PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between John McCoy (ranked 2983 p4p, 264 weight class) and Irshaad Sayed (ranked 3492 p4p, 297 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

McCoy
vs
Sayed

180 cm
27
157 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

173 cm
27
150 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter fighter
KO power

Decent wrestler
Excellent MT
Solid chin

Aspire Nutrition

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 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, John McCoy !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Irshaad Sayed!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, Joseph Jones and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McCoy takes one to the chin there.
McCoy takes a shot to the body in his stride.
McCoy misses with a wild body shot.

McCoy has closed the distance and engaged Sayed in a clinch.

Sayed breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Nice uppercut lands for Sayed. That snapped McCoy 's head back.
McCoy looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
McCoy tries to score a power double leg takedown but Sayed sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten McCoy somewhat.
Sayed throws out a counter right but McCoy avoids it with no problem.
Sayed works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Sayed.
McCoy throws a right and a left that both miss.
McCoy throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Sayed.
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!
McCoy has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sayed ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
McCoy waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Sayed.
Sayed unleashes a big counter combination but McCoy bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Sayed 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.
Sayed scores with a jab to the head.
Good exchange - Sayed coming out on top.
The fighters circling - McCoy throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A cross from Sayed lands.
Sayed has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Irshaad Sayed seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nice sprawl there from Sayed as McCoy shoots in.
Sayed throws a right and a left that McCoy avoids nicely.
Sayed scores with a one two! McCoy had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sayed scores with a head kick.
McCoy lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Sayed circles away quickly and effectively.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Sayed.
McCoy throws a body shot but no joy.
Sayed stalks McCoy and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into McCoy 's face. McCoy staggers backwards, shaken.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McCoy throws a right hand that Sayed ducks under and follows up with a left that Sayed also avoids with ease.
A good leg kick by Sayed.
McCoy changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Sayed tries to avoid it but McCoy manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Sayed to the ground. Sayed escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Sayed throws a counter combo.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John McCoy . That's going to take a lot out of him.
No joy there for Sayed, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
McCoy takes a jab right on the kisser.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Sayed, as that shot connected.
Sayed tries to bum rush McCoy with a series of wild strikes but McCoy uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A little feinted left hand from McCoy on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Sayed scores with a decent looking hook.
Sayed lands with a straight right. McCoy didn't see that one coming.
Sayed misses with the combination.
It looked like McCoy was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Sayed.
Sayed scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Some wild striking there from Sayed.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jab, jab by Sayed - just one landing.
Sayed lands a right hook to the body.
Sayed displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Sayed jabs McCoy right on the nose. McCoy blinks but takes it well.
McCoy fails with a takedown attempt.
Sayed bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of McCoy 's head.
Sayed lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Sayed.
McCoy tries for a takedown but Sayed sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
McCoy thuds his right hand into Sayed's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
McCoy shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sayed lunges at McCoy with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by McCoy 's hand.
McCoy takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
McCoy connects with a crisp jab.

It looks like Irshaad Sayed has been cut.
Sayed throws a sloppy head kick and McCoy moves out of range easily.
McCoy is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
An inside leg kick lands from Sayed.
Sayed tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
It looked like McCoy wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
McCoy fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Sayed throws a right and a left that both miss.
McCoy was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
A chopping leg kick lands by Sayed.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from McCoy is defended easily by Sayed.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
McCoy shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Sayed sprawls well. Sayed wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. McCoy gets slowly back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Irshaad Sayed dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Irshaad Sayed's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

A head kick from Sayed lands but McCoy takes it in his stride.
Sayed misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sayed lands a head kick!
A punch combination from Sayed misses.
Sayed lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Irshaad Sayed seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Sayed plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Sayed wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
McCoy dives in for a single leg takedown but Sayed sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Sayed lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
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!
Sayed looks to land a combination. McCoy sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Sayed lands with a nice combination. McCoy backs away looking to recover.
McCoy fails to land the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sayed scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Sayed is working the combinations to good effect here.
Sayed 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.
Sayed throws a right hand that McCoy ducks under and follows up with a left that McCoy also avoids with ease.
Sayed scores with a one two! McCoy had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
McCoy waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Sayed.
Sayed is looking for the big counter here.
McCoy slips a jab and a cross from Sayed.
Sayed connects with a crisp jab.
Irshaad Sayed is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sayed lands with a straight right. McCoy didn't see that one coming.
Sayed feints a jab promting McCoy to slip. Sayed then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. McCoy slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
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!
Sayed scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Sayed tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice body kick from Sayed.
Sayed stuffs the takedown attempt from McCoy . McCoy gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John McCoy . That's going to take a lot out of him.
McCoy dives in and grabs Sayed's left leg, looking for a takedown. Sayed pushes down on McCoy 's head and hops out.
McCoy moves forwards but Sayed connects with a nice, crisp jab.
McCoy moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
McCoy throws a looping overhand right but Sayed ducks down to avoid it.
Sayed lands a head shot.
Sayed tries to bum rush McCoy with a series of wild strikes but McCoy uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
McCoy swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
A head kick from Sayed lands but McCoy takes it in his stride.
Sayed goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
McCoy is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Sayed showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from McCoy .

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sayed throws a combination but it was largely blocked by McCoy .
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for McCoy . He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
McCoy with a poor takedown
and Sayed counters with a left and a right that stings McCoy .
Sayed lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Sayed.
McCoy throws a hook but Sayed avoids it easily.
Sayed looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Irshaad Sayed is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
McCoy dodges the punch combination from Sayed.
Sayed ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
McCoy throws a hook but Sayed avoids it easily.
McCoy throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Sayed's waist but Sayed gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing McCoy off to one side.

McCoy shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. McCoy showed some decent athleticism there.

Sayed has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but McCoy is on him like a limpet, forcing Sayed back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sayed misses with a shot to the kidneys.
McCoy tries for a takedown. No joy.

Sayed breaks the clinch.
Sayed looks to land a combination. McCoy sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
McCoy looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Sayed scores with a sloppy right hand. McCoy should have avoided that one.
Sayed misses with a jab, cross combination.
Sayed connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Sayed tries a head kick but it misses.
Sayed throws a leg kick which misses McCoy 's front leg but catches the back leg as McCoy tries to avoid it.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
McCoy has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Sayed finds it's way round the side to connect with McCoy 's head.
Sayed paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
McCoy moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Irshaad Sayed showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Irshaad Sayed's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Sayed fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. McCoy looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
McCoy closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Sayed lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Sayed scores with a nice right hand.

McCoy dives in and scores a takedown into Sayed's guard.
Sayed is looking to stand back up but McCoy counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Sayed.
McCoy seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Sayed kicks off McCoy and gets to his feet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sayed throws a combination. McCoy tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
McCoy is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Sayed.
Sayed throws a jab when McCoy was well out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sayed misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from McCoy .
Sayed looks to score with a jab to the body but McCoy is just out of range.
McCoy misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sayed.
Sayed unleashes a big counter combination but McCoy bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Nice shot lands for Sayed.
Sayed digs a good hook to McCoy 's body.
Sayed misses with a two punch combination.
Sayed scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Sayed misses with an uppercut. McCoy saw that one coming.
Sayed looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
A nice combination there by Sayed.
Sayed takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
McCoy walks into a left hand.
Sayed looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Sayed swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
John McCoy has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
McCoy shoots in for a takedown but Sayed shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Sayed is looking for the big counter here.
McCoy throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
McCoy dodges the punch combination from Sayed.
McCoy dodges the punch combination from Sayed.
McCoy tries for a takedown but Sayed circles away easily
and Sayed counters with a stiff right hand.
McCoy takes a jab right on the kisser.
Sayed cracks McCoy with a good jab.
McCoy changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Sayed tries to avoid it but McCoy manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Sayed to the ground. Sayed escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John McCoy . That's going to take a lot out of him.
McCoy shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Sayed but Sayed pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sayed lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Sayed connects with the punch.
Sayed lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Sayed scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
McCoy shoots for a double leg takedown but Sayed sprawls well. He's pushed McCoy 's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Sayed throws a series of strikes that have McCoy backpedaling.
A punch combination from Sayed misses.
Sayed scores with a head kick. McCoy tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sayed moves away from the strike by McCoy .
Sayed feints a counter leg kick.
Sayed lands a jab-cross combination.
Left hook, right uppercut from Sayed.
McCoy darts in looking for a takedown but Sayed gets double underhooks and turns McCoy into the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sayed fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Sayed!
Sayed cracks McCoy with an open hand slap.
A nice leg kick lands there from Sayed.
Sayed throws a nice head kick!
Sayed throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Sayed throws a nice head kick!
Sayed misses with a double jab
and McCoy counters with a nice uppercut.
Irshaad Sayed is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
McCoy throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Sayed keeps McCoy at a distance using the push kick.
Sloppy strikes from Sayed. Those never looked like landing.
A little feinted left hand from McCoy on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Irshaad Sayed comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Sayed winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Jonathan Paton scores the fight 26:30
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 26:30
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Irshaad Sayed!