PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Cormac McCarthy (ranked 3226 p4p, 5308 weight class) and Jihadi John (ranked 375 p4p, 523 weight class). Cormac McCarthy has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

McCarthy
vs
John

183 cm
19
160
3 - 0 - 0

184 cm
21
160
2 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Solid boxing
Very quick

Good takedowns
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Brooklyn Threads
Brooklyn Apothecary

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Cormac McCarthy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Jihadi John!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Jorge Garcia and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
John paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
McCarthy throws an overhand right that lands on John's shoulder, as John tries to avoid the shot.
McCarthy fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
McCarthy with a poor takedown
and John counters with a lovely straight right hand!
McCarthy swings for the body but John moves out of range.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from John! But no joy.
McCarthy throws a lazy right hand but John sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
McCarthy fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cormac McCarthy. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McCarthy stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
John lands a head shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
John takes a body punch but keeps moving.
McCarthy has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
John misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from McCarthy.
McCarthy appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
John fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches McCarthy on the side of the head.
John connects with a body shot that sends McCarthy's belly button to the back.
McCarthy misses with an uppercut
and John counters with a nice uppercut.
McCarthy shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. John defends it nicely.
Jihadi John is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
McCarthy throws a right hand that misses
and John counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McCarthy throws a right hand that misses
and John connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
John connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
McCarthy throws the left hand but John avoids the punch easily.
It seemed like John was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
McCarthy darts in looking for a takedown but John gets double underhooks and turns McCarthy into the cage.
McCarthy blocks an uppercut.

McCarthy breaks from the clinch.
McCarthy ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
John lands a body shot.
McCarthy moves out of range as John strikes.
McCarthy uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from John.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A left and a right from McCarthy both land. Nice combination.
McCarthy is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by John.
John swings for the body but McCarthy moves out of range.
John defending well as McCarthy loads up on a big left hand.
John looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
John ducks down and throws a hook to the body but McCarthy moves away.
It looked like McCarthy wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
John fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
McCarthy lands a jab to the nose.
McCarthy throws a poor cross that misses
and John cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
McCarthy misses with a straight left.
John throws out a counter right but McCarthy avoids it with no problem.
John has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
John keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A big right from McCarthy misses.
McCarthy shoots in looking for a takedown. John tries to sprawl out of it but McCarthy keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. John manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
John misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from McCarthy.
John slips under a jab from McCarthy.
Cormac McCarthy seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nice cross by McCarthy.
McCarthy uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by John.
A counter left hand to the body from McCarthy misses its target.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jihadi John dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

McCarthy shoots in for a takedown but John shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
John throws out a counter right but McCarthy avoids it with no problem.
John looks to throw the jab but McCarthy is out of range.
John misses the shot to the body.
John scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
McCarthy dives in and grabs John's left leg, looking for a takedown. John pushes down on McCarthy's head and hops out.
A jab from McCarthy misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
John tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but McCarthy was well out of range. Poor timing from John.
John throws out a loose jab but McCarthy uses good head movement to avoid it.
John throws a big shot that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCarthy misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from John.
Jihadi John seems to be getting the better of the standup.

McCarthy looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for John!
McCarthy is putting a hurting on John here, landing some big shots from side control.
McCarthy misses with the ground and pound.
The referee asks McCarthy politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. McCarthy prefers to stall for the moment though.
McCarthy advances to full mount.
McCarthy wants to control the pace but John is squirming around nicely.
McCarthy is in the full mount, landing strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
John is desperately trying to improve his position but McCarthy has a good base and remains in mount.
McCarthy is landing with some decent strikes but John is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
McCarthy with a couple of short strikes.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
McCarthy working the ground and pound effectively.
John wants to hold on but McCarthy pushes him away.
McCarthy controlling from mount.
McCarthy lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
McCarthy working away from the top, dropping strikes.
McCarthy cracks John with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCarthy is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. John can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
McCarthy landing strikes from the mount and John is in trouble!
McCarthy raining down shots from the mount!
John is squirming around, avoiding McCarthy's attempts to control the action.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, McCarthy cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
McCarthy punishing his opponent with strikes.
McCarthy has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
McCarthy postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. John looks a forlorn figure.
Cormac McCarthy overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
John taking shots to the head.
John tries to hold on but McCarthy postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCarthy lands a heavy elbow.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
John wants to try and get back to his feet.
McCarthy controlling his opponent.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if John can do anything to dispel that myth.
McCarthy has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of John's face.
John wants to hold on but McCarthy pushes him away.
McCarthy controlling the pace for now.
McCarthy raining down hammerfists from mount.
John is in a horrible position here. McCarthy smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Cormac McCarthy 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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Nice body punch from McCarthy.
McCarthy uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by John.
The fighters circling - McCarthy throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
McCarthy lands a nice shot that snaps John's head back.
McCarthy dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McCarthy shoots for a takedown but John saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
John takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
McCarthy missing with a left hand there. John was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
John uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by McCarthy.
John let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
McCarthy is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that John can do to turn this around?
McCarthy has his takedown stuffed
and John counters with a nice uppercut.
McCarthy ducks under a wild hook from John.
McCarthy throws a poor cross that misses
and John counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
McCarthy throws an uppercut from half a mile away. John sees it coming and avoids it easily.
John tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but McCarthy was well out of range. Poor timing from John.
McCarthy is trying hard to land a takedown here. John sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cormac McCarthy. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
John keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from McCarthy.
McCarthy shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts John as he jumps to the side.
John throws a body shot but no joy.
John displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as McCarthy throws out the jab.
McCarthy lands a head shot.
John lands with a straight right. McCarthy didn't see that one coming.
McCarthy moves out of range as John strikes.
McCarthy is looking to counter with a shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
John misses the body punch
and McCarthy counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps John thinking.
John loads up on a big right hand but McCarthy slips the punch.
McCarthy throws an overhand right that lands on John's shoulder, as John tries to avoid the shot.
John appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
John sizes up McCarthy with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
John takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
McCarthy swings and misses with a hook to the body.
McCarthy takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
McCarthy throws a looping overhand right but John ducks down to avoid it.
John looks like he wants to counter punch here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
John throws an uppercut from half a mile away. McCarthy sees it coming and avoids it easily.
McCarthy uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from John.
John ducks down and throws a hook to the body but McCarthy moves away.
McCarthy bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Good exchange - John coming out on top.
McCarthy throws a hook but John avoids it easily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
McCarthy throws an ugly left hook that misses
and John counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
John stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Good exchange - McCarthy coming out on top.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Jihadi John.
I think John has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 David Schapiro scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 29:29
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Jihadi John!
A very excited looking Jihadi John made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.