PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Gunnar Ludvik (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rod Maclaren (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gunnar Ludvik had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Ludvik
vs
Maclaren

180 cm
25
169 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

184 cm
27
178 lbs
6 - 5 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Powerful

Fury Nutrition Inc.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Gunnar Ludvik!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rod Maclaren!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Illya Tyunina and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maclaren swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A swing and a miss from Maclaren.
Maclaren fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Ludvik showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Maclaren.
Maclaren displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Ludvik.
Maclaren misses with a takedown attempt - Ludvik sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Maclaren throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Rod Maclaren seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Maclaren lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Ludvik circles away quickly and effectively.
Ludvik bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Maclaren throws a nice looking combination but Ludvik bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Maclaren jabs Ludvik right on the nose. Ludvik blinks but takes it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ludvik shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Ludvik was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Maclaren takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Check out the look on Ludvik's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Maclaren is being controlled here.
The strikes coming from Ludvik are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Maclaren tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Ludvik controlling the position.

Ludvik wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Maclaren, who protects the arm well.
Maclaren wants to control but Ludvik postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The strikes coming from Ludvik are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ludvik controls the position from side control.
Maclaren prevents Ludvik from improving position.
Ludvik remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Maclaren tries to buck Ludvik off but Ludvik is having none of it.
Maclaren wants to control but Ludvik postures up.
An elbow from Ludvik crashes against the mat.
Maclaren is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Ludvik off and has taken his back!
Ludvik tries to escape the position.
Maclaren gets his hands free as Ludvik looks to control.
Well, with Maclaren on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Ludvik is tapping out... Can he escape the position?

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Maclaren working for a choke but Ludvik is defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ludvik rolls, trying to escape but Maclaren keeps control of the position.
Maclaren controls the action.
Ludvik can't escape the position.
Ludvik is working hard here to advance position.

Maclaren looking for the choke but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maclaren is hanging on to Ludvik's back as he tries to escape.
Maclaren missing with punches from the back.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Maclaren keeps control of the position as Ludvik tries to break free.
Ludvik trying to control the hands but Maclaren won't let him.
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 Gunnar Ludvik will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Maclaren throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Ludvik uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Maclaren.
Maclaren misses with a jab, cross combination.
Maclaren throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Ludvik counters with a one-two to the body.
Maclaren digs a good hook to Ludvik's body.
Maclaren feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Ludviks jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Ludvik pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Maclaren is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Ludvik.

Ludvik looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Ludvik looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Ludvik passes Maclaren's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ludvik is keen to just control but Maclaren is a slippery customer.
Still in half guard, Ludvik seems content to control.

Gunnar Ludvik has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Ludvik misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
A big right from Maclaren misses.
Maclaren throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Maclaren scores with a one two! Ludvik had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maclaren throws an overhand right that lands on Ludvik's shoulder, as Ludvik tries to avoid the shot.
Maclaren closes this distance looking for a takedown but Ludvik circles away.
Maclaren throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A combination from Maclaren does no damage.
Ludvik gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Maclaren.
Rod Maclaren seems to be getting the better of the standup.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Maclaren looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Maclaren rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Ludvik moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Ludvik showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Maclaren.
Maclaren shoots in but no luck this time.
Maclaren is breathing heavily.

Ludvik drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Maclaren being controlled here, momentarily.
Maclaren keeping full guard, as Ludvik tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ludvik showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Maclaren is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Ludvik is aware though and is defending well.
Ludvik sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Maclaren's guard.
Maclaren wants to get back to full guard.
Ludvik content to control rather than advance.
Ludvik has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Gunnar Ludvik overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Ludvik is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Gunnar Ludvik wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Ludvik lands a two punch combo.
Ludvik tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Maclaren was well out of range. Poor timing from Ludvik.

Maclaren gets caught napping as Ludvik dives in and scores a takedown. Maclaren manages to retain guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ludvik is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Ludvik wants to control from the top but Maclaren keeps moving.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Maclaren trying to control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Gunnar Ludvik.
Ludvik fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gunnar Ludvik dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Maclaren throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Maclaren misses with a wild body shot.

Ludvik closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Ludvik tries to move to mount but Maclaren blocks the move with his legs.

Ludvik looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
You can see the frustration on Maclaren's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Ludvik has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Maclaren is bucking up trying to escape but Ludvik cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Ludvik controlling his opponent.
Maclaren tries to hold on but Ludvik pushes him away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ludvik looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Maclaren tries to lock up and control but Ludvik gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
The referee warns Maclaren that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Maclaren is squirming around, avoiding Ludvik's attempts to control the action.
Maclaren is trying to escape the mount.
Ludvik tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Ludvik's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
A nice elbow there by Ludvik.
Ludvik tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Ludvik working Maclaren over with strikes here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ludvik goes for an armbar but Maclaren turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Maclaren.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Maclaren wants to stand but Ludvik has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Ludvik is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Maclaren passes Ludvik's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Rod Maclaren has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maclaren prevents Ludvik from improving his position.
Maclaren wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ludvik keeps working.
Ludvik is trying to control but can't.
Gunnar Ludvik is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Ludvik gets full guard.
Ludvik pulls Maclaren in close to his closed guard and prevents Maclaren from doing any damage or advancing position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Ludvik is on top in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Maclaren has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Ludvik can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Ludvik is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Maclaren has his foot on Ludvik's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Ludvik works his way back into a safe position though.
Ludvik slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Ludvik tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Maclaren trying to remain calm as Ludvik controls from the top position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Maclaren manages to work his way to half guard, despite Ludvik's best efforts.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ludvik looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Maclaren missing with punches from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gunnar Ludvik showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Ludvik, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gunnar Ludvik!