PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ryan Craig (ranked 3748 p4p, 3428 weight class) and Jimmy McCarthy (ranked 413 p4p, 385 weight class). Jimmy McCarthy told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Craig
vs
McCarthy

193 cm
24
214
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
25
202
1 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ryan Craig!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jimmy McCarthy!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Percy O'Donnell and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McCarthy fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
It looked like Craig wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Craig shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has McCarthy pinned against the cage. McCarthy gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Craig tries to clinch but McCarthy moves out of range.
Craig shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with McCarthy but McCarthy pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Craig dives in and grabs McCarthy's left leg, looking for a takedown. McCarthy pushes down on Craig's head and hops out.
Craig has been working on his boxing with his coaches at The Firm in the buildup to the fight.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ryan Craig. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Craig has a takedown stuffed.
Craig has his takedown stuffed
and McCarthy counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

It looks like Ryan Craig has been cut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Craig tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but McCarthy defends well and Craig ends up having to push McCarthy into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
McCarthy wants to break free but Craig has control.
Craig on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCarthy is working for takedown but Craig is calmly controlling the position for now.
McCarthy working hard to break the clinch.
McCarthy tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

McCarthy jumps guard and drags Craig to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
McCarthy working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Craig.
McCarthy tries to land a sweep but no joy.
McCarthy has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Craig seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
McCarthy controlling the position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Craig tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
McCarthy is looking to score with low kicks.
Craig wants to clinch.
Craig sets himself, and McCarthy steps forward looking for the clinch! Craig avoids it this time.
McCarthy tries to bum rush Craig with a series of wild strikes but Craig uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Craig is trying hard to land a takedown here. McCarthy sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Craig swats away the attempt to clinch by McCarthy.
A little feinted left hand from Craig on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Craig tries to score a power double leg takedown but McCarthy sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Craig somewhat.
Craig is trying hard to land a takedown here. McCarthy sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Craig wants to clinch
and McCarthy counters with a three punch combo that has Craig backing up. Craig nods at McCarthy to acknowledge the strikes.
No luck for Craig with that takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by McCarthy!
Jab from McCarthy.
Craig doesn't succeed with the takedown
and McCarthy counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Craig is breathing heavily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
McCarthy fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Craig gets a double leg takedown into McCarthy's guard.

McCarthy pushes Craig off and scrambles back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Craig with a poor takedown
and McCarthy connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Craig gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and McCarthy counters with a left to the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jimmy McCarthy dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ryan Craig's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

McCarthy pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Craig back to the cage. McCarthy follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
McCarthy has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Craig fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging McCarthy to the ground. Craig is now in McCarthy's guard.
Craig postures up.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as McCarthy holds on and takes a little breather.
Let's hope that McCarthy has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McCarthy controls Craig momentarily but Craig frees himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCarthy keeping moving, preventing Craig from controlling successfully.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Craig throws a big right hand that misses.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
McCarthy throws a solid leg kick but Craig takes the impact on his shin and smiles at McCarthy.

Craig fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with McCarthy, pushing him back against the cage.
McCarthy tries to stall but Craig uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
McCarthy jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Craig walks away with a smile on his face. McCarthy gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Jimmy McCarthy is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Craig doesn't succeed with the takedown
and McCarthy counters with a three punch combo that has Craig backing up. Craig nods at McCarthy to acknowledge the strikes.
McCarthy misses with a two punch combination.
Craig appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

McCarthy moves into the clinch.
McCarthy wants to break the clinch but can't.
McCarthy has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
McCarthy leaning his opponent against the cage.
Craig is pressed up against the cage. McCarthy has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Craig down to the mat. Craig avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Craig tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but McCarthy paws at him with a jab and circles away.
McCarthy is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
McCarthy will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Ryan Craig has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jimmy McCarthy.

McCarthy gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

McCarthy pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Craig dives in for a single leg takedown but McCarthy sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Craig tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Craig slowing the pace effectively.
Craig leaning against his opponent.
McCarthy is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCarthy is trying to pull guard but Craig turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Craig breaks the clinch.
Craig circles away from the clinch attempt.
Craig shoots in for a double leg but McCarthy sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
McCarthy is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
McCarthy is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
McCarthy keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Craig fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but McCarthy avoids it really well and circles away.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jimmy McCarthy showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Ryan Craig'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!

McCarthy throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Craig's waist but Craig gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing McCarthy off to one side.
McCarthy stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and McCarthy wants it to stay on the feet.
McCarthy scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Craig shoots in for a double leg but McCarthy sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
McCarthy pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Craig back to the cage. McCarthy follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Craig misses with a takedown attempt
and McCarthy counters with a nice uppercut.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ryan Craig. That's going to take a lot out of him.
McCarthy throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Craig wants to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McCarthy throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
McCarthy swats away the attempt to clinch by Craig.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Craig keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Craig tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but McCarthy defends well and Craig ends up having to push McCarthy into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
McCarthy gets through Craig's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Craig trying to control the position but instead, McCarthy has worked for underhooks and has pushed Craig into the cage.

McCarthy's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's two 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.
Craig shoots and misses
and McCarthy counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Craig tries for a takedown but McCarthy circles away easily
and McCarthy counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
McCarthy lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

McCarthy clinches up with Craig and pushes him back against the cage.
Craig just leaning against McCarthy, taking a breather.
Craig prevents McCarthy from breaking the clinch.
Craig takes a shot to the head.
McCarthy is trying to break free.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Craig content to slow the pace in the clinch.
McCarthy wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

McCarthy manages to break the clinch.
Craig doesn't succeed with the takedown

and McCarthy counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by McCarthy.
Craig keeps the fight in the clinch, despite McCarthy's efforts to push away.
McCarthy displaying some good clinch control by pressing Craig up against the cage.

Craig breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Craig takes a swing at McCarthy's ribcage but misses.
Craig has his takedown stuffed
and McCarthy counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

McCarthy clinches.
McCarthy is trying to push Craig away but Craig has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
McCarthy misses with a body punch.
Ryan Craig has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jimmy McCarthy is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
McCarthy stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jimmy 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 26:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30

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