PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ryan McCarthy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yair Lopez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

McCarthy
vs
Lopez

185 cm
22
193 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

175 cm
22
185 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ryan McCarthy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Yair Lopez!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McCarthy lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by McCarthy.
Lopez is trying hard to land a takedown here. McCarthy sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
McCarthy misses with a few strikes there.
Lopez changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. McCarthy tries to avoid it but Lopez manages to keep hold of a leg and drag McCarthy to the ground. McCarthy escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Lopez is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Lopez fails to land the takedown.
Ryan McCarthy has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yair Lopez.
McCarthy misses with a jab, cross combination.
McCarthy fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
McCarthy swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
McCarthy misses with a wild combination.
Some wild striking there from McCarthy.
Some wild striking there from McCarthy.
Lopez shoots for a takedown but McCarthy saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
McCarthy misses with a series of wild punches.
Lopez closes the distance and clinches up with McCarthy, looking for a takedown. Lopez pushes McCarthy against the cage but McCarthy circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCarthy connects with a crisp jab.
Lopez takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Lopez looks gassed!
Lopez tries to score a power double leg takedown but McCarthy sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Lopez somewhat.
McCarthy lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Lopez at a distance.
Lopez avoids a punch combination nicely.
Lopez is trying desperately to land a takedown but McCarthy is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Lopez.
McCarthy works the jab nicely.
McCarthy works over Lopez's head and body with a nice combination.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lopez takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
McCarthy looks to land a combination but Lopez avoids it well.

McCarthy gets a clinch.
McCarthy is looking to break free of the clinch but Lopez has double underhooks.
McCarthy has had enough of the clinch but Lopez keeps him there for the moment.
McCarthy wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Lopez has him pressed against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lopez goes for a takedown attempt but McCarthy pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
McCarthy scores with a shot to the body.
McCarthy ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
McCarthy looks to land a combination. Lopez sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
McCarthy bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Lopez's head backwards.
Ryan McCarthy seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

McCarthy closes the distance and clinches.
Lopez is working for takedown but McCarthy is calmly controlling the position for now.
McCarthy has had enough of the clinch but Lopez keeps him there for the moment.
McCarthy is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
McCarthy wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Lopez has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. McCarthy avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Lopez keeps the fight in the clinch, despite McCarthy's efforts to push away.

McCarthy breaks from the clinch.
McCarthy lands a jab-cross combination.
Lopez slips a jab and a cross from McCarthy.
McCarthy is looking to wear down Lopez with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Lopez shoots in for a takedown but McCarthy shows good takedown defense.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from McCarthy. No joy for Lopez on that attempt.
Lopez gets cracked with a nice right hand there by McCarthy.
Lopez dives in and grabs McCarthy's left leg, looking for a takedown. McCarthy pushes down on Lopez's head and hops out.
Some wild striking there from McCarthy.
Lopez shoots for a double leg takedown but McCarthy sprawls well. He's pushed Lopez's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
A right-left combo lands from McCarthy.
McCarthy misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Lopez scores with a nice strike.
McCarthy stuffs the takedown attempt from Lopez. Lopez gets slowly back to his feet.
A cross from McCarthy lands.
McCarthy is working the combinations to good effect here.
Lopez slips a straight right by McCarthy.
McCarthy throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's four 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.

Lopez decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Lopez is trying to control the action in half guard but McCarthy is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McCarthy tries to get to full guard but Lopez has control of the leg.
Lopez sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. McCarthy defending well though.
McCarthy is looking to escape.
Lopez sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. McCarthy defending well though.
Lopez wants to control but McCarthy is keeping him busy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lopez frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
McCarthy is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
McCarthy is desperately trying to improve his position but Lopez has a good base and remains in mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan McCarthy dominated that round.
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.

Lopez shoots in for a takedown but McCarthy shows good takedown defense.
McCarthy rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Lopez moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Jab from McCarthy.
McCarthy stuffs the takedown.
McCarthy throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
McCarthy leaves Lopez with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Ryan McCarthy has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yair Lopez.
McCarthy misses with a few strikes there.
McCarthy fails to land with a series of punches.
Lopez showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from McCarthy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lopez shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
McCarthy throws a series of punches but Lopez moves out of range.
Lopez fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but McCarthy avoids it really well and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lopez shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has McCarthy pinned against the cage. McCarthy gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The fight stays on the outside here - Lopez looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Lopez shoots in looking for a takedown. McCarthy tries to sprawl out of it but Lopez keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. McCarthy manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
McCarthy lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
McCarthy swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Lopez.
McCarthy rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Lopez moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
McCarthy works over Lopez's head and body with a nice combination.
Lopez slips a jab from McCarthy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Lopez.
Some wild striking there from McCarthy.
McCarthy scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Lopez has a takedown stuffed.
McCarthy misses with a body shot.
Ryan McCarthy is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lopez will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
McCarthy cracks a nice hook into Lopez's ribs.
McCarthy is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
McCarthy lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Lopez shoots in but no luck this time.
Lopez closes the distance and clinches up with McCarthy, looking for a takedown. Lopez pushes McCarthy against the cage but McCarthy circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
McCarthy pulls out of a head kick attempt.
McCarthy scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCarthy throws a big shot that misses.
Lopez throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around McCarthy's waist but McCarthy gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Lopez off to one side.
Lopez shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says McCarthy as he avoids it easily.
Lopez throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
A punch combination from McCarthy misses.
McCarthy throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
McCarthy scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Lopez doesn't seem bothered though.
Lopez misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
McCarthy keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
McCarthy misses with a double jab.
Nice takedown defense from McCarthy. No joy for Lopez on that attempt.
McCarthy throws a right and a left that Lopez avoids nicely.

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 slaps away a takedown attempt from Lopez, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Lopez tries to clinch up.
McCarthy stuffs the takedown attempt from Lopez. Lopez gets slowly back to his feet.
McCarthy scores with a shot to the body.
Lopez changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. McCarthy tries to avoid it but Lopez manages to keep hold of a leg and drag McCarthy to the ground. McCarthy escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
McCarthy keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
McCarthy throws a series of punches but Lopez avoids them all with ease.
Ryan McCarthy is winning the standup battle so far.
Lopez shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as McCarthy sprawls well. McCarthy wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Lopez gets slowly back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
McCarthy fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

McCarthy forces Lopez back against the cage and clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan McCarthy dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Lopez shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Lopez thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Lopez won't allow McCarthy to get back to his feet.
Lopez won't allow McCarthy to sweep him here.
McCarthy is working hard here to advance position.
McCarthy on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if McCarthy tries to get out of the position.
McCarthy throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

McCarthy is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Lopez drops down looking for an ankle pick but McCarthy pulls his leg out and moves away.
Nice sprawl there from McCarthy as Lopez shoots in.
McCarthy lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lopez gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Lopez is trying to control the position but McCarthy postures up.
Lopez striking from the bottom here.

Lopez is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. McCarthy is aware though and is defending well.
Lopez striking off his back but it's not causing McCarthy any problems.
McCarthy wants to stand but Lopez is controlling his posture from full guard.
McCarthy controls from within his opponent's guard.
McCarthy has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lopez is looking for a triangle but McCarthy pushes his legs off easily.
Lopez looking to control.
McCarthy is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
McCarthy trying to control the position from guard on top but Lopez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lopez trying to keep a closed guard but McCarthy is proving a slippery customer.
McCarthy showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCarthy stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Lopez swivels though and keeps the full guard.
McCarthy thows a big elbow that misses.
McCarthy wants to stand and escape but instead Lopez has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Lopez wants to control from the top but McCarthy keeps moving.
Lopez slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Ryan McCarthy is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Lopez trying to control the action but McCarthy is working from the bottom.
McCarthy is pushing Lopez's head away, looking to escape. Lopez manages to hold on to the position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
McCarthy tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.

Lopez is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
McCarthy covering up well under a series of strikes from Lopez.
McCarthy has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
Lopez tries to get the hooks in deep but McCarthy pushed the leg off.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yair Lopez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28

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