PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kevin McCartner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tnayrb Zruc (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

McCartner
vs
Zruc

170 cm
19
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
19
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kevin McCartner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tnayrb Zruc!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, Alyssa Summers and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

McCartner takes the fight into the clinch.

McCartner has hold of one of Zruc's legs. Zruc is fighting the takedown attempt but McCartner gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Zruc trying to keep a closed guard but McCartner is proving a slippery customer.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as McCartner accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
McCartner working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
McCartner controlling from the top position.
Zruc wants to stand but McCartner is controlling the position.
Zruc looking for a sweep. Not yet Zruc, not yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
McCartner is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Zruc kicks McCartner off and gets to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

McCartner looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
McCartner is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Zruc is holding on to half guard well.
McCartner takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
McCartner seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Zruc for as long as he can get away with.
McCartner not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Zruc works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zruc doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Zruc has a closed guard, preventing McCartner from standing up.
Zruc trying to keep a closed guard but McCartner is proving a slippery customer.
McCartner is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
McCartner tries to free his leg and advance position but Zruc is retaining full guard.
McCartner postures up in Zruc's guard and throws a big left but Zruc blocks it.
McCartner is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
McCartner throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Zruc works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
McCartner distracts Zruc with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
McCartner throws a strike but Zruc rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

McCartner working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Zruc doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Zruc manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
McCartner is breathing heavily.
McCartner wants to stand but Zruc is controlling the position.
McCartner is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
McCartner wants to sweep but no luck.

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.
McCartner not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

McCartner has his feet on Zruc's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
McCartner could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Zruc scores with a spinning back kick!
Zruc thows a body kick. McCartner tries to catch it but that hurt him.
McCartner tries to clinch up.
Zruc doesn't succeed with the takedown

and McCartner counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
McCartner is looking to stand up but Zruc won't let him.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McCartner slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Zruc has momentary wrist control but McCartner slips an elbow through the middle.
Zruc keeping full guard, as McCartner tries to pass.
Zruc can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as McCartner controls the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

McCartner fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Zruc, pushing him back against the cage.

McCartner has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Zruc uses from the top position.
McCartner looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Zruc advances position into side control!
McCartner is not content to let Zruc control the position.
McCartner is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
McCartner is looking to reverse the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zruc is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. McCartner knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Zruc wants to stand but McCartner is controlling his arm.
McCartner is looking for a sweep.
Zruc tries to stand but McCartner is controlling his head.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

McCartner darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
McCartner is taking a breather. Zruc says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
McCartner knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Zruc on the ground.
Ground and pound from McCartner.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McCartner takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
McCartner trying to pass the guard but Zruc defending well.
Zruc is trying to get back to full guard.
Zruc is breathing heavily.
McCartner wants to pass the guard but Zruc is defending well.
The fighters are battling for position here. Zruc manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Zruc looking to control.
Kevin McCartner overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
McCartner is working Zruc over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
McCartner controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zruc wants to sweep but no luck.
McCartner sitting in guard here, content to control.
McCartner pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Zruc is keeping the position for now.

McCartner stands up from guard. Let's bang!

McCartner feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
McCartner postures up.
McCartner 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.
McCartner trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCartner slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
McCartner has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
McCartner works over Zruc with some ground and pound from guard.
Zruc being controlled here, momentarily.
McCartner trying to control but Zruc is working from the bottom.
McCartner controls from within his opponent's guard.
Zruc trying to keep a closed guard but McCartner is proving a slippery customer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kevin McCartner dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

McCartner closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Zruc to the mat! Zruc manages to get full guard.
McCartner stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Zruc swivels though and keeps the full guard.
McCartner preventing the sweep.
Zruc is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

McCartner stands up and waves to Zruc to follow him.
Zruc blocks a head kick by McCartner.

McCartner has managed to clinch.
McCartner goes for a takedown in the clinch but Zruc prevents it.
Zruc goes for a takedown in the clinch but McCartner prevents it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zruc is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Zruc takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Zruc is looking for a takedown up against the cage. McCartner gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Kevin McCartner has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tnayrb Zruc.
Zruc tries to pull guard but McCartner won't allow it.
Zruc looking to stall.

McCartner escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

McCartner moves into range and clinches up with Zruc.

McCartner breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

McCartner shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Zruc tries to roll over but McCartner keeps him under control.
McCartner content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zruc wants to control but McCartner is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Zruc might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control McCartner kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Zruc tries to get to full guard but McCartner has control of the leg.
McCartner sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Zruc defending well though.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Zruc blocks a low kick nicely.
McCartner wants to clinch up but Zruc keeps it at a distance.
McCartner has a takedown stuffed.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zruc moves in looking to clinch but McCartner pushes him off.
Zruc keeps the fight on the outside.
Zruc tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but McCartner swivels and escapes.
Nice sprawl there from Zruc as McCartner shoots in.
Zruc throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around McCartner's waist but McCartner gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Zruc off to one side.

McCartner closes the distance and clinches.

McCartner decides to pull guard.
McCartner wants to sweep here but Zruc controlling him for the moment.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as McCartner holds on and takes a little breather.
McCartner tries to land a sweep but no joy.

McCartner working for a triangle but Zruc defends it easily.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as McCartner holds on and takes a little breather.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

McCartner is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
McCartner controlling Zruc's posture.
McCartner looking for a sweep. Not yet McCartner, not yet.

McCartner scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Tnayrb Zruc has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

McCartner closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - McCartner lands in his opponent's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kevin McCartner showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for McCartner, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Lou da Vinci scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 30:27
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kevin McCartner!