PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Todd Bates (ranked 4661 p4p, 4685 weight class) and Sean McCarthy (ranked 0 p4p, 577 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.

Bates
vs
McCarthy

196 cm
25
261
0 - 0 - 0

191 cm
25
241
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Todd Bates!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Sean McCarthy!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bates throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. McCarthy tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Bates is in McCarthy's guard.
Bates passes easily into side control. Nice work.
McCarthy is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Bates wants to lay and pray for a moment but McCarthy keeps working.

Bates tries for a kimura but McCarthy is defending well.
McCarthy is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Bates has just dragged him back down to the mat.
McCarthy can't do much from the bottom here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McCarthy trying his best to control but Bates has mounted him.
Bates scores with a couple of good head shots there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
McCarthy is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
McCarthy is trying to escape the mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.

McCarthy defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Bates.
McCarthy is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
McCarthy taking shots to the head.
Bates prevents McCarthy from getting the reversal.
Bates looking to control but McCarthy is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
McCarthy keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Bates tries to control but McCarthy wriggling away.
BOOM! Bates connects with a massive shot to the dome!
McCarthy is looking to improve his position but Bates isn't that keen on the idea.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McCarthy takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

McCarthy is rocked!
McCarthy wants to control but Bates is having none of it.
McCarthy is still in real trouble! Can Bates finish him?
McCarthy tries to improve his position but instead Bates has taken his back!

Bates looking for the choke but no joy.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
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.
Bates trying to control.
McCarthy seems to have recovered his senses.

Bates looking for the choke from the back.
McCarthy trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bates is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Bates gets a warning from the referee. He throws another strike to the back of the head straight away though and the referee has seen enough. He breaks up the two fighters and stands them back up. Bates gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Bates apologises and we restart here on the feet.

Bates looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for McCarthy!
McCarthy is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Bates off and has taken his back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bates showing good submission defense here.
McCarthy looks winded!
Bates tries to break free.

McCarthy has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Bates has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
McCarthy is riding his opponent, not letting Bates buck him off.
Bates is really stuck here.

Bates is trying escape back to his feet. He turns into his opponent's guard and eventually finds his way back to his feet.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Bates.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bates cracks McCarthy with a big right hand but McCarthy just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Bates trying to control the action but McCarthy is working from the bottom.
Bates is chipping away with strikes.
Bates connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused McCarthy some visible discomfort.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
McCarthy can't do much from the bottom here.
Bates working the ground and pound.
Bates trying to control the action but McCarthy is working from the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Todd Bates 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.

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

Bates has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but McCarthy regains guard immediately.
McCarthy is trying to keep Bates in close.
Bates looking to pass the guard.

McCarthy is looking for a triangle but Bates pushes his legs off easily.
McCarthy lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Bates has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bates pulls McCarthy in close to his closed guard and prevents McCarthy from doing any damage or advancing position.
Bates working a defensive guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCarthy trying to control the position from guard on top but Bates is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bates is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Bates has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but McCarthy can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
McCarthy looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
McCarthy stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Bates swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Bates is trying to control the position but McCarthy postures up.
Bates wants to stand but McCarthy is controlling the position.
McCarthy looking to pass the guard.
Bates is adopting a defensive guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
McCarthy's corner is telling him to maintain position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Bates dives in for a single leg takedown but McCarthy sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Bates has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by McCarthy after a bit of a struggle.
Bates is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that McCarthy can do to turn this around?

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bates is fighting off a takedown attempt but McCarthy is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Bates to the mat. Bates regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.

Bates pushes McCarthy off and gets back to his feet.
Bates misses with a takedown attempt - McCarthy sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Todd Bates. That's going to take a lot out of him.

McCarthy closes the distance and clinches.

McCarthy pulls guard effortlessly.
McCarthy keeping full guard, as Bates tries to pass.
Bates wants to control from the top but McCarthy keeps moving.
Bates is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because McCarthy is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

McCarthy is working for submissions here. He's thrown up his legs looking for a triangle but Bates frees his head nicely. Oh but McCarthy has switched to an armbar! Bates is tapping furiously! Lovely submission there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:20 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Armbar). Sean McCarthy!