PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Cheech Chong (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Reece Mclaren (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Chong
vs
Mclaren

175 cm
25
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

169 cm
25
140 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Cheech Chong!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Reece Mclaren!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Mauricio Rocha and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Chong clinches with his opponent.
Mclaren has had enough of the clinch but Chong keeps him there for the moment.
Mclaren tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A frustrated look appears on Mclaren's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Mclaren tries to break free but Chong pushes him back against the cage.
Chong prevents Mclaren from breaking the clinch.
Chong connects with a knee to the head.

It looks like Reece Mclaren has been cut.

Chong breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Chong tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Mclaren misses with a double jab.
Chong really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Mclaren falls off balance throwing a combination

and Chong moves into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Chong is struggling to control the position.
Mclaren is looking to break free of the clinch but Chong has double underhooks.
Mclaren tries to circle away but Chong has him pinned against the cage.
Mclaren is trying to break the clinch but Chong has him pressed against the cage.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Chong misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chong manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Chong is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Mclaren is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Chong obliges.
Mclaren has had enough of the clinch but Chong keeps him there for the moment.
Mclaren is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Mclaren wants to get back to striking at distance but Chong won't allow it.
Mclaren wants to break free but Chong has control.
Mclaren is trying to break the clinch but Chong has him pressed against the cage.
Chong misses with a hook to the ribs.
Mclaren is trying to force a seperation but Chong has the dominant position.
Mclaren is trying to break free.
Chong cracks Mclaren with a nice body shot.
Nice body punch from Chong.
Chong lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mclaren is looking to break free of the clinch but Chong has double underhooks.
Mclaren tries to circle away but Chong has him pinned against the cage.
Mclaren wants to break the clinch but can't.
Chong stalling against the cage.
Mclaren looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Chong lands a nice shot to the body.
Mclaren is trying to maintain a safe position but Chong gets an underhook and turns Mclaren into the cage.
Chong lands with a light punch inside.

Chong manages to break the clinch.
Chong tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Mclaren manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Mclaren misses with a few strikes there.
Chong wants to clinch up but Mclaren keeps it at a distance.
No joy there for Mclaren, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Chong tries to counter by clinching up but Mclaren breaks away and moves out of range.
Mclaren throws a series of punches but Chong moves out of range.
Mclaren avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Mclaren. Those never looked like landing.

Chong gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Mclaren being controlled against the cage.
Mclaren is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Chong tries a body shot but Mclaren blocks it.

Chong's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Chong lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Mclaren is trying to break free.
Chong lands a knee to the body.
Chong looking to throw knees to the head but Mclaren is blocking nicely.

Chong pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chong tries to clinch but Mclaren is having none of it.
Despite the aggression on Mclaren's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Sloppy strikes from Mclaren. Those never looked like landing.
Mclaren throws a combination that misses
and Chong counters with a three punch combo that has Mclaren backing up. Mclaren nods at Chong to acknowledge the strikes.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mclaren looks to land a combination but Chong avoids it well.
Mclaren looks winded!
Chong tries to clinch but Mclaren is having none of it.

Chong moves into the clinch successfully.

Chong pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Mclaren throws a series of punches but Chong avoids them all with ease.
Mclaren tries to bum rush Chong with a series of wild strikes but Chong uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Mclaren throws a series of punches but Chong moves out of range.

Chong darts in and clinches Mclaren up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cheech Chong dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Reece Mclaren's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Chong instigates a clinch.

Chong escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Chong tries to clinch up.
Mclaren is looking for the big counter here.
Chong is looking to clinch but Mclaren is avoiding it.
Mclaren looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Chong tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Mclaren manages to circle out of the way.
Mclaren swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Chong tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Mclaren throws a counter combo.
Mclaren keeps the fight on the outside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Chong wants to clinch.
Mclaren fails to land with a series of punches.
Reece Mclaren seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A punch combination from Mclaren misses.
Chong is looking for a counter combo.
Mclaren throws a right and a left that both miss.
The fight stays on the outside here - Chong looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Chong tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Mclaren manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
A combination from Mclaren does no damage.
Mclaren misses with a jab, cross combination.
Chong appears to be looking for a big counter.
Chong fails with an attempt to clinch.
Mclaren moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

Chong takes the fight into the clinch.
Mclaren has a couple of punches blocked by Chong.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mclaren tries to circle away but Chong has him pinned against the cage.
Chong lands with a short shot to the head.
A short right from Chong on the inside.
Chong looking to stall.
Chong with a knee to the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Chong blocks an uppercut.

Chong breaks from the clinch.
Cheech Chong is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mclaren circles away from the clinch attempt.
Mclaren keeps the fight on the outside.
Mclaren is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Chong tries to close the distance and clinch up but Mclaren swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Mclaren misses with a wild combination.
Sloppy strikes from Mclaren. Those never looked like landing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chong tries to close the distance and clinch up but Mclaren swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Chong closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Chong lands a nice shot to the body.

Chong's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Chong moves in looking to clinch but Mclaren pushes him off.
Mclaren rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Chong moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
The fight stays on the outside here - Chong looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Chong is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Mclaren.
Mclaren throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
As Mclaren looks to move away, Chong throws a big counter combo but Mclaren just gets out of the way.
Mclaren is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chong tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Mclaren manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Chong fails with an attempt to clinch.
A nice combination there by Mclaren.
Mclaren keeps the fight on the outside.
Despite the aggression on Mclaren's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Chong tries to close the distance and clinch up but Mclaren swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Chong is looking to clinch but Mclaren is avoiding it.
Chong tries to clinch but Mclaren moves out of range.
Mclaren is looking for the big counter here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mclaren keeps the fight on the outside.
Chong tries to close the distance and clinch but Mclaren swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Some wild striking there from Mclaren.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Reece Mclaren showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Reece Mclaren's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Some wild striking there from Mclaren.
Mclaren swats away the attempt to clinch by Chong.
Chong tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Mclaren paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Mclaren lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Chong circles away quickly and effectively.
Mclaren swats away the attempt to clinch by Chong.
Mclaren is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Chong is looking to clinch but Mclaren is avoiding it.
Chong doesn't manage to clinch there - Mclaren circles away.
Mclaren unleashes a big counter combination but Chong bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Chong tries to close the distance and clinch up but Mclaren swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chong tries to close the distance and clinch but Mclaren swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Despite the aggression on Mclaren's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Mclaren throws a nice looking combination but Chong bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Chong tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Mclaren paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Mclaren keeps the fight on the outside.
Chong tries to clinch but Mclaren is having none of it.
Chong tries to clinch up but Mclaren circles away and keeps his distance.
Mclaren throws a counter combo.
Mclaren circles away from the clinch attempt.
Chong fails with an attempt to clinch.
Chong moves in looking to clinch but Mclaren pushes him off.
Mclaren swats away the attempt to clinch by Chong.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chong tries to clinch up.
Mclaren misses with a wild combination.
Mclaren swats away the attempt to clinch by Chong.
Chong moves to clinch but Mclaren breaks away
and Mclaren counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
No joy there for Mclaren, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Chong tries to clinch up but Mclaren circles away and keeps his distance.
Chong avoids a punch combination nicely.
Chong seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chong fails with an attempt to clinch.
Mclaren swats away the attempt to clinch by Chong.

Chong has managed to clinch.
Chong is struggling to control the position.

Chong escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Mclaren misses with a double jab.
Mclaren misses with a series of wild punches.
Chong is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Mclaren.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mclaren misses with the combination.
Mclaren misses with a two punch combination.
Mclaren takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Chong tries to close the distance and clinch up but Mclaren swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Mclaren lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Chong moves in looking to clinch but Mclaren pushes him off.
Mclaren throws a counter combo.
Mclaren misses with a jab, cross combination.
A quick step to the side and Chong tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Chong wants to clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Chong has closed the distance and engaged Mclaren in a clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Reece Mclaren comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Mclaren 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight 28:29
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Reece Mclaren!
After the fight, Reece Mclaren was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.