PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jesse Carver (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lonnie Pickard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Carver
vs
Pickard

173 cm
26
145 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

170 cm
18
147 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Enjoys gardening

Sparta Fightware

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jesse Carver!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Lonnie Pickard!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Frank Antenori and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Carver scores with a head kick. Pickard tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.

It looks like Lonnie Pickard has been cut.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Carver.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Carver will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Pickard up against the cage.
Carver with a knee to the head.

Pickard works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Pickard postures up.
Pickard landing some decent shots from guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carver avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Pickard has gone for a leg lock! Carver slips out almost immediately though and dives into Pickard's guard.
Carver trying to control the position from guard on top but Pickard is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Pickard escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Carver gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Pickard can do anything to dispel that myth.

Pickard throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Pickard is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carver trying to control but Pickard is working from the bottom.

Pickard is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Carver is aware though and is defending well.
Carver wants to control from the top but Pickard keeps moving.
Carver tries to free his leg and advance position but Pickard is retaining full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Carver avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pickard pushes Carver off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

Carver takes the fight into the clinch.
Pickard is looking to break free of the clinch but Carver has double underhooks.

Carver pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Carver tries to close the distance and clinch up but Pickard swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Carver is trying hard to land a takedown here. Pickard sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Carver.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jesse Carver. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Carver lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Carver.
Pickard slaps away a takedown attempt from Carver, before circling back to the center of the mat.
A head kick misses from Carver.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Carver tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Pickard decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Carver's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Lonnie Pickard will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Lonnie Pickard's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Carver tries to clinch but Pickard is having none of it.
Carver lands a nice looking kick to the body. Pickard takes a step back to recover.
Carver fails with the takedown.
Carver tries to close the distance and clinch but Pickard swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Carver shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Pickard pinned against the cage. Pickard gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Pickard takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carver moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Carver dives in and grabs Pickard's left leg, looking for a takedown. Pickard pushes down on Carver's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jesse Carver. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pickard takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Carver lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carver fails in his attempt to clinch.
Carver is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Jesse Carver seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Carver misses with a few strikes there.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Carver!
Carver wants to clinch up but Pickard keeps it at a distance.
Carver wants to clinch.
Pickard circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carver lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

Carver clinches.

Pickard gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Carver regains guard.
Pickard working some strikes from top position.
Carver utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Pickard throws a big elbow that misses.
Carver keeping moving, preventing Pickard from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pickard loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Pickard stands up over Carver, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Pickard working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Pickard postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Carver is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Pickard, into his guard.
Pickard is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Pickard throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Carver escapes and throws Pickard's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Carver misses with the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jesse Carver dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Lonnie Pickard's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Carver tries to clinch up.
The fight stays on the outside here - Carver looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Carver clinches.

Carver breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Carver is looking to clinch but Pickard is avoiding it.
Carver throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Pickard.
Carver bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carver tries to close the distance and clinch but Pickard swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Carver tries to clinch up but Pickard circles away and keeps his distance.
Carver throws a head kick that half lands.
Pickard circles away from the clinch attempt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Carver looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Carver tries to clinch there but Pickard circles away.
Carver wants to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carver doesn't manage to clinch there - Pickard circles away.
Jesse Carver is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Carver is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Carver lands a head kick!
Carver lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

Pickard is rocked!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carver tries to clinch up

and Pickard counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Carver!
Lonnie Pickard has got the better of the ground game so far.
Carver is working to avoid the ground and pound but Pickard connects with a decent elbow.
Pickard working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

Pickard goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Carver rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Pickard's guard! Nice work there by Carver!

Pickard is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Carver is aware though and is defending well.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Pickard is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Pickard looking for a guillotine here but Carver defends easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pickard tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Pickard is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Carver throws a big elbow that misses.
Pickard controls Carver momentarily but Carver frees himself.
Pickard tries to strike from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Pickard is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Carver advances to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Jesse Carver.
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 Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28

The fight is ruled a draw!