PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ryan McCarthy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ash Stoner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Stoner's choice of entrance music: Why Can't We Be Friends?. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

McCarthy
vs
Stoner

170 cm
21
195 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

180 cm
24
196 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ryan McCarthy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ash Stoner!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Donatello Bradman and Damien Edna.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stoner misses with an uppercut. McCarthy saw that one coming.
A looping hook to the body misses from McCarthy. Stoner does a little dance to reset his feet.
Stoner avoids the body shot from McCarthy.
Stoner ducks down and throws a hook to the body but McCarthy moves away.
Stoner is looking to clinch.
McCarthy blocks a jab.
McCarthy throws a jab when Stoner was well out of range.
McCarthy tries to score a power double leg takedown but Stoner sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten McCarthy somewhat.

Stoner closes the distance and clinches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A nice left hand lands by Stoner.
McCarthy can't break the clinch.
Stoner tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Stoner throws a head punch that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by McCarthy.
McCarthy has had enough of the clinch but Stoner keeps him there for the moment.
Stoner lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Stoner taking a breather.
McCarthy blocking some punches.
Stoner lands a nice elbow.
McCarthy tries for a takedown. No joy.

McCarthy has clasped his hands together around Stoner's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Stoner can do anything to dispel that myth.
McCarthy is trying to ground and pound but Stoner uses the momentary lack of control by McCarthy to regain half guard.
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 wants to take a breather but Stoner is having none of it.
Stoner is trying to control but can't.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

McCarthy is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
McCarthy thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
McCarthy seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Stoner does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
McCarthy content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Stoner fails with an attempt to clinch.
Stoner misses with a wild combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stoner tries to clinch there but McCarthy circles away.
Stoner wants to clinch.
McCarthy takes a swing at Stoner's ribcage but misses.
The fight stays on the outside here - Stoner looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

McCarthy shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
McCarthy lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCarthy wants to pass the guard but Stoner is defending well.
McCarthy has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Stoner is trying to stand.
McCarthy breaks from Stoner's wrist control and lands an elbow.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stoner wants to hold on but McCarthy pushes him away.
McCarthy throws some wild stikes that Stoner manages to avoid easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan McCarthy dominated that 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.

McCarthy closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Stoner did well to prevent McCarthy getting side control.
McCarthy passes the guard and advances to mount!
Stoner is in all sorts of trouble here.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
McCarthy unloading with bombs!
McCarthy won't let Stoner get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Stoner is in a horrible position here. McCarthy smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Stoner wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
McCarthy looking to control but Stoner is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCarthy controlling his opponent.

McCarthy jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Stoner manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Stoner wants to control but McCarthy postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Stoner is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
McCarthy scores with a couple of short elbows.
An elbow from McCarthy crashes against the mat.
Stoner prevents McCarthy from improving position.
McCarthy wants to control but Stoner is keeping him busy.
Ryan McCarthy overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
McCarthy is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Stoner is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCarthy works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
McCarthy wants to lay and pray for a moment but Stoner keeps working.
Stoner can't do much from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
An elbow from McCarthy crashes against the mat.
Stoner can't do much from the bottom here.
McCarthy controlling the position.
McCarthy tries to advance to mount but can't.
McCarthy tries to score with some ground and pound. Stoner controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan McCarthy dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Stoner dodges the punch combination from McCarthy.
Stoner throws a right hand that McCarthy ducks under and follows up with a left that McCarthy also avoids with ease.
McCarthy throws a shot from downtown. Stoner moves away and avoids it.
McCarthy waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Stoner.
McCarthy throws a right hand that Stoner ducks under and follows up with a left that Stoner also avoids with ease.
Nice takedown defense from Stoner. No joy for McCarthy on that attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stoner throws a shot from downtown. McCarthy moves away and avoids it.
McCarthy misses the body punch
and Stoner counters with a head kick.
Stoner tries to clinch but McCarthy moves out of range.
Ryan McCarthy is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Stoner throws a hook to the side of McCarthy's head but McCarthy sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCarthy misses with a double jab.
McCarthy tries for a takedown but Stoner sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
McCarthy doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Stoner counters with a straight right hand.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ryan McCarthy. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A lazy left from Stoner finds it's target.
McCarthy avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
McCarthy throws a combination that misses
enabling Stoner to counter with a crisp jab.
Nice jab there from Stoner.
Stoner tries to clinch there but McCarthy circles away.
McCarthy misses the jab.
Ash Stoner has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ash Stoner is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McCarthy throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

McCarthy darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
McCarthy working over Stoner with some ground and pound. Stoner looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Stoner is refusing to be controlled, as McCarthy sits in half guard.
McCarthy missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
McCarthy is trying to control. Stoner wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
McCarthy wants to pass the guard but Stoner is defending well.
McCarthy thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCarthy missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

McCarthy is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Stoner defends it well.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Stoner tries to close the distance and clinch up but McCarthy swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Stoner swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by McCarthy.
McCarthy throws a leg kick that misses.
Stoner misses with a double jab.
McCarthy is looking to wear down Stoner with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Good work by McCarthy as he checks the leg kick.
Ryan McCarthy is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Stoner tries to clinch but McCarthy moves out of range.
Stoner fails with an attempt to clinch.
Stoner doesn't manage to clinch there - McCarthy circles away.
Stoner jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Stoner throws a hook but McCarthy avoids it easily.
McCarthy slips under a jab from Stoner.
McCarthy with a poor takedown
and Stoner counters with a one-two to the body.
McCarthy with a poor takedown
and Stoner counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
McCarthy fails with the takedown
and Stoner counters with a left and a right... and another left... and another!! That last one turned off the lights! McCarthy has no idea who he is and is as he gazes up at the spotlights. Brutal knockout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Ash Stoner!