PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rodrick Mclaughlin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sebastian Pocic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sebastian Pocic is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Mclaughlin
vs
Pocic

171 cm
18
214 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

190 cm
19
202 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rodrick Mclaughlin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sebastian Pocic!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Illya Tyunina and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Pocic gets a double leg takedown into Mclaughlin's guard.
Mclaughlin really is a fat lump.
Pocic trying to stand up but can't free himself from Mclaughlin's guard.
Pocic postures up.
Pocic sitting in guard, not really doing much.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mclaughlin has Pocic pulled in close to control his posture.
Mclaughlin might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Mclaughlin has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Mclaughlin looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pocic pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mclaughlin is keeping the position for now.
Mclaughlin is looking to sweep but instead, Pocic has passed into half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Mclaughlin manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Mclaughlin looking for a sweep. Not yet Mclaughlin, not yet.
Mclaughlin is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Mclaughlin lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Pocic is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Pocic is controlling Mclaughlin's posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pocic not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Pocic being controlled here, momentarily.

Pocic kicks Mclaughlin off and gets to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pocic moves into the clinch.
Still in the clinch, Pocic scores with a nice short uppercut.

Pocic manages to pull guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mclaughlin is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Mclaughlin stopping the sweep attempt from Pocic.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Mclaughlin trying to control but Pocic is working from the bottom.
Mclaughlin wants to get up but he can't break Pocic's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Mclaughlin sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Mclaughlin stands and steps away. Pocic gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pocic doesn't manage to clinch there - Mclaughlin circles away.
Mclaughlin throws a big counter combination but Pocic scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
A leg kick checked by Mclaughlin.
Mclaughlin thinks about countering with a head kick.
Mclaughlin fails to land the takedown.
Sebastian Pocic seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Pocic blocks a head kick by Mclaughlin.
Pocic follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.

Pocic takes the fight into the clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Pocic is trying to break the clinch but Mclaughlin has him pressed against the cage.

Pocic turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sebastian Pocic dominated that round.
That's time! Mclaughlin's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Pocic throws a leg kick but Mclaughlin sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Pocic has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Pocic drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Mclaughlin tries to buck Pocic off but Pocic is having none of it.
Mclaughlin is not content to let Pocic control the position.

Pocic wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Mclaughlin, who protects the arm well.
Mclaughlin wants to control but Pocic postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mclaughlin holds on to Pocic's head and controls the position momentarily.
Pocic wants to control but Mclaughlin is keeping him busy.
Mclaughlin is trying to control Pocic's posture but Pocic avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mclaughlin tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Pocic easily slips into full mount!
Mclaughlin is trying desperately to improve position.
Pocic avoids the attempt from Mclaughlin to control.
Mclaughlin manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Mclaughlin is not content to let Pocic control the position.
Mclaughlin desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Mclaughlin wants to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pocic wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mclaughlin keeps working.
Mclaughlin wants to improve his position but Pocic is controlling well.
Mclaughlin is trying to control but can't.
Pocic trying to control the action but Mclaughlin is working from the bottom.
Pocic content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Pocic is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Mclaughlin is pressing down on Pocic's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Pocic trying to control but Mclaughlin is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mclaughlin looking to control.
Mclaughlin looking for a sweep. Not yet Mclaughlin, not yet.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Pocic accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Pocic is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Pocic trying to control the position from guard on top but Mclaughlin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Pocic is looking to clinch.
Pocic goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Pocic is breathing heavily.

Pocic closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Mclaughlin did well to prevent Pocic getting side control.
Mclaughlin gets back to full guard.
Pocic preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pocic postures up.
Mclaughlin bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Pocic's guard.

Pocic not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Mclaughlin wanted to stand there but Pocic had control of the position.
Mclaughlin wants to control from the top but Pocic keeps moving.

Pocic is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Mclaughlin thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Mclaughlin goes for a double leg but Pocic avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Pocic continues to drive forward.

Pocic closes the distance and clinches.

Mclaughlin gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Mclaughlin trying to control the action but Pocic is working from the bottom.
Mclaughlin wants to stand up but Pocic has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Mclaughlin trying to control the action but Pocic is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pocic wants to improve his position but Mclaughlin is controlling well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pocic trying to control from the bottom.
Pocic is looking for a sweep. Mclaughlin is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Pocic controlling the position well.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Pocic gets a double leg takedown into Mclaughlin's guard.
Pocic takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Pocic won't allow Mclaughlin to sweep him here.
Mclaughlin is trying to hold Pocic in close to prevent damage but Pocic has managed to pass into half guard.
Mclaughlin keeps control of the position for the meantime.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mclaughlin trying to control from the bottom.
Mclaughlin is looking to improve his position.
Mclaughlin trying to control here.
Pocic is controlling the pace.
Mclaughlin is trying to control but can't.
Pocic is looking to take a break and control but Mclaughlin is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Pocic keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mclaughlin is trying to get back to full guard.
Mclaughlin is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Pocic's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Pocic's back!
Pocic looking very determined here, making life difficult for Mclaughlin.

Mclaughlin is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Mclaughlin keeps control of the position as Pocic tries to break free.
Pocic looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mclaughlin is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Pocic is defending well though. Mclaughlin let's go of the attempt for now.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Pocic is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Pocic trying to control but not successfully.

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 Rodrick Mclaughlin.
Well Pocic has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 28:30
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sebastian Pocic!