punches blocked by Bunker.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Bunker.

McLaughlin breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Good work by Bunker as he checks the leg kick.
Bunker slips under a jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McLaughlin misses the shot to the body.
McLaughlin throws a shot from downtown. Bunker moves away and avoids it.
It appears Bunker was looking to counter with a kick there.
McLaughlin misses with a body shot.

Bunker takes the fight into the clinch.
Bunker lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of McLaughlin backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McLaughlin goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
McLaughlin is trying to break the clinch but Bunker has him pressed against the cage.
McLaughlin misses with a hook to the ribs.
McLaughlin misses with some punches.
McLaughlin blocking some punches.

McLaughlin breaks the clinch.
Nice jab there from Bunker.
McLaughlin just misses with a punch to the body.
Bunker lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Bunker slips under a jab.
A little feinted left hand from Bunker on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Bunker avoids the body shot from McLaughlin.
Bunker throws a looping overhand right but McLaughlin ducks down to avoid it.
McLaughlin misses with a double jab
and Bunker counters with a nice uppercut.
McLaughlin throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
McLaughlin misses with a wild combination.
Mike McLaughlin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bunker drives through and clinches with McLaughlin against the cage.
Bunker blocks a body shot from McLaughlin.
Bunker misses with some punches.
Bunker fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
McLaughlin blocks a body shot from Bunker.
McLaughlin misses with some punches.
Bunker blocks a body shot from McLaughlin.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
McLaughlin lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Bunker misses with a punch on the inside.
McLaughlin swings away with an uppercut that misses.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for McLaughlin.
Tony Bunker is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
McLaughlin misses with a hook from the clinch.
McLaughlin has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Bunker displaying some good clinch control by pressing McLaughlin up against the cage.
McLaughlin pushes Bunker back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McLaughlin tries to throw a body punch but Bunker avoids it by throwing McLaughlin back against the cage.
McLaughlin is trying to push Bunker away but Bunker has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
McLaughlin swings wildly with an uppercut but Bunker uses good head movement to avoid it.
A head punch blocked on the inside by McLaughlin.
McLaughlin lands a nice uppercut.
McLaughlin working aggressively here.

McLaughlin's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
McLaughlin ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bunker moves away.
McLaughlin throws an off balance right hand
and Bunker counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
McLaughlin misses with a looping right.
McLaughlin listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
McLaughlin swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Bunker has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from McLaughlin finds it's way round the side to connect with Bunker's head.
McLaughlin misses with the body kick
and McLaughlin takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Bunker fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bunker moves away from the strike by McLaughlin.
McLaughlin missing with a left hand there. Bunker was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
This has been an exciting period of action!
McLaughlin misses with a body punch
and Bunker counters with a leg kick.
Bunker lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
McLaughlin throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A big left from McLaughlin misses.
Good leg kick by Bunker there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Bunker blocks a jab.
Bunker tries to clinch there but McLaughlin circles away.
Bunker looks to throw a body kick
and McLaughlin counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Bunker lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
McLaughlin scores with a jab to the head.
McLaughlin throws a body kick that misses.
McLaughlin throws a front kick aimed at Bunker's knee but Bunker avoids it well.
Bunker lands with a shot to the body.
McLaughlin takes one on the chin but seems OK.
McLaughlin checks a low kick from Bunker.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Mike McLaughlin.
I think Bunker 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 29:29
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 30:27
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 30:28

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