PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Andrew Carter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kapakapa Lukapa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Carter's entrance music is Walkie Talkie - DJ Shadow. A fine choice. The crowd seem to be enjoying Lukapa's choice of entrance music: Butsekek. Andrew Carter has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Carter
vs
Lukapa

188 cm
30
217 lbs
21 - 11 - 0

183 cm
26
215 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Experienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 21 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Andrew Carter!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kapakapa Lukapa!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Carter throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Carter throws a right and a left that Lukapa avoids nicely.
Carter throws a series of punches but Lukapa avoids them all with ease.
Lukapa shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Carter counters with a shoot takedown. Lukapa fights it but they end up in guard.
Lukapa is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carter trying to control the position from guard on top but Lukapa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Lukapa working for a triangle but Carter defends it easily.

Lukapa looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Lukapa is looking for a triangle but Carter pushes his legs off easily.
Carter controls from within his opponent's guard.

Lukapa looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Carter passes into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee asks Carter politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Carter prefers to stall for the moment though.
Lukapa takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Lukapa tries to bench press Carter off him but Carter keeps the position.
Lukapa is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Lukapa seems a little lost for a moment, as Carter dominates the positioning.
Carter trying to control the action but Lukapa is working from the bottom.
Lukapa tries to buck Carter off but Carter is having none of it.
Lukapa is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Carter off and has taken his back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lukapa is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Carter has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Carter is trying to break free.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Lukapa is looking for a choke. Carter gets to his feet with his opponent on his back and slams him to the mat. Carter manages to squirm out of the attempted choke and turns into his opponent's guard.
Lukapa looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Carter's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Lukapa keeping moving, preventing Carter from controlling successfully.

Lukapa working for submissions but it's allowed Carter to get to half guard.
Carter takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lukapa is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Carter pulls his head out easily.

Lukapa is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Carter pulls his head out easily.
Carter is looking to take a break and control but Lukapa is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Carter is looking for a kimura but Lukapa is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Carter to get the leverage.

Lukapa looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Carter pushes past his half guard into mount!
Lukapa tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Carter sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andrew Carter dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Carter goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Carter tries for a takedown but Lukapa circles away easily

and Lukapa counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lukapa has gone for a leg lock! Carter slips out almost immediately though and dives into Lukapa's guard.
Carter is stalling in the full guard.
Carter trying to control the position from guard on top but Lukapa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Lukapa looking for subs off his back but Carter has passed one foot through into half guard.

That's two 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.

Lukapa actively working from the bottom here.
Lukapa is trying to get back to full guard.
Carter is controlling the pace.
Andrew Carter overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Lukapa is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Carter pulls his head out easily.

Lukapa actively working from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lukapa looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Carter moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Lukapa.
Lukapa is breathing heavily.
Carter remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Lukapa tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Carter wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Lukapa sneaks back into half guard.
Carter is taking a breather. Lukapa says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Lukapa tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Carter has advanced to mount. Uh oh.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lukapa tries to reverse the position but Carter maintains control.
Lukapa regains half guard.

Lukapa is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Carter pulls his head out easily.

Lukapa is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Carter pulls his head out easily.
Lukapa is looking to improve his position.
Carter is pressing down on Lukapa's thigh, looking to free his foot. Lukapa is holding on for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Kapakapa Lukapa will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Carter throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A nice leg kick lands there from Carter.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Carter with a lazy takedown attempt

and Lukapa counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lukapa is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Carter defends it well.

Lukapa is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Carter wants to control but Lukapa is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Lukapa is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Carter sees it coming and defends easily.
Carter tries to roll over but Lukapa keeps him under control.
Carter trying to control here.

That's two 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.
Carter makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Carter.

Lukapa postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Carter is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Lukapa, into his guard.

Lukapa has his foot on Carter's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Carter works his way back into a safe position though.
Lukapa takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Lukapa being controlled here, momentarily.

Lukapa looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Carter passes into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lukapa is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Carter's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Lukapa tries to get to full guard but Carter has control of the leg.
Lukapa won't allow Carter to pass to mount.
Lukapa works his way to full guard. Good work.

Lukapa looking for subs off his back but Carter has passed one foot through into half guard.
Carter prevents Lukapa from improving his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Carter sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Lukapa looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Lukapa looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Carter is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Lukapa!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Andrew Carter did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Lukapa with a poor takedown
and Carter counters with a good, hard body kick but Lukapa shrugs it off.
Carter misses with a leg kick.
Carter throws a head kick that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Carter looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Carter looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

Lukapa has an active guard here but Carter has managed to pass into half guard.

Lukapa actively working from the bottom here.
Carter performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lukapa looking for submissions off his back.

Carter moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Lukapa.
Carter staying calm.

Carter wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Lukapa, who protects the arm well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carter wants to control but Lukapa is keeping him busy.
Lukapa is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Carter's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Lukapa looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Carter lands strikes from half guard.
Lukapa is not content to let Carter control the position.

Lukapa looking for submissions off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Carter is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

Lukapa looking for submissions off his back.
Carter prevents Lukapa from improving his position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Carter controlling the pace.

Lukapa looking for submissions off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andrew Carter had his way with Kapakapa Lukapa in that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Carter tries for a takedown but Lukapa circles away easily

and Lukapa counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Carter!
Carter can't escape the position.
Lukapa avoids the attempt from Carter to control.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lukapa goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Carter turns into him and now he's in Lukapa's guard.

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

Lukapa throws his legs up looking for a submission but Carter uses it to pass to side control.
Lukapa is trying to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carter tries to advance to mount but Lukapa denies him.
Carter wants to control but Lukapa is keeping him busy.
Lukapa sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Carter seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Lukapa does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Lukapa is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Carter pulls his head out easily.
Lukapa wants to get back to full guard.

Lukapa looking for subs from the bottom but Carter mounts him!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lukapa is working to get back to half guard.
Carter controlling from the full mount.
Lukapa is looking to get to half guard.
Carter looking to control and managing it successfully.
Lukapa regains half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lukapa looking for submissions off his back.
Carter lands with a punch from half guard.
Lukapa tries to roll over but Carter keeps him under control.
Carter slows the pace down in half guard.
Lukapa tries to get to full guard but Carter has control of the leg.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kapakapa Lukapa comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Carter has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 48:48
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 49:47
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 48:48

The fight is ruled a majority draw!
Andrew Carter retains his title. It's always disappointing when a championship fight ends as a draw but that's what happens when you leave the fight in the judges hands!