PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Michael Carter (ranked 1616 p4p, 202 weight class) and Wotan Yashweh (ranked 1596 p4p, 199 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Carter
vs
Yashweh

186 cm
30
188 lbs
14 - 2 - 0

190 cm
24
190 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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 14 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Michael Carter!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Wotan Yashweh!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Cecil Peabody and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yashweh misses with a few strikes there.
Carter attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.

Yashweh bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Yashweh working away.

Yashweh is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Carter has escaped the position, nice work there.
Yashweh working away.

Yashweh is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Carter knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Carter is trying to control Yashweh's posture but Yashweh avoids it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Yashweh is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Carter is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Yashweh is trying to get an arm triangle but Carter is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carter is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Carter sneaks back into half guard.
Carter is controlling Yashweh's position as best he can from this difficult position.

Yashweh is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Carter is looking to control Yashweh's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Carter avoid being mounted?
Carter won't allow Yashweh to pass to mount.

Carter is defending against the submission attempts here by Yashweh.

Yashweh is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Carter is just riding it out for now. Yashweh eventually gives up the hold.

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.

Yashweh wants to work for an arm triangle but Carter is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Carter is trying to get back to full guard.

Yashweh is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Carter doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Yashweh.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Yashweh is working for a kimura but Carter is defending it quite comfortably.
Carter tries to kick Yashweh off but Yashweh keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Yashweh looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Yashweh thows a huge punch but Carter dodges it nicely.
Yashweh looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Carter looks like he's trying to stand up.
Carter is trying to get back to full guard.
Yashweh trying to control the action but Carter is working from the bottom.
Carter is doing well to control the position and prevent Yashweh from advancing to side control.

Yashweh is working for a submission of some sort.
Yashweh with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Carter is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Yashweh throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Yashweh not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Carter makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Carter.
Yashweh tries to free his leg and advance position but Carter is retaining full guard.
Carter tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Yashweh is stalling in the full guard.
Yashweh trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Carter trying to control the position.
Yashweh trying to control the position from guard on top but Carter is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wotan Yashweh dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Carter scores with a decent looking hook.
Carter connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Yashweh checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.

Yashweh changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Carter looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Carter manages to work his way to half guard, despite Yashweh's best efforts.
Yashweh prevents Carter from standing back up.
Wotan Yashweh has got the better of the ground game so far.
Carter trying to control here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Carter has one foot on Yashweh's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Yashweh drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Carter is not content to let Yashweh control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Yashweh tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Yashweh has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Yashweh trying to control the position but Carter is working away.
Carter has one of Yashweh's arms on lockdown, trying to prevent him from doing any damage.
Carter wants to control but Yashweh postures up.
Yashweh controls the position from side control.
Yashweh is looking to take a break and control but Carter is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Carter manages to get back to half guard.

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.

Yashweh is looking for a kimura here.

Yashweh is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Yashweh is working for a kimura but Carter is defending it quite comfortably.
Yashweh thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Carter is trying to control but can't.
Carter is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Carter tries to get to full guard but Yashweh has control of the leg.

Yashweh is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carter is not content to let Yashweh control the position.
Yashweh thows a huge punch but Carter dodges it nicely.
Yashweh trying to control the action but Carter is working from the bottom.
Yashweh prevents Carter from improving his position.
Yashweh slows the pace down in half guard.

Yashweh is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Carter is just riding it out for now. Yashweh eventually gives up the hold.

Yashweh is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Carter sees it coming and defends easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Carter is trying to get back to full guard.

Yashweh is working for a kimura but Carter is defending it quite comfortably.
Carter is looking to control Yashweh's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Carter avoid being mounted?
Yashweh stops Carter from getting back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Carter gets full guard.
Carter is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Yashweh trying to hold on to Carter's head to control him but Carter postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Michael Carter will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Carter throws a nice looking combination but Yashweh bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Yashweh blocks a low kick nicely.
A jab from Carter does it's job there.

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

Yashweh is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Carter has managed to free his arm - good work.

Carter is defending against the submission attempts here by Yashweh.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Carter moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Yashweh wants to control from the top but Carter keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yashweh postures up.
Carter wants to stand up but Yashweh is controlling him.
Carter seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Carter trying to control the position.

Yashweh drops back looking for a leg! Carter is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Carter manages to kick Yashweh off! Yashweh jumps back into Carter's guard.
Yashweh pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Carter is keeping the position for now.
Carter has control of Yashweh's left arm, preventing Yashweh from doing any damage.
Carter looking to hit a scissor sweep but Yashweh is one step ahead there.

That's two 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.
Carter is looking to stand up but Yashweh isn't so interested in that idea.
Carter looking for a sweep. Not yet Carter, not yet.
Yashweh throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Carter works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Carter is trying to control the position but Yashweh postures up.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Carter wants to stand up but Yashweh is controlling him.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Carter looks to land a left hand but Yashweh moved out of range nicely.
Yashweh staying out of range there.
Carter misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Yashweh.
Yashweh tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Carter throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Carter throws a jab but it's blocked by Yashweh.
Carter misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Yashweh.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yashweh shoots for a takedown but Carter saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Yashweh connects with the punch.
Good leg kick by Carter there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Wotan Yashweh is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Carter throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Yashweh.

Yashweh looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Carter is positioning himself well to prevent Yashweh advancing to mount.
Yashweh is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

Yashweh is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Carter is surviving well by controlling Yashweh's body position as best he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Carter tries to hold on but Yashweh postures up.
Carter is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Yashweh is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Yashweh tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

Yashweh jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Carter manages to avoid the submission attempt.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Carter tries to improve position but can't.
Carter parries the strikes from Yashweh easily there. Yashweh is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Carter to escape.
Carter manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Carter is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Carter trying to control the action but Yashweh is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Michael Carter.
I think Carter has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 29:28
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Michael Carter!
After the fight, Michael Carter was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.