PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Hector Echavarria (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gene Carano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gene Carano is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Echavarria
vs
Carano

188 cm
23
235 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

195 cm
19
270 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
World class MT
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Hector Echavarria!
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, Gene Carano!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Jorge Garcia and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Carano throws a low kick, looking for Echavarria's leg but Echavarria calmly moves out of range.

Carano gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Echavarria controls from within his opponent's guard.
Carano is trying to keep Echavarria in close.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Echavarria wants to pass the guard but Carano is keeping the position.
Carano not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Carano keeping full guard, as Echavarria tries to pass.
Carano trying to keep a closed guard but Echavarria is proving a slippery customer.

Echavarria drops back looking for a leg! Carano is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Carano manages to kick Echavarria off! Echavarria jumps back into Carano's guard.
Echavarria's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Echavarria scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Carano trying to control but Echavarria postures up.

Echavarria is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Echavarria wants to free his trapped foot but Carano is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Well, if Echavarria is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Carano trying to control here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carano wants to get back to full guard but Echavarria has passed into side control.

Echavarria with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

Echavarria working for a submission but Carano is keeping him at bay.
Echavarria is breathing heavily.
Echavarria tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Echavarria's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Carano tries to hold on but Echavarria postures up.
Echavarria looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Echavarria wants to control the pace but Carano is squirming around nicely.
Carano tries to hold on but Echavarria pushes him away.
Echavarria tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Carano keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Carano tries to hold on but Echavarria pushes him away.

Echavarria is working for a guillotine from mount but Carano frees his head quite easily.
Echavarria moves to take his opponent's back.

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.
Carano is really stuck here.
Echavarria biding his time, controlling Carano.
Carano wants to escape the position.

Echavarria is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Carano has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Echavarria controlling well, preventing Carano from escaping the position.
Carano trying to control the hands but Echavarria won't let him.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hector Echavarria dominated that round.
That's time! Echavarria's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Carano will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Carano moves into range and clinches up with Echavarria.
Echavarria tries to pull guard but Carano holds him up against the cage and eventually Echavarria drops back down to his feet.
Carano is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Carano gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Echavarria.
Carano connects with a nasty looking knee right to Echavarria's face.
Carano comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Carano lands a damaging elbow.
Carano lands with a short shot to the head.
Echavarria fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hector Echavarria. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Carano connects with a knee to the head.
Carano with a knee to the head.
Carano looking to throw knees to the head but Echavarria is blocking nicely.
Carano utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Carano tries to land a knee to the head but Echavarria blocks with his arms.
Echavarria's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Carano avoiding damage as Echavarria throws knees to the body.
Carano makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice right hand lands inside from Carano.
Carano connects with a nasty looking knee right to Echavarria's face.
A nice right hand lands inside from Carano.
Echavarria takes an elbow to the forehead.
Carano scores with a shot to the side of Echavarria's head.
Carano lands a damaging elbow.
Nice elbow from Carano.
Carano misses with a knee to the head.
Carano lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Echavarria takes an elbow to the temple.
Carano lands a knee to the head.
Carano lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Carano lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Echavarria backwards.
Carano unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Carano gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Carano lands an elbow inside.
Carano lands an elbow that stopped Echavarria in his tracks for a moment.
Echavarria takes a knee to the side of the body.
Carano is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Carano lands an elbow inside.
Echavarria throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Carano blocks it with crossed arms.
Carano creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Echavarria's defenses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Echavarria has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Carano is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Carano lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Carano with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Echavarria takes an elbow to the temple.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Carano.
Carano with a knee to the head.
Carano creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Echavarria's defenses.
A knee to the head by Carano.
Carano connects with a knee to the head.
Carano lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Carano lands a hook that snaps the head of Echavarria backwards.
Carano lands an elbow just above Echavarria 's eye.
Echavarria takes an elbow to the forehead.
Carano connects with a nasty looking knee right to Echavarria's face.
Carano lands a left hand that snaps the head of Echavarria backwards.
Echavarria tries to pull guard but Carano holds him up against the cage and eventually Echavarria drops back down to his feet.
Carano with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Carano scores with a knee to the head.
Echavarria tries to pull guard but Carano won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carano cracks Echavarria with a nice body shot.
Carano lands an elbow that stopped Echavarria in his tracks for a moment.
Carano lands an elbow inside that Echavarria shrugs off.
Carano lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Echavarria takes a knee to the side of the body.
Carano lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Echavarria backwards.
Carano with an attempt at a knee that misses.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Carano.
Carano with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
A short right from Carano on the inside.
Carano comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Carano missing with knees to the body.
Carano lands an elbow inside.
Echavarria fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Carano misses with an elbow strike.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Carano lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Echavarria is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Carano lands an elbow just above Echavarria 's eye.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Carano misses with a knee to the head.
Carano lands a knee to the head.
Echavarria jumps guard but Carano stands there with Echavarria around his waist. Echavarria gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Carano putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Echavarria in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Carano using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Echavarria has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Carano cracks Echavarria with a nice body shot.
Carano lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Carano connects with a knee to the head.
Carano lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Carano gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Carano creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Echavarria takes a knee to the side of the body.
A nice right hand lands inside from Carano.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Carano throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Echavarria blocks it with crossed arms.
Carano blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Echavarria tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Carano unloads a knee to the mid-section. Echavarria lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Echavarria fails to pull the fight into his guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gene Carano 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!

Echavarria shoots for a double leg takedown but Carano sprawls well. He's pushed Echavarria's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Echavarria closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Echavarria working away.
Carano is looking for a sweep.
Echavarria trying to control the position but Carano is working away.
Carano struggling a bit here.

Echavarria tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Echavarria has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Echavarria is looking to take a break and control but Carano is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Echavarria on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Carano displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Carano. Echavarria shrugs it off though.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Carano tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Carano is looking to clinch but Echavarria is avoiding it.
Carano tries to clinch but Echavarria moves out of range.
Carano moves in looking to clinch but Echavarria pushes him off.
Carano is looking to clinch.
Echavarria keeps the fight on the outside.
Carano tries to clinch up but Echavarria circles away and keeps his distance.
Echavarria shoots in but no luck this time.
Hector Echavarria is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Carano moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Carano tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Echavarria paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Carano wants to clinch up but Echavarria keeps it at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Carano, as that shot connected.
Carano throws a nice head kick!
Echavarria takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Carano tries to clinch but Echavarria moves out of range.
Carano tries to clinch there but Echavarria circles away.
Carano lands a head kick. Echavarria smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Carano throws a head kick that misses.
Carano fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Echavarria looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Gene Carano seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Carano misses with a head kick.
A chopping leg kick lands by Carano.
Carano fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Echavarria looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Carano tries to close the distance and clinch up but Echavarria swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
A jab lands there for Carano.
Carano tries to clinch but Echavarria moves out of range.
Echavarria takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Echavarria fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hector Echavarria. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Carano lands a high kick!
Carano tries to close the distance and clinch up but Echavarria swats him away and circles back towards the center.
The fight stays on the outside here - Carano looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carano connects with a nice looking jab.

Echavarria feints and as Carano raises his hands in defense, Echavarria changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Carano not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Echavarria trying to control the position from guard on top but Carano is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Echavarria wants to pass the guard but Carano is keeping the position.
Carano controls Echavarria momentarily but Echavarria frees himself.
Echavarria passes Carano's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Echavarria 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.
Carano trying to control but Echavarria postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Echavarria seems to be looking for submissions.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Echavarria stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Carano.
Carano throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Left hook, right uppercut from Carano.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Carano tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Echavarria paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Carano tries to clinch up.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Carano tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Hector Echavarria seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Carano tries to close the distance and clinch up but Echavarria swats him away and circles back towards the center.
The fight stays on the outside here - Carano looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Carano scores with a kick to the midsection.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gene Carano comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Carano 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 David Schapiro scores the fight 27:29
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 27:29
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gene Carano!