PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jesse Carver (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Donavan Phillips (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Carver
vs
Phillips

170 cm
25
188 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

186 cm
21
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jesse Carver!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Donavan Phillips!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Reed Andrews and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Carver tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Phillips shoots and misses
and Carver counters with a left and a right that stings Phillips.
Phillips is trying hard to land a takedown here. Carver sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
A left and a right from Phillips both land. Nice combination.

Phillips gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Carver to score an easy takedown into full guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Phillips utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Phillips tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Carver tries to free his leg and advance position but Phillips is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Jesse Carver wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Phillips shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Carver napping and manages to drive through into side control!
An elbow from Phillips crashes against the mat.
Carver could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Carver tries to buck Phillips off but Phillips is having none of it.
Phillips wants to lay and pray for a moment but Carver keeps working.

Phillips has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Carver scores with a takedown into Phillips's guard.
Carver showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Jesse Carver wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Carver keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Jesse Carver has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Donavan Phillips.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Carver throws a head kick that misses
and Phillips counters with a series of strikes. Carver will be more careful next time no doubt.
Phillips fails to land the takedown.
Phillips looks gassed!
Carver fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Carver tries to close the distance and clinch but Phillips swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Carver tries to clinch up.
Carver avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Phillips shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Carver as he jumps to the side.
Carver lands a jab to Phillips's midsection.
Phillips misses with a combination
and Carver counters with a nice kick to the body.
Carver closes this distance looking for a takedown but Phillips circles away.
Phillips connects with a right hand. Carver shakes it off.
Carver punishes Phillips's body with a nice straight punch.
Phillips shoots in looking for a takedown but Carver manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Phillips's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Carver bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Carver wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Phillips, who protects the arm well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Carver takes a little break here. Phillips wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jesse Carver dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Carver closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Phillips's guard.
Carver wants to control from the top but Phillips keeps moving.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Phillips is trying to keep Carver in close.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Jesse Carver just wasn't active enough.
Phillips wants to clinch up but Carver keeps it at a distance.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Phillips enables Carver to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Phillips manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Carver wants to stand and escape but instead Phillips has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Carver looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carver trying to keep a closed guard but Phillips is proving a slippery customer.
Carver keeping moving, preventing Phillips from controlling successfully.

Phillips avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Phillips drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Carver dives on top into guard.
Carveris looking to pass into half guard but Phillips pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Phillips is in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Phillips wants to control from the top but Carver keeps moving.
Carver avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Carver not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

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

Carver throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Phillips wants to stand but Carver has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Phillips gets to his feet - Carver follows without any prompting.
Carver tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Phillips counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Phillips slips nicely into half guard.
Phillips winds up and cracks Carver with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Phillips is trying to control the action in half guard but Carver is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Phillips decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Phillips shoots for a takedown but Carver saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Carver changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Phillips tries to avoid it but Carver manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Phillips to the ground. Phillips escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Phillips closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Carver to the mat! Carver manages to get full guard.
Carver trying to keep a closed guard but Phillips is proving a slippery customer.
Phillips throws a big right hand that misses.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Phillips stopping the sweep attempt from Carver.
Phillips postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Donavan Phillips showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Phillips looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Phillips trying to control but Carver is working from the bottom.
Carver trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Carver working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Phillips.
Phillips trying to stand up but can't free himself from Carver's guard.
Phillips stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Carver swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Phillips preventing the sweep.
Phillips postures up in Carver's guard and throws a big left but Carver blocks it.
Phillips must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phillips wants to get up but he can't break Carver's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Phillips throws a strike but Carver rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Phillips keeping moving, preventing Carver from controlling successfully.
Donavan Phillips has got the better of the ground game so far.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Jesse Carver.
Carver fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Carver tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Phillips manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carver fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Phillips manages to avoid it.
Jesse Carver is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Phillips throws a series of punches but Carver moves out of range.
Carver is trying hard to land a takedown here. Phillips sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Phillips gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Phillips working hard to break the clinch.

Phillips escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Carver tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Phillips was well out of range. Poor timing from Carver.
Phillips turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Carver uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Phillips throws a head kick but Carver moves out of range.
Phillips shoots in for a double leg but Carver sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Carver shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Phillips is trying to defend but Carver finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Carver is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Carver seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.

We're going to have a standup here because Jesse Carver wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Carver takes one to the chin there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Carver drives through with a takedown into guard.
Carver throws a big elbow that misses.
Carver wants to pass the guard but Phillips is keeping the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Jesse Carver has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Carver closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Carver trying to control from Phillips's half guard. Phillips has other ideas though and has regained full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jesse Carver showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Carver 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 Jorge Garcia scores the fight 29:28
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 29:28
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jesse Carver!
A relieved looking Jesse Carver thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.