PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Marcus Silver (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Danny McCarthy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Danny McCarthy has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Marcus Silver's chin.

Silver
vs
McCarthy

185 cm
26
185 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

182 cm
19
190 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Marcus Silver!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Danny McCarthy!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Arvi Lind and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fight stays on the outside here - Silver looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Silver tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
McCarthy misses with a head kick.
McCarthy keeps the fight on the outside.

McCarthy closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
McCarthy is trying to control. Silver wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

McCarthy stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
McCarthy shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Silver as he jumps to the side.
Silver throws a head kick that half lands.
Silver tries to close the distance and clinch up but McCarthy swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Silver tries to clinch up but McCarthy circles away and keeps his distance.

Silver closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Silver lands in his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCarthy wants to stand and escape but Silver is having none of it.

McCarthy has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Silver off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
McCarthy keeps the fight on the outside.
Marcus Silver seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Silver is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Silver slaps away a takedown attempt from McCarthy, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Silver is looking to clinch but McCarthy is avoiding it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Silver tries to clinch there but McCarthy circles away.
Silver connects with a high kick.

Silver closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming McCarthy to the mat! McCarthy manages to get full guard.
McCarthy looks gassed!
Silver tries to stand but McCarthy is controlling from the bottom.
McCarthy can't keep his opponent in guard - Silver advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

McCarthy manages to escape and get back to his feet!
A head kick from Silver lands but McCarthy takes it in his stride.
McCarthy tries for a takedown but Silver circles away easily
and Silver counters with a nice body kick.
Marcus Silver has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Danny McCarthy.
Silver lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

Silver takes the fight into the clinch.
Silver holding his opponent close, against the cage.

Silver breaks from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Silver rushes McCarthy and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
McCarthy letting Silver take a breather here.
McCarthy takes a knee right on the jaw!
Silver lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Silver is trying to drag McCarthy to the mat but McCarthy just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Silver connects with a knee to the head.

Silver breaks from the clinch.
Silver tries to close the distance and clinch up but McCarthy swats him away and circles back towards the center.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Silver throws a head kick that McCarthy semi-blocks.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Silver has managed to clinch.

Silver breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Silver throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by McCarthy.
Silver connects with a high kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcus Silver dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

McCarthy takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
McCarthy takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Silver lands a head kick!

Silver clinches.
Silver crunches a lovely knee into McCarthy's ribcage.
Silver landing knees to the body.
A knee to the head by Silver.
Silver lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Silver stalls.
Silver unloads a knee to the mid-section. McCarthy lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Silver scores with a knee to the head.
Silver lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
McCarthy is breathing heavily.
Silver is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

Silver pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silver tries to clinch up.

Silver closes the distance and clinches.
Silver keeps the fight in the clinch, despite McCarthy's efforts to push away.
Silver connects with a nasty looking knee right to McCarthy's face.
Silver connects with a nasty looking knee right to McCarthy's face.
Silver connects with a nasty looking knee right to McCarthy's face.

Silver breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Silver closes the distance and clinches.
Silver lands a nice knee to the body.
Silver drops to a knee looking for a takedown but McCarthy gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Silver lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

Silver pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silver connects with a high kick.
Silver is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Silver throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by McCarthy.
McCarthy swats away the attempt to clinch by Silver.
Silver lands with a slapping head kick.
Silver lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Silver tries to close the distance and clinch but McCarthy swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Silver tries to clinch up but McCarthy circles away and keeps his distance.
Silver tries to clinch up but McCarthy circles away and keeps his distance.
Marcus Silver is winning the standup battle so far.

Silver moves into the clinch successfully.
Silver lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Silver with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

Silver manages to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCarthy takes a body punch but keeps moving.

Silver clinches up against the cage.
Silver connects with a knee to the head.
Silver using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

Silver pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Silver lands a head kick!

Silver clinches up with McCarthy and pushes him back against the cage.
Silver is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

Silver escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
McCarthy will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Silver cracks the inside of McCarthy's front leg.
The fight stays on the outside here - Silver looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Silver wants to clinch up but McCarthy keeps it at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silver throws a head kick that McCarthy semi-blocks.
Good leg kick by Silver there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Silver tries to close the distance and clinch but McCarthy swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Silver tries to clinch there but McCarthy circles away.

Silver drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Silver has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
McCarthy takes a head kick and keeps coming.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Silver lands a head kick. McCarthy smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

Silver instigates a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcus Silver dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Silver moves into the clinch successfully.
Silver connects with a knee to the head.
Silver with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
McCarthy is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Knees in the clinch landing for Silver.

Silver breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Silver moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Silver lands with a kick to the temple. McCarthy shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

Silver has McCarthy up against the cage in a clinch.
Marcus Silver has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Knees to the body from Silver.
A knee to the head by Silver.
Silver lands a knee to the head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The referee calls for Silver to work.
Silver scores with a knee to the head.
Silver is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Silver breaks from the clinch.
Silver is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that McCarthy can do to turn this around?
Silver throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Silver throws a nice head kick!
Silver lands a nice looking body kick.
A chopping leg kick lands by Silver.
Silver tries to clinch but McCarthy moves out of range.
Silver wants to clinch up but McCarthy keeps it at a distance.
Silver lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
McCarthy swats away the attempt to clinch by Silver.
McCarthy takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Silver plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Silver pushes McCarthy away with a front kick.
Silver throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Silver clinches with his opponent.
Silver scores with a knee to the head.

Silver has dropped down and is working for a takedown. McCarthy is trying to keep an underhook but Silver manages to get the takedown into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
McCarthy on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Silver is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Silver throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Silver stands up from half guard.

Silver closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCarthy takes a knee to the side of the body.

Silver's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
McCarthy takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Danny McCarthy is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
McCarthy takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Silver is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Silver lands a head kick!
Silver lands a front kick.

Silver gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Silver lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Silver connects with a nasty looking knee right to McCarthy's face.
McCarthy looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Silver manages to break the clinch.
Silver tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Silver rushes McCarthy and presses him up against the cage.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Silver scores with a knee to the head.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
McCarthy prevents the takedown attempt.
McCarthy is trying to break the clinch but Silver is controlling him.
McCarthy takes a knee right on the jaw!
Knees to the body from Silver.
Silver lands a knee to the head.
Silver stalling the fight.
Silver scores with a knee to the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Silver pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Silver circles away from the clinch attempt.
Silver wants to clinch

and McCarthy counters with a nice double leg into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcus Silver clearly takes that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Silver tries to clinch but McCarthy is having none of it.
Silver tries to clinch up.
McCarthy avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
McCarthy shoots in for a double leg but Silver sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Silver shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Silver stands up and beckons McCarthy to join him on the feet.

Silver closes the distance and pushes McCarthy back into the cage.
McCarthy is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
McCarthy gets underhooks to prevent Silver's takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silver is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Silver connects with a knee to the head.

Silver breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Silver throws a sloppy head kick and McCarthy moves out of range easily.
Silver lands a high kick!
McCarthy avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Silver goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
McCarthy takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Silver tries to clinch there but McCarthy circles away.

Silver gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Silver leaning against his opponent.
McCarthy takes a knee right on the jaw!
Silver using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Silver is pushing McCarthy up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silver with a knee to the head.

Silver breaks from the clinch.
McCarthy swats away the attempt to clinch by Silver.

Silver closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Silver breaks from the clinch.
Silver throws a nice head kick!
Silver wants to clinch up but McCarthy keeps it at a distance.
Silver throws a quick head kick that skims the top of McCarthy's head.
Silver tries to clinch up

and McCarthy counters with a takedown into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silver sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Silver manages to escape and get back to his feet!
The fight stays on the outside here - Silver looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Silver is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Silver is looking to clinch but McCarthy is avoiding it.

Silver has taken the fight to the clinch.
Silver with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
McCarthy digs a right hand underneath Silver's ribcage. Silver let out a lung full of air as it connected.
McCarthy takes a knee to the side of the body.
Silver scores with a knee to the head.
Silver holding his opponent close, against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silver connects with a knee to the head.
Silver stalling against the cage.

Silver pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
McCarthy tries for a takedown but Silver circles away easily

and Silver counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Silver tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Silver lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

Silver's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Silver moves into the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Silver is trying to work for a single leg takedown but McCarthy pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Silver lands a knee to the head.
Silver softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
McCarthy stalling against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcus Silver had his way with Danny McCarthy in that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Silver lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
McCarthy tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Silver clinches up with McCarthy and pushes him back against the cage.
Silver putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has McCarthy in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.

Silver's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Silver throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Silver fails with an attempt to clinch.
Silver throws a nice head kick!
Silver wants to clinch.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Silver is defended easily by McCarthy.
Silver cracks the inside of McCarthy's front leg.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A thudding body kick lands there by Silver!
Silver tries to clinch but McCarthy is having none of it.

Silver moves into the clinch.
Silver landing knees to the head.
Silver lands a nice knee to the body.

Silver manages to break the clinch.
Silver throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Silver thuds a left hand into McCarthy's body.
Silver wants to clinch but McCarthy slips to the side

so McCarthy counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Silver is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
McCarthy is looking to stand up but Silver won't let him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silver is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Silver tries to strike from the bottom.
Silver wants to get back to his feet but McCarthy is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silver is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and McCarthy dives into side control.
Danny McCarthy has got the better of the ground game so far.
Silver regains half guard there - taking advantage of McCarthy's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Silver closes the distance and pushes McCarthy back into the cage.
Silver throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but McCarthy blocks it with crossed arms.
McCarthy has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Silver is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
The referee is keeping an eye on Silver - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Silver lands an elbow that stopped McCarthy in his tracks for a moment.

Silver breaks from the clinch.
Silver tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Silver gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Silver using the Thai plumb to throw knees but McCarthy has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Silver with a knee to the head.
A knee to the head by Silver.

Silver breaks the clinch.
Silver throws a nice head kick!
Danny McCarthy has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Marcus Silver is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Silver explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Silver dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on McCarthy. That did some damage!
Silver moves in looking to clinch but McCarthy pushes him off.
Silver is looking to clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marcus Silver showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Silver, 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight for Marcus Silver!
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight for Marcus Silver!
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight for Marcus Silver!

Marcus Silver wins by unanimous decision!
Marcus Silver is the new middleweight champion!