PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Willie Diggs (ranked 3 p4p, 36 weight class) and Cormac McCarthy (ranked 1 p4p, 4 weight class). Diggs comes to the cage accompanied by CHOSEN 1. This should be a great matchup!

Diggs
vs
McCarthy

184 cm
28
187
28 - 4 - 0

183 cm
29
175
22 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

NARCOS
Black Lab Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 28 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Willie Diggs!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Cormac McCarthy!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McCarthy cracks Diggs with a good jab.
McCarthy uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Diggs.
McCarthy misses with a double jab
and Diggs counters with a right hand to the body.
Diggs misses the jab.
Diggs uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by McCarthy.
Diggs is looking to counter with a body kick.
Diggs misses with a jab to the body
and McCarthy counters with a left to the body.
McCarthy walks into a jab.
McCarthy misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Diggs misses with an uppercut.
McCarthy looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice cross by Diggs.
Jab, jab by Diggs - just one landing.
Diggs loads up on a big right hand but McCarthy slips the punch.
Diggs throws a hook but McCarthy avoids it easily.
Diggs looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCarthy misses the body punch
and Diggs counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps McCarthy thinking.
Diggs has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from McCarthy finds it's way round the side to connect with Diggs's head.
Diggs works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
McCarthy throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Diggs.
Diggs swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
And McCarthy tries to counter it with a takedown but Diggs pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Diggs lands with a cross.
McCarthy moves out of range as Diggs throws a body kick.
And McCarthy tries to counter it with a takedown but Diggs pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Diggs lands with a straight right. McCarthy didn't see that one coming.
Diggs throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
McCarthy defending well as Diggs loads up on a big left hand.
McCarthy throws a jab when Diggs was well out of range.
Diggs lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A punch combination from McCarthy misses.
Diggs scores with a jab to the body.
Diggs scores with a push kick.
Diggs throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
McCarthy swings for the body but Diggs moves out of range.
McCarthy tries to bum rush Diggs with a series of wild strikes but Diggs uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Diggs works the jab nicely.
Diggs is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Diggs throws out a loose jab but McCarthy uses good head movement to avoid it.
McCarthy swings for the body but Diggs moves out of range.
Diggs was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Diggs throws a lazy right hand but McCarthy sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
And McCarthy tries to counter it with a takedown but Diggs pushes his down on his head and steps out.
McCarthy takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCarthy shoots in for a takedown but Diggs shows good takedown defense.
Diggs avoids the body shot from McCarthy.
Diggs is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Willie Diggs is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
McCarthy stuns Diggs with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Diggs drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Nice body punch from Diggs.
Diggs gets cracked with a nice right hand there by McCarthy.
McCarthy fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Diggs manages to avoid it.
Diggs was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
McCarthy just misses with a punch to the body.
McCarthy takes a body punch but keeps moving.
McCarthy misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
McCarthy misses with a lunging right hand
and Diggs counters with a body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A decent looking cross lands there for Diggs.
Diggs throws a body punch but McCarthy moves out of range.
McCarthy shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Diggs ducks right into an uppercut from McCarthy.
McCarthy with a poor takedown
enabling Diggs to counter with a crisp jab.
Willie Diggs has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cormac McCarthy.
Diggs throws a lazy right hand but McCarthy sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
McCarthy displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Diggs throws out the jab.
Willie Diggs seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McCarthy has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Diggs finds it's way round the side to connect with McCarthy's head.
Diggs throws a hook to the side of McCarthy's head but McCarthy sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Diggs keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Diggs scores with a shot to the body.
Diggs lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Willie Diggs dominated that round.
That's time! Diggs's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Diggs throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Both these guys seem content to just stand up and trade with each other but McCarthy might want to think about changing up his gameplan a bit because over the course of the fight, Diggs has got the better of the exchanges.
Diggs dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
McCarthy works Diggs's body with a nice hook.
Diggs throws an uppercut from half a mile away. McCarthy sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Diggs staying out of range there.
McCarthy staying out of range there.
Diggs pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
McCarthy is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Diggs rather than just go for the knockout.
McCarthy avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McCarthy gets cracked there but stands up to it.
A slow jab from Diggs misses its intended target.
Diggs cracks McCarthy with an open hand slap.
Diggs is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that McCarthy can do to turn this around?
Diggs misses with a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCarthy ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Diggs moves away.
McCarthy misses with a wild body shot.
McCarthy throws a sloppy body shot
and Diggs counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Diggs throws out a loose jab but McCarthy uses good head movement to avoid it.
McCarthy swings away with a body shot that misses
and Diggs counters with a solid body kick.
McCarthy takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
A shot to the body from McCarthy misses
and Diggs counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
McCarthy uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Diggs.
McCarthy with the counter takedown but Diggs avoids it easily.
Diggs moves into range and connects with a jab.
Willie Diggs is winning the standup battle so far.
Diggs scores with a body shot.
McCarthy throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McCarthy throws a lazy right hand but Diggs sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Diggs throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Diggs misses with a hook.
McCarthy is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
McCarthy tries for a takedown but Diggs circles away easily
and Diggs counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Diggs misses with a wild body shot.
Diggs misses with a lunging right hand
and McCarthy counters with a lovely straight right hand!
McCarthy takes a swing at Diggs's ribcage but misses.
McCarthy has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
McCarthy steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Diggs.
Diggs misses with a lunging right hand

and McCarthy counters with a nice double leg into guard.
McCarthy sitting in guard here, content to control.
Diggs preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Diggs on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Diggs tries to get out of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCarthy trying to control the position from guard on top but Diggs is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
McCarthy throws a big right hand that misses.
McCarthy throwing strikes from guard but Diggs blocks nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
McCarthy pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Diggs is keeping the position for now.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
McCarthy throws a big elbow that misses.

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 looking to pass the guard.
McCarthy trying to control but Diggs is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Diggs throws a body shot but no joy.
McCarthy shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Diggs but Diggs pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Diggs misses the shot to the body.
McCarthy let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
A swing and a miss from Diggs.
McCarthy appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
McCarthy bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
McCarthy ducks under a wild hook from Diggs.
Diggs throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Willie Diggs dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Diggs tries to bum rush McCarthy with a series of wild strikes but McCarthy uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
McCarthy with the counter takedown but Diggs avoids it easily.
McCarthy misses with a body shot
and Diggs connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Diggs looks to score with a jab to the body but McCarthy is just out of range.
Diggs has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from McCarthy finds it's way round the side to connect with Diggs's head.
McCarthy shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Diggs as he avoids it easily.
Diggs takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
A slow jab from Diggs misses its intended target.
McCarthy let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
A shot to the body from McCarthy misses
and Diggs counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McCarthy swinging wildly here.
Diggs bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Diggs jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
McCarthy looks to land a combination but Diggs avoids it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCarthy throws a big shot that misses.
McCarthy misses with a hook
letting Diggs counter with a right hand.
Diggs throws a half hearted mid kick.
McCarthy throws a body shot but no joy.
McCarthy misses with a wild combination.
A slow jab from Diggs misses its intended target.
McCarthy misses with a body shot
letting Diggs counter with a right hand.
Diggs misses with the body kick

so McCarthy counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
McCarthy wants to pass the guard but Diggs is keeping the position.
McCarthy wants to control from the top but Diggs keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McCarthy controls from within his opponent's guard.
McCarthy throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Diggs works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Diggs avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Diggs avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Diggs keeping moving, preventing McCarthy from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCarthy misses with a left hand
and Diggs counters with a left to the body.
McCarthy misses with a wild body shot.
Diggs appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
McCarthy fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Diggs throws out a loose jab but McCarthy uses good head movement to avoid it.
McCarthy throws a lazy right hand but Diggs sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
McCarthy throws a body punch but Diggs moves out of range.
Nice jab there from Diggs.
A combination from Diggs does no damage.
McCarthy misses with a double jab.
Diggs misses the shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCarthy cracks a nice hook into Diggs's ribs.
Diggs throws a looping overhand right but McCarthy ducks down to avoid it.
McCarthy with the counter takedown but Diggs avoids it easily.
McCarthy misses with a looping left.
Diggs lands the left hand.
Diggs lands a head shot.
McCarthy tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Diggs was well out of range. Poor timing from McCarthy.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Diggs throws an overhand right that lands on McCarthy's shoulder, as McCarthy tries to avoid the shot.
McCarthy throws a predictable looking body shot
and Diggs counters with a straight right hand.
McCarthy throws a poor cross that misses
and Diggs counters with a nice uppercut.
Nice uppercut there from Diggs.
McCarthy ducks under a wild hook from Diggs.
A nice side step and McCarthy releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Willie Diggs clearly takes that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Diggs scores with a kick to the midsection.
McCarthy avoids the body shot from Diggs.
And McCarthy tries to counter it with a takedown but Diggs pushes his down on his head and steps out.
McCarthy has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
McCarthy throws a body shot but no joy.
Diggs throws a body punch but McCarthy moves out of range.
McCarthy falls off balance throwing a combination
and Diggs counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Diggs scores with a jab to the jaw.
Diggs 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.
McCarthy keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
McCarthy now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Diggs is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by McCarthy.
McCarthy with the counter takedown but Diggs avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diggs lands with a hook. McCarthy tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
McCarthy falls off balance throwing a combination
letting Diggs counter with a right hand.
McCarthy looks to score with a jab to the body but Diggs is just out of range.
Diggs swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
McCarthy throws a right and a left that Diggs avoids nicely.
A quick step to the side and Diggs tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
McCarthy darts in looking for a takedown but Diggs gets double underhooks and turns McCarthy into the cage.
Diggs defending well as McCarthy loads up on a big left hand.
A looping hook to the body misses from McCarthy. Diggs does a little dance to reset his feet.
It looked like Diggs wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
McCarthy misses with a double jab.
Diggs misses with a body kick.
McCarthy misses with the combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diggs throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Some wild striking there from McCarthy.
McCarthy moves out of range of the body kick.
McCarthy scores with a jab to the head.
Diggs throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Diggs thows a left - swing and a miss!
McCarthy swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Diggs throws a poor cross that misses
and McCarthy counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
McCarthy shoots for a double leg takedown but Diggs sprawls well. He's pushed McCarthy's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
And Diggs counters with a quick kick to the body but McCarthy blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCarthy walks into a straight right hand from Diggs.
Diggs scores with a punch to the head.
Diggs cracks a nice hook into McCarthy's ribs.
Diggs throws a half hearted mid kick.
Diggs misses with the body kick

and McCarthy counters with a single leg into guard. Diggs didn't expect that.
McCarthy throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
McCarthy missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
McCarthy throwing strikes but missing.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Diggs keeping moving, preventing McCarthy from controlling successfully.
McCarthy pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Diggs is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCarthy has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
McCarthy trying to control the position from guard on top but Diggs is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
McCarthy misses with a looping left.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Diggs bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of McCarthy's head.
The fighters circle momentarily. McCarthy darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Willie Diggs will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Diggs throws the left hand but McCarthy avoids the punch easily.
Cormac McCarthy has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Diggs swings widly with a right hand
and McCarthy counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Diggs thinking.
McCarthy fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Diggs looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
McCarthy has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Diggs.
Diggs misses with an uppercut.
Diggs loads up on a big right hand but McCarthy slips the punch.
McCarthy moves away from the strike by Diggs.
Diggs looks to score with a jab to the body but McCarthy is just out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McCarthy misses with a wild body shot.
Diggs swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
McCarthy walks into a left hand.
McCarthy shoots and misses
and Diggs counters with a body kick.
McCarthy lands the left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diggs scores with a jab to the body.
McCarthy throws a jab but it's blocked by Diggs.
McCarthy takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Diggs fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches McCarthy on the side of the head.
Diggs scores with a jab to the head.
Diggs misses with a shot to the body
and McCarthy connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
McCarthy throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
McCarthy moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
McCarthy scores with a jab to the jaw.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
McCarthy fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McCarthy misses with a lunging right hand
and McCarthy takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
McCarthy looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Diggs is fending him off so far but McCarthy persists. Nope, Diggs circles away and we're back to standing.
McCarthy is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
McCarthy bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
McCarthy swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
McCarthy misses the shot to the body.
McCarthy shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Diggs sprawls well. Diggs wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. McCarthy gets slowly back to his feet.
Willie Diggs has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cormac McCarthy.
Sloppy strikes from McCarthy. Those never looked like landing.
Diggs takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Diggs lands a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCarthy takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Nice body punch from McCarthy.
McCarthy swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Diggs misses with a right hand
and McCarthy counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Diggs thinking.
Diggs scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Diggs throws the left hand but McCarthy avoids the punch easily.
McCarthy takes a body punch but keeps moving.
McCarthy goes for a double leg but Diggs avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Diggs continues to drive forward.
Diggs is looking to counter punch.
Diggs connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diggs looks to land a right hand but McCarthy moved out of range.
McCarthy with the counter takedown but Diggs avoids it easily.
Diggs throws a good cross that connects.
McCarthy on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
McCarthy scores with a body shot.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
McCarthy throws a right hand that misses
and Diggs counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
McCarthy avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A big right from Diggs misses.
A slapping body kick lands there for Diggs.
McCarthy throws a sloppy body shot
and Diggs counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Diggs.

And that's the end of the fight!
Willie Diggs showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Diggs, 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 50:45
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 50:45
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 50:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Willie Diggs!
Willie Diggs retains his middleweight title!
Willie Diggs decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.
Cormac McCarthy spoke after the fight, saying '“There is no God and we are his prophets.” ― Cormac McCarthy, The Road'.