PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Rubin Carter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Erick Clap (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Clap has chosen Burn it to the ground as his entrance music. Rubin Carter could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Erick Clap's chin.

Carter
vs
Clap

173 cm
32
154 lbs
21 - 8 - 0

172 cm
29
150 lbs
9 - 7 - 2

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Conviction

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 21 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rubin Carter!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 7 - 2, fighting out of New York, Erick Clap!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Daniel Franklin and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Clap misses with a leg kick

and Carter counters by moving into the clinch.
Clap has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Carter avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Carter throws a punch but it's blocked by Clap.
Clap pushes Carter back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Carter goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Clap successfully pulls guard.

Clap working for a triangle but Carter defends it easily.
Clap can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Carter controls the pace.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Clap looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Carter has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Clap pulls Carter in close to his closed guard and prevents Carter from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Clap looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Carter passes into half guard.
Clap is trying is best to control the position here.
Clap is refusing to be controlled, as Carter sits in half guard.
Carter wants to stand up but Clap is controlling the position.
Carter trying to control from half guard but Clap is working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Carter takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Carter stands up from half guard.
A head kick by Clap misses
and Carter counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Clap feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Carter's calf.
Clap rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Carter moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Carter displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Clap.
Clap throws a looping overhand right but Carter ducks down to avoid it.
As Clap looks to move away, Carter throws a big counter combo but Clap just gets out of the way.
Clap throws a leg kick that is checked
enabling Carter to counter with a crisp jab.
Clap walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Carter checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Clap misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Carter.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clap throws a nice outside leg kick.
Carter misses with a body shot
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Carter. Clap does a little dance to reset his feet.
Clap changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Carter misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Clap misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Carter.
It looked like Carter was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Clap.
Erick Clap seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Clap throws a body shot but no joy.
Rubin Carter is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Carter checks a leg kick.
Clap circles away from the clinch attempt
and Carter takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Clap throws a body shot but no joy.
Clap throws a half hearted mid kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Clap, right into the meat.
Clap lands with a shot to the body.
Clap throws a solid leg kick but Carter takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Clap.
Carter went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Carter is looking to clinch but Clap is avoiding it.
Carter looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Carter ducks under a wild hook from Clap.
Carter seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Carter avoids a kick to the body.
Clap will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Clap lands with an overhand left.
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!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Carter keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Clap closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Carter quickly recovers to half guard.
My spies in River's Edge Gym inform me that Clap has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Carter is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Clap's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Clap's back!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Erick Clap dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Clap clinches up with Carter and pushes him back against the cage.
Carter tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Clap.
A head punch on the inside from Clap fails to land.
Clap tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Carter's elbow.
Clap managing to block the knees to the body from Carter.
Carter tries to work over Clap's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Carter fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Clap looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Clap misses with a hook to the ribs.
Clap jumps guard but Carter stands there with Clap around his waist. Clap gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Carter connects with a knee to the head.
Clap has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Carter effectively controlling the action here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Carter blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Clap lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Carter throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Clap blocks it with crossed arms.
A left hand lands to the body for Clap.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Clap.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clap tries to throw a body punch but Carter avoids it by throwing Clap back against the cage.
Carter misses with a body punch.
Clap lands a body shot.

Clap manages to break the clinch.

Clap has closed the distance and engaged Carter in a clinch.
Clap drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Carter gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Clap avoiding damage as Carter throws knees to the body.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Carter as Clap tries to tie him up.
Carter lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Carter tries to pull guard but Clap forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Clap stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Clap works on Carter's body with a couple of short punches.
Carter tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Carter pushes Clap back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Clap lands a right hand.
Clap is struggling to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clap avoiding damage as Carter throws knees to the body.
Clap lands a left hand that snaps the head of Carter backwards.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Carter with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
A knee to the head by Carter.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Clap trying to stall but Carter improves his position.
Still in the clinch, Clap scores with a nice short uppercut.

Clap's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Clap throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Clap takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Carter walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Clap ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Carter moves away.
Carter uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Clap.
Carter looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
Clap with a hook.

Clap forces Carter back against the cage and clinches.
Clap throws a punch but it's blocked by Carter.
Erick Clap seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carter throws a punch but it's blocked by Clap.
Carter pushes Clap back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Carter trying to control the position but instead, Clap has worked for underhooks and has pushed Carter into the cage.

Carter manages to break the clinch.

Clap clinches with his opponent.
Carter scores a nice knee to the body.
Clap lands an uppercut.
Still in the clinch, Carter scores with a nice short uppercut.
Clap blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Nice body punch from Clap.
Clap is working Carter over against the cage.
Carter blocks an uppercut.
A right hand to the body from Carter.
Carter taking a breather.

Clap tightens his grip and picks Carter up, before dumping him to the ground. Carter manages to land in guard.
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!
Clap wants to control from the top but Carter keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Carter trying to keep a closed guard but Clap is proving a slippery customer.
Carter pulls Clap in to control the position.
Clap pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Carter is keeping the position for now.
Clap postures up.
Clap wants to pass the guard but Carter is keeping the position.

Carter is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Clap defends well.
Clap trying to control the position from guard on top but Carter is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Carter is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Clap presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Erick Clap showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Clap lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Clap scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Erick Clap seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Clap connects with a solid leg kick.
Carter looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Carter chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Clap tries to score with a low kick but Carter moves his leg out of the way.
A head kick from Carter lands but Clap takes it in his stride.
Carter lands a high kick!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Carter gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Carter manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Carter prevents a body shot from Clap.
Carter has a couple of punches blocked by Clap.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carter lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Carter fails to pull guard.
Clap tries to throw a body punch but Carter avoids it by throwing Clap back against the cage.
Clap scores with a nice hook to the head.
Clap avoiding damage.
Clap lands a nice uppercut.
Carter working hard to break the clinch.
Carter misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Clap.
Clap misses with a body punch.
Carter misses with a knee to the head.
Clap swings wildly with an uppercut but Carter uses good head movement to avoid it.
Clap softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Clap creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Carter is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Clap is keeping busy.
Clap cracks Carter with a nice body shot.
Clap lands a left hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clap goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A short uppercut from Clap.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A short body shot lands from Clap as the two fighters clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A hook to the body from Clap.
Carter missing with knees to the body.
Clap avoiding damage as Carter throws knees to the body.
Clap tries to work over Carter's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Carter throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Clap blocks it with crossed arms.
Clap manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
A hook to the body from Clap.
Clap is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Clap lands with a short shot to the head.
Carter lands an uppercut.
Clap has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Carter is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Clap on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
A head punch on the inside from Carter fails to land.
Carter tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Clap avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clap on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Carter working aggressively here.
Carter jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Clap walks away with a smile on his face. Carter gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Clap moves into the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Clap.
Carter throws a head punch that misses.
Clap can't find room to land a body shot as Carter controls the action.
Clap lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Carter or not.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Clap.
Carter is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Clap to keep the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rubin Carter. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Clap tries a body shot but Carter blocks it.
Clap avoiding damage as Carter throws knees to the body.
Clap is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Carter is defending well for now.

Carter breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Clap throws out a leg kick but Carter moves out of range and Clap only half commits.
Clap just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromCarter.
Clap lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Carter takes one to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Carter, as that shot connected.
Clap throws a jab when Carter was well out of range.
A little feinted left hand from Carter on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Clap lands with a thumping leg kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Clap circles away from the clinch attempt.
Clap stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Clap paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Rubin Carter has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Clap fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Carter, pushing him back against the cage.
Carter prevents a body shot from Clap.
Carter missing with knees to the body.
Clap misses with a hook to the ribs.
Carter blocks a body shot from Clap.
Clap on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Carter throws a head punch that misses.
Clap avoiding damage as Carter throws knees to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Erick Clap comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Clap 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Erick Clap!
Erick Clap really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that Conviction logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.