PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Adao Carvalho (ranked 4086 p4p, 4064 weight class) and Dario Dukes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Carvalho
vs
Dukes

178 cm
24
155
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
155
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Intelligent

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Adao Carvalho!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Dario Dukes!
The judges for this bout are David Hoff, Daniel Franklin and Dirk Anderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dukes throws a left and a right that both miss
and Carvalho counters with a left to the body.
Carvalho shoots in looking for a takedown but Dukes manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Carvalho's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Carvalho fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Carvalho connects with a good right hand that stumbles Dukes. Dukes circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Carvalho fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Adao Carvalho. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Carvalho misses with a takedown
and Dukes counters with a two punch combo.
Dukes swinging wildly here.
Dukes throws a combination that misses

and Carvalho counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Dukes is looking to break free of the clinch but Carvalho has double underhooks.
Carvalho has Dukes pressed against the cage, preventing Dukes from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Dukes tries to break the clinch but Carvalho is controlling the position.
Dukes is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dukes breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Dukes throws a series of punches but Carvalho avoids them all with ease.
Dukes misses with the combination.
A quick step to the side and Carvalho tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Carvalho misses with a takedown attempt
letting Dukes counter with a right hand.
Dukes will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Carvalho takes the fight into the clinch.

Dukes pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Carvalho dodges the punch combination from Dukes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carvalho shoots in looking for a takedown. Dukes tries to sprawl out of it but Carvalho keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Dukes manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Dukes is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Dukes moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Carvalho misses with a low kick.
Dukes throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Carvalho counters with a one-two to the body.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Dukes throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Carvalho counters with a one-two to the body.
Dukes looks winded!
Dukes misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Carvalho moves into range and clinches up with Dukes.
Dukes wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Carvalho jumps into guard, dragging Dukes to the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dukes being controlled here momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Carvalho working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Dukes doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Dukes manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Carvalho looking for a sweep. Not yet Carvalho, not yet.
Dukes wanted to stand there but Carvalho had control of the position.
Carvalho looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Carvalho seems keen to control Dukes's posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Dukes stands and steps away. Carvalho gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Dukes displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Dukes swings for the body but Carvalho moves out of range.

Carvalho has Dukes up against the cage in a clinch.

Dukes escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A punch combination from Dukes misses.
Carvalho appears to be looking for a big counter.
Dukes rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Carvalho counters with a three punch combo that has Dukes backing up. Dukes nods at Carvalho to acknowledge the strikes.
Carvalho darts in looking for a takedown but Dukes gets double underhooks and turns Carvalho into the cage.
Carvalho tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Dario Dukes will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Carvalho rushes Dukes and presses him up against the cage.
Dukes wants to break free but Carvalho has control.
Carvalho has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Dukes avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Dukes is looking to break free of the clinch but Carvalho has double underhooks.
Carvalho can't get the takedown.

Carvalho breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Carvalho looks for a takedown but Dukes sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Adao Carvalho. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Carvalho fails with the takedown.
Dukes lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Carvalho circles away quickly and effectively.
Carvalho tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Dukes throws a series of punches but Carvalho avoids them all with ease.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carvalho wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Dukes throws a nice looking combination but Carvalho bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Carvalho drops down looking for a counter takedown but Dukes sprawls and moves away.
Carvalho blocks a jab.

Carvalho gets a clinch.

Dukes's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Dukes swinging wildly here.
Carvalho throws a big counter combination but Dukes scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Dukes throws a left and a right that both miss

and Carvalho counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Carvalho.
Dukes is breathing heavily.
Carvalho slowing the pace effectively.
Dukes is pressed up against the cage. Carvalho has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Dukes down to the mat. Dukes avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Dukes swats away the attempt to clinch by Carvalho.

Carvalho moves into range and clinches up with Dukes.
Dukes has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Carvalho jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Dukes walks away with a smile on his face. Carvalho gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Adao Carvalho is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Dukes throws a series of punches but Carvalho avoids them all with ease.
Dukes misses with a double jab.
Carvalho scores with a hook to the body. Dukes takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Dario Dukes is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dukes throws a right and a left that Carvalho avoids nicely.
A head kick misses from Carvalho.

Carvalho has managed to clinch.
Carvalho tries to pull guard but Dukes holds him up against the cage and eventually Carvalho drops back down to his feet.
Dukes prevents the takedown attempt.
Carvalho jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Dukes walks away with a smile on his face. Carvalho gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Dario Dukes seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Dukes takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

Carvalho closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Carvalho tries to pull guard but Dukes won't allow it.

Carvalho manages to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Carvalho blocks a jab.
Carvalho is looking to counter the offense by Dukes and move into the clinch.
Dukes lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Carvalho backs up against the cage.
The crowd cheers as Dukes lands an impressive looking overhand right. Carvalho doesn't seem phased though.
Dukes throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Carvalho counters with a one-two to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Carvalho is looking to clinch.
Carvalho throws a push kick but Dukes slaps the foot to one side.
Dukes tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Carvalho was well out of range. Poor timing from Dukes.
Carvalho moves out of range as Dukes strikes.
Carvalho shoots in but no luck this time.
Dukes slaps away a takedown attempt from Carvalho, before circling back to the center of the mat.
A punch combination from Dukes misses.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Dario Dukes showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Carvalho takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Dukes throws a jab but it's blocked by Carvalho.
Carvalho is looking to clinch.
Carvalho shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Dukes pinned against the cage. Dukes gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Dukes tries to bum rush Carvalho with a series of wild strikes but Carvalho uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Carvalho appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Dukes misses with a double jab
and Carvalho counters with a left and a right that stings Dukes.
Dukes throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Carvalho sees it coming and avoids it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Carvalho lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Carvalho.
Dukes misses with the combination.
Dukes lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Carvalho circles away quickly and effectively.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dukes misses with a wild combination.
Dukes takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Carvalho will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Carvalho scores with a three punch combo!

Carvalho fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Dukes, pushing him back against the cage.
Carvalho has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Dukes avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Adao Carvalho. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dukes prevents the takedown attempt.
A right hand to the body from Carvalho.
Carvalho has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Dukes is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Dukes pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Dukes scores with a three punch combo!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dukes missing with a left hand there. Carvalho was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Dukes throws a series of punches but Carvalho moves out of range.
Carvalho shoots in looking for a takedown but Dukes manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Carvalho's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Some wild striking there from Dukes.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Dukes misses with a few strikes there.
Carvalho fails with a takedown attempt.
The fighters circle momentarily. Dukes darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Dukes throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Dukes misses with an uppercut

and Carvalho holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Dukes prevents a takedown attempt there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dukes's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A combination from Dukes does no damage.
Dukes throws a predictable looking body shot
and Carvalho counters with a straight right hand.
Dukes misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Carvalho gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Carvalho pulls guard successfully.
Carvalho has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Carvalho throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Carvalho tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Carvalho trying to control the position here.
Carvalho manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Dukes manages to get himself to full guard.

Carvalho with a flurry of punches that miss.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Dario Dukes.
I've got Dukes winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 David Hoff scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dario Dukes!