PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Lucas Basurto (ranked 3183 p4p, 320 weight class) and Ryan McCarthy (ranked 1770 p4p, 190 weight class). Basurto comes to the cage accompanied by Tapout - Birdman. Lucas Basurto has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Basurto
vs
McCarthy

170 cm
24
150 lbs
8 - 8 - 0

185 cm
25
158 lbs
9 - 8 - 1

Powerful takedowns
Counter fighter
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Good low kicks
Good gas tank

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 8 - 8 - 0, fighting out of London, Lucas Basurto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 8 - 1, fighting out of London, Ryan McCarthy!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Richard Clark and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

McCarthy moves into the clinch.
Still in the clinch, McCarthy scores with a nice short uppercut.
McCarthy taking a breather.
Basurto goes for a takedown attempt but McCarthy pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
McCarthy throws a sloppy head kick and Basurto moves out of range easily.
An attempted straight right counter from Basurto misses the target.
McCarthy throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Horrible takedown attempt by Basurto or perhaps it was just good defense by McCarthy, which made it look bad.
Basurto takes one to the chin there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Basurto gets tackled into the cage by McCarthy. McCarthy maintains the clinch.
McCarthy is defending well against a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lucas Basurto. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Basurto tries to circle away but McCarthy has him pinned against the cage.
A nice left hand lands by McCarthy.
Basurto changes levels and goes for a takedown here. McCarthy fights it off and pushes away nicely.
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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Basurto takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
McCarthy waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Basurto.
An attempted straight right counter from Basurto misses the target.
A jab from McCarthy misses.
McCarthy stalks Basurto and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Basurto's face. Basurto staggers backwards, shaken.
McCarthy throws a head kick but Basurto moves out of range.
Basurto tries to counter with a takedown but McCarthy is quick to defend against it.

Basurto shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. McCarthy manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Basurto wants to control from the top but McCarthy keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

McCarthy throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Basurto drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and McCarthy dives on top into guard.

The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Basurto working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. McCarthy doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. McCarthy manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Basurto can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as McCarthy controls the pace.

Basurto is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
McCarthy content to stall in guard here.
McCarthy is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Basurto working a defensive guard but McCarthy passes into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Basurto is trying to control but can't.
McCarthy tries to pass the half guard into mount. Basurto knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Basurto avoiding damage under a succession of punches from McCarthy.
McCarthy tries to pass to full mount but Basurto defends it.
McCarthy not landing any meaningful shots this time.
McCarthy seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Basurto is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but McCarthy pulls his head out easily.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
McCarthy prevents Basurto from improving his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
McCarthy is thwarting Basurto's attempts to control the position.
McCarthy is taking a breather. Basurto 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's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Basurto tries to get to full guard but McCarthy has control of the leg.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Basurto works his way to full guard. Good work.

Basurto had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. McCarthy defends it easily.
McCarthy not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan McCarthy dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Basurto gets tackled into the cage by McCarthy. McCarthy maintains the clinch.
McCarthy controlling the action here for a moment.

Basurto has picked McCarthy up - he's going for a ride! Basurto dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.

Basurto is working for a submission of some sort.
McCarthy has his hands clasped together around Basurto's back. He's all about the action.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Basurto prevents McCarthy from improving his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

McCarthy actively working from the bottom here.

Basurto is looking for a kimura here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Basurto is sneakily working for an arm triangle but McCarthy sees it coming and defends easily.
Basurto is thwarting McCarthy's attempts to control the position.
McCarthy is controlling Basurto's position as best he can from this difficult position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Basurto not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
McCarthy regains full guard. Nicely done.

McCarthy looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Basurto postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Basurto postures up.

Basurto postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! McCarthy is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Basurto, into his guard.

McCarthy engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCarthy won't allow Basurto to sweep him here.
Basurto is trying to keep McCarthy in close.
McCarthy trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
McCarthy lands a couple of decent looking shots.
McCarthy's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Basurto looking for a guillotine here but McCarthy defends easily.
McCarthy landing with the ground and pound.

Basurto is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

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.
McCarthy stays in close to Basurto's body and controls the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Basurto escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. McCarthy gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
McCarthy stopping the sweep attempt from Basurto.
McCarthy content to stall in guard here.
McCarthy has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Basurto is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Lucas Basurto overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
McCarthy is stalling in the full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Lucas Basurto will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

McCarthy has taken the fight to the clinch.
McCarthy scores with a nice hook to the head.
A nice left hand lands by McCarthy.
Basurto goes for a takedown in the clinch but McCarthy prevents it.
Nice body punch from McCarthy.
Basurto is trying to work for a single leg takedown but McCarthy pulls him back up using the underhooks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Basurto is looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lucas Basurto. That's going to take a lot out of him.
McCarthy taking a breather.
McCarthy throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Basurtos head.
Basurto tries to pull guard but McCarthy holds him up against the cage and eventually Basurto drops back down to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Basurto 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.
Basurto drops down looking for an ankle pick but McCarthy pulls his leg out and moves away.
McCarthy takes a swing at Basurto's ribcage but misses.
Basurto blocks a head kick by McCarthy.
Basurto swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Ryan McCarthy seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Basurto defending well as McCarthy loads up on a big left hand.
McCarthy looks for the body kick but Basurto saw that one coming.

McCarthy clinches.
McCarthy lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
McCarthy lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
McCarthy lands an uppercut.
Basurto has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. McCarthy avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McCarthy is working Basurto over against the cage.
McCarthy is pressed up against the cage. Basurto has hold of a leg and is looking to drag McCarthy down to the mat. McCarthy avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

McCarthy has Basurto up against the cage in a clinch.
McCarthy misses with a body punch.
Basurto has McCarthy pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. McCarthy manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Basurto tries for a takedown. No joy.
McCarthy slows down the pace here.
McCarthy working some nice short punches in the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
A nice right hand lands inside from McCarthy.
A right handed body shot lands from McCarthy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Basurto can't get the takedown.

McCarthy gets a trip takedown into half guard.
McCarthy is controlling the pace.
Basurto tries to get to full guard but McCarthy has control of the leg.
McCarthy trying to control the pace.
Basurto misses with some strikes from the bottom.

McCarthy moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Basurto.
McCarthy scoring with punches and elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Basurto is being controlled here.
McCarthy creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Basurto manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
McCarthy is looking for a sweep. Basurto is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
McCarthy trying to hold on to Basurto's head to control him but Basurto postures up.

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

McCarthy looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Basurto is sneakily working for an arm triangle but McCarthy sees it coming and defends easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ryan 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 William Gold scores the fight 27:30
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 28:29
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ryan McCarthy!
After winning the bout, Ryan McCarthy thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.