PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between George Henderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nate Carter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Carter has chosen Party Rock Anthem as his entrance music. Henderson has a slight injury, which hopefully won't affect the fight too much. George Henderson has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Henderson
vs
Carter

195 cm
22
200 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

175 cm
21
200 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Great low kicks
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, George Henderson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Nate Carter!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Matheus Silva and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Carter shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Carter showed some decent athleticism there.
Henderson wants to control but Carter is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Carter wants to stand but Henderson has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Carter is controlling the pace.

Carter decides to stand and escape the position.

Carter shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Carter in particular looking to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henderson is looking to improve his position.
Carter looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Henderson trying to hold on to Carter's head to control him but Carter postures up.
Henderson is breathing heavily.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Henderson will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Carter shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carter is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Henderson is looking for a sweep. Carter is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Carter is thwarting Henderson's attempts to control the position.
Carter is taking a breather. Henderson 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.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Carter escapes and gets back to his feet.

Carter throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Henderson was covering up waiting for the punch and Carter finishes the takedown easily into guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Carter gets to his feet - Henderson follows without any prompting.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henderson swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Carter counters with a nice double leg into side control. Henderson won't be happy with that.
Henderson tries to buck Carter off but Carter is having none of it.

Carter stands up and beckons Henderson to his feet.
Henderson shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Carter counters with a takedown into side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Carter decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Henderson misses with a takedown attempt

and Carter counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Henderson!
Henderson is looking to get to half guard.
Carter controlling from mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henderson is bucking up trying to escape but Carter cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Carter controlling his opponent.
Henderson sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Henderson is looking to control Carter's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Henderson avoid being mounted?
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Carter content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

Carter is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nate Carter dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Carter pushes Henderson up against the cage in a clinch.
Henderson is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Carter pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Carter lands a knee to the head.

Carter pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Henderson enables Carter to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Henderson manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Carter lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Carter tries to stand but Henderson is controlling from the bottom.
Henderson trying to control the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Carter trying to stand up but can't free himself from Henderson's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henderson is trying to control the position but Carter postures up.
Henderson will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Carter drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Carter jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Henderson is looking to stand up but Carter isn't so interested in that idea.
Carter cracks Henderson with a solid left hand.
Carter seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Henderson has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Carter can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Henderson is working an open guard so Carter takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
George Henderson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Carter checks the leg kick.
Henderson takes a head kick and keeps coming.

Carter fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Henderson to the ground. Carter is now in Henderson's guard.

Henderson 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.
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!
Carter slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Henderson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Carter drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Henderson dives on top into guard.
Carter is pulling down on Henderson's head. It's preventing any offense from Henderson, at least for the moment.
Henderson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Henderson trying to control the position from guard on top but Carter is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

We're going to have a standup here because George Henderson wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Carter instigates a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

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

Carter fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Henderson sprawls well initially but Carter persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Henderson is looking to control Carter's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Henderson avoid being mounted?
Carter should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Henderson regains full guard. Nicely done.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Carter wants to get up but he can't break Henderson's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Henderson manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Carter sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nate Carter showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Henderson gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Henderson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Carter is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Henderson lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Carter!
Carter is squirming around, avoiding Henderson's attempts to control the action.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Henderson throws a sloppy strike and Carter uses the opportunity to reverse the position! A bit of a scramble here and Carter has ended up in Henderson's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carter won't allow Henderson to get back to his feet.
Carter slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Henderson wants to sweep here but Carter controlling him for the moment.
Carter controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Henderson wants to sweep but no luck.
Carter sitting in guard here, content to control.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Nate Carter wasn't active enough on the ground.

Carter feints and as Henderson raises his hands in defense, Carter changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henderson is trying to control the position but Carter postures up.
Carter won't allow Henderson to get back to his feet.
Carter's corner is telling him to maintain position.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Henderson controls Carter momentarily but Carter frees himself.

The ref stands the fighters back up because George Henderson just wasn't active enough.
Henderson has a takedown stuffed.

Carter closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Carter lands in his opponent's guard.
Carter must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Henderson is trying to control the position but Carter postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Carter stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Henderson shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Carter has Henderson up against the cage in a clinch.

Carter pulls guard.
Carter keeping moving, preventing Henderson from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henderson looking to pass the guard.
Carter keeping moving, preventing Henderson from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up. George Henderson wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Carter shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Carter gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
George Henderson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nate Carter is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Carter scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nate Carter comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Carter 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 27:30
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nate Carter!
A determined Nate Carter didn't want to dwell on this fight in his post fight interview. Instead he was more keen to state he wants a title shot. Let's see if he gets it!