PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Michael Carter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryan McCarthy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Carter kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Jazz Cartier - New Religion. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Carter
vs
McCarthy

176 cm
20
157 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

185 cm
20
160 lbs
1 - 1 - 1

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Tends to cut

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 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Michael Carter!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ryan McCarthy!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Illya Tyunina and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Carter looks to score with a jab to the body but McCarthy is just out of range.
McCarthy is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Carter with a body shot.
Ryan McCarthy seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McCarthy misses the shot to the body.
Carter works McCarthy's body with a nice hook.
Carter on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
McCarthy throws a low kick but it's checked well by Carter.
Carter swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
McCarthy is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Carter with a body shot.
McCarthy stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
McCarthy looks to score with a jab to the body but Carter is just out of range.
McCarthy misses with a wild body shot.

Carter gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
McCarthy is stalling here.
Carter 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.
McCarthy goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Carter tries a body shot but McCarthy blocks it.

McCarthy breaks from the clinch.
We've been hearing reports that Carter has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
A jab from Carter does it's job there.
Carter misses with a looping left.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A chopping leg kick lands by McCarthy.
McCarthy lands a jab to Carter's midsection.
McCarthy lands a nice hook to Carter's body. Carter takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
McCarthy misses with a wild body shot.
McCarthy swings for the body but Carter moves out of range.
Carter drops down looking for a counter takedown but McCarthy sprawls and moves away.
McCarthy thuds his shin into the meat of Carter's side.
McCarthy ducks under a wild hook from Carter.

Carter shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
McCarthy trying to control from the bottom.
Carter thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
McCarthy is looking to escape.
Carter working McCarthy over with strikes.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Carter slips a nice elbow through McCarthy's hands, connecting with McCarthy's forehead.
McCarthy keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
McCarthy won't allow Carter to pass to mount.
McCarthy is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McCarthy trying to control but Carter postures up.
McCarthy moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
McCarthy keeping full guard, as Carter tries to pass.
Carter stays in close to McCarthy's body and controls the position.
McCarthy preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
McCarthy wants to hit a switch here but Carter passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for McCarthy there!
Carter postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. McCarthy looks a forlorn figure.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCarthy can't escape the position.
McCarthy regains half guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Carter landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Carter connects with a nice short shot to McCarthy's temple.
Carter lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
McCarthy is staying active underneath Carter, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Carter throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
McCarthy holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Carter in particular looking to stall.
McCarthy wants to improve his position but Carter is controlling well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCarthy regains full guard. Nicely done.
Carter with a flurry of punches that miss.
Carter looking to sit in guard and control but McCarthy gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Carter holds on and takes a little breather.
McCarthy trying to control the position from guard on top but Carter is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Carter wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
McCarthy pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Carter is keeping the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Michael Carter will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

McCarthy lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

Carter closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Carter lands in his opponent's guard.
McCarthy keeping full guard, as Carter tries to pass.
Carter trying to control the position from guard on top but McCarthy is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
McCarthy working a defensive guard here.
Carter throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Carter trying to control the position from guard on top but McCarthy is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Carter with a nice head shot there.
McCarthy is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCarthy is trying to control. Carter wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Carter holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
McCarthy is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Carter!
McCarthy controlling his opponent.
Carter is wriggling around trying to escape.
McCarthy pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.
McCarthy controlling his opponent.
Carter is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carter sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Carter makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Carter.
McCarthy wants to get up but he can't break Carter's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

McCarthy decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
McCarthy on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.

Carter instigates a clinch.
Carter tries a body shot but McCarthy blocks it.
McCarthy tries to break the clinch but Carter is controlling the position.

Carter has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed McCarthy clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
McCarthy staying busy and making it hard for Carter to control.
McCarthy is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Carter is punishing McCarthy with strikes - can he finish him?!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCarthy tries to escape the position.
McCarthy is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Carter is punishing McCarthy with strikes - can he finish him?!
Carter is looking to control McCarthy but McCarthy is wriggling around and keeping busy.
McCarthy takes a big shot to the side of the head.
Michael Carter overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
McCarthy wants to escape the position but for the time being he's just trying to control the pace.
McCarthy wants to escape the position.
Carter throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
McCarthy covers up after that shot from Carter.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCarthy is covering up but some of the strikes from Carter are getting through and doing damage.

McCarthy is rocked!
Carter scores with some strikes to the side of the head there. Good, points scoring shots.
McCarthy is still in real trouble! Can Carter finish him?
Carter throwing damaging strikes from the back! McCarthy could be in trouble here!
Carter controlling from the back.
McCarthy is really stuck here.
A helpless look comes across McCarthy 's face. He knows he's trapped as Carter lands a series of unanswered strikes. The ref steps in to stop the fight and this one is in the books!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:34 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Michael Carter!
Michael Carter bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.