PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Carlos Powers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Barney Rubble (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Powers
vs
Rubble

185 cm
24
178 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
165 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Likes musicals

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Carlos Powers!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Barney Rubble!
The judges for this bout are Jeff Smith, Roger Salmon and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Powers clinches with his opponent.
Rubble looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Powers wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Powers stalling against the cage.
Rubble keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Powers's efforts to push away.
Powers is pushing Rubble up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Powers wants to get back to striking at distance but Rubble won't allow it.

Powers breaks the clinch.

Rubble gets tackled into the cage by Powers. Powers maintains the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Powers holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Rubble is trying to break the clinch but Powers has him pressed against the cage.
Powers controlling the action here for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rubble tries to break free but Powers pushes him back against the cage.
Powers is pushing Rubble up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
A short left from Powers.
Rubble has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Powers seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Rubble can turn it around.
Rubble wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Powers has him pressed against the cage.

Powers's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Powers closes the distance and clinches.
Powers wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Powers escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Rubble moves into the clinch successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Powers effectively controlling the action here.
Powers misses with a punch on the inside.
Powers is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Stalling in the clinch from Powers.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Powers takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Powers for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.
Rubble keeps control of Powers as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Powers looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Powers is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Powers is looking to break free of the clinch but Rubble has double underhooks.

Powers pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Powers moves into the clinch successfully.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

Powers's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rubble misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Powers.

Powers moves into the clinch.
Powers is struggling to control the position.

Powers's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rubble tries to close the distance and clinch up but Powers swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rubble throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Powers tries to counter with a takedown but Rubble is quick to defend against it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rubble throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Powers tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Rubble is in Powers's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Powers tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Powers looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Powers is on top in guard.

Powers with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Powers working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Rubble tries to land a sweep but no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carlos Powers dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Powers takes the fight into the clinch.

Powers breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Powers has taken the fight to the clinch.
Powers is trying to break the clinch but Rubble has him pressed against the cage.
Rubble misses with a punch on the inside.
Powers wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Rubble has him pressed against the cage.

Powers escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rubble throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Powers counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Rubble thinking.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rubble gets tackled into the cage by Powers. Powers maintains the clinch.

Powers breaks from the clinch.

Powers clinches with his opponent.
Rubble is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Powers avoiding damage.

Powers's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Good work by Powers as he checks the leg kick.
It looked like Powers was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Rubble.
Powers swats away the attempt to clinch by Rubble.
Powers bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

Rubble fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Powers to the ground. Rubble is now in Powers's guard.
Powers is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Powers is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rubble preventing the sweep.
Rubble tries to stand but Powers is controlling from the bottom.
Rubble stopping the sweep attempt from Powers.

Powers looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Rubble wants to stand but Powers is controlling his posture from full guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Powers clinches.

Powers escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Rubble closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Powers quickly recovers to half guard.

Powers kicks Rubble off and gets back to his feet.

Powers has taken the fight to the clinch.
Powers stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Powers slows down the pace here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Powers escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Rubble, right into the meat.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Powers has taken the fight to the clinch.
Rubble working Powers over with knees to the body.
Stalling in the clinch from Powers.
Powers is trying to break the clinch but Rubble has him pressed against the cage.
Powers taking a breather.
Powers pressing his opponent against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carlos Powers dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Rubble has managed to clinch.
Rubble has Powers pressed against the cage, preventing Powers from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Powers pressing his opponent against the cage.
Powers taking a breather.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Carlos Powers.

Rubble scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Powers makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Barney Rubble is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rubble takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Powers moves into the clinch.
Powers lands a right hand that snaps the head of Rubble backwards.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Powers is trying to break free.
Powers is stalling here.
Rubble keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Powers's efforts to push away.
Powers stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Powers has Rubble pushed against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rubble being controlled against the cage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Carlos Powers.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Powers enables Rubble to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Powers manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Powers trying to control the position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Powers is on top in guard.

Powers lands a couple of digs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Powers with a flurry of punches that miss.
Powers is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rubble can do to turn this around?
Rubble wants to stand and escape but Powers is having none of it.
Powers postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Carlos Powers overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Powers is looking to work some ground and pound but Rubble has wrist control.
Powers lands a couple of digs.
Rubble is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Powers is controlling him.
Powers throws a big right hand that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Powers in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Powers postures up and lands a big shot to Rubble's brow.
Barney Rubble has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Powers cracks Rubble with a solid left hand.
Powers lands a couple of digs.
Rubble wants to stand up but Powers is controlling him.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Powers gets a clinch.
Carlos Powers is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Powers breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
Carlos Powers showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Powers has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Jeff Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Carlos Powers!