PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kyle Laidler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Carroll (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Laidler
vs
Carroll

195 cm
18
235 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

189 cm
18
260 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite 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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Kyle Laidler!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Matt Carroll!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Steve Erwin and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Carroll lands a high kick!

It looks like Kyle Laidler has been cut.
Laidler is looking to clinch but Carroll is avoiding it.
Laidler misses with a jab, cross combination.
Carroll tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Carroll throws a push kick but Laidler slaps the foot to one side.
Laidler wants to clinch up but Carroll keeps it at a distance.
A punch combination from Laidler misses.
Carroll tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Carroll throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Laidler.
Laidler has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Carroll.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Carroll lands a front kick.
Laidler is breathing heavily.
Carroll avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Carroll throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Carroll throws a head kick that misses.
Carroll rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Laidler moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Laidler blocks a head kick by Carroll.
Carroll throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Laidler's head.
Laidler moves out of range of the body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carroll throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Laidler counters by moving into the clinch.
Carroll goes for a takedown attempt but Laidler pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Carroll.
Carroll looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Carroll throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Laidler.
Carroll throws a right hand that Laidler ducks under and follows up with a left that Laidler also avoids with ease.
Laidler is looking to clinch.
Carroll lands a head kick. Laidler smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Carroll on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Carroll 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.
A jab from Laidler does it's job there.
Laidler misses the shot to the body.
Carroll pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A combination from Laidler does no damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laidler tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Carroll counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Laidler shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Carroll misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Laidler tries to clinch up
and Carroll counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
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!
Carroll will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Carroll keeps the fight on the outside.
Carroll tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Carroll takes one to the side of the head.
Carroll circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Carroll.
Laidler avoids the head kick by Carroll.
Carroll throws a push kick but Laidler slaps the foot to one side.
Laidler is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Carroll misses with the combination.
Laidler wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Laidler fails with an attempt to clinch.
Laidler tries to clinch up but Carroll circles away and keeps his distance.

Carroll gets tackled into the cage by Laidler. Laidler maintains the clinch.
Laidler is trying to pull guard but Carroll turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Carroll jumps guard but Laidler stands there with Carroll around his waist. Carroll gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Carroll scores with a knee to the head.
Carroll tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Laidler has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Carroll drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Laidler gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Kyle Laidler has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matt Carroll.
Laidler will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Carroll up against the cage.
Carroll is looking to take this one to the mat.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Laidler tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Carroll working aggressively here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Carroll dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Kyle Laidler's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Laidler fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Carroll, pushing him back against the cage.
Laidler tries to pull guard but Carroll won't allow it.
Carroll fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Carroll lands a nice elbow.

Carroll breaks from the clinch.
Carroll takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Laidler connects with a looping right hand.
Kyle Laidler is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Carroll plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Laidler tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Laidler looks to score with a jab to the body but Carroll is just out of range.
Carroll throws a head kick that Laidler semi-blocks.
Carroll pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Laidler throws a right and a left that Carroll avoids nicely.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Carroll misses with a few strikes there.
A head kick misses from Carroll.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laidler fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Carroll looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Carroll lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Laidler circles away quickly and effectively.
Laidler is looking to wear down Carroll with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
A nice combination there by Carroll.

Laidler darts in and clinches Carroll up against the cage.
Carroll fails to pull guard.

Laidler decides to pull guard.
Carroll is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Laidler wants to get back to his feet but Carroll is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carroll trying to control but Laidler is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Matt Carroll was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Carroll fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Carroll pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Laidler tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Carroll throws a sloppy head kick and Laidler moves out of range easily.
Carroll throws a head kick that Laidler semi-blocks.
Carroll takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Carroll throws a sloppy head kick and Laidler moves out of range easily.
Laidler blocks a head kick by Carroll.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carroll scores with a head kick. Laidler tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Carroll tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Laidler blocks a head kick by Carroll.
Carroll throws the kick towards the body but Laidler avoids it.
Carroll takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Carroll looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Carroll tries a head kick but it misses.
Matt Carroll seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Carroll pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Laidler avoids the head kick by Carroll.
Carroll swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Carroll scores with a spinning back kick!
Laidler fails with an attempt to clinch.
Carroll plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Carroll throws a nice looking combination but Laidler bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Laidler uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Laidler misses with a wild combination.
Carroll looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Carroll keeps the fight on the outside.
A head kick misses from Carroll.
Carroll throws a head kick that misses.
Carroll throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Laidler's head.
Laidler showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Carroll.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Laidler comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Danga de danga de dang - Laidler scores with a four punch combination!
Carroll throws a head kick that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Carroll showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Kyle Laidler's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Carroll throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Carroll lands a jab to the head.
Laidler uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Carroll falls off balance throwing a combination
and Laidler counters with a three punch combo that has Carroll backing up. Carroll nods at Laidler to acknowledge the strikes.
Carroll looks to land a combination but Laidler avoids it well.
Carroll misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Both fighters circling a little - Carroll finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Carroll tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Laidler tries to clinch there but Carroll circles away.

Laidler rushes Carroll and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Laidler can't get the takedown.
Laidler has had enough of the clinch but Carroll keeps him there for the moment.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Carroll breaks from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carroll tries a head kick but it misses.
Carroll avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Laidler avoids the head kick by Carroll.
Carroll pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Carroll throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Laidler misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Laidler slips under a jab from Carroll.
Laidler is looking to clinch.
Carroll closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Carroll throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Carroll swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Laidler blocks the body kick.
Laidler takes a kick to the side of the head.
Carroll throws a nice looking combination but Laidler bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carroll swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Laidler counters with a left to the body.
Carroll keeps the fight on the outside.
A head kick from Carroll lands but Laidler takes it in his stride.
Laidler tries to clinch but Carroll is having none of it.
Carroll pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Laidler is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Matt Carroll seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Carroll throws a sloppy head kick and Laidler moves out of range easily.
A head kick misses from Carroll.
Laidler scores with a hook.
Laidler misses with a head kick.
Laidler throws a series of strikes that have Carroll backpedaling.
Carroll throws a nice looking combination but Laidler bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laidler wants to clinch up but Carroll keeps it at a distance.
Carroll throws a head kick but Laidler moves out of range.
Laidler tries to close the distance and clinch up but Carroll swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Carroll tries a head kick but it misses.
Carroll throws the kick towards the body but Laidler avoids it.

Laidler moves into the clinch.

Carroll successfully pulls guard.

Carroll is working an open guard so Laidler takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Carroll goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Laidler connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Laidler looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Carroll throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Laidler gets in close and instigates a clinch.
A short left from Laidler.
Carroll is trying to pull guard but Laidler turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Carroll is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Laidler gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Laidler tries to pull guard but Carroll won't allow it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Carroll makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Carroll is trying to drag Laidler to the mat but Laidler just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Kyle Laidler has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matt Carroll.
Laidler trying to land knees to the body.
Kyle Laidler has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Carroll breaks from the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Matt Carroll.
I've got Carroll winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Damien Edna scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matt Carroll!
In his post fight interview, Matt Carroll started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.