PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Caio Carvalho (ranked 1104 p4p, 385 weight class) and Armad Bates (ranked 144 p4p, 51 weight class). Carvalho kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Pentagono - É o Moio. Armad Bates has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Carvalho
vs
Bates

181 cm
24
180
12 - 5 - 0

190 cm
33
183
17 - 14 - 3

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Red Belt
World class MT
Good gas tank

Brooklyn Threads
Brooklyn Apothecary

Shadow Realm Apparel

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 12 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Caio Carvalho!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 14 - 3, fighting out of Las Vegas, Armad Bates!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, William Peck and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Carvalho misses with a hook
and Bates cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Bates keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Bates connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Bates works Carvalho's body with a nice hook.
Bates connects with the punch.
Bates tries a low kick but Carvalho avoids it.
Carvalho misses with a body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bates fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Carvalho on the side of the head.
Bates uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Carvalho.
Bates throws a nice outside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carvalho with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Bates to score with a decent uppercut.
Bates throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Bates lands a jab to the nose.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Bates.
Carvalho throws a hook to the side of Bates's head but Bates sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Carvalho ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bates moves away.
Carvalho takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Bates lands with an uppercut that bounces Carvalho off the cage and back into range.
Carvalho uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Bates.
Carvalho half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Carvalho looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Bates working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Carvalho doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Carvalho manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Bates looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Carvalho trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Carvalho got a little sloppy there for a moment and Bates has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Carvalho has managed to get both his arms back between Bates's legs - danger averted.
Carvalho is fighting to break Bates's control of his arms but Bates is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Carvalho pushing down on Bates's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Carvalho works his way into full mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carvalho looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Carvalho thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Carvalho scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Bates?
Bates can't escape the position.
Bates keeps trying to improve his position.
Carvalho misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Bates is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Carvalho cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Carvalho looking to ground and pound but Bates is blocking nicely.
Bates holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Carvalho tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Bates really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Carvalho avoids the attempt from Bates to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Carvalho throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bates is in all sorts of trouble here.
Bates blocking the ground and pound.
Poor strikes thrown by Carvalho there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Bates tries to hold on but Carvalho pushes him away.
Bates is bucking up trying to escape but Carvalho cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
We've been hearing good reports from Carvalho's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Bates can't escape the position.
Bates tries to lock up and control but Carvalho gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Bates is looking to get to half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Caio Carvalho dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Decent striking displayed by Carvalho there.
Nice defenses there by Bates.
Bates drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Carvalho missing with a left hand there. Bates was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Bates with a jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Carvalho gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Bates.
Carvalho bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A telegraphed right hand from Bates misses the target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Bates. Carvalho does a little dance to reset his feet.
Carvalho appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Bates misses the jab.
Bates with a jab.
Carvalho throws a lazy uppercut
and Bates counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Bates misses the jab.
Carvalho stuns Bates with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Bates comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Bates lands with a nice body punch.
Carvalho tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Bates defends well and Carvalho ends up having to push Bates into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Bates pulls guard successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bates working for a triangle but Carvalho defends it easily.
Carvalho trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Bates utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Carvalho wants to control from the top but Bates keeps moving.
Bates bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Carvalho's guard.

Caio Carvalho overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bates trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Carvalho trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Carvalho looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Bates with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Carvalho has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Bates can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Bates wants to control from the top but Carvalho keeps moving.
Bates preventing the sweep.
Carvalho is pulling down on Bates's head to control his posture.
Bates stopping the sweep attempt from Carvalho.

Bates drops back looking for a leg! Carvalho is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Carvalho manages to kick Bates off! Bates jumps back into Carvalho's guard.
Bates wants to pass the guard but Carvalho is keeping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Carvalho looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bates trying to control but Carvalho is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Bates connects with a good right hand that stumbles Carvalho. Carvalho circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Bates misses the shot to the body.
It looked like Carvalho wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bates swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Carvalho attempts a counter takedown but Bates avoids it well and moves away.
Bates scores with a sloppy right hand. Carvalho should have avoided that one.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Armad Bates showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Carvalho's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Carvalho ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Carvalho tries to counter with a takedown but Bates is quick to defend against it.
Bates looks to land a combination but Carvalho avoids it well.
Bates dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Bates steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Carvalho.
A nice side step and Bates releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Bates moves into range and connects with a jab.
Bates tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Carvalho was well out of range. Poor timing from Bates.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bates fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Carvalho manages to avoid it.
Bates moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Bates throws a hook but Carvalho blocks it.
Carvalho tries to counter with a takedown but Bates is quick to defend against it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bates scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Carvalho takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Bates throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Bates scores with a jab to the jaw.
Bates throws a big shot that misses.
Bates just misses with a punch to the body.
Bates ducks under a wild hook from Carvalho.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Carvalho is defended easily by Bates.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bates slips a jab from Carvalho.
Armad Bates seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Donk. Bates catches Carvalho right on the button with a cross.
Bates has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Carvalho thuds a left hand into Bates's body.
Carvalho misses with a takedown attempt - Bates sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Bates tests Carvalho's chin there with a solid looking shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bates lunges at Carvalho with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Carvalho's hand.
Bates connects with a good right hand that stumbles Carvalho. Carvalho circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Carvalho wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Sloppy strikes from Bates. Those never looked like landing.
Carvalho drops down looking for a counter takedown but Bates sprawls and moves away.
Bates avoids the body shot from Carvalho.
Bates keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Bates feints the counter takedown.
Bates keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bates swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Carvalho looks to score with a jab to the body but Bates is just out of range.
Carvalho throws an off balance right hand
and Bates counters with a nice uppercut.
Carvalho misses with a body shot.
Bates looks for a takedown but Carvalho sprawls well.
Carvalho half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bates connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Carvalho momentarily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Armad Bates comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Bates 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 Robert Douchet scores the fight 28:29
Judge William Peck scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 28:29

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