PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jimmy Carruthers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Donald Markham (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.

Carruthers
vs
Markham

167 cm
25
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
25
151 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jimmy Carruthers!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Donald Markham!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Alexandre Firmino and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Carruthers connects with a single shot there.
Carruthers throws a solid leg kick but Markham takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Carruthers.
Carruthers works the jab nicely.
Markham misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Carruthers counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Markham is looking to clinch.

Markham forces Carruthers back against the cage and clinches.
A short uppercut from Carruthers.
Carruthers has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Markham keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Carruthers's efforts to push away.
Carruthers is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Carruthers is trying to break free.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Carruthers avoids the elbow strike from Markham, against the cage.
Markham is trying to pull guard but Carruthers has him pressed against the cage.

Markham breaks the clinch.

Markham shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Markham lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Markham prevents Carruthers from improving his position.

Carruthers has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Markham is on him like a limpet, forcing Carruthers back against the cage.
Markham is looking to take this one to the mat.
Markham prevents Carruthers from breaking the clinch.
Carruthers is trying to force a seperation but Markham has the dominant position.
Carruthers is trying to break the clinch but Markham is controlling him.

Markham escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Markham tries to close the distance and clinch but Carruthers swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carruthers scores with a shot to the body.
Markham wants to clinch.
Carruthers scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Carruthers connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.

Markham is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Carruthers's half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Carruthers tries to get to full guard but Markham has control of the leg.
Carruthers is looking to escape.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Markham decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carruthers lands a slapping body shot.
Markham tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Carruthers paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Jimmy Carruthers is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Markham dives in and grabs Carruthers's left leg, looking for a takedown. Carruthers pushes down on Markham's head and hops out.
Jimmy Carruthers has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Donald Markham.
A head kick by Markham misses
and Carruthers counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Carruthers jabs Markham to the body, keeping him at a distance.

Carruthers gets caught flat footed, as Markham shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Markham thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Markham looks winded!
Markham tries to free his leg and advance position but Carruthers is retaining full guard.
Carruthers might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Markham missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Carruthers trying to keep a closed guard but Markham is proving a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Carruthers is really struggling to control Markham but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Markham controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Carruthers is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Carruthers throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Markham clinches up with Carruthers and pushes him back against the cage.
Carruthers is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Carruthers is trying to push Markham away but Markham has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jimmy Carruthers dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Carruthers throws a chopping leg kick but Markham manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Markham lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Carruthers circles away quickly and effectively.
Markham is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Carruthers.

Markham shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Carruthers napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Carruthers is trying to control Markham's posture but Markham avoids it.
Carruthers tries to bench press Markham off him but Markham keeps the position.
Carruthers is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Markham can do to turn this around?
Carruthers is working hard here to advance position.
Markham advances to mount.
Carruthers wants to control but Markham is having none of it.
Markham raining down hammerfists from mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carruthers really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Markham tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Carruthers's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Carruthers tries to improve his position but instead Markham has taken his back!

Carruthers is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Markham is not going to allow Carruthers to sit and survive in this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Markham trying to control momentarily.
Carruthers trying to control the action but Markham just sinks the hooks in.
Markham controls the position.
Will Markham go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Markham is not going to allow Carruthers to sit and survive in this position.
Markham has good solid back control here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Markham punishes Carruthers with strikes from the back mount.
Markham slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
Carruthers rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Carruthers trying to hold on to Markham's head to control him but Markham postures up.

Markham is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Markham is controlling the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Carruthers wants to get back to full guard.
Nice strikes from Markham there.
Carruthers is looking for a sweep. Markham is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Markham is thwarting Carruthers's attempts to control the position.
Markham performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Let's hope that Markham has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Donald Markham 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!

Carruthers ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Markham moves away.
Markham lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Carruthers is looking to wear down Markham with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Markham shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Carruthers sprawls well. Carruthers wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Markham gets slowly back to his feet.
Carruthers tries to bum rush Markham with a series of wild strikes but Markham uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Despite the aggression on Markham's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Markham looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Carruthers is fending him off so far but Markham persists. Nope, Carruthers circles away and we're back to standing.
Carruthers cracks Markham with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Markham looks for a takedown but Carruthers sprawls well.
Jimmy Carruthers has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Donald Markham.
Markham takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Carruthers looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Carruthers avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Donald Markham is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Horrible takedown attempt by Markham or perhaps it was just good defense by Carruthers, which made it look bad.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A low kick from Carruthers misses

and Markham counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Carruthers!

Markham stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Markham throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Markham takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A shot to the liver by Carruthers. Beautiful body shot.
A left lands for Carruthers.
Carruthers ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Carruthers wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Carruthers throws a front kick aimed at Markham's knee but Markham avoids it well.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Markham tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Carruthers paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Markham takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Carruthers, right into the meat.
Markham misses with an uppercut.
Carruthers lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carruthers finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Markham shoots for a takedown but Carruthers saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Carruthers appears to be looking for a big counter.
Carruthers ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Markham takes one to the chin there.
Carruthers misses with a low kick.
Carruthers stuffs the takedown attempt from Markham. Markham gets slowly back to his feet.
Carruthers lands with a right hand.
Markham on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Good leg kick by Carruthers there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Carruthers lands a nice hook to Markham's body. Markham takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Carruthers throws a chopping leg kick but Markham manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Carruthers wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Markham moves into range and clinches up with Carruthers.
Markham is trying to pull guard but Carruthers has him pressed against the cage.
A right handed body shot lands from Carruthers.
Carruthers wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Markham manages to break the clinch.
Carruthers jabs Markham to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Carruthers lands a two punch combo.
Markham tries to close the distance and clinch up but Carruthers swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Carruthers ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Markham tries to clinch up
and Carruthers makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Jimmy Carruthers seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Markham swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Carruthers tries to score with a low kick but Markham moves his leg out of the way.
Carruthers swats away the attempt to clinch by Markham.
Markham moves in looking to clinch but Carruthers pushes him off.
Carruthers swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Carruthers misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Carruthers throws a right hand that Markham ducks under and follows up with a left that Markham also avoids with ease.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Markham looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Carruthers is fending him off so far but Markham persists. Nope, Carruthers circles away and we're back to standing.
Markham takes a swing at Carruthers's ribcage but misses.
Carruthers is looking for a counter combo.
Carruthers lands a nice looking body shot.
Carruthers with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Markham fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Carruthers is out of range.
Carruthers lands a nice leg kick that just misses Markham's sensitive parts.
Carruthers jabs Markham right on the nose. Markham blinks but takes it well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jimmy Carruthers showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Carruthers 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 29:28
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jimmy Carruthers!