PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Michael Carter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Lennon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Carter's entrance music is Jazz Cartier - New Religion. A fine choice. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Carter
vs
Lennon

176 cm
21
157 lbs
9 - 1 - 0

167 cm
21
145 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

Voodoo Nutrition
KnockOut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Michael Carter!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, John Lennon!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lennon throws a body punch but Carter moves out of range.
Lennon throws a sloppy body shot
and Carter counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Carter scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Lennon doesn't seem bothered though.
Lennon throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Lennon moves out of range of the strikes.
Carter uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Lennon.
John Lennon seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Carter is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Lennon.
Lennon clobbers Carter with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Good shot there by Carter.
Lennon wants to slow Carter down by chopping away at his legs.
Carter takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Lennon misses the jab.
Lennon misses with a low kick.
Carter throws a jab but it's blocked by Lennon.
Carter blocks a jab.
Carter attempts a counter takedown but Lennon avoids it well and moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lennon lands a nice looking kick to the body. Carter takes a step back to recover.
Lennon is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Carter.
Lennon throws a right hand that misses

and Carter counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Lennon is trying to control the position but Carter postures up.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Carter accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Carter content to stall in guard here.
Carter postures up.
Lennon has control of Carter's left arm, preventing Carter from doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Carter missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Lennon wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Carter wants to pass the guard but Lennon is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carter trying to control but Lennon is working from the bottom.
Lennon working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Carter.
Carter wants to control from the top but Lennon keeps moving.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Lennon scores with a crisp jab that stopped Carter in his tracks.

Carter has managed to clinch.
Lennon lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Carter backwards.
Lennon is looking to control Carter's arms but Carter gets an underhook and turns him. Now Lennon has his back to the cage.
Carter wants to get back to striking at distance but Lennon won't allow it.
Lennon tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lennon misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Carter tries to work over Lennon's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Lennon tries a body shot but Carter blocks it.
Lennon lands a right hand.
Lennon tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carter has a couple of punches blocked by Lennon.
Lennon stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Lennon.
Lennon lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Carter or not.
Carter definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Carter doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Carter prevents a body shot from Lennon.
Carter lands a nice shot to the body.
Carter scores with a hook to the body.
Carter misses with a hook from the clinch.
Carter misses with a punch on the inside.
Lennon misses with a hook from the clinch.
Lennon lands a shoulder strike.
Lennon tries to stall but Carter uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Carter as Lennon tries to tie him up.
Lennon misses with a short punch on the inside.
Carter scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Carter is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Lennon pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Carter misses with a punch on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lennon working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Lennon tries a body shot but Carter blocks it.
Lennon has a couple of punches blocked by Carter.
Lennon scores with an uppercut up the middle.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Carter goes for a takedown attempt but Lennon pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Lennon uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Carter.
A slow jab from Carter misses its intended target.
Carter lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
John Lennon is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Lennon misses with a hook.
Carter dives in for a single leg takedown but Lennon sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael Carter. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A decent looking cross lands there for Lennon.
Lennon tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Lennon takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Lennon throws out a loose jab but Carter uses good head movement to avoid it.
Lennon uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Carter.
Lennon throws a body kick despite being completely out of range

and Carter counters with a single leg into guard. Lennon didn't expect that.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Michael Carter will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Carter takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Carter takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Carter will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Lennon looks to score with a jab to the body but Carter is just out of range.
Lennon fakes the leg kick and cracks Carter in the body.
Lennon thuds a left hand into Carter's body.
Lennon finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Lennon does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Carter lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Carter misses with a left hand
and Lennon counters with an outside leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lennon lands a glancing blow to the side of Carter's head.
Carter connects with a jab.
Carter doesn't manage to clinch there - Lennon circles away.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lennon misses with a low kick.
Carter swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lennon punishes Carter's body with a nice straight punch.

Carter forces Lennon back against the cage and clinches.
Lennon swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Lennon tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Carter's elbow.
Lennon scores with a shot to the side of Carter's head.
Carter takes a shot to the head.
Stalling in the clinch from Carter.
Lennon will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Carter up against the cage.
Carter lands a hook to the side of the head.
Lennon makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Carter taking a breather.
Lennon lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Carter backwards.
Lennon blocking some punches.
Lennon doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
John Lennon seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Carter looking to stall.
Lennon misses with a body punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carter works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Lennon.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lennon avoiding damage.
Lennon lands with a short head shot on the inside.

It looks like Michael Carter has been cut.
Lennon tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Lennon struggles to land a body shot inside as Carter controls his hands.
Carter effectively controlling the action here.
Lennon scores with a shot to the side of Carter's head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Lennon.
A right handed body shot lands from Lennon.
Lennon scores with a hook to the body.
Lennon makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Lennon tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Carter lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Lennon backwards.
Carter working some nice short punches in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Carter works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Lennon trying to keep a closed guard but Carter is proving a slippery customer.
Lennon looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Carter wants to control from the top but Lennon keeps moving.
Carter is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Carter throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Lennon is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Lennon holds on and takes a little breather.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lennon throws a chopping leg kick but Carter manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Lennon doesn't manage to clinch there - Carter circles away.
Lennon loads up on a big right hand but Carter slips the punch.
Carter just misses with a punch to the body.

Lennon has Carter up against the cage in a clinch.
Lennon tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Lennon lands a left hand.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
A right hand to the body from Lennon.
Lennon working aggressively here.
Carter drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Lennon gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Carter works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Lennon showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Michael Carter's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Carter tries to bum rush Lennon with a series of wild strikes but Lennon uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Lennon lands with a good body shot.
Carter ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Lennon moves away.
Lennon thuds a left hand into Carter's body.
Carter tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Lennon was well out of range. Poor timing from Carter.
Nice shot lands for Lennon.
Carter throws a hook to the side of Lennon's head but Lennon sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Carter checks a leg kick nicely.
It looked like Carter wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Lennon throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Lennon jabs at Carter's body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Carter throws a body shot but no joy.
Lennon uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Carter.
Lennon lands with a nice body punch.
A jab from Carter misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carter throws a poor cross that misses
and Lennon connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Nice body punch from Lennon.
Lennon swings for the body but Carter moves out of range.
A jab from Carter misses.
Lennon follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Nice uppercut lands for Carter. That snapped Lennon's head back.
Carter throws a hook but Lennon blocks it.
Carter misses with an uppercut. Lennon saw that one coming.
Lennon avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Carter keeps the fight on the outside.
Lennon lands with a kick to the ribs.

Carter looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Carter preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lennon is still trying to improve position.
Lennon pulls Carter in close to prevent any damage.
Carter trying to control the position from guard on top but Lennon is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Carter is fighting to break Lennon's control of his arms but Lennon is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lennon is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Lennon seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Carter has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Carter throwing strikes but missing.
Lennon has Carter pulled in close to control his posture.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carter swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Lennon throws a nice outside leg kick.
Lennon slips under a jab.
Lennon stuffs the takedown.

Carter closes the distance and clinches.
Lennon is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Carter stalling the fight.
Lennon misses with a hook from the clinch.
Lennon swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Carter tries to stall but Lennon uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Carter lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Lennon lands a right hand that snaps the head of Carter backwards.
A left hand lands to the body for Lennon.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lennon lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Carter backwards.
Still in the clinch, Lennon scores with a nice short uppercut.
Lennon misses with a punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Carter.
Lennon softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Carter lands a nice shot to the body.
Lennon blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Carter is trying to maintain a safe position but Lennon gets an underhook and turns Carter into the cage.
Carter manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Carter is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Lennon is defending well.
Carter misses with a punch on the inside.
A bit of stalling here from Lennon.
Carter prevents a body shot from Lennon.
Lennon lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Lennon throws a head punch that misses.
Lennon throws a head punch that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Lennon really dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Michael Carter's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Carter moves in looking to clinch but Lennon pushes him off.

Carter looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Lennon!
Carter working the body and head with strikes.
Carter throws a strike aimed at the side of Lennon's head but Lennon avoids it well.
Carter misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Michael Carter overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Check out the look on Carter's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Carter throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Lennon works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Lennon trying to control here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Carter seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Lennon does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Carter is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carter wants to control but Lennon is keeping him busy.
Carter not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Carter wants to lay and pray for a moment but Lennon keeps working.
Lennon is looking to improve his position.
Carter trying to pass the guard but Lennon defending well.
Carter working Lennon over with strikes.
Lennon tries to roll over but Carter keeps him under control.
Carter missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Carter wants to pass to mount but Lennon is defending the position.

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.
Lennon preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Lennon on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Carter thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Lennon's head.
Carter prevents Lennon from improving his position.
Lennon is refusing to be controlled, as Carter sits in half guard.
Carter is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Lennon wants to control but Carter is keeping busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lennon blocking the ground and pound attempt from Carter.
Carter trying to control the action but Lennon is working from the bottom.
Carter not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Lennon keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Carter working the head and body with strikes.

Lennon is rocked!
Carter takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Lennon is still in real trouble! Can Carter finish him?
Carter lands strikes from half guard.
Carter not doing much here.
Carter lands a massive shot from half guard that has rocked Lennon! More strikes land and this one is all over! Carter jumps to his feet and is applauded loudly by the crowd!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:54 of round 4, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Michael Carter!
Michael Carter retains his featherweight title!
Michael Carter very nearly forgot to thank Voodoo Nutrition amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.