PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Anthony John (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryan McCarthy (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.

John
vs
McCarthy

170 cm
18
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

173 cm
20
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Anthony John!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ryan McCarthy!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Gregory Folan and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

John darts in and clinches McCarthy up against the cage.
John lands a shoulder strike.
John working hard to break the clinch.
John lands a body punch in the clinch.
John avoiding damage as McCarthy throws knees to the body.
McCarthy is trying to break free.
McCarthy is pressed up against the cage. John has hold of a leg and is looking to drag McCarthy down to the mat. McCarthy avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
John shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has McCarthy pinned against the cage. McCarthy gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
McCarthy blocks a head kick by John.
McCarthy fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but John avoids it really well and circles away.
McCarthy shoots for a takedown but John saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
John shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anthony John. That's going to take a lot out of him.
John connects with a high kick.
John tries to move into range but McCarthy moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
McCarthy tries to clinch but John is having none of it.
McCarthy shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts John as he jumps to the side.
McCarthy shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts John as he jumps to the side.
John is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
John leaves McCarthy with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - McCarthy looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
McCarthy looks for a takedown but John sprawls well.
McCarthy looks gassed!
John fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
John throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
McCarthy tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but John swivels and escapes.
John wants to clinch up but McCarthy keeps it at a distance.
John shoots in looking for a takedown but McCarthy manages to keep the fight standing, pushing John's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
John dives in and grabs McCarthy's left leg, looking for a takedown. McCarthy pushes down on John's head and hops out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCarthy swats away the attempt to clinch by John.
John throws a head kick that misses.
McCarthy shoots in for a double leg but John sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
McCarthy displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from John.
McCarthy fails with a takedown attempt.
John looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? McCarthy is fending him off so far but John persists. Nope, McCarthy circles away and we're back to standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
John leaves McCarthy with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
McCarthy throws a low kick but it's checked well by John.
John fails with a takedown attempt.
McCarthy fails in his attempt to clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
McCarthy shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
John shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says McCarthy as he avoids it easily.

McCarthy drives through and clinches with John against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Anthony John will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

John clinches up against the cage.
McCarthy gets through John's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
McCarthy gets underhooks to prevent John's takedown attempt.
John gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from McCarthy.
McCarthy has had enough of the clinch but John keeps him there for the moment.
McCarthy blocks a body shot from John.
McCarthy wants to get back to striking at distance but John won't allow it.

John's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
McCarthy tries to clinch there but John circles away.
John tries to close the distance and clinch but McCarthy swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
John prevents a takedown attempt there.
McCarthy is breathing heavily.
John prevents McCarthy from breaking the clinch.
A right hand to the body from John.
McCarthy is trying to break the clinch but John has him pressed against the cage.
McCarthy blocks a body shot from John.
John drops to a knee looking for a takedown but McCarthy gets the underhooks and prevents it.
John misses with a body punch.

John breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A combination from McCarthy does no damage.
John slaps away a takedown attempt from McCarthy, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Anthony John has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ryan McCarthy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McCarthy throws a body punch but John moves out of range.
McCarthy defends well against a solid takedown attempt from John.
John slaps away a takedown attempt from McCarthy, before circling back to the center of the mat.
McCarthy swats away the attempt to clinch by John.
John wants to clinch.
John tries to clinch but McCarthy is having none of it.
Anthony John is winning the standup battle so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
John misses with an uppercut. McCarthy saw that one coming.
John shoots in but no luck this time.
McCarthy shoots in but John avoids the takedown attempt easily.
John tries to close the distance and clinch but McCarthy swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
John tries to clinch up but McCarthy circles away and keeps his distance.

John moves into range and clinches up with McCarthy.
John is working for takedown but McCarthy is calmly controlling the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

John's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
McCarthy shoots in but no luck this time.
John swinging wildly here.
McCarthy fails with a takedown attempt.
McCarthy tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but John swivels and escapes.

John moves into range and clinches up with McCarthy.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
McCarthy prevents a takedown attempt there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anthony John dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

John closes the distance and clinches.
McCarthy is pressed up against the cage. John has hold of a leg and is looking to drag McCarthy down to the mat. McCarthy avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
McCarthy stuffs the takedown attempt from John. John gets slowly back to his feet.
John wants to clinch but McCarthy slips to the side
and McCarthy counters with a two punch combo.
McCarthy swats away the attempt to clinch by John.
John closes the distance looking to clinch
and McCarthy counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
McCarthy shoots in for a takedown but John shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
McCarthy misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
John moves in looking to clinch but McCarthy pushes him off.
John tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
McCarthy stuns John with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
John tries for a takedown but McCarthy sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anthony John. That's going to take a lot out of him.

McCarthy clinches.
John tries for a takedown but McCarthy manages to get underhooks.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
John misses with a shot to the kidneys.
McCarthy drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
McCarthy managing to block the knees to the body from John.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
John is trying to stall.

McCarthy pulls guard successfully.

McCarthy is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and John defends well.
John trying to control the position from guard on top but McCarthy is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
John postures up in McCarthy's guard and throws a big left but McCarthy blocks it.
McCarthy keeping moving, preventing John from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
John trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
John trying to control but McCarthy is working from the bottom.
McCarthy looking to control but John passes into half guard.
McCarthy manages to get to full guard.
McCarthy is trying to control the position but John postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCarthy working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from John.
John wants to pass the guard but McCarthy is keeping the position.
John wants to control from the top but McCarthy keeps moving.
John is looking to advance position but McCarthy has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
John is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Anthony John.
Well John has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Dillan Fox scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 29:29
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Anthony John!