PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Billy Irish (ranked 2663 p4p, 1552 weight class) and Juan Carlos (ranked 327 p4p, 219 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.

Irish
vs
Carlos

169 cm
23
155
5 - 3 - 0

175 cm
22
165
7 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Billy Irish!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Juan Carlos!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Phil Schofield and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Irish fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Carlos is out of range.
Carlos throws a shot from downtown. Irish moves away and avoids it.
Irish connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Carlos looks to score with a jab to the body but Irish is just out of range.
Carlos tries a head kick but it misses.
Irish misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Carlos.
Carlos feints the counter takedown.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Carlos has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Irish throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Carlos shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Irish as he avoids it easily.
Irish scores with a punch to the head.
Carlos throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Nice defenses there by Carlos.
Carlos shoots in but no luck this time.
Irish misses with an uppercut. Carlos saw that one coming.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Irish looks to land a right hand but Carlos moved out of range.
Carlos misses with a looping left.
Carlos fails with the takedown.
Billy Irish has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Juan Carlos.
Carlos throws a big shot that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carlos slips a jab and a cross from Irish.
Carlos misses with the combination.
Irish half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Irish looks to throw the jab but Carlos is out of range.
Irish lands a jab to the head.

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

Carlos is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Irish sees it coming and defends easily.
Carlos landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Carlos is trying to control the action in half guard but Irish is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Irish actively working from the bottom here.
Irish tries to roll over but Carlos keeps him under control.
Irish moves into full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carlos lands a couple of digs.

Irish is looking for a triangle but Carlos pushes his legs off easily.
Irish preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Carlos controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Carlos wants to control from the top but Irish keeps moving.
Carlos distracts Irish with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Irish wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

Irish working for a triangle but Carlos defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carlos is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Carlos throws a big right hand that misses.
Carlos trying to control the position from guard on top but Irish is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Irish is trying to control the position but Carlos postures up.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Carlos controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Carlos bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Carlos throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Irish's waist but Irish gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Carlos off to one side.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Irish uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Carlos.
Irish tries to counter with a takedown but Carlos is quick to defend against it.
Carlos throws the left hand but Irish avoids the punch easily.
A punch lands to the side of Carlos 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Carlos ducks right into an uppercut from Irish.
Carlos fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Irish scores with a sloppy right hand. Carlos should have avoided that one.
Irish throws a hook to the side of Carlos's head but Carlos sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Carlos misses with an uppercut. Irish saw that one coming.
Carlos looks to score with a jab to the body but Irish is just out of range.
Carlos lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Irish circles away quickly and effectively.
Carlos throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Irish cracks Carlos with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Carlos misses the jab.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Carlos.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Billy Irish will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Irish misses with an uppercut

and Carlos decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Irish's guard.
Irish manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Carlos manages to get himself to full guard.

Irish won't allow Carlos to sweep him here.
Irish sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Carlos's guard.
Irish wants to control but Carlos is keeping him busy.
Carlos is looking for a sweep. Irish is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Irish thows a huge punch but Carlos dodges it nicely.
Carlos is concentrating on defense, preventing Irish from advancing position.
Irish tries to pass to full mount but Carlos defends it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Carlos trying to control from the bottom.
Carlos makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Carlos.
Irish preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carlos bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Irish's guard.

Carlos with a flurry of punches that miss.
Carlos has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Carlos preventing the sweep.
Irish not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Carlos wants to control from the top but Irish keeps moving.
Irish looking for a sweep. Not yet Irish, not yet.
Irish trying to control the position here.

Irish is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Carlos is aware though and is defending well.
Carlos stands and throws Irish's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Irish takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Carlos throws a strike aimed at the side of Irish's head but Irish avoids it well.
Irish managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Carlos.
Irish is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Irish wants to control but Carlos is keeping busy.
Irish is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Carlos's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Carlos's back!
Carlos turns into Irish and is now in his guard.
Irish wants to sweep here but Carlos controlling him for the moment.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Carlos with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Carlos trying to control but Irish is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Irish is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Carlos trying to control but Irish is working from the bottom.
Irish working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Carlos.

Irish is looking for a triangle but Carlos pushes his legs off easily.
Carlos with a flurry of punches that miss.

Carlos drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Carlos jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Irish is looking for a triangle but Carlos pushes his legs off easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Carlos trying to control but Irish is working from the bottom.
Irish is trying to control the position but Carlos postures up.
Carlos wants to control from the top but Irish keeps moving.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
No joy there for Irish, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Billy Irish is winning the standup battle so far.
Irish changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Carlos misses the shot to the body.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Carlos.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Juan Carlos showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Irish lands a nice shot that snaps Carlos's head back.
Irish slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Juan Carlos seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Carlos cracks a nice hook into Irish's ribs.

Irish fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Carlos to the ground. Irish is now in Carlos's guard.
Irish trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Carlos manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Irish manages to get himself to full guard.

Carlos is working Irish over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Carlos with a nice head shot there.

Irish is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Irish has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Carlos has passed into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Irish's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Carlos is chipping away with strikes.
Irish can't do much from the bottom here.
Carlos cracks Irish with a big elbow.
Irish can't do much from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Carlos staying calm.
Carlos lands some shots froms side control.
Carlos cracks Irish with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Carlos wants to take a breather but Irish manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Carlos.

Irish throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Carlos sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Irish not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Carlos content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Irish is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Carlos seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Irish wants to sweep here but Carlos controlling him for the moment.
Carlos controlling from the top position.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Irish preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Carlos postures up and lands a big shot to Irish's brow.
Irish keeping moving, preventing Carlos from controlling successfully.
Irish looking to hit a scissor sweep but Carlos is one step ahead there.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Carlos misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Irish throws a hook but Carlos avoids it easily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Carlos waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Irish.
A punch combination from Carlos misses.
Carlos shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Irish pinned against the cage. Irish gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Juan Carlos comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Carlos has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 James Atkins scores the fight 27:30
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Juan Carlos!
A victorious Juan Carlos thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.