PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ramon Escobar Chavez (ranked 790 p4p, 92 weight class) and Mike McLaughlin (ranked 607 p4p, 74 weight class). Escobar Chavez comes to the cage accompanied by Buena Vista Social Club - Hasta Siempre. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Escobar Chavez
vs
McLaughlin

179 cm
33
150 lbs
22 - 5 - 3

178 cm
31
148 lbs
20 - 8 - 2

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing
Sportivité

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

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 22 - 5 - 3, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ramon Escobar Chavez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 8 - 2, fighting out of Los Angeles, Mike McLaughlin!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, James Atkins and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McLaughlin throws out a leg kick but Escobar Chavez moves out of range and McLaughlin only half commits.
McLaughlin lands with an overhand left.
Escobar Chavez takes a swing at McLaughlin's ribcage but misses.
McLaughlin throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Escobar Chavez sees it coming and avoids it easily.
McLaughlin walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Escobar Chavez checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
It looked like Escobar Chavez was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from McLaughlin.
McLaughlin moves out of range of the body kick from Escobar Chavez.
McLaughlin moves away from the strike by Escobar Chavez.
McLaughlin defending well as Escobar Chavez loads up on a big left hand.
McLaughlin swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Escobar Chavez.
Escobar Chavez just misses with a punch to the body.
Escobar Chavez throws a big shot that misses.
McLaughlin looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
McLaughlin throws a leg kick but Escobar Chavez moved away.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from McLaughlin lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Escobar Chavez has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Escobar Chavez and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
McLaughlin throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Escobar Chavez stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Escobar Chavez thuds a left hand into McLaughlin's body.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
McLaughlin looks to score with a jab to the body but Escobar Chavez is just out of range.
Escobar Chavez throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
McLaughlin avoids the body shot from Escobar Chavez.
McLaughlin checks a leg kick.
McLaughlin uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Escobar Chavez.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Escobar Chavez throws the left hand but McLaughlin avoids the punch easily.
McLaughlin misses with a straight left.
Escobar Chavez tries to work over McLaughlin's front leg with a kick but McLaughlin checks it.
McLaughlin looks to land a right hand but Escobar Chavez moved out of range.
A big right from Escobar Chavez misses.
A swing and a miss from Escobar Chavez.
McLaughlin fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Escobar Chavez manages to avoid it.
McLaughlin on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Good leg kick by McLaughlin there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Escobar Chavez pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
McLaughlin looks to score with a jab to the body but Escobar Chavez is just out of range.
McLaughlin turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

Escobar Chavez moves into range and clinches up with McLaughlin.
Escobar Chavez throws a punch but it's blocked by McLaughlin.
McLaughlin swings away with an uppercut that misses.
McLaughlin blocks a body shot from Escobar Chavez.
McLaughlin blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

McLaughlin escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Escobar Chavez swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Escobar Chavez keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A little feinted left hand from Escobar Chavez on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed right hand from McLaughlin misses the target.
McLaughlin takes a body punch but keeps moving.
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!
Escobar Chavez works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Escobar Chavez takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Escobar Chavez bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
McLaughlin throws the kick towards the body but Escobar Chavez avoids it.
Escobar Chavez works McLaughlin's body with a nice hook.
McLaughlin dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
A punch lands to the side of Escobar Chavez 's head but he takes it in his stride.
McLaughlin works Escobar Chavez's body with a nice hook.
Escobar Chavez feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to McLaughlin's calf.
Escobar Chavez connects with a body shot.
Nice defenses there by Escobar Chavez.
McLaughlin misses with a leg kick
and Escobar Chavez counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
McLaughlin takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
McLaughlin throws a head kick but Escobar Chavez moves out of range.
Escobar Chavez tries to close the distance and clinch up but McLaughlin swats him away and circles back towards the center.
McLaughlin displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Escobar Chavez throws out the jab.
McLaughlin throws a right hand that Escobar Chavez ducks under and follows up with a left that Escobar Chavez also avoids with ease.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Escobar Chavez lands an overhand right.
Escobar Chavez throws a body shot but no joy.
McLaughlin pivots, looking for a leg kick but Escobar Chavez is out of range and McLaughlin settles back down.
McLaughlin looks to land a left hand but Escobar Chavez moved out of range nicely.
A quick step to the side and Escobar Chavez tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
McLaughlin avoids the body shot from Escobar Chavez.
A looping hook to the body misses from Escobar Chavez. McLaughlin does a little dance to reset his feet.
McLaughlin lands with a shot to the body.
The fighters circling - Escobar Chavez throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Escobar Chavez misses with a body shot.
Escobar Chavez throws a looping overhand right but McLaughlin ducks down to avoid it.
Escobar Chavez throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Escobar Chavez takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
McLaughlin connects with a body shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Escobar Chavez. McLaughlin does a little dance to reset his feet.
It seemed like McLaughlin was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Escobar Chavez swings away with a leg kick that misses.
McLaughlin appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Escobar Chavez tries to close the distance and clinch up but McLaughlin swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Escobar Chavez closes the distance and clinches.
Escobar Chavez blocks an uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McLaughlin swings wildly with an uppercut but Escobar Chavez uses good head movement to avoid it.
McLaughlin throws a punch but it's blocked by Escobar Chavez.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A short right from McLaughlin on the inside.
Still in the clinch, Escobar Chavez scores with a nice short uppercut.
Escobar Chavez working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

McLaughlin pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
McLaughlin works Escobar Chavez's body with a nice hook.
Escobar Chavez takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
McLaughlin on the wrong end of a nice jab.
McLaughlin scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
McLaughlin throws a front kick aimed at Escobar Chavez's knee but Escobar Chavez avoids it well.
Escobar Chavez fakes high and swings low for a body shot but McLaughlin manages to avoid it.
McLaughlin slips under a jab from Escobar Chavez.
McLaughlin lands a right hook to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
McLaughlin throws a nice inside leg kick.
Escobar Chavez slips under a jab from McLaughlin.
McLaughlin connects with a right hand. Escobar Chavez shakes it off.
McLaughlin fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Escobar Chavez checks a low kick from McLaughlin.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mike McLaughlin will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

McLaughlin cracks a nice hook into Escobar Chavez's ribs.
Escobar Chavez checks the leg kick.
A jab from McLaughlin misses.
Escobar Chavez lands with a thumping leg kick.
McLaughlin moves away from the strike by Escobar Chavez.
McLaughlin is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Escobar Chavez rather than just go for the knockout.
McLaughlin on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Escobar Chavez misses with a low kick as McLaughlin jumps back.
McLaughlin bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Escobar Chavez's head backwards.
McLaughlin throws a jab when Escobar Chavez was well out of range.
Escobar Chavez misses with a looping left.
McLaughlin scores with a kick to the midsection.

Escobar Chavez closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

McLaughlin breaks the clinch.
An inside leg kick lands from McLaughlin.
Escobar Chavez takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
McLaughlin checks a leg kick.
Nice cross by McLaughlin.
Escobar Chavez misses with an uppercut. McLaughlin saw that one coming.
McLaughlin takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?

That's one minute gone in the round.
McLaughlin swings for the body but Escobar Chavez moves out of range.
Escobar Chavez takes one to the side of the head.
Escobar Chavez uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before McLaughlin has time to react.
Escobar Chavez cracks a nice hook into McLaughlin's ribs.
A solid leg kick lands there for Escobar Chavez.
Escobar Chavez throws a sloppy body shot
and McLaughlin counters with an outside leg kick.
McLaughlin lands a nice leg kick that just misses Escobar Chavez's sensitive parts.
Good standup being displayed there by Escobar Chavez as he connects with a hook.
Escobar Chavez swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Escobar Chavez walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. McLaughlin checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
McLaughlin throws a big shot that misses.
Escobar Chavez throws a lazy right hand but McLaughlin sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Mike McLaughlin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McLaughlin throws out a powerful jab.
Escobar Chavez takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
McLaughlin misses with a low kick.
Escobar Chavez tests McLaughlin's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Escobar Chavez fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McLaughlin throws a jab when Escobar Chavez was well out of range.
McLaughlin scoring well with a low kick there.
Nice defenses there by McLaughlin.
McLaughlin lands with an overhand left.
McLaughlin misses with a looping right.
McLaughlin thumps Escobar Chavez with a low kick.
McLaughlin takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Escobar Chavez jabs at McLaughlin's body.
Escobar Chavez closes the distance looking to clinch
and McLaughlin cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
McLaughlin misses with a low kick.
McLaughlin ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Escobar Chavez moves away.
McLaughlin checks a leg kick.
McLaughlin throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
McLaughlin misses with a low kick.
McLaughlin slips a jab and a cross from Escobar Chavez.
Decent striking displayed by Escobar Chavez there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Escobar Chavez tries to work over McLaughlin's front leg with a kick but McLaughlin checks it.
McLaughlin 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 connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
McLaughlin does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Escobar Chavez walks into a straight right hand from McLaughlin.
Escobar Chavez tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
A shot to the liver by Escobar Chavez. Beautiful body shot.
Escobar Chavez misses with a looping right.
Escobar Chavez blocks the body kick.
An inside leg kick lands from McLaughlin.
Mike McLaughlin seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Escobar Chavez throws a hook to the side of McLaughlin's head but McLaughlin sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Escobar Chavez throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
McLaughlin takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from McLaughlin in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Escobar Chavez throws a solid leg kick but McLaughlin takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Escobar Chavez.
McLaughlin keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Escobar Chavez loads up on a big right hand but McLaughlin slips the punch.
Escobar Chavez throws a looping overhand right but McLaughlin ducks down to avoid it.
McLaughlin takes a shot to the body in his stride.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
McLaughlin drops his hands momentarily and Escobar Chavez takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Escobar Chavez scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Escobar Chavez misses with a body shot.
Escobar Chavez takes a jab right on the kisser.
McLaughlin takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
A leg kick checked by McLaughlin.
Escobar Chavez blocks a leg kick.
McLaughlin wants to land a leg kick but Escobar Chavez is out of range.
Escobar Chavez misses the shot to the body.
McLaughlin throws a low kick but Escobar Chavez moves out of range easily.
Nice cross by Escobar Chavez.
Escobar Chavez throws a body shot but no joy.
A good leg kick by McLaughlin.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from McLaughlin, right into the meat.
McLaughlin stuns Escobar Chavez with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Escobar Chavez throws a body punch but McLaughlin moves out of range.
Escobar Chavez looks to land a left hand but McLaughlin moved out of range nicely.
Escobar Chavez misses with a low kick.
McLaughlin swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
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 Ramon Escobar Chavez will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

McLaughlin lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Escobar Chavez throws a hook to the side of McLaughlin's head but McLaughlin sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
McLaughlin misses with a body kick.
Escobar Chavez misses the jab.
McLaughlin throws a hook to the side of Escobar Chavez's head but Escobar Chavez sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Escobar Chavez lands with a right hand.
Escobar Chavez swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Escobar Chavez avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
McLaughlin cracks Escobar Chavez with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
McLaughlin throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Escobar Chavez.
Escobar Chavez keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
A jab lands there for Escobar Chavez.
McLaughlin motions for Escobar Chavez to come forward. McLaughlin throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
McLaughlin misses with a straight right.
Escobar Chavez throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Escobar Chavez bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
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!
A shot to the liver by McLaughlin. Beautiful body shot.
McLaughlin looks to score with a jab to the body but Escobar Chavez is just out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McLaughlin throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Escobar Chavez scores with a jab to the body.
Escobar Chavez blocks a jab.
Escobar Chavez fails in his attempt to clinch.
McLaughlin rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
letting Escobar Chavez counter with a right hand.
McLaughlin throws a quick inside leg kick.
Escobar Chavez fakes high and swings low for a body shot but McLaughlin manages to avoid it.
Escobar Chavez scores with a body shot.
A nice leg kick lands there from McLaughlin.
McLaughlin takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Escobar Chavez throws a right and a left that both miss.
Escobar Chavez drops his hands momentarily and McLaughlin takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
A slow jab from McLaughlin misses its intended target.
Nice shot lands for McLaughlin.
A looping hook to the body misses from McLaughlin. Escobar Chavez does a little dance to reset his feet.
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!
Escobar Chavez takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
McLaughlin ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
McLaughlin lands a lovely overhand right.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Escobar Chavez lands a nice shot that snaps McLaughlin's head back.
McLaughlin cracks Escobar Chavez with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Escobar Chavez moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Escobar Chavez moves in looking to clinch but McLaughlin pushes him off.
McLaughlin keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
McLaughlin fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Escobar Chavez throws a right hand that misses
enabling McLaughlin to counter with a crisp jab.
Escobar Chavez swings and misses with a hook to the body.
McLaughlin misses with a hook
and Escobar Chavez counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Escobar Chavez crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from McLaughlin - the referee stops the clock and Escobar Chavez gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says McLaughlin. Escobar Chavez manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
An inside leg kick lands from McLaughlin.
Escobar Chavez tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but McLaughlin was well out of range. Poor timing from Escobar Chavez.
McLaughlin looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
McLaughlin avoids the body shot from Escobar Chavez.
McLaughlin scores with a sloppy right hand. Escobar Chavez should have avoided that one.
Escobar Chavez scores with the left hand. McLaughlin knows he should have avoided that one.
Escobar Chavez bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

Escobar Chavez rushes McLaughlin and presses him up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McLaughlin throws a punch but it's blocked by Escobar Chavez.
McLaughlin misses with a short punch on the inside.
Escobar Chavez has a couple of punches blocked by McLaughlin.
Escobar Chavez blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Escobar Chavez blocks a punch to the side of the head.
McLaughlin has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Escobar Chavez throws a punch but it's blocked by McLaughlin.
McLaughlin swings wildly with an uppercut but Escobar Chavez uses good head movement to avoid it.
Escobar Chavez misses with a punch on the inside.
McLaughlin fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Escobar Chavez tries to throw a body punch but McLaughlin avoids it by throwing Escobar Chavez back against the cage.

McLaughlin's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Escobar Chavez throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
A jab from Escobar Chavez misses.
McLaughlin tried to score with a low kick but Escobar Chavez checks it.
Escobar Chavez looks to land a right hand but McLaughlin moved out of range.
McLaughlin throws an overhand right that lands on Escobar Chavez's shoulder, as Escobar Chavez tries to avoid the shot.
Escobar Chavez keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from McLaughlin.
McLaughlin takes a shot right to the bread basket.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Escobar Chavez tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but McLaughlin was well out of range. Poor timing from Escobar Chavez.
Escobar Chavez misses the jab.
Escobar Chavez scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Escobar Chavez pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
McLaughlin loads up on a big right hand but Escobar Chavez slips the punch.
McLaughlin lands a leg kick that knocks Escobar Chavez off balance momentarily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Escobar Chavez misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from McLaughlin.
McLaughlin only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Escobar Chavez throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
McLaughlin checks a low kick from Escobar Chavez.
McLaughlin ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
McLaughlin's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
McLaughlin throws an off balance right hand
and Escobar Chavez cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
A jab from McLaughlin does it's job there.
Escobar Chavez throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
McLaughlin rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Escobar Chavez counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Escobar Chavez blocks a jab.
Escobar Chavez closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
McLaughlin lands a leg kick that knocks Escobar Chavez off balance momentarily.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Mike McLaughlin.
I think McLaughlin 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 28:30
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mike McLaughlin!
A very excited looking Mike McLaughlin rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.