PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between alexious Rufo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and rob carmichael (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Rufo
vs
carmichael

170 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

165 cm
18
150 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, alexious Rufo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, rob carmichael!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Alan Glass and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rufo shoots in for a takedown but carmichael shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Rufo tries to clinch there but carmichael circles away.
carmichael shoots for a double leg takedown but Rufo sprawls well. He's pushed carmichael's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Rufo throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
alexious Rufo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rufo misses with a jab, cross combination.

carmichael closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
carmichael landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Rufo is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on carmichael's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
carmichael is looking to advance position but Rufo won't allow it.
Rufo regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from carmichael.
carmichael controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rufo utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
carmichael throwing strikes from guard but Rufo blocks nicely.
Rufo has his hands on carmichael's head, controlling the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
carmichael throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's two 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.

Rufo escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. carmichael gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
carmichael trying to control but Rufo is working from the bottom.
carmichael trying to stand up but can't free himself from Rufo's guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

carmichael shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Rufo is trying to keep carmichael in close.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
carmichael looking to pass the guard.
carmichael looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as carmichael accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

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.

carmichael gets to his feet - Rufo follows without any prompting.
Rufo goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
carmichael shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Rufo sprawls well. Rufo wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. carmichael gets slowly back to his feet.
carmichael looks gassed!
Rufo throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
carmichael has his takedown stuffed
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
and Rufo counters with a three punch combo that has carmichael backing up. carmichael nods at Rufo to acknowledge the strikes.
alexious Rufo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of rob carmichael.
Rufo doesn't manage to clinch there - carmichael circles away.
Rufo is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
carmichael showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rufo.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but rob carmichael will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

carmichael takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Rufo doesn't succeed with the takedown

and carmichael counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Rufo's guard now.
Rufo controlling carmichael's posture.
Rufo is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
carmichael stopping the sweep attempt from Rufo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rufo is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and carmichael dives into side control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
carmichael is looking to take a break and control but Rufo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two 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.
carmichael might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Rufo kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Rufo regains half guard there - taking advantage of carmichael's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
carmichael is trying to control the action in half guard but Rufo is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Rufo moves into range and clinches up with carmichael.
carmichael stops a takedown attempt from Rufo.

carmichael turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
carmichael is looking to take a break and control but Rufo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Rufo is trying to control carmichael's posture but carmichael avoids it.

Rufo bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rufo moves into range and clinches up with carmichael.
A frustrated look appears on Rufo's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Rufo escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
alexious Rufo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rufo throws and low kick but carmichael moves out of range easily.
Rufo misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Rufo tries to clinch but carmichael is having none of it.
carmichael tries for a takedown but Rufo sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Rufo with a lazy takedown attempt

and carmichael counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Rufo's guard now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for alexious Rufo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rufo looking to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

rob carmichael showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

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

Rufo makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Rufo shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and carmichael counters with a nice double leg into side control. Rufo won't be happy with that.
Rufo can't do much from the bottom here.
carmichael moves into full mount!
Rufo tries to lock up and control but carmichael gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

carmichael working for a submission but Rufo is keeping him at bay.
Rufo tries to reverse the position but carmichael maintains control.

carmichael goes for an armbar but Rufo turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Rufo.
Rufo preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
carmichael looking to control.
Rufo throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as carmichael works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Rufo content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if carmichael can do anything to dispel that myth.
Rufo pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. carmichael is keeping the position for now.
Rufo stands and throws carmichael's legs to the side, diving into side control.
carmichael is looking for a sweep.
Rufo is putting a hurting on carmichael here, landing some big shots from side control.
carmichael taking a bit of punishment here - Rufo scoring with strikes.
carmichael regains half guard there - taking advantage of Rufo's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Rufo throwing shots but carmichael is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rufo scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Rufo missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Rufo takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
carmichael avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Rufo.
carmichael punching from the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Rufo with a lazy takedown attempt

and carmichael decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Rufo's guard.
carmichael stands and throws Rufo's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Rufo wants to get back to his feet but carmichael drags him back down.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rufo can't do much from the bottom here.
alexious Rufo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

carmichael stands up.
carmichael fails with the takedown

and Rufo counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Rufo.
rob carmichael is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rufo missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
rob carmichael comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got carmichael 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... rob carmichael!