PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jose Carvaleho (ranked 1784 p4p, 1880 weight class) and James Smith (ranked 242 p4p, 252 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Carvaleho
vs
Smith

183 cm
26
159
16 - 9 - 0

176 cm
36
164
24 - 17 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Brooklyn Apothecary
Brooklyn Threads

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 16 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jose Carvaleho!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, James Smith!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Don Winkell and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Carvaleho walks into a stiff left hand from Smith.
Jab by Carvaleho.
Smith on the wrong end of a nice hook.
A slow jab from Smith misses its intended target.
Smith throws a shot to the body.
Carvaleho swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Smith counters with a nice uppercut.

It looks like Jose Carvaleho has been cut.
Smith feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Carvalehos jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Smith throws a good cross that connects.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Carvaleho.
Carvaleho fails with the takedown.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Carvaleho lands a slapping body shot.
Smith displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Carvaleho.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jose Carvaleho. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smith keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Carvaleho bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carvaleho throws a jab when Smith was well out of range.
Carvaleho scores with a punch to the head.
Smith throws a hook to the side of Carvaleho's head but Carvaleho sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Carvaleho misses with an uppercut.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Smith has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
A jab from Carvaleho misses.
It seemed like Smith was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Carvaleho works the jab nicely.
Smith throws a series of strikes that have Carvaleho backpedaling.
Carvaleho throws a hook but Smith blocks it.
Carvaleho misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Carvaleho swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Smith on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Smith blocks a jab.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Carvaleho.
Carvaleho throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Carvaleho pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Jose Carvaleho seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Smith misses with a wild combination.
Carvaleho throws a body kick that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith slips under a jab from Carvaleho.
It seemed like Smith was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

Carvaleho drives through with a takedown into Smith's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Carvaleho is looking to work some ground and pound but Smith has wrist control.
Carvaleho looking to pass the guard.
Smith is controlling Carvaleho's posture.
Carvaleho not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Smith is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Carvaleho trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Carvaleho postures up.
Smith wants to sweep but no luck.
Smith is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Carvaleho gets full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith wants to control from the top but Carvaleho keeps moving.
Smith content to stall in guard here.
Smith stands up over Carvaleho, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Smith content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Carvaleho looking to hit a scissor sweep but Smith is one step ahead there.
Carvaleho trying to keep a closed guard but Smith is proving a slippery customer.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smith wants to control from the top but Carvaleho keeps moving.

Smith avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Smith chips away with some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Carvaleho working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Smith doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Smith manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Smith scoring with punches to the head and body.

Smith avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Carvaleho is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Smith must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Smith controls from within his opponent's guard.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Carvaleho is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Smith's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Smith content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Smith not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Carvaleho looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Jose Carvaleho will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Jose Carvaleho's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Smith keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Carvaleho throws a shot from downtown. Smith moves away and avoids it.
Smith keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Smith lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Smith.
A looping hook to the body misses from Carvaleho. Smith does a little dance to reset his feet.
Smith lands a head shot.
Carvaleho tries to score a power double leg takedown but Smith sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Carvaleho somewhat.
Smith swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Carvaleho waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Smith.
A jab from Smith misses.
Carvaleho slips a jab and a cross from Smith.
Donk. Smith catches Carvaleho right on the button with a cross.
Carvaleho shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Smith but Smith pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jose Carvaleho. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carvaleho shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Smith sprawls well. Smith wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Carvaleho gets slowly back to his feet.
James Smith is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Carvaleho shoots for a takedown but Smith saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Carvaleho keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Smith.
Smith throws a body shot but no joy.
Carvaleho cracks Smith with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Carvaleho throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Carvaleho clinches.
Smith blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Smith is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Carvaleho working aggressively here.
Carvaleho lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
A short right from Smith on the inside.
Carvaleho lands a right hand that snaps the head of Smith backwards.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Smith.
Carvaleho blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Smith blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Smith trying to control the position but instead, Carvaleho has worked for underhooks and has pushed Smith into the cage.

Carvaleho pulls Smith into guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Carvaleho keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
Smith is working Carvaleho over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Smith avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Carvaleho looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Smith lands a couple of elbows.
Carvaleho throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smith preventing the sweep.
Carvaleho trying to keep a closed guard but Smith is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Carvaleho swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Smith with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Carvaleho is looking for a triangle here but Smith uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Smith lands some shots froms side control.
Carvaleho throwing some weak shots from the bottom that do no damage.
Carvaleho is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Smith's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Carvaleho is not content to let Smith control the position.
Carvaleho is trying to get back to full guard.
Carvaleho tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Carvaleho is not content to let Smith control the position.
Smith scoring with strikes to the body and head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith stalling.
Carvaleho is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Carvaleho is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Smith scores with a couple of nice shots.
Carvaleho on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

Carvaleho looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Carvaleho trying to get back to full guard but Smith takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Smith fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Smith trying to control but Carvaleho is having none of it.
Carvaleho is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Smith working the ground and pound effectively.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

James Smith showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Jose Carvaleho's cut.
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. This is the final round!

Carvaleho looks to score with a jab to the body but Smith is just out of range.
James Smith seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Carvaleho misses with a wild body shot.
Smith throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Carvaleho sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Carvaleho connects with a solid leg kick.
Carvaleho tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Smith was well out of range. Poor timing from Carvaleho.
Jab, jab by Carvaleho - just one landing.
Carvaleho just misses with a punch to the body.
Carvaleho takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Smith misses with a straight right.
A slow jab from Carvaleho misses its intended target.
Smith cracks Carvaleho with a right hand to the side of the head.
Carvaleho with a lazy takedown attempt
and Smith counters with a nice uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Smith throws a right hand that Carvaleho ducks under and follows up with a left that Carvaleho also avoids with ease.
Carvaleho scores with a nice strike.
Smith has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Carvaleho takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Smith scores with a hook to the body. Carvaleho takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith throws a hook but Carvaleho blocks it.
Smith scores with a hook.

Carvaleho is rocked!
Carvaleho darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Oh Carvaleho is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

Carvaleho darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Carvaleho seems to have got his legs back now.
Smith gets full guard.
Smith looking for a sweep. Not yet Smith, not yet.
Smith keeping full guard, as Carvaleho tries to pass.
Smith is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Carvaleho misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Carvaleho throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Carvaleho is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Smith working Carvaleho over with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carvaleho trying to control but Smith postures up.
Smith looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Carvaleho with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Carvaleho trying to hold on to Smith's head to control him but Smith postures up.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Smith connects with a nice short shot to Carvaleho's temple.
Smith winds up and cracks Carvaleho with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Smith prevents Carvaleho from improving his position.
Carvaleho manages to get to full guard.

Carvaleho is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Carvaleho doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Carvaleho throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Carvaleho is on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Carvaleho from controlling successfully.
Smith trying to control the position here.
Smith looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Carvaleho content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Smith wants to sweep here but Carvaleho controlling him for the moment.
Carvaleho tries to free his leg and advance position but Smith is retaining full guard.
Carvaleho trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Carvaleho trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Smith looking to hit a scissor sweep but Carvaleho is one step ahead there.
Smith can't keep his opponent in guard - Carvaleho advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Smith wants to improve his position but Carvaleho is controlling well.
Smith keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Smith looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Smith manages to get to full guard.
Carvaleho passes Smith's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Carvaleho wants to take a breather but Smith is having none of it.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to James Smith.
I think Smith has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Smith!