PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Paul McBride (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brian McCarthy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). McBride comes to the cage accompanied by Kick start my heart. 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.

McBride
vs
McCarthy

179 cm
23
155 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

176 cm
24
155 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Likes musicals

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Paul McBride!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Brian McCarthy!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Dillan Fox and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

McCarthy looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
McBride looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

McCarthy stands up and beckons McBride to join him on the feet.
McCarthy shoots in for a takedown but McBride shows good takedown defense.
McCarthy wants to clinch

and McBride moves into the clinch.

McCarthy breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
McBride is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
McBride tries to clinch but McCarthy moves out of range.

McCarthy moves into the clinch.
McCarthy is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. McBride is defending well for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.

McCarthy jumps guard and drags McBride to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
McBride tries to free his leg and advance position but McCarthy is retaining full guard.
McBride trying to control but McCarthy is working from the bottom.
McCarthy wants to stand up but McBride is controlling him.

McCarthy pushes McBride off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
McCarthy fails with a takedown attempt.
Paul McBride seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McBride tries to clinch

and McCarthy decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in McBride's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McCarthy postures up in McBride's guard and throws a big left but McBride blocks it.

McCarthy gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Horrible takedown by McCarthy or perhaps it was just good defense by McBride which made him look bad.
Paul McBride has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brian McCarthy.
McCarthy shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and McBride counters with a lovely straight right hand!
McBride displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from McCarthy.
McCarthy lands with a slapping head kick.
McCarthy shoots for a takedown but McBride saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

McBride closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCarthy bucks up and tries to throw McBride off but instead McBride has got his back!
McBride is looking to control McCarthy but McCarthy is wriggling around and keeping busy.
McCarthy trying to control the action but McBride just sinks the hooks in.
McCarthy controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
McBride misses with punches from the back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCarthy manages to escape to a better position under a series of strikes. McBride is now in side control.
McCarthy tries to improve position but can't.

McCarthy explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!

McBride closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
McCarthy wants to get back to his feet.
McBride with the ground and pound but McCarthy regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brian McCarthy dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

McCarthy gets a double leg takedown into McBride's guard.

McCarthy gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
McCarthy closes the distance and clinches up with McBride, looking for a takedown. McCarthy pushes McBride against the cage but McBride circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
McCarthy avoids a punch combination nicely.
McCarthy tries to clinch but McBride moves out of range.
McCarthy shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says McBride as he avoids it easily.
McCarthy changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. McBride tries to avoid it but McCarthy manages to keep hold of a leg and drag McBride to the ground. McBride escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Paul McBride has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brian McCarthy.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
McBride misses with a takedown attempt - McCarthy sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCarthy fails with an attempt to clinch.
McBride closes this distance looking for a takedown but McCarthy circles away.
McCarthy tries to close the distance and clinch up but McBride swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Paul McBride is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

McCarthy has taken the fight to the clinch.
McCarthy tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
McCarthy misses with a body punch.
McCarthy drops to a knee looking for a takedown but McBride gets the underhooks and prevents it.
McBride is defending well against a takedown attempt.
McCarthy fails to pull guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

McCarthy wants the takedown. McBride is fighting it off but McCarthy persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in McBride's guard against the cage.
McBride is striking off his back. McCarthy thinks nothing of it though and passes easily into half guard.
McBride is looking to control McCarthy's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can McBride avoid being mounted?

That's three minutes gone in the round.

McCarthy decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
McBride circles away from the clinch attempt.
McBride stuffs the takedown.
McCarthy looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
McCarthy tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but McBride paws at him with a jab and circles away.
McCarthy shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says McBride as he avoids it easily.
A head kick by McBride misses
and McCarthy counters with a low kick, right behind McBride 's knee.
McCarthy misses with a takedown attempt - McBride sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
McBride displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from McCarthy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

McBride fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with McCarthy, pushing him back against the cage.
McBride goes for a takedown in the clinch but McCarthy prevents it.

McCarthy jumps into guard, dragging McBride to the mat.
McBride in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
McCarthy is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst McBride is controlling him.
McBride throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brian McCarthy showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

McBride keeps the fight on the outside.
Brian McCarthy is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

McCarthy darts in and clinches McBride up against the cage.
McBride tries to pull guard but McCarthy forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
McBride is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

McCarthy gets control of McBride's arms and successfully pulls guard. McCarthy will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

McCarthy pushes McBride off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
McBride fails with an attempt to clinch.
McCarthy fails with the takedown.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCarthy tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A solid leg kick lands there for McCarthy.
McCarthy tries to clinch but McBride moves out of range.
McCarthy has a takedown stuffed.
McBride is looking to clinch but McCarthy is avoiding it.
McCarthy shoots in but McBride avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Paul McBride has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brian McCarthy.
McBride is looking to clinch but McCarthy is avoiding it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

McCarthy clinches up against the cage.
McBride jumps guard but McCarthy turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

McCarthy gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
McCarthy trying to mount his opponent but McBride defends it.
McCarthy stalling.
McBride on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if McBride tries to get out of the position.
McBride is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCarthy prevents McBride from standing back up.
It looks like McCarthy is going to stand back up.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Brian McCarthy wasn't active enough on the ground.
McCarthy scores with a three punch combo!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCarthy shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with McBride but McBride pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Horrible takedown by McCarthy or perhaps it was just good defense by McBride which made him look bad.
McCarthy tries to clinch but McBride moves out of range.
McBride circles away from the clinch attempt.
McCarthy swats away the attempt to clinch by McBride.
Paul McBride has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

McCarthy shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. McBride is trying to defend but McCarthy finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

And that's the end of the fight!
Brian McCarthy comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well McCarthy 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 Robert Douchet scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brian McCarthy!