PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sean McCarthy (ranked 4488 p4p, 2667 weight class) and Albert Stevens (ranked 140 p4p, 86 weight class). Stevens has chosen Fat Albert as his entrance music. Albert Stevens will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

McCarthy
vs
Stevens

191 cm
26
269
2 - 2 - 0

225 cm
26
300
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Hates pizza

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Sean McCarthy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Albert Stevens!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Bruno Lombardi and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stevens uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by McCarthy.
Stevens drops down looking to force a counter takedown but McCarthy defends it well.
McCarthy throws a head kick that misses.
And Stevens tries to counter it with a takedown but McCarthy pushes his down on his head and steps out.
McCarthy lands a nice hook to Stevens's body. Stevens takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Stevens tries to clinch

and McCarthy counters with a nice double leg into guard.
McCarthy controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
McCarthy won't allow Stevens to sweep him here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McCarthy sitting in guard here, content to control.
Stevens is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
McCarthy forces his way into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCarthy with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Stevens wants to control but McCarthy is keeping busy and won't allow it.
McCarthy perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Stevens is defending against the submission attempts here by McCarthy.
Stevens is trying to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
McCarthy lands strikes from half guard.
Stevens punching from the bottom.
Stevens is looking to control McCarthy's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Stevens avoid being mounted?
McCarthy moves nicely into side control.
Sloppy strikes there by McCarthy.
Stevens is trying to escape the position but McCarthy is controlling the position.
Stevens really doesn't want to stay on the ground with McCarthy. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McCarthy misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Stevens is trying to control McCarthy's posture but McCarthy avoids it.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
McCarthy falls off balance throwing a combination
and McCarthy takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
McCarthy looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

McCarthy fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Stevens to the ground. McCarthy is now in Stevens's guard.
Stevens wants to get back to his feet but McCarthy passes into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

McCarthy throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

McCarthy postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Stevens to stand up.

Stevens moves into the clinch.
McCarthy has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Stevens after a bit of a struggle.
McCarthy tries to pull guard but Stevens holds him up against the cage and eventually McCarthy drops back down to his feet.
McCarthy is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Stevens to keep the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sean McCarthy. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stevens gets underhooks to prevent McCarthy's takedown attempt.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
McCarthy looking to slow down the pace here.
Stevens is trying to pull guard but McCarthy turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Sean McCarthy dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Stevens moves into the clinch successfully.
Stevens taking a breather.
Stevens lands an elbow inside.
McCarthy is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Stevens can do to turn this around?

Stevens breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A head kick misses from McCarthy.
McCarthy throws a right and a left that both miss.
McCarthy tries to close the distance and clinch but Stevens swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Sean McCarthy is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Stevens fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

McCarthy dives in and scores a takedown into Stevens's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCarthy looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
We've been informed that Stevens has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.

McCarthy got a little sloppy there for a moment and Stevens has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, McCarthy has managed to get both his arms back between Stevens's legs - danger averted.
McCarthy looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
McCarthy seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Stevens for as long as he can get away with.

That's two 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.
Stevens trying to keep a closed guard but McCarthy is proving a slippery customer.
McCarthy stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Stevens swivels though and keeps the full guard.
McCarthy advances position into side control!
Stevens seems a little lost for a moment, as McCarthy dominates the positioning.
Stevens is not content to let McCarthy control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevens manages to get back to half guard.
McCarthy slows the pace down in half guard.
Stevens is trying to stand.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
McCarthy is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

Stevens closes the distance and clinches.

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 is trying to break the clinch but Stevens has him pressed against the cage.
McCarthy has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Stevens after a bit of a struggle.
Stevens tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Stevens working hard to break the clinch.
McCarthy working hard to break the clinch.
McCarthy wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
McCarthy tries for a takedown. No joy.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
McCarthy blocks an elbow strike from Stevens.
McCarthy changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Stevens fights it off and pushes away nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sean McCarthy. That's going to take a lot out of him.
McCarthy has a takedown stuffed.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Albert Stevens will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

McCarthy throws a body kick that misses.
Stevens wants to clinch.

McCarthy shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than McCarthy was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Stevens trying to control but McCarthy flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Stevens defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
McCarthy slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevens is in bad spot here.
McCarthy is not going to allow Stevens to sit and survive in this position.

McCarthy looking for the RNC.

McCarthy is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
What can Stevens do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McCarthy doesn't have the hooks in and Stevens manages to turn into his guard.
McCarthy lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

McCarthy pushing down on Stevens's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
McCarthy is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Stevens has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. McCarthy is working away from the top position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevens is trying to get back to full guard.
Still in half guard, McCarthy seems content to control.
McCarthy passes to full mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
McCarthy takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
McCarthy has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Stevens reaches up to try and control the position but McCarthy seems to have an arm triangle now! Uh oh! Stevens rolls and tries to escape and now McCarthy has his back!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Stevens covering up well under a barage of strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sean McCarthy showed his dominance in that final round.
I think McCarthy has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Russell Pearce scores the fight 30:27
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 29:28

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