PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ryan McCarthy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Damien Le Clerc (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Le Clerc has chosen Chicane - Saltwater as his entrance music. 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.

McCarthy
vs
Le Clerc

180 cm
23
185 lbs
2 - 1 - 1

180 cm
23
190 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Enjoys gardening

SPARTAN FIGHTWARE

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 1, fighting out of New York, Ryan McCarthy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Damien Le Clerc!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, David Schapiro and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McCarthy closes the distance and clinches up with Le Clerc, looking for a takedown. McCarthy pushes Le Clerc against the cage but Le Clerc circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Le Clerc throws out a powerful jab.
McCarthy throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Le Clerc's waist but Le Clerc gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing McCarthy off to one side.
McCarthy shoots in for a double leg but Le Clerc sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ryan McCarthy. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Le Clerc moves into the clinch successfully.
McCarthy is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
McCarthy gets underhooks to prevent Le Clerc's takedown attempt.

McCarthy gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Le Clerc regains full guard. Nicely done.
McCarthy trying to control but Le Clerc is working from the bottom.
McCarthy passes Le Clerc's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Le Clerc tries to roll over but McCarthy keeps him under control.
Le Clerc slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Le Clerc looking for a sweep. Not yet Le Clerc, not yet.

Le Clerc is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCarthy throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Le Clerc works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
McCarthy pushes down on Le Clerc's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Le Clerc missing with punches from the bottom.
McCarthy throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
McCarthy tries to pass to full mount but Le Clerc defends it.
Le Clerc is looking for a sweep. McCarthy is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Le Clerc shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
McCarthy wants to control but Le Clerc is keeping busy and won't allow it.
McCarthy is trying to stand.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McCarthy is looking to control Le Clerc's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can McCarthy avoid being mounted?
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
McCarthy is looking to escape.

Le Clerc seems to be looking for submissions.
Le Clerc looks gassed!
Le Clerc slips a nice elbow through McCarthy's hands, connecting with McCarthy's forehead.
McCarthy looks like he's trying to stand up.
Le Clerc working McCarthy over with strikes.
McCarthy missing with punches from the bottom.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Ground and pound from Le Clerc.

Le Clerc is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and McCarthy defends it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Le Clerc drops an elbow to the side of McCarthy's head.
Le Clerc throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Le Clerc is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and McCarthy defends it well.

Le Clerc is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
McCarthy wants to get back to his feet.
Le Clerc has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
McCarthy has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Le Clerc is working away from the top position though.
McCarthy tries to roll over but Le Clerc keeps him under control.
Le Clerc lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Le Clerc prevents McCarthy from improving his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
McCarthy tries for a takedown but Le Clerc circles away easily

and Le Clerc counters with a single leg into guard. McCarthy didn't expect that.
Le Clerc won't allow McCarthy to sweep him here.
Le Clerc slips nicely into half guard.
McCarthy wants to get back to his feet.
Le Clerc slips a nice elbow through McCarthy's hands, connecting with McCarthy's forehead.
Le Clerc working the head and body with strikes.
McCarthy is looking to improve his position.
Le Clerc landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Le Clerc is working for a kimura but McCarthy is defending it quite comfortably.
McCarthy pushes Le Clerc off looking to stand but Le Clerc dives back in and keeps control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

McCarthy throws a leg kick that misses.
McCarthy fails with the takedown

and Le Clerc counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for McCarthy!
McCarthy is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
McCarthy slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

Le Clerc is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so McCarthy is just riding it out for now. Le Clerc eventually gives up the hold.
McCarthy on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Le Clerc looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Le Clerc thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed McCarthy's head.
McCarthy trying to control from the bottom.
Le Clerc throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Le Clerc lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Le Clerc is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

McCarthy kicks off Le Clerc and gets to his feet.
Ryan McCarthy is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
McCarthy fails with the takedown

and Le Clerc counters by clinching up.
Le Clerc has McCarthy pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. McCarthy manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
McCarthy is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Le Clerc pulls him back up using the underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ryan McCarthy. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Le Clerc goes for a takedown attempt but McCarthy pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
McCarthy gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Le Clerc counters with a straight right hand.
McCarthy with a poor takedown

and Le Clerc counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Le Clerc distracts McCarthy with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Le Clerc won't allow McCarthy to sweep him here.

Le Clerc is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Le Clerc scoring with some ground and pound.
Le Clerc works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Damien Le Clerc has got the better of the ground game so far.
McCarthy is looking to escape.
Le Clerc looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Le Clerc looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Le Clerc sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. McCarthy defending well though.
McCarthy is trying to stand.
Le Clerc lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Le Clerc prevents McCarthy from standing back up.
Le Clerc passes to side control.
Le Clerc tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Le Clerc working the ground and pound but McCarthy is defending the strikes.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
McCarthy with a poor takedown

and Le Clerc counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Le Clerc.
Le Clerc won't allow McCarthy to get back to his feet.

Le Clerc drops back looking for a leg! McCarthy is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and McCarthy manages to kick Le Clerc off! Le Clerc jumps back into McCarthy's guard.
McCarthy wants to sweep here but Le Clerc controlling him for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Le Clerc pushing down on McCarthy's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Le Clerc is nestled in close to McCarthy, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
McCarthy works his way to full guard. Good work.
McCarthy is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Le Clerc is controlling him.
Le Clerc is in close to McCarthy's body, working some short punches and elbows.
McCarthy trying to control the position.
McCarthy is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Le Clerc is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
McCarthy wants to sweep but no luck.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
A punch lands to the side of McCarthy 's head but he takes it in his stride.

Le Clerc shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Damien Le Clerc showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Le Clerc scores with a takedown into McCarthy's guard.
McCarthy lands a decent shot there.

McCarthy pushes Le Clerc off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

Le Clerc changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. McCarthy looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
McCarthy is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Le Clerc connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused McCarthy some visible discomfort.
McCarthy struggling a bit here.

Le Clerc tries for a kimura but McCarthy is defending well.
McCarthy pushes Le Clerc away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Le Clerc gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Le Clerc tries to move to mount but McCarthy blocks the move with his legs.
McCarthy is trying to get back to his feet.
Le Clerc has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for McCarthy!
Le Clerc prevents McCarthy from getting the reversal.
Le Clerc landing punches.
Le Clerc scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish McCarthy?
Le Clerc raining down shots from the mount!
Le Clerc landing strikes from the mount.
Le Clerc thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!

Le Clerc looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Ryan McCarthy has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
McCarthy working to try and regain half guard.
Le Clerc breaks from McCarthy's wrist control and lands an elbow.
McCarthy is trying desperately to improve position.
Le Clerc landing strikes from the mount.
McCarthy trying desperately to get to his feet.
Le Clerc lands with some strikes.
Le Clerc scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish McCarthy?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCarthy tries to reverse the position but Le Clerc maintains control.
McCarthy tries to buck Le Clerc off but he can't manage it.
Le Clerc landing strikes from the mount.
Le Clerc postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. McCarthy looks a forlorn figure.

McCarthy somehow manages to escape the mount and get back to his feet!
Le Clerc tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and McCarthy is able to avoid easily.
Damien Le Clerc is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
McCarthy is looking to clinch but Le Clerc is avoiding it.
McCarthy shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Le Clerc counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Le Clerc misses with a jab, cross combination.
McCarthy gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Le Clerc counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Le Clerc 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.
Le Clerc pushing down on McCarthy's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Le Clerc wants to take a breather but McCarthy is having none of it.
McCarthy wants to get back to full guard.
Le Clerc controlling the action here.
McCarthy is refusing to be controlled, as Le Clerc sits in half guard.
McCarthy flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Damien Le Clerc comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Le Clerc has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Anthony Taglia scores the fight 27:30
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 27:30
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Damien Le Clerc!