PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between James Carter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jorge Cristobal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Carter
vs
Cristobal

185 cm
25
195 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

190 cm
25
196 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, James Carter!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jorge Cristobal!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Vladimir Khabensky and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cristobal shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Carter but Carter pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Cristobal shoots and misses
and Carter counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Cristobal shoots in looking for a takedown. Carter tries to sprawl out of it but Cristobal keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Carter manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
James Carter has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jorge Cristobal.
Carter stuffs the takedown attempt from Cristobal. Cristobal gets slowly back to his feet.
Carter fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Cristobal manages to avoid it.
Cristobal takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Carter does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Carter misses the jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Carter jabs Cristobal right on the nose. Cristobal blinks but takes it well.
Cristobal slips under a jab from Carter.
Cristobal goes for a double leg but Carter avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Carter continues to drive forward.
Sloppy strikes from Carter. Those never looked like landing.
Carter throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Carter connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Cristobal is defended easily by Carter.
Carter tries to close the distance and clinch but Cristobal swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Cristobal fails to land the takedown.
Cristobal slips a jab from Carter.
Cristobal staying out of range there.
Carter jabs Cristobal to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Horrible takedown attempt by Cristobal or perhaps it was just good defense by Carter, which made it look bad.
Carter misses with an uppercut.
James Carter is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Cristobal steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Carter.
A big right from Carter misses.
Carter is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Carter misses with a looping left.
Carter throws a right hand that Cristobal ducks under and follows up with a left that Cristobal also avoids with ease.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cristobal is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Carter throws a one two combo.
Carter throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
James Carter seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cristobal slips a straight right by Carter.
Carter misses with the combination.
Carter throws a body shot but no joy.
Cristobal shoots in and drives through. Carter sprawls well.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Carter ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Cristobal fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Carter avoids it really well and circles away.
Carter getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A combination from Cristobal does no damage.
Cristobal on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Carter cracks a nice hook into Cristobal's ribs.
Cristobal bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Carter misses with a hook.
Cristobal wants to counter the offense by Carter and move into the clinch position.
Carter throws the left hand but Cristobal avoids the punch easily.
Cristobal staying out of range there.
Cristobal uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Carter.
Carter just misses with a punch to the body.
Cristobal steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Carter.
Carter misses with a jab, cross combination.
Carter avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Carter misses with a body punch
and Cristobal counters with a three punch combo that has Carter backing up. Carter nods at Cristobal to acknowledge the strikes.
Cristobal is trying hard to land a takedown here. Carter sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
As Cristobal backs away, Carter returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Carter throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Cristobal.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cristobal fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Carter slaps away a takedown attempt from Cristobal, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Cristobal looks winded!
Cristobal avoids the body shot from Carter.
Carter misses with an uppercut. Cristobal saw that one coming.
Carter lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Carter throws a sloppy head kick and Cristobal moves out of range easily.
Cristobal tries to score a power double leg takedown but Carter sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Cristobal somewhat.
The fighters circling - Carter throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Cristobal steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Carter.
Cristobal fails with a takedown attempt.
Carter missing with a left hand there. Cristobal was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James 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.

A telegraphed right hand from Carter misses the target.
Cristobal tries to score a power double leg takedown but Carter sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Cristobal somewhat.
Carter fails to land with a series of punches.
James Carter is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A big right from Carter misses.
Carter moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Cristobal walks into a left hand.
Cristobal is trying hard to land a takedown here. Carter sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Carter swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.

Cristobal decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Carter avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Cristobal.
Carter trying to hold on to Cristobal's head to control him but Cristobal postures up.
Carter wants to improve his position but Cristobal is controlling well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cristobal thows a huge punch but Carter dodges it nicely.
Cristobal trying to control the action but Carter is working from the bottom.
Cristobal throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Carter is looking to control Cristobal's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Carter avoid being mounted?

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
A swing and a miss from Carter.
Carter throws a nice outside leg kick.
Cristobal 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 Cristobal off to one side.
Carter appears to be looking for a big counter.
James Carter has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jorge Cristobal.
Carter thows a left - swing and a miss!
Cristobal shoots for a double leg takedown but Carter sprawls well. He's pushed Cristobal's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cristobal shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
James Carter is winning the standup battle so far.
Cristobal takes one to the chin there.
Carter throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Nice takedown defense from Carter. No joy for Cristobal on that attempt.
Carter is looking for a counter combo.
Cristobal is breathing heavily.
Cristobal tries for a takedown but Carter circles away easily
and Carter counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Carter bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Cristobal's head backwards.
Carter misses with a wild combination.
Cristobal is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Carter ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Carter lands an overhand right.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Carter looks to land a combination but Cristobal avoids it well.
Carter looks to land a right hand but Cristobal moved out of range.
Carter lands a nice hook to Cristobal's body. Cristobal takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carter throws a body shot but no joy.
Cristobal tries to counter with a clinch but Carter shakes him off and moves away.
Carter throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Cristobal misses with a takedown attempt - Carter sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Cristobal takes one to the side of the head.
Cristobal takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Carter throws a right and a left that both miss.
Carter fails to land with a series of punches.
Carter moves in looking to clinch but Cristobal pushes him off.
Carter stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Cristobal is trying hard to land a takedown here. Carter sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Cristobal moves away from the strike by Carter.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Cristobal.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Carter misses with an uppercut.
Cristobal closes the distance and clinches up with Carter, looking for a takedown. Cristobal pushes Carter against the cage but Carter circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Carter fails to land with a series of punches.
Cristobal steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Carter.
Carter misses with a body kick.
Cristobal closes the distance and clinches up with Carter, looking for a takedown. Cristobal pushes Carter against the cage but Carter circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
It looked like Carter wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Good standup being displayed there by Carter as he connects with a hook.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Carter throws a hook but Cristobal avoids it easily.
Carter fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Cristobal tries to counter with a clinch but Carter shakes him off and moves away.
Carter stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Carter throws a hook but Cristobal blocks it.
Carter looks to throw the jab but Cristobal is out of range.
Cristobal walks into a jab.
Cristobal throws a low kick but Carter moves out of range easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Carter dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Cristobal needs to keep his hands up - Carter had a free shot at his head there.
Nice body punch from Carter.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Cristobal.
Carter ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Cristobal moves away.
Cristobal tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Carter paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Cristobal on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Cristobal slips a straight right by Carter.
Carter lands a jab to the head.
A decent looking cross lands there for Carter.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cristobal fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Carter avoids it really well and circles away.
Cristobal darts in looking for a takedown but Carter gets double underhooks and turns Cristobal into the cage.
James Carter has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jorge Cristobal.
Carter misses with a head kick.
Cristobal takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No joy there for Carter, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Carter misses with a body shot.
Carter misses with a wild combination.
Carter swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Cristobal counters by clinching up.
Carter tries to circle away but Cristobal has him pinned against the cage.
Cristobal tries to pull guard but Carter holds him up against the cage and eventually Cristobal drops back down to his feet.
Carter struggles to land a body shot inside as Cristobal controls his hands.
Carter has Cristobal pressed against the cage.
Carter wants to get back to striking at distance but Cristobal won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cristobal tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Carter's elbow.
Cristobal is trying to drag Carter to the mat but Carter just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Carter stops a takedown attempt from Cristobal.
Cristobal has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
A frustrated look appears on Carter's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Carter breaks the clinch.
Carter lands with a straight right. Cristobal didn't see that one coming.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carter feints a jab promting Cristobal to slip. Carter then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Cristobal slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Cristobal shoots in and drives through. Carter sprawls well.
Carter rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Cristobal moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Carter misses with a double jab.
Carter looks to score with a jab to the body but Cristobal is just out of range.
Cristobal fails with a takedown attempt.
Carter misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Carter digs a good hook to Cristobal's body.
Cristobal has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Carter finds it's way round the side to connect with Cristobal's head.
Carter misses with a two punch combination.
No joy there for Carter, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Cristobal closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cristobal takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Carter misses with a hook. Cristobal ducked under it nicely.
Carter throws a lazy right hand but Cristobal sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Cristobal swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Carter throws a nice looking combination but Cristobal bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Cristobal fails with an attempt to clinch.

Carter closes the distance and clinches.
Cristobal is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Carter to keep the fight standing.
Carter has had enough of the clinch but Cristobal keeps him there for the moment.
Cristobal is looking for a takedown.
Carter has had enough of the clinch but Cristobal keeps him there for the moment.
Jorge Cristobal has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
James Carter is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Cristobal misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Carter.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Carter showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Carter, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:26
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:26
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Carter!
An out of breath James Carter thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.