PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Broa Ling (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and TJ Mcgregor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). TJ Mcgregor has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Ling
vs
Mcgregor

175 cm
26
130 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

185 cm
25
135 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Broa Ling!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, TJ Mcgregor!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Franklyn Lucas and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ling gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Mcgregor lands a shot to the body.

Ling gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Mcgregor has one foot on Ling's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
TJ Mcgregor seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mcgregor misses with a body kick.
Mcgregor tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ling was well out of range. Poor timing from Mcgregor.
Ling tries to clinch but Mcgregor moves out of range.
Mcgregor throws a combination that misses

and Ling counters with a nice double leg into side control. Mcgregor won't be happy with that.

Mcgregor throws Ling to one side and escapes!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mcgregor shoots in but no luck this time.
Mcgregor fails with the takedown.
Ling closes the distance and lands a one-two.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A slapping body kick lands there for Ling.
Ling lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Ling leaves Mcgregor with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Broa Ling has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of TJ Mcgregor.
Ling stalks Mcgregor and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Mcgregor's face. Mcgregor staggers backwards, shaken.
Ling really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Ling scores with a hook to the body. Mcgregor takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

Ling pushes Mcgregor up against the cage in a clinch.
Ling is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Ling is trying to break the clinch but Mcgregor is controlling him.
Ling tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Ling jumps guard but Mcgregor turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Ling prevents a takedown attempt there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ling is trying to pull guard but Mcgregor turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Mcgregor gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mcgregor not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Mcgregor decides to stand up.
Mcgregor misses with a series of wild punches.

Ling gets a clinch.
Ling tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Mcgregor smiles and moves away.
Ling stuffs the takedown attempt from Mcgregor. Mcgregor gets slowly back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ling changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Mcgregor looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Mcgregor bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Ling closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Mcgregor tries for a takedown but Ling sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Mcgregor tries to score a power double leg takedown but Ling sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Mcgregor somewhat.
Mcgregor looks winded!
A combination from Ling does no damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mcgregor fails with an attempt to clinch.
Ling appears to be looking for a big counter.
Ling swats away the attempt to clinch by Mcgregor.
It looked like Ling was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.

Ling has taken the fight to the clinch.

Mcgregor is fighting off a takedown attempt but Ling is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Mcgregor to the mat. Mcgregor regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.

Mcgregor scrambles and gets back to his feet.

Mcgregor closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Ling's guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mcgregor pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ling is keeping the position for now.
Ling keeping moving, preventing Mcgregor from controlling successfully.
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 Broa Ling will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Ling looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Mcgregor!

Mcgregor explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!

Ling moves into the clinch successfully.

Ling is trying to trip Mcgregor. He has hold of a leg but Mcgregor is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Ling persists though and gets the takedown into guard.

Mcgregor pushes Ling off and gets back to his feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nice sprawl there from Ling as Mcgregor shoots in.
Mcgregor shoots for a takedown but Ling saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Ling forces Mcgregor back against the cage and clinches.

Ling gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.

Mcgregor scrambles and gets back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Mcgregor gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Mcgregor missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Mcgregor performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

Mcgregor is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Ling has managed to free his arm - good work.
Ground and pound from Mcgregor.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mcgregor controlling the pace.
Mcgregor is looking to take a break and control but Ling is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Ling trying to control here.
Ling won't allow Mcgregor to pass to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mcgregor escapes and gets back to his feet.
Ling fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Ling wants to clinch.
Ling sets himself, and Mcgregor steps forward looking for the clinch! Ling avoids it this time.
Mcgregor throws a wild body kick that Ling sees coming a mile off.
Mcgregor chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Mcgregor shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Ling counters with a series of strikes. Mcgregor will be more careful next time no doubt.
Broa Ling has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of TJ Mcgregor.
Mcgregor throws a series of punches but Ling moves out of range.
Ling is looking for a counter combo.
Mcgregor keeps the fight on the outside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mcgregor fails in his attempt to clinch.
Ling tries to clinch up but Mcgregor circles away and keeps his distance.
Mcgregor tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Ling defends well and Mcgregor ends up having to push Ling into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Mcgregor is breathing heavily.
Mcgregor keeps the fight on the outside.
Mcgregor is looking for the big counter here.
Broa Ling is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ling rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Mcgregor moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Ling closes the distance and clinches.

Mcgregor breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ling throws a one two combo.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mcgregor gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Ling counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

Ling closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Mcgregor to the mat! Mcgregor manages to get full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but TJ Mcgregor will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Mcgregor misses with a takedown
and Ling counters with a series of strikes. Mcgregor will be more careful next time no doubt.
Ling lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Mcgregor backs up against the cage.
Mcgregor tries to land a front kick but Ling steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Mcgregor swats away the attempt to clinch by Ling.
Ling works over Mcgregor's head and body with a nice combination.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Ling fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Mcgregor to the ground. Ling is now in Mcgregor's guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ling stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mcgregor swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ling throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mcgregor looking to control.
Mcgregor bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Ling's guard.

Mcgregor postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Mcgregor looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
TJ Mcgregor has got the better of the ground game so far.
Mcgregor trying to control the position from guard on top but Ling is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mcgregor controlling from the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Mcgregor lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ling is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Mcgregor passes Ling's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Mcgregor not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mcgregor winds up and cracks Ling with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Ling on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Ling tries to get out of the position.
Mcgregor thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Ling knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Mcgregor on the ground.
Mcgregor missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Mcgregor perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Ling tries to clinch there but Mcgregor circles away.
Mcgregor lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Ling fails to land the takedown.
Ling fails with an attempt to clinch.

Ling gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Mcgregor to score an easy takedown into full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ling wants to sweep here but Mcgregor controlling him for the moment.
Mcgregor controls from within his opponent's guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Let's hope that Mcgregor 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.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Broa Ling.
I think Ling has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Chad Campbell scores the fight 29:29
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 29:30
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 30:28

The fight is ruled a draw!