PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Otto McBean (ranked 303 p4p, 466 weight class) and James Clerk Maxwell (ranked 15 p4p, 27 weight class). James Clerk Maxwell will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

McBean
vs
Clerk Maxwell

150 cm
23
135
11 - 3 - 0

165 cm
22
136
10 - 5 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Basic striking
Very quick

Good wrestler
Great elbows
Good gas tank

Vegan Gains
Urban Fighter

Bondi MMA 🏝️
Shadow Realm Apparel

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Otto McBean!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, James Clerk Maxwell!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Alyssa Summers and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McBean fails with a takedown attempt.
Otto McBean seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McBean shoots in looking for a takedown but Clerk Maxwell manages to keep the fight standing, pushing McBean's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
A countering left hand to the body from Clerk Maxwell misses.
McBean closes the distance and clinches up with Clerk Maxwell, looking for a takedown. McBean pushes Clerk Maxwell against the cage but Clerk Maxwell circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Clerk Maxwell now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Otto McBean. That's going to take a lot out of him.
McBean shoots in but Clerk Maxwell avoids the takedown attempt easily.
McBean looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

McBean decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

McBean is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Clerk Maxwell doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time McBean.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clerk Maxwell is doing well to control the position and prevent McBean from advancing to side control.

McBean is working for a kimura but Clerk Maxwell is defending it quite comfortably.

McBean is looking for a kimura but Clerk Maxwell is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for McBean to get the leverage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Clerk Maxwell is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Clerk Maxwell is positioning himself well to prevent McBean advancing to mount.
McBean wants to free his trapped foot but Clerk Maxwell is holding on for dear life with his legs.

McBean is trying to work for a kimura but Clerk Maxwell is defending well.
McBean trying to control from half guard but Clerk Maxwell is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

McBean is working for a submission of some sort.
Clerk Maxwell is holding on to half guard well.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
McBean seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Clerk Maxwell does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
McBean is trying hard to land a takedown here. Clerk Maxwell sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Clerk Maxwell now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
McBean with a poor takedown
and Clerk Maxwell counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
McBean doesn't succeed with the takedown
and McBean takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

It looks like Otto McBean has been cut.
McBean fails with a takedown attempt.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
McBean with a lazy takedown attempt
and Clerk Maxwell counters with a nice body shot.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but James Clerk Maxwell will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Otto McBean's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

McBean shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Clerk Maxwell swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
McBean tries for a takedown but Clerk Maxwell sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Nice sprawl there from Clerk Maxwell as McBean shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Otto McBean. That's going to take a lot out of him.
McBean looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Clerk Maxwell is fending him off so far but McBean persists. Nope, Clerk Maxwell circles away and we're back to standing.
McBean swings away with a body shot that misses
and Clerk Maxwell counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
McBean fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Clerk Maxwell is clearly trying to counter these attacks from McBean with a body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

McBean shoots in and bounces Clerk Maxwell off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clerk Maxwell controlling McBean's posture.
Clerk Maxwell is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Clerk Maxwell controlling McBean's posture.
McBean wants to pass the guard but Clerk Maxwell is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

McBean thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
McBean is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
McBean pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Clerk Maxwell is keeping the position for now.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
McBean tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Clerk Maxwell swivels and escapes.
A countering left hand to the body from Clerk Maxwell misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

McBean shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Clerk Maxwell manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Clerk Maxwell is trying to keep McBean in close.
Clerk Maxwell keeping moving, preventing McBean from controlling successfully.
Clerk Maxwell really doesn't want to stay on the ground with McBean. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
McBean is pushing down on Clerk Maxwell's leg trying to pass to half guard. Clerk Maxwell is fighting to maintain full guard but McBean has managed to sneak the leg through.

McBean looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
McBean keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

McBean is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Clerk Maxwell sees it coming and defends easily.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Clerk Maxwell can do anything to dispel that myth.

McBean is working for a kimura here but Clerk Maxwell manages to reverse the position and he's now in McBean's guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

McBean looking for a guillotine here but Clerk Maxwell defends easily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Otto McBean dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Otto McBean's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

McBean shoots for a takedown but Clerk Maxwell saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
It seemed like Clerk Maxwell was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

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

McBean working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

McBean swings around for an armbar but Clerk Maxwell sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into McBean's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McBean lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Clerk Maxwell is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clerk Maxwell wants to control but McBean passes easily into half guard.
Clerk Maxwell trying to hold on to McBean's head to control him but McBean postures up.

McBean is working for a kimura but Clerk Maxwell is defending it quite comfortably.
McBean is pressing down on Clerk Maxwell's thigh, looking to free his foot. Clerk Maxwell is holding on for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

McBean is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Clerk Maxwell is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Clerk Maxwell is refusing to be controlled, as McBean sits in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clerk Maxwell controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Clerk Maxwell wants to improve his position but McBean is controlling well.
Clerk Maxwell trying to hold on to McBean's head to control him but McBean postures up.
Clerk Maxwell is not content to let McBean control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Clerk Maxwell keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

McBean drives through with a takedown into guard.

McBean drops back looking for a leg! Clerk Maxwell is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Clerk Maxwell manages to kick McBean off! McBean jumps back into Clerk Maxwell's guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
McBean trying to control but Clerk Maxwell is working from the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Otto McBean clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Otto McBean's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

McBean misses with a takedown
and Clerk Maxwell counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Nice sprawl there from Clerk Maxwell as McBean shoots in.
Clerk Maxwell is clearly trying to counter these attacks from McBean with a body shot.
McBean goes for a double leg but Clerk Maxwell avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Clerk Maxwell continues to drive forward.
Clerk Maxwell let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Otto McBean. That's going to take a lot out of him.
McBean tries to pull guard but Clerk Maxwell holds him up against the cage and eventually McBean drops back down to his feet.
McBean takes an elbow to the forehead.
Clerk Maxwell avoiding damage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McBean tries to pull guard but Clerk Maxwell forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
McBean fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Clerk Maxwell escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
McBean is trying hard to land a takedown here. Clerk Maxwell sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
James Clerk Maxwell seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McBean shoots in but no luck this time.
McBean misses with a takedown
and Clerk Maxwell counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
McBean misses with a takedown attempt
and Clerk Maxwell counters with a huge uppercut, hook combination that drops McBean! The ref has seen enough - he's dived in to stop the fight! Brutal strikes by Clerk Maxwell!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:29 of round 4, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). James Clerk Maxwell!
James Clerk Maxwell is the new bantamweight champion!
An out of breath James Clerk Maxwell thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.