PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Mike McLaughlin (ranked 295 p4p, 37 weight class) and Brando Reigns (ranked 441 p4p, 51 weight class). Reigns has chosen Tragedy as his entrance music. Mike McLaughlin could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Brando Reigns's chin.

McLaughlin
vs
Reigns

178 cm
30
148 lbs
18 - 7 - 2

166 cm
31
154 lbs
15 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Groove Gear
Zenith Nutrition (160q/$200)

UnderGround Clothing Co.

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 18 - 7 - 2, fighting out of Amsterdam, Mike McLaughlin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Brando Reigns!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Colin Fotheringham and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Reigns on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
A telegraphed right hand from Reigns misses the target.
McLaughlin misses with an uppercut.
Reigns on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
McLaughlin misses with a low kick.
Reigns jabs McLaughlin to the body, keeping him at a distance.
McLaughlin misses with a body shot.
A jab from McLaughlin finds it's way through Reigns's defenses.
Reigns throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
McLaughlin scores with a hook.
McLaughlin lands a glancing blow to the side of Reigns's head.
Reigns ducks under a wild hook from McLaughlin.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Reigns! But no joy.
McLaughlin throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Reigns scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Reigns keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Reigns's jab looks to have found its range, popping McLaughlin under the eye.
McLaughlin takes a body punch but keeps moving.
McLaughlin misses with a low kick.
McLaughlin steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Reigns.
McLaughlin keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Reigns throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McLaughlin moves away from the strike by Reigns.
McLaughlin checks the leg kick nicely there.
McLaughlin tries a low kick but Reigns avoids it.
Reigns throws a body shot but no joy.
McLaughlin just misses with a punch to the body.
Reigns ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
McLaughlin scores with a nice right hand.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Reigns has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Mike McLaughlin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McLaughlin throws the left hand but Reigns avoids the punch easily.
McLaughlin buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Reigns is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down McLaughlin rather than just go for the knockout.
A nice inside leg kick there by McLaughlin. That's going to slow Reigns down.
Mike McLaughlin is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
McLaughlin uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Reigns checks a low kick from McLaughlin.
Reigns drops down looking to force a counter takedown but McLaughlin defends it well.
McLaughlin is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
McLaughlin misses with a straight right.
McLaughlin misses the shot to the body.
McLaughlin is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Reigns lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Reigns moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
McLaughlin fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Reigns checks it well.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Reigns jabbing away but nothing is landing.
McLaughlin sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reigns on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
McLaughlin turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
A low kick from Reigns misses
and McLaughlin counters with a solid body kick.
Reigns steps to the side to avoid the strikes from McLaughlin.
Reigns checks a leg kick.
Reigns fakes high and swings low for a body shot but McLaughlin manages to avoid it.
McLaughlin checks a low kick from Reigns.
Reigns connects with a single shot there.
Reigns throws a body kick that misses.
McLaughlin cracks Reigns with a good jab.
McLaughlin misses the shot to the body.
Reigns misses with a body shot.
Reigns just misses with a punch to the body.
Reigns misses with a hook
and McLaughlin counters with an inside leg kick.
Good shot there by McLaughlin.
A jab from McLaughlin misses.
Reigns missing with a left hand there. McLaughlin was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Reigns connects with a crisp jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reigns digs a good body shot into McLaughlin's ribs.
McLaughlin swings for the body but Reigns moves out of range.
Reigns tries a low kick but McLaughlin avoids it.
McLaughlin tried to counter with a leg kick but Reigns avoided it.
McLaughlin scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
McLaughlin takes a swing at Reigns's ribcage but misses.
McLaughlin throws out a loose jab but Reigns uses good head movement to avoid it.
A nice inside leg kick there by McLaughlin. That's going to slow Reigns down.
McLaughlin keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
McLaughlin just misses with a punch to the body.
A countering left hand to the body from Reigns misses.
Reigns scores with a jab. McLaughlin acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
McLaughlin lands with a thumping leg kick.
McLaughlin swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
McLaughlin loads up on a big right hand but Reigns slips the punch.
McLaughlin throws a leg kick but Reigns sees it coming and moves out of range.
McLaughlin takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Reigns swings and misses with a hook to the body.
McLaughlin displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Reigns throws out the jab.
Reigns misses with a kick to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Reigns connects with a leg kick. McLaughlin looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McLaughlin smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Reigns lands a nice shot that snaps McLaughlin's head back.
McLaughlin takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
McLaughlin pivots, looking for a leg kick but Reigns is out of range and McLaughlin settles back down.
Reigns connects with a body shot.
A decent looking cross lands there for McLaughlin.
McLaughlin slips a jab from Reigns.
A jab lands there for Reigns.
Reigns keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from McLaughlin.
McLaughlin throws a leg kick that is checked
letting Reigns counter with a right hand.
McLaughlin takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
A jab from Reigns misses.
McLaughlin lands an overhand right.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
McLaughlin throws a front kick aimed at Reigns's knee but Reigns avoids it well.
McLaughlin has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Reigns.
McLaughlin clobbers Reigns with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Reigns throws a hook but McLaughlin avoids it easily.
McLaughlin scores with a head kick.
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 Mike McLaughlin 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.

McLaughlin tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
McLaughlin tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Reigns takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Reigns connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Mike McLaughlin is winning the standup battle so far.
Reigns fakes high and swings low for a body shot but McLaughlin manages to avoid it.
McLaughlin appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Reigns throws a right and a left that both miss.
McLaughlin looks to land a left hand but Reigns moved out of range nicely.
McLaughlin scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Reigns avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Reigns, right into the meat.
Reigns is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by McLaughlin.
Reigns throws a wild body kick that McLaughlin sees coming a mile off.
McLaughlin throwing a counter right hand but Reigns manages to avoid it.
McLaughlin attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
McLaughlin loads up on a big right hand but Reigns slips the punch.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Reigns checks a leg kick.
McLaughlin throws a leg kick which misses Reigns's front leg but catches the back leg as Reigns tries to avoid it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
McLaughlin throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Reigns waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract McLaughlin.
Reigns gets cracked with a nice right hand there by McLaughlin.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Reigns is working for a kimura but McLaughlin is defending it quite comfortably.
Reigns is pressing down on McLaughlin's thigh, looking to free his foot. McLaughlin is holding on for now.
Reigns working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on McLaughlin's thigh. McLaughlin counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Reigns trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reigns wants to control from the top but McLaughlin keeps moving.
Reigns might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control McLaughlin haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Reigns trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Reigns controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
McLaughlin trying to keep a closed guard but Reigns is proving a slippery customer.
Reigns trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
McLaughlin can't keep his opponent in guard - Reigns advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reigns trying to control the action but McLaughlin is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Reigns tries to pass the half guard into mount. McLaughlin knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
McLaughlin throws a body punch but Reigns moves out of range.
Reigns's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
A decent looking body kick lands there for McLaughlin.
Reigns connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
McLaughlin chopping away at his opponent's legs.
McLaughlin scores with a nice right hand.
A clash of legs there as Reigns blocks the low kick.
Reigns just misses with a punch to the body.
Brando Reigns has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McLaughlin connects with a solid leg kick.
Reigns throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Reigns thows a body kick. McLaughlin tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Reigns chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Reigns slips a jab from McLaughlin.
Reigns tries a quick counter leg kick but McLaughlin is wise to it.
Reigns ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A good leg kick by Reigns.
McLaughlin throws a low kick but Reigns avoids it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Reigns jabs McLaughlin to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Reigns swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by McLaughlin.
McLaughlin throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Reigns looks for the body kick but McLaughlin saw that one coming.
Reigns ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Reigns wants to slow McLaughlin down by chopping away at his legs.
Nice body kick from Reigns.
McLaughlin slips under a jab.
McLaughlin feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Reigns tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brando Reigns showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Reigns throws a leg kick but McLaughlin moved away.
McLaughlin looks to throw the jab but Reigns is out of range.
McLaughlin looks to throw the jab but Reigns is out of range.

Reigns shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. McLaughlin manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Reigns trying to control but McLaughlin is working from the bottom.
Reigns tries to free his leg and advance position but McLaughlin is retaining full guard.
Reigns passes McLaughlin's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Reigns seems to be working for a kimura but McLaughlin defends the submission attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Reigns wants to pass the guard but McLaughlin is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reigns content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Reigns missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
McLaughlin is staying active underneath Reigns, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Reigns content to control rather than advance.
Reigns trying to control from half guard but McLaughlin is working away.
Reigns with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

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.
Let's hope that Reigns 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.
Reigns wants to take a breather but McLaughlin is having none of it.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Reigns throws out a loose jab but McLaughlin uses good head movement to avoid it.
As Reigns backs away, McLaughlin returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
McLaughlin connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Reigns momentarily.
Reigns scores with a nice body kick.
McLaughlin tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
McLaughlin thuds his right hand into Reigns's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.

Reigns gets a clinch.
Reigns pushes McLaughlin back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Nice body punch from Reigns - that landed with a thud.
Reigns tries to work over McLaughlin's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reigns working aggressively here.
McLaughlin fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
McLaughlin working aggressively here.
Reigns blocks a body shot from McLaughlin.
McLaughlin misses with the head strike.

Reigns gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Reigns trying to control the action but McLaughlin is working from the bottom.
Reigns wants to free his trapped foot but McLaughlin is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Reigns is working for a kimura but McLaughlin is defending it quite comfortably.
Reigns thows a huge punch but McLaughlin dodges it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reigns is pressing down on McLaughlin's thigh, looking to free his foot. McLaughlin is holding on for now.

McLaughlin is defending against the submission attempts here by Reigns.
Reigns passes to side control.
Reigns throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Reigns wants to lay and pray for a moment but McLaughlin keeps working.
Reigns controls the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Brando Reigns comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Reigns has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 28:29
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brando Reigns!
Brando Reigns bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.