PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Mike Rankine (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and clark McCahon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). clark McCahon will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Rankine
vs
McCahon

179 cm
22
145 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

175 cm
20
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Nice elbows
Solid chin

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 Rio de Janeiro, Mike Rankine!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, clark McCahon!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Luis Engracia and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rankine throws a sloppy head kick and McCahon moves out of range easily.
McCahon moves out of range of the body kick from Rankine.
Rankine tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
McCahon avoids the head kick by Rankine.

Rankine darts in and clinches McCahon up against the cage.
Rankine controlling the action here for a moment.
Rankine can't get the takedown.
Rankine looking to throw knees to the head but McCahon is blocking nicely.
Rankine keeps control of McCahon as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Rankine lands a damaging elbow.
McCahon has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Rankine avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Rankine lands a damaging elbow.
McCahon has had enough of the clinch but Rankine keeps him there for the moment.
McCahon wants to break free but Rankine has control.
Rankine wants a takedown but no success here.
Rankine landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Rankine throws a punch but it's blocked by McCahon.
Rankine connects with a knee to the head.
Rankine dodges an elbow strike from McCahon.
McCahon wants to break the clinch but can't.
Rankine dodges an elbow strike from McCahon.
McCahon prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Rankine. That's going to take a lot out of him.
McCahon throws an elbow that misses.

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

The fight moves into the clinch position.
McCahon looking for a takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCahon wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Rankine has him pressed against the cage.
Rankine lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Rankine tries to land a knee to the head but McCahon blocks with his arms.
Rankine lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Rankine landing some nice looking knees to the body.
McCahon looks gassed!
McCahon is trying to stall.

Rankine escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rankine lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

Rankine shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Rankine was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Rankine controlling the position easily from mount.
McCahon prevents any damage by holding on tight.
McCahon wants to hold on but Rankine pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rankine controlling from the full mount.
Rankine seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down McCahon for as long as he can get away with.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCahon is looking to get to half guard.
Rankine controlling his opponent.
McCahon is looking to improve his position but Rankine isn't that keen on the idea.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Rankine controlling his opponent.
McCahon is trying to escape the mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rankine controlling from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Rankine dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

McCahon closes the distance and clinches.
Rankine throws an elbow but it misses.

McCahon drags the fight down to the ground.
McCahon wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Rankine is now in half guard.
Rankine perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
McCahon controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Rankine controlling the action here.
McCahon is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rankine decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Mike Rankine is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

McCahon gets caught flat footed, as Rankine shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Rankine trying to stand up but can't free himself from McCahon's guard.

Rankine stands up from guard. Let's bang!

McCahon shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than McCahon was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McCahon trying to control but Rankine is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rankine is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Rankine is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Rankine regains half guard.

Rankine has one foot on McCahon's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rankine misses with a takedown
and McCahon counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Jab by McCahon.
Rankine throws a head kick that half lands.
Rankine throws a series of punches but McCahon avoids them all with ease.

Rankine shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Rankine has decided to stand back up but his arm is trapped. Whilst he's worrying about his arm, McCahon works to full guard.
Rankine has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of McCahon is proving hard to escape from.
Rankine trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rankine not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Rankine is in close to McCahon's body, working some short punches and elbows.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Rankine dominated that second round.
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!

Rankine closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Rankine decides to stand up, so the ref orders McCahon to his feet.
McCahon tries to clinch up
and Rankine counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. McCahon is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Rankine throws a combination but it was largely blocked by McCahon.
Rankine moves in looking to clinch but McCahon pushes him off.

Rankine gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
McCahon looking to slow down the pace here.
McCahon fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Rankine avoiding damage as McCahon throws knees to the body.

Rankine escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
McCahon misses with a kick to the body

and Rankine counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Rankine stopping the sweep attempt from McCahon.
Rankine controls from within his opponent's guard.
McCahon takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rankine stands up from McCahon's guard - Rankine perhaps looking for a knockout.
McCahon will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Rankine lands a head kick!
Rankine misses with a wild combination.
Rankine misses with a few strikes there.
Rankine goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
McCahon tries to clinch up.
Rankine misses with a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McCahon doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Rankine moves into the clinch.
Rankine lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Knees to the body from Rankine.
McCahon dodges an elbow strike from Rankine.
McCahon lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Rankine looks to throw an elbow but misses.
McCahon wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Rankine missing with knees to the body.
Rankine missing with knees to the body.
McCahon misses with the head strike.
A head punch blocked on the inside by McCahon.

Rankine turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Rankine working away.
Mike Rankine overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
McCahon is not content to let Rankine control the position.
McCahon wants to get back to his feet but Rankine drags him back down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCahon struggling a bit here.
McCahon wants to get back to his feet but Rankine drags him back down.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
McCahon tries to improve position but can't.
Rankine just content to control the position.

Rankine stands up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
McCahon closes the distance looking to clinch
and Rankine counters with a flying knee. Nice.
McCahon looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
clark McCahon has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
McCahon fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Mike Rankine has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of clark McCahon.
Rankine throws a quick head kick that skims the top of McCahon's head.

McCahon fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Rankine sprawls well initially but McCahon persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
McCahon scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Rankine wants to control but McCahon is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Rankine is not content to let McCahon control the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rankine keeping hold of McCahon's head, controlling as best he can.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mike Rankine showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Rankine has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 30:27
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mike Rankine!