PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Cormac McCarthy (ranked 21 p4p, 63 weight class) and Tagnarach Kamara (ranked 3 p4p, 9 weight class). Kamara is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: BLIND SPOTS. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

McCarthy
vs
Kamara

183 cm
31
175
27 - 9 - 0

180 cm
29
177
28 - 6 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Heavy handed

NARCOS
Shadow Realm Apparel

Conviction
© Trap House

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 27 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Cormac McCarthy!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 28 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Tagnarach Kamara!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Percy O'Donnell and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kamara uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by McCarthy.
A little jabbing left from Kamara on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
McCarthy throws a body punch but Kamara moves out of range.
Kamara throws the left hand but McCarthy avoids the punch easily.
Kamara feints a jab promting McCarthy to slip. Kamara then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. McCarthy slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
McCarthy uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kamara.
Kamara feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits McCarthys jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
McCarthy throws a looping overhand right but Kamara ducks down to avoid it.
McCarthy lands with a good body shot.
A swing and a miss from Kamara.
McCarthy half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Kamara uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by McCarthy.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Kamara! But no joy.
McCarthy ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kamara moves away.
Kamara looks like he wants to counter punch here.
McCarthy looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kamara looks to score with a jab to the body but McCarthy is just out of range.
McCarthy swings for the body but Kamara moves out of range.
Kamara throws an uppercut from half a mile away. McCarthy sees it coming and avoids it easily.
McCarthy feinted with a counter takedown.
McCarthy ducks under a wild hook from Kamara.
McCarthy half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
A lazy left from Kamara finds it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCarthy misses the shot to the body.
Kamara changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
McCarthy swings and misses with a hook to the body.
It seemed like Kamara was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
A looping hook to the body misses from McCarthy. Kamara does a little dance to reset his feet.
Tagnarach Kamara is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kamara jabbing away but nothing is landing.
McCarthy drops down looking for a counter takedown but Kamara sprawls and moves away.
A looping hook to the body misses from McCarthy. Kamara does a little dance to reset his feet.
McCarthy avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
McCarthy fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Kamara dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
McCarthy fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kamara manages to avoid it.
McCarthy dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Kamara uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by McCarthy.
McCarthy swinging wildly here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McCarthy displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Kamara throws out the jab.
McCarthy throws a series of punches but Kamara avoids them all with ease.

Kamara clinches up against the cage.

McCarthy breaks from the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A right-left combo lands from McCarthy.

It looks like Tagnarach Kamara has been cut.

Kamara closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
McCarthy leaning his opponent against the cage.

McCarthy escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kamara tries to clinch there but McCarthy circles away.
McCarthy looks to score with a jab to the body but Kamara is just out of range.
McCarthy looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Kamara is fending him off so far but McCarthy persists. Nope, Kamara circles away and we're back to standing.
Kamara throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent McCarthy stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Kamara lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
McCarthy uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Kamara.
McCarthy swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kamara misses the shot to the body.
McCarthy rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kamara moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Decent striking displayed by McCarthy there.
McCarthy scores with a shot to the body.
Kamara stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
McCarthy throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Kamara.
McCarthy misses the shot to the body.
Kamara displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as McCarthy throws out the jab.
McCarthy moves away from the strike by Kamara.
Kamara is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by McCarthy.
McCarthy attempts a counter takedown but Kamara avoids it well and moves away.
McCarthy walks into a left hand.
A telegraphed right hand from Kamara misses the target.
McCarthy shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Kamara pinned against the cage. Kamara gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Kamara does it's job there.
McCarthy misses with a two punch combination.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
McCarthy tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kamara was well out of range. Poor timing from McCarthy.
McCarthy takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Kamara 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.
Kamara scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. McCarthy doesn't seem bothered though.
Jab, jab by Kamara - just one landing.
McCarthy is looking to wear down Kamara with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.

Kamara clinches with his opponent.
McCarthy is trying to push Kamara away but Kamara has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Kamara tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
McCarthy blocks a punch to the side of the head.
McCarthy pressing his opponent against the cage.
Kamara misses with a body punch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tagnarach Kamara dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Tagnarach Kamara's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Nice defenses there by Kamara.
Kamara pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
McCarthy drops down looking for a counter takedown but Kamara sprawls and moves away.
McCarthy takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
McCarthy lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

McCarthy feints and as Kamara raises his hands in defense, McCarthy changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Kamara keeping full guard, as McCarthy tries to pass.
McCarthy lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Kamara tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Kamara utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
McCarthy postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
McCarthy looking to sit in guard and control but Kamara gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

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!
Kamara is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kamara tries to free his leg and advance position but McCarthy is retaining full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kamara trying to control but McCarthy is working from the bottom.
Kamara 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.
McCarthy is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Kamara preventing the sweep.
McCarthy looking to control.
Kamara tries to free his leg and advance position but McCarthy is retaining full guard.

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.
McCarthy is trying to control the position but Kamara postures up.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
McCarthy throws a jab when Kamara was well out of range.
Kamara throws out a counter right but McCarthy avoids it with no problem.
Kamara drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Kamara lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Nice jab there from Kamara.
Kamara avoids the body shot from McCarthy.
McCarthy moves away from the strike by Kamara.
McCarthy lands a nice shot that snaps Kamara's head back.
McCarthy lands with a shot to the body.
McCarthy misses with a jab to the body
and Kamara makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
McCarthy throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kamara fails in his attempt to clinch.
Nice defenses there by McCarthy.
Kamara pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
McCarthy misses with a body shot.
Kamara stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

Kamara rushes McCarthy and presses him up against the cage.
McCarthy is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Kamara throws a blind hook that connects with the side of McCarthys head.
Kamara putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has McCarthy in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Kamara has a couple of punches blocked by McCarthy.
McCarthy blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
A head punch blocked on the inside by McCarthy.
A head punch on the inside from Kamara fails to land.
McCarthy blocks an uppercut.
Kamara misses with a punch on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

McCarthy's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kamara throws the left hand but McCarthy avoids the punch easily.
A slow jab from Kamara misses its intended target.
McCarthy lands a jab to Kamara's midsection.
McCarthy scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Kamara doesn't seem bothered though.
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!
McCarthy looks to score with a jab to the body but Kamara is just out of range.
McCarthy shoots in but no luck this time.
A nice side step and Kamara releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Kamara dodges the punch combination from McCarthy.
McCarthy moves away from the strike by Kamara.
McCarthy keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
McCarthy moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Kamara tries to clinch but McCarthy moves out of range.
Kamara throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck McCarthy on the side of the head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Cormac McCarthy will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Tagnarach Kamara'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.

Kamara is looking to clinch.
McCarthy feinted with a counter takedown.
McCarthy throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Left hook, right uppercut from Kamara.
Tagnarach Kamara seems to be getting the better of the standup.
McCarthy misses with a body shot.
Kamara looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Kamara misses with a lunging right hand

and McCarthy counters with a shoot takedown. Kamara fights it but they end up in guard.
McCarthy with a nice head shot there.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as McCarthy accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
McCarthy has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
McCarthy is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Kamara can do anything to dispel that myth.
Kamara is trying to control the position from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McCarthy 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.
McCarthy won't allow Kamara to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kamara is trying to keep McCarthy in close.
McCarthy distracts Kamara with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
McCarthy missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Kamara wants to sweep here but McCarthy controlling him for the moment.
McCarthy trying to control but Kamara is working from the bottom.
McCarthy lands a couple of digs.
Kamara trying to keep a closed guard but McCarthy is proving a slippery customer.

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.
McCarthy is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
McCarthy with a flurry of punches that miss.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
McCarthy with a flurry of punches that miss.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
McCarthy misses with a hook to the body
and Kamara counters with a straight right hand.
Kamara fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
McCarthy tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kamara was well out of range. Poor timing from McCarthy.
Kamara swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Kamara lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Cormac McCarthy seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McCarthy fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kamara manages to avoid it.
McCarthy throws a sloppy body shot
and Kamara counters with a nice uppercut.
Kamara just misses with a punch to the body.
Kamara thows a left - swing and a miss!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCarthy with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Kamara displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from McCarthy.
Nice body punch from McCarthy.
Kamara tries to close the distance and clinch but McCarthy swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kamara comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
A slow jab from McCarthy misses its intended target.
McCarthy misses with a body shot.
McCarthy tries to bum rush Kamara with a series of wild strikes but Kamara uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Kamara now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Sloppy strikes from McCarthy. Those never looked like landing.
Kamara just misses with a punch to the body.
Kamara takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCarthy avoids the body shot from Kamara.
McCarthy takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Kamara is looking to clinch.
Kamara throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kamara throws a body shot but no joy.
McCarthy appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
McCarthy throws a body shot but no joy.
McCarthy avoids a kick to the body.
McCarthy appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kamara pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
McCarthy wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
McCarthy swinging wildly here.
McCarthy just misses with a punch to the body.
McCarthy paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
McCarthy swings and misses with a hook to the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Cormac McCarthy clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Tagnarach Kamara's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

A punch combination from Kamara misses.
McCarthy misses with a wild combination.
McCarthy uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Kamara gets off balance looking for a body kick

and McCarthy decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Kamara's guard.
McCarthy passes easily into side control. Nice work.
McCarthy just content to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kamara avoids any damage from the ground and pound of McCarthy.
McCarthy throws a strike aimed at the side of Kamara's head but Kamara avoids it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kamara is looking to reverse the position.
McCarthy in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
McCarthy in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
McCarthy connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Kamara some visible discomfort.
McCarthy trying to control the position but Kamara is working away.
McCarthy scores with punches from side control.
McCarthy slows the pace down.
McCarthy tries to advance to mount but can't.
Kamara trying to remain calm as McCarthy controls from the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kamara regains half guard, as McCarthy was trying to land strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McCarthy is looking to take a break and control but Kamara is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The fighters are battling for position here. Kamara manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
McCarthy postures up and lands a big shot to Kamara's brow.
McCarthy works over Kamara with some ground and pound from guard.
McCarthy throwing strikes but missing.
McCarthy forces his way into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCarthy working over Kamara with some ground and pound. Kamara looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Cormac McCarthy overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kamara is staying active underneath McCarthy, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
McCarthy with the ground and pound but Kamara uses the opportunity to regain guard.
McCarthy makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
McCarthy in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Kamara is trying to control the position from the bottom.
McCarthy throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's four 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.
McCarthy scoring with some ground and pound.
Kamara trying to control the position.
McCarthy trying to control the position from guard on top but Kamara is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
McCarthy looking to pass the guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
McCarthy tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kamara was well out of range. Poor timing from McCarthy.
McCarthy connects with a single shot there.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kamara connects with a nice looking jab.
A jab from Kamara misses.
McCarthy moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
McCarthy closes the distance and lands a one-two.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Cormac McCarthy had his way with Tagnarach Kamara in that round.
The cut man is working on Tagnarach Kamara's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Kamara looks to score with a jab to the body but McCarthy is just out of range.
Tagnarach Kamara has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cormac McCarthy is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Kamara avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Kamara looks to throw a body kick

so McCarthy counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
McCarthy engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Kamara trying to keep a closed guard but McCarthy is proving a slippery customer.
McCarthy tries to free his leg and advance position but Kamara is retaining full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Kamara holds on and takes a little breather.
McCarthy is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCarthy has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
McCarthy's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

McCarthy shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Kamara's guard.
Kamara is trying to keep McCarthy in close.
McCarthy controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McCarthy stopping the sweep attempt from Kamara.
Kamara is still trying to improve position.
Kamara is trying to keep McCarthy in close.
McCarthy sitting in guard, not really doing much.
McCarthy preventing the sweep.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

McCarthy closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Kamara did well to prevent McCarthy getting side control.
McCarthy takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
This is a sustained period of stalling by McCarthy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cormac 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 49:45
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 48:47
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 48:47

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cormac McCarthy!
Cormac McCarthy retains his welterweight title!
Cormac McCarthy tried to hype himself up post fight but didn't word it too well and it ended up with him sounding like a bit of a tool.