PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sam LaFleur (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and VH Carvalho (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.

LaFleur
vs
Carvalho

193 cm
22
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

193 cm
25
217 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

Good takedowns
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Sam LaFleur!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, VH Carvalho!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
LaFleur fails with the takedown.

LaFleur gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Carvalho to score an easy takedown into full guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Carvalho engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
LaFleur keeping moving, preventing Carvalho from controlling successfully.
LaFleur knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Carvalho on the ground.
LaFleur can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Carvalho controls the pace.

Carvalho avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carvalho passes LaFleur's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Carvalho missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Carvalho perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Carvalho postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for LaFleur to stand up.
Carvalho looks to land a body kick but LaFleur moved away.
LaFleur tries to close the distance and clinch up but Carvalho swats him away and circles back towards the center.
LaFleur shoots in and drives through. Carvalho sprawls well.

Carvalho darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Carvalho is sneakily working for an arm triangle but LaFleur sees it coming and defends easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carvalho content to control rather than advance.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
LaFleur wants to improve his position but Carvalho is controlling well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carvalho throwing shots but LaFleur is blocking nicely.
LaFleur wants to improve his position but Carvalho is controlling well.
Carvalho is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

VH Carvalho has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
A low kick from Carvalho is predictable there

and LaFleur counters with a takedown into side control.
LaFleur is looking to take a break and control but Carvalho is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Carvalho regains half guard.
Carvalho controlling the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

LaFleur seems to be working for a kimura but Carvalho defends the submission attempt.
LaFleur is breathing heavily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Carvalho pushes LaFleur off looking to stand but LaFleur dives back in and keeps control.
Carvalho trying to control from the bottom.
Carvalho is looking to improve his position.
LaFleur wants to control but Carvalho is keeping him busy.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Carvalho keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Carvalho keeps control of the position for the meantime.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Carvalho tries to close the distance and clinch up but LaFleur swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Carvalho swats away the attempt to clinch by LaFleur.

Carvalho changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. LaFleur looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Carvalho wants to control but LaFleur is keeping him busy.
LaFleur tries to buck Carvalho off but Carvalho is having none of it.
Carvalho controls the position from side control.
Carvalho trying to control the action but LaFleur is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
LaFleur trying to remain calm as Carvalho controls from the top position.

Carvalho stands up and beckons LaFleur to his feet.
LaFleur misses with a takedown

and Carvalho moves into the clinch.

LaFleur's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
LaFleur wants to clinch.

LaFleur gets a takedown into half guard.
Carvalho is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carvalho is not content to let LaFleur control the position.
Carvalho tries to get to full guard but LaFleur has control of the leg.
Carvalho works his way to full guard. Good work.
LaFleur trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
LaFleur trying to control but Carvalho is working from the bottom.
This has been an exciting period of action!
LaFleur looking to pass the guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Carvalho is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
LaFleur trying to control but Carvalho is working from the bottom.
Carvalho controlling LaFleur's posture.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Sam LaFleur wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Carvalho leaves LaFleur with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Carvalho fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging LaFleur to the ground. Carvalho is now in LaFleur's guard.
LaFleur wants to stand but Carvalho is controlling the position.
Carvalho slips nicely into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Still in half guard, Carvalho seems content to control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
LaFleur is trying to stand back up but Carvalho is controlling him
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

VH Carvalho showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Carvalho drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Carvalho not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Carvalho tries to free his leg and advance position but LaFleur is retaining full guard.

Carvalho stands up and waves to LaFleur to follow him.

Carvalho decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Carvalho is trying to control. LaFleur wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Carvalho stalling.
Carvalho takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
LaFleur wants to improve his position but Carvalho is controlling well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
LaFleur wants to get back to his feet.
Carvalho is keen to just control but LaFleur is a slippery customer.

OK we're going to have a standup here. VH Carvalho hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
LaFleur shoots in for a takedown but Carvalho shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Carvalho closes the distance and pushes LaFleur back into the cage.
LaFleur throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Carvalho pulls LaFleur into guard.
Carvalho tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Carvalho had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. LaFleur defends it easily.
Carvalho keeping full guard, as LaFleur tries to pass.
Carvalho looking to hit a scissor sweep but LaFleur is one step ahead there.
Carvalho is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
LaFleur scoring with punches to the head and body.
LaFleur loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
LaFleur stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Carvalho swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Carvalho looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
LaFleur has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Carvalho is proving hard to escape from.
Carvalho keeping full guard, as LaFleur tries to pass.
LaFleur has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
LaFleur working some strikes from top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Carvalho looking to control.
LaFleur looking to pass the guard.
Carvalho controls LaFleur momentarily but LaFleur frees himself.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Carvalho tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Sam LaFleur has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Carvalho avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
LaFleur working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
LaFleur pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Carvalho is keeping the position for now.
Carvalho seems keen to control LaFleur's posture.

And that's the end of the fight!
VH Carvalho comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Carvalho has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... VH Carvalho!