PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nate Carter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jacob Takalua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Carter comes to the cage accompanied by Party Rock Anthem. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Carter
vs
Takalua

175 cm
21
200 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

175 cm
20
205 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Nate Carter!
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, Jacob Takalua!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Edson Gomes and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck for Takalua with that takedown attempt.
Carter has a takedown stuffed.
Carter misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Takalua shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Carter as he avoids it easily.
Carter stuffs the takedown.
Nate Carter has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jacob Takalua.
Horrible takedown by Takalua or perhaps it was just good defense by Carter which made him look bad.

Takalua instigates a clinch.
Carter fails to pull guard.

Takalua breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Takalua shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Carter but Carter pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Carter is looking to clinch but Takalua is avoiding it.
Carter displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Takalua.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Carter decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Takalua is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Takalua is trying to control but can't.
Carter is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Carter is breathing heavily.

Takalua looking for submissions off his back.
Takalua is trying to stand back up but Carter is controlling him
Takalua keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Takalua is looking to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carter is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Carter is thwarting Takalua's attempts to control the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Carter shoots in looking for a takedown but Takalua manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Carter's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Takalua keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Takalua throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Carter's waist but Carter gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Takalua off to one side.
Takalua feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Carters jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Carter defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Takalua.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takalua takes one on the chin but keeps coming.

Carter gets a takedown into half guard.
Takalua wants to get back to his feet.
Carter is looking to stand up but he'll have to free his leg first. Instead, Takalua manages to get to full guard.
Carter is looking to stand up but Takalua won't let him.

Takalua looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Takalua keeping moving, preventing Carter from controlling successfully.
Takalua is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Carter stands and steps away. Takalua gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Nice takedown defense from Carter. No joy for Takalua on that attempt.
Carter lands with a kick to the temple. Takalua shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

Carter fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Takalua, pushing him back against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Takalua breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Takalua shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Carter as he avoids it easily.
Carter could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Nice takedown defense from Takalua. No joy for Carter on that attempt.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Takalua shoots in for a double leg but Carter sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Carter shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Carter prevents Takalua from getting the reversal.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nate Carter dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Takalua throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Carter's waist but Carter gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Takalua off to one side.
Takalua looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Takalua fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Nate Carter has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jacob Takalua.
Takalua throws a head kick that misses.
Carter throws a head kick that misses.
Takalua tries to score a power double leg takedown but Carter sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Takalua somewhat.
Carter closes the distance and clinches up with Takalua, looking for a takedown. Carter pushes Takalua against the cage but Takalua circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Takalua looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Carter looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Carter stands up and waves to Takalua to follow him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carter lands with a slapping head kick.

Takalua closes the distance and clinches.

Takalua breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Carter tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Takalua counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Nate Carter seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Carter closes this distance looking for a takedown but Takalua circles away.
Nice takedown defense from Carter. No joy for Takalua on that attempt.
Carter displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Takalua.
Nice takedown defense from Takalua. No joy for Carter on that attempt.
Carter defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Takalua.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carter tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Takalua tries for a takedown but Carter sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Carter looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Takalua is fending him off so far but Carter persists. Nope, Takalua circles away and we're back to standing.

Carter gets tackled into the cage by Takalua. Takalua maintains the clinch.
Takalua is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Takalua is looking for a takedown.
Takalua is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Carter's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Takalua displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Carter.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takalua has a takedown stuffed.
Takalua closes the distance and clinches up with Carter, looking for a takedown. Takalua pushes Carter against the cage but Carter circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Carter closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Takalua's guard.
Takalua tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Takalua striking from the bottom here.
Carter passes Takalua's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Takalua is controlling Carter's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Takalua tries to roll over but Carter keeps him under control.
Carter tries to stand but can't do so whilst Takalua controls his leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takalua wants to improve his position but Carter is controlling well.
Takalua wants to control but Carter is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Takalua tries to get to full guard but Carter has control of the leg.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Takalua strikes from the bottom but Carter uses the opportunity to move to side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Takalua wants to get back to his feet but Carter drags him back down.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Nate Carter will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Carter dives in and grabs Takalua's left leg, looking for a takedown. Takalua pushes down on Carter's head and hops out.
Takalua stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Takalua wants it to stay on the feet.
Carter misses with a takedown attempt - Takalua sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nate Carter. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Takalua throws a head kick but Carter moves out of range.
Takalua misses with a takedown attempt - Carter sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Carter takes a kick to the side of the head.
Nice takedown defense from Takalua. No joy for Carter on that attempt.
Jacob Takalua seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Takalua fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Takalua misses with a takedown attempt - Carter sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Carter throws a head kick that half lands.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Takalua gets a clinch.
Takalua is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Carter pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Takalua drops down looking for an ankle pick but Carter pulls his leg out and moves away.
Carter is looking to clinch but Takalua is avoiding it.

Carter shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Carter has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Takalua kicks Carter off and gets to his feet.
Carter shoots in but Takalua avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Takalua lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Takalua looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Carter is fending him off so far but Takalua persists. Nope, Carter circles away and we're back to standing.
Takalua shoots in but no luck this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carter stuffs the takedown attempt from Takalua. Takalua gets slowly back to his feet.
Takalua wants to clinch.
Carter shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Takalua as he jumps to the side.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Carter stuffs the takedown attempt from Takalua. Takalua gets slowly back to his feet.

Carter closes the distance and clinches.
Takalua misses with a hook from the clinch.
Takalua's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takalua cracks Carter with a nice body shot.
Carter is trying to pull guard but Takalua has him pressed against the cage.
Takalua tries to pull guard but Carter forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Takalua drags the fight down to the ground.
Takalua 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.
Carter won't allow Takalua to get back to his feet.
Carter looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takalua has his hands on Carter's head, controlling the position.
Carter trying to control but Takalua is working from the bottom.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Carter preventing the sweep.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Nate Carter wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Carter fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Takalua avoids it really well and circles away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A slapping body kick lands there for Takalua.
Jacob Takalua has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nate Carter is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
A punch combination from Takalua misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jacob Takalua comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Carter has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight 29:28
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 29:28
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nate Carter!
A pretty intense looking Nate Carter took the opportunity post-fight to ask for a shot at the title.