PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Andy Carroll (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jimmy McLarnin (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.

Carroll
vs
McLarnin

191 cm
33
179 lbs
27 - 15 - 0

182 cm
32
183 lbs
16 - 9 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Sin City Allstars

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 27 - 15 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Andy Carroll!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jimmy McLarnin!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Robert Twigg and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A telegraphed right hand from Carroll misses the target.
Carroll connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Carroll throws a front kick aimed at McLarnin's knee but McLarnin avoids it well.
McLarnin changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Carroll stuffs the takedown attempt from McLarnin. McLarnin gets slowly back to his feet.
McLarnin throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Carroll on the side of the head.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that McLarnin has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Carroll moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Carroll keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McLarnin scores with a head kick. Carroll tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
McLarnin throws a sloppy head kick and Carroll moves out of range easily.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Carroll, as that shot connected.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A clash of legs there as McLarnin blocks the low kick.
McLarnin tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
A nice leg kick lands there from McLarnin.
Andy Carroll is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Carroll connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
An inside leg kick from Carroll misses.
Jab by Carroll.
Carroll lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

McLarnin is rocked!
McLarnin uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Carroll.
McLarnin is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
McLarnin is still on wobbly legs! Can Carroll finish him?
Carroll fails in his attempt to clinch.
McLarnin seems to have recovered his senses.

Carroll bobbing and weaving well here. And he's unloaded with a massive right hand that drops McLarnin! He dives into his guard looking to finish!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Carroll wanted to stand there but McLarnin had control of the position.

McLarnin has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Carroll can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carroll sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Carroll has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of McLarnin is proving hard to escape from.
Carroll won't allow McLarnin to sweep him here.
McLarnin is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Carroll is controlling him.
Carroll is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Carroll stands and throws McLarnin's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McLarnin tries to improve position but can't.

Carroll decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Carroll throws a jab when McLarnin was well out of range.
McLarnin avoids the head kick by Carroll.
McLarnin tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
McLarnin lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Carroll connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Carroll throws a body kick that misses.
McLarnin blocks a jab.
Carroll motions for McLarnin to come forward. Carroll throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McLarnin on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
McLarnin closes the distance and clinches up with Carroll, looking for a takedown. McLarnin pushes Carroll against the cage but Carroll circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Carroll goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Carroll throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
McLarnin was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Andy Carroll seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Carroll cracks a nice hook into McLarnin's ribs.
Carroll just misses with a punch to the body.
A combination from McLarnin does no damage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
McLarnin digs a good body shot into Carroll's ribs.
McLarnin throws a left and a right that both miss
and Carroll counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Carroll throws a half hearted mid kick.
McLarnin is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Carroll fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

McLarnin swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Carroll wants to clinch but McLarnin slips to the side
letting McLarnin counter with a right hand.
Carroll is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Carroll moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Carroll with a hook.
Carroll defending well as McLarnin loads up on a big left hand.

Carroll clinches up with McLarnin and pushes him back against the cage.

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

McLarnin scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
McLarnin stops Carroll from getting back to his feet.
McLarnin wants to control but Carroll is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McLarnin prevents Carroll from improving his position.
Carroll trying to control but McLarnin postures up.
McLarnin is taking a breather. Carroll 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.
McLarnin missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
McLarnin wants to lay and pray for a moment but Carroll keeps working.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
A punch lands to the side of McLarnin 's head but he takes it in his stride.

That's two 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.

Carroll moves into range and throws a big uppercut. OH! McLarnin goes down! Can Carroll finish him!?
McLarnin controls Carroll momentarily but Carroll frees himself.
Carroll has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Carroll controlling from the top position.
Carroll won't allow McLarnin to sweep him here.
McLarnin is still trying to improve position.

McLarnin looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Carroll is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Carroll is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that McLarnin can do to turn this around?
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

McLarnin escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Carroll gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
McLarnin looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Carroll showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Carroll stops McLarnin from standing up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Carroll misses with a straight right.
Carroll listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Carroll slaps away a takedown attempt from McLarnin, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Carroll thows a left - swing and a miss!
The fight stays on the outside here - Carroll looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Carroll pulls out of a head kick attempt.
McLarnin closes this distance looking for a takedown but Carroll circles away.
Carroll misses with a straight left.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Carroll moves into range and clinches up with McLarnin.
McLarnin wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Carroll lands an uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andy Carroll dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Carroll stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Carroll wants it to stay on the feet.
Carroll lands a nice looking body kick.
Nice straight punches there by Carroll. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Carroll.
McLarnin takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Jimmy McLarnin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
McLarnin takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
McLarnin is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Carroll catches McLarnin with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
McLarnin attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Carroll fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Carroll lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
McLarnin shoots in looking for a takedown but Carroll manages to keep the fight standing, pushing McLarnin's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McLarnin shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Carroll defends it nicely.
Andy Carroll has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jimmy McLarnin.
McLarnin takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Donk. Carroll catches McLarnin right on the button with a cross.
Carroll scoring well with a low kick there.
Carroll misses with a left hand
and Carroll takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Carroll fails in his attempt to clinch.
Carroll is looking to score with low kicks.
McLarnin changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Carroll misses with a head kick.
Andy Carroll is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carroll scores with a head kick. McLarnin tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Carroll throws a lazy right hand but McLarnin sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
McLarnin with the counter takedown but Carroll avoids it easily.

Carroll cracks McLarnin with a big right hand and McLarnin goes down!
This has been an exciting period of action!
McLarnin wants to sweep here but Carroll controlling him for the moment.
Carroll passes McLarnin's left leg - he's now in half guard.

McLarnin kicks Carroll off and gets back to his feet.
McLarnin throws a looping overhand right but Carroll ducks down to avoid it.
A jab from Carroll does it's job there.
That kick from Carroll tenderised McLarnin's leg. McLarnin is trying to keep his angry face on.
Jimmy McLarnin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McLarnin misses with a hook.
Carroll misses with a head kick.
McLarnin is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Carroll punishes McLarnin's body with a nice straight punch.
McLarnin looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Carroll closes the distance looking to clinch

and McLarnin counters with a shoot takedown. Carroll fights it but they end up in guard.
McLarnin throws a big elbow that misses.
McLarnin prevents Carroll from getting back to his feet.
McLarnin is standing up over Carroll. Carroll looks to escape but McLarnin dives into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McLarnin happy to just control the position for now.
Carroll is trying to buck McLarnin off.
Carroll is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked McLarnin off and has taken his back!
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!
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.

And that's the end of the fight!
Andy Carroll showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Carroll, 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27
Judge George Francis scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Andy Carroll!
In his post fight interview, Andy Carroll started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.