PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between George McLaughlin (ranked 3434 p4p, 4414 weight class) and Ronaldo Gracie (ranked 292 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

McLaughlin
vs
Gracie

170 cm
25
157
1 - 0 - 0

177 cm
25
159
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, George McLaughlin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Ronaldo Gracie!
The judges for this bout are David Hoff, Sandra Marshall and Dirk Anderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

McLaughlin takes the fight into the clinch.

Gracie decides to pull guard.
Gracie trying to strike off his back.
Gracie is trying to control the position but McLaughlin postures up.
Gracie looking to hit a scissor sweep but McLaughlin is one step ahead there.
Gracie wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and McLaughlin is now in half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. McLaughlin is working away from the top position though.
McLaughlin controlling the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie wants to get back to full guard.
Gracie makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Gracie.
Gracie is trying to keep McLaughlin in close.
Gracie can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as McLaughlin controls the pace.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

That's two 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.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
McLaughlin tries to clinch there but Gracie circles away.

Gracie shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. McLaughlin is trying to defend but Gracie finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Gracie missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

McLaughlin looking for submissions off his back.
Gracie seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but McLaughlin does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
McLaughlin is refusing to be controlled, as Gracie sits in half guard.
McLaughlin holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Gracie thows a huge punch but McLaughlin dodges it nicely.
McLaughlin is refusing to be controlled, as Gracie sits in half guard.
McLaughlin controlling the position well.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

McLaughlin clinches up with Gracie and pushes him back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
McLaughlin tries to pull guard but Gracie forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
McLaughlin jumps guard but Gracie stands there with McLaughlin around his waist. McLaughlin gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Gracie manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Gracie is looking to sweep but instead, McLaughlin has passed into half guard.
Gracie is trying to escape back to his feet but McLaughlin uses the scramble to pass into side control.
Gracie is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, McLaughlin asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
You can see the frustration on Gracie's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ronaldo Gracie dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Gracie fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Gracie fails with a takedown attempt.
Gracie tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
McLaughlin tries to clinch up but Gracie circles away and keeps his distance.

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

Gracie decides to pull guard.
McLaughlin pushing down on Gracie's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Gracie is looking to get back to is feet but McLaughlin passes into side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie is looking to reverse the position.
You can see the frustration on Gracie's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McLaughlin is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
You can see the frustration on Gracie's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
A lull in the action here.
Gracie tries to improve position but can't.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Gracie is still trying to improve position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
No joy there for Gracie, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
The fight stays on the outside here - McLaughlin looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

McLaughlin gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Gracie is trying to force a seperation but McLaughlin has the dominant position.

McLaughlin has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Gracie uses from the top position.
Ronaldo Gracie has got the better of the ground game so far.
McLaughlin pulls Gracie in close to prevent any damage.
McLaughlin keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.

McLaughlin is working actively from the bottom, looking for submissions. He's escaped his hips to the side and he's going for an armbar! Gracie has his hands clasped together but McLaughlin extends and breaks Gracie's desperate grasp, forcing a tap out due to armbar! Nice BJJ displayed there by McLaughlin.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:54 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). George McLaughlin!
A relieved looking George McLaughlin thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.