PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between David McCarthy (ranked 3318 p4p, 384 weight class) and Keller Holmes (ranked 6851 p4p, 0 weight class). McCarthy comes to the cage accompanied by Chamillionaire - Ridin' ft. Krayzie Bone. McCarthy has a slight injury, which hopefully won't affect the fight too much. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

McCarthy
vs
Holmes

180 cm
42
165 lbs
36 - 27 - 0

185 cm
22
171 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 36 - 27 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, David McCarthy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Keller Holmes!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Reed Andrews and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Holmes doesn't manage to clinch there - McCarthy circles away.
McCarthy avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
An attempted straight right counter from McCarthy misses the target.
McCarthy throws a head kick that misses
and Holmes counters with a left and a right that stings McCarthy.
McCarthy is breathing heavily.

McCarthy rushes Holmes and presses him up against the cage.
Holmes tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Holmes throws a knee to the head but misses.
Holmes throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but McCarthy blocks it with crossed arms.
McCarthy avoiding damage as Holmes throws knees to the body.
Holmes prevents McCarthy from breaking the clinch.
McCarthy wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Holmes tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Holmes lands an elbow just above McCarthy 's eye.
McCarthy wants to break the clinch but can't.
McCarthy blocks a body shot from Holmes.
McCarthy is trying to break the clinch but Holmes is controlling him.
Holmes is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. McCarthy is defending well for now.
McCarthy throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Holmess head.
McCarthy is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holmes connects with a nasty looking knee right to McCarthy's face.
McCarthy avoiding damage as Holmes throws knees to the body.
Holmes misses with a punch to the body.
Holmes throws an elbow that misses.
McCarthy is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
McCarthy wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Holmes misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from McCarthy.
Holmes missing with knees to the body.
Holmes missing with knees to the body.
McCarthy on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Holmes throws an elbow that misses.
McCarthy tries for a takedown but Holmes manages to get underhooks.
Holmes using the Thai plumb to throw knees but McCarthy has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Holmes scores a nice knee to the body.
McCarthy takes a knee to the side of the body.
Holmes tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and McCarthy avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Holmes misses with a knee to the head.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Holmes just misses with a elbow thrown towards McCarthy's brow.
Holmes crunches a lovely knee into McCarthy's ribcage.
Holmes misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from McCarthy.
Holmes throws a knee to the head but misses.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
McCarthy managing to block the knees to the body from Holmes.
Holmes crunches a lovely knee into McCarthy's ribcage.
Holmes lands an elbow just above McCarthy 's eye.
McCarthy avoids a wild elbow strike from Holmes.
McCarthy avoids the elbow strike from Holmes, against the cage.
Holmes throws a knee to the head but misses.
Holmes misses with a knee to the head.
McCarthy is trying to break the clinch but Holmes has him pressed against the cage.
McCarthy is trying to break the clinch but Holmes has him pressed against the cage.
McCarthy avoids the elbow strike from Holmes, against the cage.
McCarthy looking for a takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holmes tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

McCarthy manages to break the clinch.
Holmes fails with an attempt to clinch.

Holmes clinches up against the cage.
Holmes misses with an elbow strike.
Holmes throws a knee to the head but misses.
Nice elbow from Holmes.
A frustrated look appears on McCarthy's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Holmes trying to land knees to the body.
McCarthy wants to get back to striking at distance but Holmes won't allow it.
Holmes doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Holmes misses with a knee strike.
Holmes throws an elbow but it misses.
McCarthy drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for David McCarthy. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Holmes misses with an elbow over the top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Holmes misses with a knee strike.
Holmes creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
McCarthy blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
McCarthy has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
McCarthy misses with a hook from the clinch.
McCarthy wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
McCarthy avoids the elbow strike from Holmes, against the cage.
McCarthy on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Holmes tries to land knees in the clinch but McCarthy avoids the damage to the body.
Holmes tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and McCarthy avoids it.
McCarthy is trying to push Holmes away but Holmes has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
McCarthy wants to get back to striking at distance but Holmes won't allow it.
McCarthy is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Holmes misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from McCarthy.
McCarthy wants to break free but Holmes has control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Holmes takes the fight into the clinch.
McCarthy avoiding damage as Holmes throws knees to the body.
Holmes throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but McCarthy blocks it with crossed arms.
McCarthy blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
McCarthy misses with a punch on the inside.
Holmes looking to throw knees to the head but McCarthy is blocking nicely.
McCarthy wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Holmes tried to land a shot to the body but connects with McCarthy's elbow.
McCarthy on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Holmes with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Holmes misses with a hook to the ribs.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Holmes blocking some punches.
A hook to the body from Holmes.
Holmes landing knees to the head.
McCarthy managing to block the knees to the body from Holmes.
McCarthy managing to block the knees to the body from Holmes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holmes struggles to land a body shot inside as McCarthy controls his hands.
McCarthy gets through Holmes's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Holmes using the Thai plumb to throw knees but McCarthy has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
McCarthy tries to break the clinch but Holmes is controlling the position.
Still in the clinch, McCarthy scores with a nice short uppercut.
McCarthy wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Holmes has him pressed against the cage.
Holmes has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
McCarthy wants to get back to striking at distance but Holmes won't allow it.
Holmes tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and McCarthy avoids it.
Holmes tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Holmes utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Holmes throws an elbow but it misses.
McCarthy dodges an elbow strike from Holmes.
A body shot lands from Holmes.
Holmes with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Keller Holmes seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Holmes tried to land a shot to the body but connects with McCarthy's elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Holmes looking to throw knees to the head but McCarthy is blocking nicely.
Holmes tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Holmes just misses with a elbow thrown towards McCarthy's brow.
Holmes lands a knee to the head.
Holmes tries to land a knee to the head but McCarthy blocks with his arms.
Holmes missing with knees to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
McCarthy is trying to force a seperation but Holmes has the dominant position.
Holmes tries to land a knee to the head but McCarthy blocks with his arms.
McCarthy wants to break the clinch but can't.
Holmes misses with a knee to the head.
McCarthy is looking to take this one to the mat.
Holmes tries to land a knee to the head but McCarthy blocks with his arms.
Holmes is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. McCarthy is defending well for now.
Holmes creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Holmes misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from McCarthy.
Holmes trying to land knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Holmes.
McCarthy blocks the elbow strike.
Holmes misses with a hook to the ribs.

McCarthy manages to break the clinch.
Holmes tries to close the distance and clinch up but McCarthy swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Keller Holmes is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Holmes clinches up against the cage.
Holmes tried to land a shot to the body but connects with McCarthy's elbow.
McCarthy dodges an elbow strike from Holmes.
McCarthy can't break the clinch.
McCarthy managing to block the knees to the body from Holmes.
McCarthy wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
McCarthy avoids a wild elbow strike from Holmes.

McCarthy breaks from the clinch.

Holmes clinches up with McCarthy and pushes him back against the cage.
Holmes has McCarthy pressed against the cage, preventing McCarthy from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCarthy prevents a body shot from Holmes.
Holmes lands an elbow just above McCarthy 's eye.
McCarthy lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
McCarthy has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Holmes after a bit of a struggle.
McCarthy blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Holmes has McCarthy pressed against the cage, preventing McCarthy from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Holmes throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Holmes pushes off an throws an elbow but McCarthy leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
McCarthy wants to break the clinch but can't.
Holmes throws a knee to the head but misses.
Holmes misses with a knee strike.
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!
Holmes throws a knee to the head but misses.
Holmes tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Holmes tries a body shot but McCarthy blocks it.
McCarthy is trying to pull guard but Holmes turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for David McCarthy. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Knees to the body from Holmes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Keller Holmes showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

McCarthy avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Holmes tries to clinch but McCarthy is having none of it.
Holmes tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but McCarthy paws at him with a jab and circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Holmes looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
As Holmes looks to move away, McCarthy throws a big counter combo but Holmes just gets out of the way.
Holmes is looking to clinch but McCarthy is avoiding it.
Holmes tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Holmes wants to clinch up but McCarthy keeps it at a distance.

McCarthy drives through and clinches with Holmes against the cage.
McCarthy blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Holmes tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and McCarthy avoids it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Holmes lands a nice elbow.
Holmes misses with a knee to the head.
McCarthy is trying to force a seperation but Holmes has the dominant position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
McCarthy has had enough of the clinch but Holmes keeps him there for the moment.
Holmes tried to land a shot to the body but connects with McCarthy's elbow.
Holmes looks to throw an elbow but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCarthy wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
McCarthy is looking to break free of the clinch but Holmes has double underhooks.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, McCarthy just misses with a elbow thrown towards Holmes's brow.
Holmes tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and McCarthy avoids it.
Holmes misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from McCarthy.
Holmes scores with a knee to the head.
Holmes misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from McCarthy.
McCarthy on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
McCarthy managing to block the knees to the body from Holmes.
Holmes creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Holmes misses with an elbow over the top.
McCarthy is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Holmes misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from McCarthy.
Holmes comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Holmes throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McCarthy takes an elbow to the temple.
Holmes prevents McCarthy from breaking the clinch.
Holmes misses with a knee strike.
Holmes lands a nice elbow.
McCarthy is trying to push Holmes away but Holmes has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

McCarthy's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
David McCarthy has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
McCarthy circles away from the clinch attempt.
Holmes wants to clinch.

Holmes clinches.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Holmes missing with knees to the body.
Holmes throws an elbow but it's blocked.
McCarthy blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCarthy is trying to break free.
McCarthy is trying to break the clinch but Holmes is controlling him.
Holmes scores a nice knee to the body.
McCarthy is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Holmes pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Holmes with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
McCarthy on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Holmes tries to land a knee to the head but McCarthy blocks with his arms.
McCarthy blocks an elbow strike from Holmes.
McCarthy blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Holmes unloads a knee to the mid-section.
McCarthy on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
McCarthy managing to block the knees to the body from Holmes.
McCarthy is looking to break free of the clinch but Holmes has double underhooks.
Holmes pushes off an throws an elbow but McCarthy leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
McCarthy tries to pull guard but Holmes holds him up against the cage and eventually McCarthy drops back down to his feet.
Holmes with an attempt at a knee that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Holmes tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
McCarthy wants to break the clinch but can't.
Holmes pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.

McCarthy escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Keller Holmes is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Holmes darts in and clinches McCarthy up against the cage.
McCarthy managing to block the knees to the body from Holmes.
McCarthy avoiding damage as Holmes throws knees to the body.
McCarthy is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

McCarthy escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
McCarthy fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Holmes wants to clinch.
Keller Holmes is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Holmes moves into the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Keller Holmes comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Holmes 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 Anthony Taglia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Keller Holmes!