PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jackie Castaneda (ranked 24444 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sean Mclaughlin (ranked 4093 p4p, 0 weight class). Mclaughlin comes into a darkened arena with his song building. All The Way kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Sean Mclaughlin has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Castaneda
vs
Mclaughlin

213 cm
25
151 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

220 cm
25
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jackie Castaneda!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sean Mclaughlin!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Illya Tyunina and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Mclaughlin moves into the clinch.
Mclaughlin has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Castaneda after a bit of a struggle.
Castaneda avoiding damage.
Mclaughlin slowing the pace effectively.
Castaneda jumps guard but Mclaughlin turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Mclaughlin jumps into guard, dragging Castaneda to the mat.
Mclaughlin managing to control the position.
Castaneda trying to stand up but can't free himself from Mclaughlin's guard.
Mclaughlin controlling Castaneda's posture.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Castaneda trying to stand up but can't free himself from Mclaughlin's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mclaughlin had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Castaneda defends it easily.
Mclaughlin wants to sweep but no luck.
Mclaughlin is pulling down on Castaneda's head. It's preventing any offense from Castaneda, at least for the moment.
Castaneda looking to sit in guard and control but Mclaughlin gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Mclaughlin pushes down on Castaneda's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Castaneda is looking to improve his position.
Castaneda is working hard here to advance position.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Mclaughlin lands a nice short elbow.

Mclaughlin is working for a kimura but Castaneda is defending it quite comfortably.

Castaneda is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Mclaughlin pulls his head out easily.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Mclaughlin in particular looking to stall.
Mclaughlin takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Castaneda is trying to get back to full guard.
Mclaughlin perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castaneda has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Mclaughlin is working away from the top position though.
Castaneda is trying to stand up here but Mclaughlin is controlling him well.
Mclaughlin controlling the action here.

Mclaughlin stands up out of the half guard.

Mclaughlin looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Castaneda is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Mclaughlin presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Castaneda fails to pull guard.
Mclaughlin is stalling here.
Mclaughlin working Castaneda over with knees to the body.
Castaneda is breathing heavily.
Castaneda can't break the clinch.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mclaughlin has picked Castaneda up - he's going for a ride! Mclaughlin dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Mclaughlin stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Mclaughlin stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Mclaughlin wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jackie Castaneda. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Mclaughlin gets a double leg takedown into Castaneda's guard.

Mclaughlin gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Castaneda tries to close the distance and clinch but Mclaughlin swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Sean Mclaughlin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mclaughlin shoots for a takedown but Castaneda saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Mclaughlin takes the fight into the clinch.
Castaneda jumps guard but Mclaughlin turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Mclaughlin has hold of one of Castaneda's legs. Castaneda is fighting the takedown attempt but Mclaughlin gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.

Mclaughlin stands up from Castaneda's guard - Mclaughlin perhaps looking for a knockout.

Mclaughlin shoots in and gets a takedown into Castaneda's guard.
Castaneda wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Mclaughlin manages to pass to side control.

Castaneda is rocked!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sean Mclaughlin dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Oh Castaneda is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

Mclaughlin forces Castaneda back against the cage and clinches.
Castaneda seems to have got his legs back now.
Castaneda really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Castaneda is trying to push Mclaughlin away but Mclaughlin has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Castaneda tries to pull guard but Mclaughlin forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Castaneda fails to pull the fight into his guard.

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

Mclaughlin shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Mclaughlin was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Mclaughlin advances to full mount.
Mclaughlin tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

Mclaughlin has hold of Castaneda's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Castaneda manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Mclaughlin controlling from mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castaneda is working to get back to half guard.
Mclaughlin has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
A big strike lands for Mclaughlin! That's really hurt Castaneda and he's turned his back - Mclaughlin keeps firing away and the ref dives in to stop the fight! Mclaughlin jumps to his feet to celebrate the victory!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:34 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Sean Mclaughlin!
In his post fight interview, Sean Mclaughlin gave a big smile as he said 'SPEED IS KEY!!'.