PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rita Stienis (ranked 5966 p4p, 25386 weight class) and Mike Carpenter (ranked 495 p4p, 626 weight class). Rita Stienis has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Stienis
vs
Carpenter

223 cm
27
265
5 - 8 - 0

182 cm
25
276
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Experienced

Good wrestler
Brawler
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 5 - 8 - 0, fighting out of London, Rita Stienis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Mike Carpenter!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Patrick Alders and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Carpenter shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Carpenter prevents Stienis from standing back up.
Carpenter with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Stienis looks like he's trying to stand up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Carpenter takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Carpenter thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Carpenter throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Stienis to regain full guard.
Carpenter's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stienis is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Carpenter is controlling him.

Stienis is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Carpenter wants a takedown.
Stienis is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Carpenter goes for a takedown in the clinch but Stienis prevents it.
Rita Stienis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mike Carpenter.
Carpenter tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Carpenter wants a takedown but no success here.
Carpenter looking for a takedown.
Carpenter working hard to break the clinch.
Stienis avoiding damage.
Stienis creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Carpenter's defenses.

It looks like Mike Carpenter has been cut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stienis connects with a nasty looking knee right to Carpenter's face.
Carpenter is trying to drag Stienis to the mat but Stienis just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Stienis holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Stienis lands a good knee to the midsection. Carpenter won't want to take too many of those.
Stienis stalling in the clinch but Carpenter improves position.

Stienis breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Carpenter cracks Stienis with a good jab.

It looks like Rita Stienis has been cut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Carpenter changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Stienis looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Stienis is rocked!
Stienis tries to escape but Carpenter is in control.
The ground and pound from Carpenter seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Stienis tries to escape but Carpenter is in control.
Carpenter misses with the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stienis is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Carpenter asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Stienis avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Carpenter.
Stienis is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Carpenter prevents Stienis from escaping the position.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Carpenter content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Carpenter passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Stienis!
Stienis manages to work a leg through to get back to half guard here. Good work there by Stienis, under a barage of strikes from Carpenter.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Stienis avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Carpenter.
Carpenter really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Stienis. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Carpenter stops Stienis from getting back to his feet.
Carpenter content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Stienis is trying to stand back up but Carpenter is controlling him
Carpenter not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
We've been informed that Carpenter has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Stienis pushes Carpenter off looking to stand but Carpenter dives back in and keeps control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Carpenter tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Carpenter shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Carpenter was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Rita Stienis will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Carpenter manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Stienis on his heels. He'll look to pass Stienis's guard now, I'm sure.
Carpenter throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Carpenter showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Carpenter throwing strikes from guard but Stienis blocks nicely.
Stienis is looking to stand up but Carpenter isn't so interested in that idea.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stienis pushes Carpenter off and scrambles back to his feet.
Stienis tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Carpenter paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rita Stienis is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Carpenter is looking to clinch but Stienis is avoiding it.

Carpenter closes the distance and clinches.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Stienis.

Stienis breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Stienis avoids a punch combination nicely.
Stienis drops down looking for a counter takedown but Carpenter sprawls and moves away.
Carpenter tries to close the distance and clinch but Stienis swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Stienis goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Carpenter fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Carpenter drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Stienis throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Carpenter swats away the attempt to clinch by Stienis.

Carpenter has taken the fight to the clinch.
Carpenter has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Stienis is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

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

Carpenter closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Stienis quickly recovers to half guard.
Carpenter perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Stienis really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Stienis is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Carpenter is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Stienis is trying to stand up here but Carpenter is controlling him well.
Carpenter seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Stienis does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Well, if Carpenter is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Carpenter throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Carpenter seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Stienis does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Stienis fails with an attempt to clinch.

Carpenter drops his shoulder and cracks Stienis with a huge uppercut! Stienis goes down! Can Carpenter finish him?
Oh Stienis is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Carpenter's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Stienis seems to have got his legs back now.
Carpenter trying to control but Stienis is working from the bottom.
Carpenter working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Carpenter stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Stienis swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Carpenter sitting in guard here, content to control.
Carpenter throws a big right hand that misses.
Stienis wants to stand up but Carpenter is controlling him.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Carpenter showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Carpenter fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Carpenter moves in looking to clinch but Stienis pushes him off.
Carpenter shoots in looking for a takedown. Stienis tries to sprawl out of it but Carpenter keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Stienis manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Carpenter fails with the takedown

and Stienis counters by clinching up.
Rita Stienis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mike Carpenter.
Carpenter is looking to take this one to the mat.
Carpenter looking for a takedown.
Carpenter tries for a takedown. No joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stienis gets underhooks to prevent Carpenter's takedown attempt.
Carpenter wants a takedown but no success here.
Carpenter is looking for a takedown.
Carpenter takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Carpenter is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Stienis is defending well.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stienis shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Carpenter defends it nicely.
Carpenter wants to clinch but Stienis slips to the side
and Stienis counters with a nice leg kick.
A nice combination there by Stienis.

Carpenter tries to keep at a distance but Stienis has taken the fight into the clinch.
Carpenter is trying to break free.
Stienis goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Stienis leaning his opponent against the cage.
Stienis looking to slow down the pace here.
Stienis looking to slow down the pace here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stienis trying to control the position but instead, Carpenter has worked for underhooks and has pushed Stienis into the cage.
Stienis is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Carpenter has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Stienis after a bit of a struggle.

Stienis breaks the clinch.
Carpenter throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Stienis sees it coming and avoids it easily.
The fight stays on the outside here - Carpenter looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Stienis clinches up with Carpenter and pushes him back against the cage.
Carpenter struggles to land a body shot inside as Stienis controls his hands.
Carpenter has Stienis pushed against the cage.
Stienis misses with some punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stienis gets underhooks to prevent Carpenter's takedown attempt.
Carpenter is trying to drag Stienis to the mat but Stienis just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Rita Stienis has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Stienis is trying to maintain a safe position but Carpenter gets an underhook and turns Stienis into the cage.
Stienis is pressed up against the cage. Carpenter has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Stienis down to the mat. Stienis avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Carpenter defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Stienis.
Stienis tries for a takedown but Carpenter sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Carpenter appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Stienis swats away the attempt to clinch by Carpenter.
As Carpenter looks to move away, Stienis throws a big counter combo but Carpenter just gets out of the way.

Carpenter changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Stienis looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Stienis is trying to buck Carpenter off.
Carpenter throwing shots but missing, from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stienis pushes Carpenter away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Carpenter gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Carpenter controlling from side mount.
Stienis is working to avoid the ground and pound but Carpenter connects with a decent elbow.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Stienis is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Carpenter is controlling him well.
Carpenter throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Carpenter lands an elbow.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rita Stienis showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Stienis 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 Daniel Blasius scores the fight 29:28
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rita Stienis!