Cory McLaughlin had a successful amateur MMA run, going 8-2 with title wins at both featherweight and lightweight. Now, after making his professional MMA debut last fall, McLaughlin gets his first chance to compete on a major MMA stage. McLaughlin’s pro debut saw him come up short, losing to Mario Ditofano by split decision in November.

 

Nahom Wedi will be making his professional MMA debut in this contest. The SBG Ireland product was a featherweight champion in the same amateur promotion as McLaughlin, finishing his amateur run 11-3. He also competed on the IMMAF world stage, submitting Eduardo Arevalo at the 2019 IMMAF-WMMAA Amateur World Championships in Bahrain.

 

Which young fighter will impress as these two battle to open the action in Belfast?

 

 

Round 1

 

Low kick from McLaughlin to start. Another one. Wedi responds with one of his own. Clash of leg kicks and a one-two from McLaughlin coming forward. McLaughlin shows a front kick. Calf kick from McLaughlin. Wedi flashes a front kick. A one-two from McLaughlin, followed by a low kick. Low kick from Wedi now. Low kicks again from both men. McLaughlin lands another. McLaughlin misses a high kick. Low kick from Wedi now. McLaughlin with another. McLaughlin with a jab. A McLaughlin body kick is blocked. McLaughlin lands a right hand, and Wedi has to rebalance himself.

 

Low kicks from each man. McLaughlin lands a body kick. Snap front kick from Wedi. Each man with a body kick. Low kick from McLaughlin. Front kick from McLaughlin. Low kick from McLaughlin. Wedi misses a right hand. McLaughlin attacks the leg again. One-two from McLaughlin. Right hand narrowly misses for McLaughlin. McLaughlin now on the retreat, dancing on the outside. Some more low kicks from McLaughlin. Both men throw a right hand, and McLaughlin follows with a kick to the body. Right hand from Wedi. Front kick from McLaughlin. McLaughlin presses Wedi to the fence and grabs the overhook. They go off the fence in a Thai clinch briefly before it’s back to a standing battle. Low kick from McLaughlin. Wedi tries a front kick but is caught. A duck-under from Wedi, but McLaughlin counters with a takedown before the horn.

 

 

Round 2

 

McLaughlin flashes the jab. Right hand from McLaughlin over the top. Low kick from Wedi, but he eats a combination. Low kick from McLaughlin. Knee from McLaughlin misses, but he pushes Wedi back into the fence. Wedi with underhooks. He changes the angle and gets out of it. A couple of low kicks from McLaughlin. An exchange with both men landing. McLaughlin lands a punch. McLaughlin lands a left but misses a big right. McLaughlin misses an elbow. Wedi lands a knee. Front kick by McLaughlin. Low kick and a right hand from McLaughlin. McLaughlin lands a left. High kick from McLaughlin partially lands. Wedi looks tired here.

 

Lead knee by McLaughlin. Body lock from McLaughlin, and he presses Wedi against the SmartCage again. Wedi reverses the position. The fight quickly returns to the center. Low kick from McLaughlin. Right hand lands for McLaughlin, and he stays aggressive. McLaughlin with another body lock, and now he gets the takedown. McLaughlin with a half-nelson as he tries to take the back of Wedi. McLaughlin gets a hook in. Wedi is up, and we’re in the clinch. Wedi lands a pair of knees, but one lands low. The fight resumes rather quickly. McLaughlin misses an overhand right. Low kick from McLaughlin. McLaughlin misses an uppercut. Low kick from McLaughlin. Body kick from Wedi. McLaughlin loses his footing briefly on a kick attempt. McLaughlin quickly back to the feet, pressing Wedi against the fence. McLaughlin with a one-two. Wedi with a body lock before the horn.

 

 

Round 3

 

Low kick from McLaughlin. Both men miss left hands. One-two from Wedi. Right hand from Wedi and a couple of low kicks from McLaughlin. Wedi with a check left hook. McLaughlin eats a knee as he briefly presses Wedi into the fence. Wedi with a couple of elbows, and McLaughlin is bleeding, trying to press the action. Wedi with another elbow. McLaughlin with a takedown attempt, and he gets it after a bit of a fight from Wedi. Wedi is back to his feet and we have a clinch against the fence. McLaughlin landing some knees. Another elbow from Wedi before the separation. A spinning elbow from McLaughlin! Wedi is tired, and McLaughlin makes him eat a combination.

 

McLaughlin goes for a takedown and gets Wedi against the fence. But Wedi lands a strong elbow. McLaughlin pressing for the takedown as Wedi lands some more strikes. Another elbow from Wedi on the separation! Front kick from McLaughlin. McLaughlin presses Wedi back against the fence. McLaughlin drags Wedi down to the mat. Now he’s trying to get a solid hold of the back. McLaughlin has a body lock and he’s landing left hand after left hand. McLaughlin starts to rain down hammerfists. Wedi isn’t moving his position. Elbows now. McLaughlin continues to land. Wedi gets up to a knee. McLaughlin searching for the neck. Wedi is to his feet. McLaughlin continues to squeeze. The horn sounds. What a round! Solid fight from these two young athletes.

 

 

OFFICIAL RESULT

 

Corey McLaughlin defeats Nahom Wedi by unanimous decision (30-27x2, 29-28) in a featherweight showcase bout.

 

McLaughlin moves his career record to 1-1 with his first professional win

 

McLaughlin had an amateur record of 8-2 with all 8 wins coming by finish