PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Tagnarach Kamara (ranked 78 p4p, 108 weight class) and Cormac McCarthy (ranked 11 p4p, 15 weight class). Kamara's entrance music is BLIND SPOTS. A fine choice. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Kamara
vs
McCarthy

180 cm
26
177
21 - 3 - 0

183 cm
28
175
18 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Conviction
© Trap House

Black Lab Clothing
NARCOS

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 21 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Tagnarach Kamara!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Cormac McCarthy!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Frank Dennis and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McCarthy misses with an uppercut. Kamara saw that one coming.
McCarthy cracks a nice hook into Kamara's ribs.
McCarthy doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Kamara counters with a lovely straight right hand!
McCarthy swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kamara wants to slow McCarthy down by chopping away at his legs.
A little jabbing left from McCarthy on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Kamara looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
McCarthy misses the jab.
McCarthy misses with a body shot.
McCarthy fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Kamara feinted there with a counter leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McCarthy with a body punch. A glancing blow.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that McCarthy has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Kamara misses with a body shot.
A jab from Kamara misses.
A little jabbing left from McCarthy on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
McCarthy lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCarthy takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
McCarthy ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kamara moves away.
Kamara takes one on the button.
Kamara misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Tagnarach Kamara is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
McCarthy takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
McCarthy is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Kamara rather than just go for the knockout.
Kamara misses the shot to the body.
Kamara misses with a wild combination.
Kamara will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
McCarthy throws a counter combo.
Kamara takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Kamara keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from McCarthy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kamara throws a right hand that misses
and McCarthy counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
McCarthy tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Kamara defends well and McCarthy ends up having to push Kamara into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
McCarthy uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kamara.
McCarthy keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kamara pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
McCarthy throws a body punch but Kamara moves out of range.
Kamara throws a lazy uppercut
and McCarthy connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
McCarthy just misses with a punch to the body.
Kamara throws out a loose jab but McCarthy uses good head movement to avoid it.
McCarthy throws a combination that misses
and Kamara makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. McCarthy really felt that one!
Kamara looks to land a body kick but McCarthy moved away.
McCarthy misses the shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCarthy blocks the body kick.
McCarthy uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kamara.
McCarthy misses with a lunging right hand
and Kamara counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
McCarthy misses with a body shot
and Kamara counters with a lovely straight right hand!
McCarthy shoots in for a takedown but Kamara shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Tagnarach Kamara has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cormac McCarthy.
Kamara tries to land a front kick but McCarthy steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
McCarthy unleashes a big counter combination but Kamara bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Kamara scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Kamara slips under a jab from McCarthy.
McCarthy avoids a kick to the body.
McCarthy dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by McCarthy!

It looks like Tagnarach Kamara has been cut.
McCarthy throws out a powerful jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCarthy avoids the body shot from Kamara.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kamara misses with a body kick.
Kamara gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Kamara scores with a jab to the body.
McCarthy misses with a straight left.
McCarthy throws a hook but Kamara blocks it.
Kamara was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
McCarthy throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
McCarthy moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Kamara thows a left - swing and a miss!
McCarthy shoots and misses
enabling Kamara to counter with a crisp jab.
Kamara uses good head movement to avoid the hook from McCarthy.
McCarthy misses with a wild body shot.
A little feinted left hand from Kamara on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Cormac McCarthy will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Tagnarach Kamara's cut.
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 looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
McCarthy misses with an uppercut
and Kamara counters with a straight right hand.
McCarthy swings for the body but Kamara moves out of range.
Kamara takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
McCarthy misses with a jab to the body
and Kamara counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Kamara scores with a jab to the head.
A jab from Kamara misses.
Kamara throws a body kick that misses

and McCarthy counters with a nice double leg into guard.
McCarthy tries to free his leg and advance position but Kamara is retaining full guard.
Kamara wants to control but McCarthy passes easily into half guard.
McCarthy content to control rather than advance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kamara wants to improve his position but McCarthy is controlling well.
McCarthy thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Kamara blocking the ground and pound attempt from McCarthy.
Kamara on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Kamara tries to get out of the position.
Kamara is trying to control but can't.
McCarthy scoring with strikes to the body and head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McCarthy stalling away here and it's allowed Kamara to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
McCarthy throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
McCarthy throws a big right hand that misses.
McCarthy trying to control the position from guard on top but Kamara is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
McCarthy wants to pass the guard but Kamara is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kamara pulls McCarthy in to control the position.
McCarthy is looking to work some ground and pound but Kamara has wrist control.
McCarthy sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Kamara's guard.
McCarthy thows a huge punch but Kamara dodges it nicely.
McCarthy is trying to control. Kamara wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
McCarthy is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. McCarthy lands a nice short elbow.
Kamara taking some punishment here, with McCarthy in his half guard.
Kamara has hold of McCarthy's hands but McCarthy slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
McCarthy works his foot free and advances to mount.
McCarthy lands a nice shot to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kamara taking shots to the head.
McCarthy sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
McCarthy in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
McCarthy punching from mount but Kamara doing a good job of avoiding damage.
McCarthy has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
McCarthy sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
McCarthy punishing his opponent with strikes.
McCarthy working the ground and pound effectively.
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.
McCarthy landing strikes from the mount.
Cormac McCarthy has got the better of the ground game so far.
McCarthy scores with a couple of good head shots there.
McCarthy unloads with some shots from mount but Kamara bucks and avoids them well.
This has been an exciting period of action!
McCarthy thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
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 Kamara's face.
McCarthy thowing shots but they're missing.
McCarthy raining down hammerfists from mount.
McCarthy landing punches.
McCarthy looking to control but Kamara is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Kamara can't escape the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Cormac McCarthy showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Tagnarach Kamara's cut.
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. This is the final round!

Kamara keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Tagnarach Kamara has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
McCarthy misses with a double jab
enabling Kamara to counter with a crisp jab.
McCarthy dodges the punch combination from Kamara.
McCarthy scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McCarthy scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Kamara doesn't seem bothered though.
McCarthy walks into a left hand.
Kamara misses the shot to the body.
Kamara throws a nice outside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kamara keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
McCarthy avoids the head kick by Kamara.
Kamara throws a lazy right hand but McCarthy sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
McCarthy fails with a takedown attempt.
Tagnarach Kamara has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cormac McCarthy.
McCarthy misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
The fighters circling - Kamara throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A jab from Kamara misses.
McCarthy feints the counter takedown.
McCarthy throws a shot to the body.
McCarthy slips a jab from Kamara.
Nice defenses there by McCarthy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Good exchange - Kamara coming out on top.
McCarthy's jab looks to have found its range, popping Kamara under the eye.
Kamara missing with a left hand there. McCarthy was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
McCarthy connects with a body shot.
Kamara throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
A nice side step and McCarthy releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
McCarthy misses with a wild body shot.
It looked like Kamara wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
McCarthy swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Kamara.
This has been an exciting period of action!
McCarthy works over Kamara's head and body with a nice combination.
Kamara misses with a looping right.
Kamara takes one to the side of the head.
McCarthy misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kamara.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCarthy comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Kamara misses with a straight right.
McCarthy tries to bum rush Kamara with a series of wild strikes but Kamara uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Kamara swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
McCarthy is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Cormac McCarthy seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kamara throws an ugly left hook that misses
and McCarthy counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Kamara throws a right hand that misses
and McCarthy counters with a straight right hand.
Kamara avoids the body shot from McCarthy.
McCarthy fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Kamara looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Kamara takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
McCarthy rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kamara moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
McCarthy misses with a wild body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kamara thows a leg kick but McCarthy checks it
and McCarthy counters with a right hand to the body.
McCarthy displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Kamara throws out the jab.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kamara. McCarthy does a little dance to reset his feet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kamara misses with a two punch combination.
Kamara keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
McCarthy uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Kamara.
McCarthy is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Cormac McCarthy is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
McCarthy scores with the left hand. Kamara knows he should have avoided that one.
McCarthy lands an overhand right.
Kamara on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
McCarthy closes this distance looking for a takedown but Kamara circles away.
Jab, jab by McCarthy - just one landing.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cormac McCarthy comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well McCarthy has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cormac McCarthy!
Cormac McCarthy decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.