PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ryan McCarthy (ranked 2504 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sadiq Hossein (ranked 9121 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

McCarthy
vs
Hossein

185 cm
29
158 lbs
13 - 9 - 1

170 cm
50
148 lbs
45 - 35 - 6

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

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 13 - 9 - 1, fighting out of London, Ryan McCarthy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 45 - 35 - 6, fighting out of New York, Sadiq Hossein!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, John Roberts and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McCarthy throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Hossein throws a body punch but McCarthy moves out of range.
McCarthy throws a series of punches but Hossein avoids them all with ease.
Hossein let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.

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

McCarthy is looking for a kimura here.
Hossein tries to get to full guard but McCarthy has control of the leg.
McCarthy really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McCarthy looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

McCarthy is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Hossein has managed to free his arm - good work.
Hossein tries to get to full guard but McCarthy has control of the leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCarthy is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
McCarthy not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Hossein is staying active underneath McCarthy, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McCarthy wants to pass to mount but Hossein is defending the position.

McCarthy is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
McCarthy content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Hossein is looking to control McCarthy's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Hossein avoid being mounted?
McCarthy controlling the action here.
McCarthy is keen to just control but Hossein is a slippery customer.
Hossein wants to get back to full guard.

McCarthy is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

McCarthy looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Hossein controlling the position for now.
McCarthy wants to control but Hossein is keeping him busy.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Hossein misses with a telegraphed body shot
and McCarthy counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from McCarthy is defended easily by Hossein.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hossein thows a leg kick but McCarthy checks it

and McCarthy counters with a takedown into side control.
Hossein looking for a sweep but McCarthy has passed into full mount! Oh no!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hossein is looking to get to half guard.
McCarthy lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
McCarthy connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hossein looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
McCarthy throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

McCarthy looking for the choke but no joy.
McCarthy doesn't have the hooks in and Hossein manages to turn into his guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan McCarthy dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Hossein swings and misses with a shot to the body
and McCarthy counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Sadiq Hossein seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hossein swings and misses with a hook to the body.
McCarthy is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hossein can do to turn this around?
Hossein misses with a straight right.
Hossein throws a leg kick

and McCarthy counters with a shoot takedown. Hossein fights it but they end up in guard.
Hossein looking to control.
Hossein looking for a sweep. Not yet Hossein, not yet.
McCarthy stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hossein swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hossein keeping moving, preventing McCarthy from controlling successfully.
McCarthy wants to pass the guard but Hossein is keeping the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McCarthy is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
McCarthy chips away with some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCarthy slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Hossein looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but McCarthy puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

McCarthy seems to be working for a kimura but Hossein defends the submission attempt.
Hossein tries to get to full guard but McCarthy has control of the leg.
Well, if McCarthy is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
McCarthy trying to pass the guard but Hossein defending well.

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.
McCarthy working over Hossein with some ground and pound. Hossein looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Hossein wants to control but McCarthy is keeping busy and won't allow it.
McCarthy trying to pass the guard but Hossein defending well.
McCarthy thows a huge punch but Hossein dodges it nicely.
Hossein is looking to improve his position.
Still in half guard, McCarthy seems content to control.
Hossein is refusing to be controlled, as McCarthy sits in half guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCarthy moves into full mount! Hossein won't be happy about that!
McCarthy controlling the pace for now.
McCarthy tries to control but Hossein wriggling away.
McCarthy seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but Hossein is holding on tight.
McCarthy lands a big elbow.
McCarthy prevents Hossein from getting the reversal.
McCarthy can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Hossein is looking to escape.

McCarthy looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCarthy tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

McCarthy is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Hossein can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.

McCarthy looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
McCarthy raining down hammerfists from mount.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
McCarthy can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Hossein is looking to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan McCarthy dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

McCarthy misses with a wild combination.
Hossein misses with a hook to the body
and Hossein takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

It looks like Sadiq Hossein has been cut.

Excellent takedown into side control there by McCarthy.
McCarthy works to advance to full mount. Hossein defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
McCarthy will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
McCarthy looking to finish Hossein with some ground and pound. This is bad for Hossein!
McCarthy scores with a couple of good head shots there.

McCarthy working for a guillotine from mount but Hossein is in no mood to give up.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
McCarthy content just to control the position here.

McCarthy looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCarthy controlling from mount.
Hossein is squirming around, avoiding McCarthy's attempts to control the action.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, McCarthy cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Hossein tries to get back to half guard but can't.
McCarthy fails to take his opponent's back.
Ryan McCarthy overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
McCarthy can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Hossein is looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McCarthy is in the full mount, landing strikes.
McCarthy can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Hossein is looking to escape.
McCarthy landing strikes from the mount.
Hossein is in a horrible position here. McCarthy smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
McCarthy lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

McCarthy looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCarthy pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

Hossein is rocked!
Hossein tries to reverse the position but McCarthy maintains control.
Hossein takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
McCarthy sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Hossein wants to hold on but McCarthy pushes him away.
McCarthy controlling the pace for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hossein wants to hold on but McCarthy pushes him away.
McCarthy breaks from Hossein's wrist control and lands an elbow.

That has opened up Sadiq Hossein's cut even more.

McCarthy working for a guillotine from mount but Hossein is in no mood to give up.
McCarthy lands a nice shot to the head.
McCarthy with a couple of short strikes.
Hossein is still in real trouble! Can McCarthy finish him?

The cut above Sadiq Hossein's eye is starting to cause him problems now.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Sadiq Hossein's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Ryan McCarthy!
A relieved looking Ryan McCarthy thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.