PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Brain Mclaughlin (ranked 25526 p4p, 0 weight class) and SD Blayze (ranked 24777 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Mclaughlin
vs
Blayze

159 cm
19
140 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

170 cm
19
143 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Brain Mclaughlin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, SD Blayze!
The judges for this bout are Albert Achterberg, Patrick Alders and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Blayze shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Blayze is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Blayze pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mclaughlin is keeping the position for now.
Mclaughlin keeping moving, preventing Blayze from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mclaughlin is trying to control the position but Blayze postures up.
Blayze wants to pass the guard but Mclaughlin is keeping the position.
Blayze wants to control from the top but Mclaughlin keeps moving.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blayze looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Blayze has taken the fight to the clinch.
Blayze on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Mclaughlin jumps guard but Blayze turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Blayze has picked Mclaughlin up - he's going for a ride! Blayze dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Still in half guard, Blayze seems content to control.

Blayze is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blayze works his way into side control.
Blayze slows the pace down.
Blayze throws a strike aimed at the side of Mclaughlin's head but Mclaughlin avoids it well.

Blayze stands up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blayze doesn't manage to clinch there - Mclaughlin circles away.

Blayze dives in and scores a takedown into Mclaughlin's guard.
Blayze controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Blayze throwing strikes but missing.

Mclaughlin is working an open guard so Blayze takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

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

Blayze decides to return to a standing position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blayze leaves Mclaughlin with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Mclaughlin fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brain Mclaughlin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mclaughlin with a poor takedown

and Blayze counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Mclaughlin is breathing heavily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Blayze breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Blayze changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Mclaughlin looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mclaughlin defending against the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

SD Blayze dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Mclaughlin tries to keep at a distance but Blayze has taken the fight into the clinch.
Blayze lands a body punch in the clinch.
Mclaughlin jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Blayze walks away with a smile on his face. Mclaughlin gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Mclaughlin fails with the takedown
and Blayze counters with a left and a right that stings Mclaughlin.

Blayze drives through with a takedown into guard.
Blayze's corner is telling him to maintain position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Blayze stands and steps away. Mclaughlin gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Blayze gets the takedown into side control.
Blayze has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Mclaughlin tries to control but Blayze manages to take his back.

Blayze working for the choke.
Mclaughlin holding both Blayze 's hands and preventing any damage.

Blayze working for a choke but Mclaughlin is defending well.
Blayze struggling to keep hold of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Blayze is looking for the choke from the back position but Mclaughlin is controlling his hands well.
Blayze controlling the position well here. Mclaughlin rolled but Blayze kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.

Blayze is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mclaughlin trying to control the position but Blayze manages to sink in the hooks.
Blayze punches the canvas rather than the man.

Mclaughlin is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Blayze is riding his opponent, not letting Mclaughlin buck him off.

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.
Blayze keeps control of the position as Mclaughlin tries to break free.
Mclaughlin is keeping busy.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Blayze throwing sloppy strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

SD Blayze showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Blayze closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Mclaughlin quickly recovers to half guard.
Mclaughlin is trying to get back to full guard.
Mclaughlin is staying active underneath Blayze, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Blayze perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Blayze thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Mclaughlin's head.

Blayze seems to be looking for submissions.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blayze is trying to control the action in half guard but Mclaughlin is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Mclaughlin trying to control from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blayze stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Blayze wants it to stay on the feet.

Mclaughlin fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Blayze sprawls well initially but Mclaughlin persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Blayze manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mclaughlin is looking to clinch but Blayze is avoiding it.
Blayze tries to land a front kick but Mclaughlin steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

Blayze darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Blayze takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Blayze lands strikes from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Blayze is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Mclaughlin still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Mclaughlin has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Blayze sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Blayze is looking for a sweep. Mclaughlin is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Blayze has his hands clasped together around Mclaughlin's back. He's all about the action.
Let's hope that Blayze has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Mclaughlin not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Blayze flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mclaughlin seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Blayze does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Blayze is looking to escape.
Mclaughlin seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Mclaughlin is controlling the pace.
Blayze is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Mclaughlin's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Mclaughlin's back!
Will Blayze go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mclaughlin is trying to break free.

Blayze has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Mclaughlin is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Blayze punishes Mclaughlin with strikes from the back mount.
Blayze gets his hands free as Mclaughlin looks to control.

Blayze is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Brain Mclaughlin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
SD Blayze is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Blayze tightening his grip on Mclaughlin, looking for the choke.

And that's the end of the fight!
SD Blayze comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Blayze 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 Albert Achterberg scores the fight 27:30
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 27:30
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... SD Blayze!