PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Isaac Freeman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James McCarthy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Freeman
vs
McCarthy

199 cm
22
151 lbs
0 - 5 - 0

178 cm
19
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Isaac Freeman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, James McCarthy!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Chris Downing and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

McCarthy decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
McCarthy sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Freeman really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Freeman wants to control but McCarthy is keeping busy.
McCarthy is looking to pass Freeman's guard but actually Freeman recovers to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McCarthy trying to control the position from guard on top but Freeman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCarthy controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Excellent takedown into side control there by McCarthy.
Freeman is looking to reverse the position.

McCarthy swings around for an armbar but Freeman sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into McCarthy's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McCarthy controls Freeman momentarily but Freeman frees himself.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Freeman engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
McCarthy manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Freeman manages to get himself to full guard.

McCarthy looking to sit in guard and control but Freeman gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

McCarthy wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Freeman is now in half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCarthy wants to get back to full guard.
McCarthy trying to control here.
Freeman performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
McCarthy wants to get back to full guard but Freeman has passed into side control.
Freeman wants to lay and pray for a moment but McCarthy keeps working.

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.
McCarthy is letting Freeman control him for a moment.
Freeman working away.
Freeman works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
McCarthy tries to bench press Freeman off him but Freeman keeps the position.
Freeman scores with punches from side control.
McCarthy is trying to control Freeman's posture but Freeman avoids it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Freeman throws a strike aimed at the side of McCarthy's head but McCarthy avoids it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but James McCarthy will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

No luck with that takedown attempt from Freeman.
Freeman takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.

McCarthy pushes Freeman up against the cage in a clinch.

McCarthy turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
McCarthy throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Freeman works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Freeman makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Freeman.

Freeman looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCarthy stays in close to Freeman's body and controls the position.

McCarthy gets to his feet - Freeman follows without any prompting.

McCarthy throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Freeman was covering up waiting for the punch and McCarthy finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Freeman throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McCarthy works a leg free and moves into half guard.
McCarthy is taking a breather. Freeman says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
McCarthy with the ground and pound but Freeman uses the opportunity to regain guard.
McCarthy showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

McCarthy decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Freeman tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
James McCarthy is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

McCarthy looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Freeman!
Freeman struggling a bit here.

McCarthy decides to stand back up.
Freeman fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Freeman tries to keep at a distance but McCarthy has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Freeman takes an elbow to the temple.

It looks like Isaac Freeman has been cut.

McCarthy is trying to trip Freeman. He has hold of a leg but Freeman is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. McCarthy persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
McCarthy working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Freeman keeping moving, preventing McCarthy from controlling successfully.

Freeman looking for submissions from the bottom but instead McCarthy passes into side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

McCarthy thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James McCarthy showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Isaac Freeman's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

McCarthy throws a lazy uppercut
and Freeman counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Freeman has a takedown stuffed.

Excellent takedown into side control there by McCarthy.

Freeman throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice sprawl there from McCarthy as Freeman shoots in.

McCarthy moves into the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
McCarthy lands with a short head shot on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.

McCarthy gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Freeman regains guard.
McCarthy trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Freeman manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Freeman not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as McCarthy holds on and takes a little breather.

McCarthy has his foot on Freeman's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Freeman works his way back into a safe position though.
McCarthy controls Freeman momentarily but Freeman frees himself.
Freeman preventing the sweep.
McCarthy takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McCarthy is looking to stand up but Freeman isn't so interested in that idea.
McCarthy working a defensive guard but Freeman manages to pass into side control anyway.
McCarthy is trying to control Freeman's posture but Freeman avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCarthy is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Freeman's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
McCarthy is looking to control Freeman's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can McCarthy avoid being mounted?
Freeman is looking to take a break and control but McCarthy is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Freeman thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's four 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.

McCarthy moves into the clinch.

McCarthy gets control of Freeman's arms and successfully pulls guard. McCarthy will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Freeman stands and steps away. McCarthy gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

McCarthy has managed to clinch.
Freeman is trying to work for a single leg takedown but McCarthy pulls him back up using the underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Isaac Freeman. That's going to take a lot out of him.

McCarthy manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Freeman preventing the sweep.
Freeman controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

McCarthy has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Freeman is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for McCarthy.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to James McCarthy.
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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James McCarthy!