PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Matthew Arnold (ranked 6171 p4p, 0 weight class) and Playboi Carti (ranked 6174 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Arnold
vs
Carti

152 cm
19
151 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
20
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 New York, Matthew Arnold!
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, Playboi Carti!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Lou da Vinci and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Arnold tries to clinch but Carti moves out of range.
Carti appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Carti displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

It looks like Matthew Arnold has been cut.

Arnold tries to keep at a distance but Carti has taken the fight into the clinch.
Arnold can't get the takedown.
Arnold tries a knee to the head but Carti blocks it.

Carti pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Arnold pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Nice uppercut lands for Carti. That snapped Arnold's head back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Arnold avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
A low kick from Carti misses

and Arnold counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Arnold.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Arnold with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Carti is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Arnold defends well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Arnold gets to his feet - Carti follows without any prompting.
Matthew Arnold is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Arnold instigates a clinch.
Arnold is trying to stall.
Carti can't break the clinch.
Arnold is working for takedown but Carti is calmly controlling the position for now.

Carti has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Arnold uses from the top position.
Arnold looking to sit in guard and control but Carti gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Arnold could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Arnold utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Carti looking to pass the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arnold is trying to keep Carti in close.
Arnold might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Carti trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Carti loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Arnold utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Carti wants to stand but Arnold has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Arnold seems keen to control Carti's posture.
Arnold continues to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arnold looking to control.
Carti must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Carti trying to control but Arnold is working from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Carti shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Arnold defends it nicely.
Carti looks for a takedown but Arnold sprawls well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Arnold circles away from the clinch attempt.
Carti stalks Arnold and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Arnold's face. Arnold staggers backwards, shaken.
Carti looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Arnold is fending him off so far but Carti persists. Nope, Arnold circles away and we're back to standing.
Matthew Arnold has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Playboi Carti.

Arnold clinches.
Arnold stalling.

Arnold jumps guard.
Arnold throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Carti looking to pass the guard.
Arnold wants to sweep but no luck.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Playboi Carti dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Matthew Arnold's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Arnold clinches with his opponent.
Arnold taking a breather.
Carti wants to break the clinch but can't.
Arnold taking a breather.
Carti is looking for a takedown.
Carti can't break the clinch.
Come on Carti - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

Carti successfully pulls guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Arnold is in close to Carti's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Arnold trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Arnold decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Carti, up you get!
Carti tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Arnold defends well and Carti ends up having to push Arnold into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arnold tries to clinch but Carti is having none of it.
Arnold tries to clinch up but Carti circles away and keeps his distance.
Arnold doesn't manage to clinch there - Carti circles away.

Carti moves into the clinch successfully.

Arnold manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Arnold controlling the position.
Carti wants to control from the top but Arnold keeps moving.
Matthew Arnold overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Arnold will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Arnold working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Carti.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carti throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Arnold works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Carti trying to control the position from guard on top but Arnold is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Carti loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Carti throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Arnold avoids the head kick by Carti.
Arnold stuffs the takedown attempt from Carti. Carti gets slowly back to his feet.
Matthew Arnold has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Playboi Carti.
Carti is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Carti darts in and clinches Arnold up against the cage.
Arnold has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Arnold.
Carti stalling against the cage.

Arnold breaks from the clinch.

Carti instigates a clinch.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Carti blocks the elbow strike.
Arnold missing with knees to the body.
Arnold is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A frustrated look appears on Carti's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Arnold's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Carti shoots in for a takedown but Arnold shows good takedown defense.
Arnold is looking to clinch.

Arnold has taken the fight to the clinch.
Arnold stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Carti just leaning against Arnold, taking a breather.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Carti manages to break the clinch.
Carti tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Arnold defends well and Carti ends up having to push Arnold into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Matthew Arnold will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Matthew Arnold's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Carti avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Arnold closes the distance and clinches.

Arnold breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Arnold stuffs the takedown attempt from Carti. Carti gets slowly back to his feet.

Arnold clinches up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Carti tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Arnold drops down looking for an ankle pick but Carti pulls his leg out and moves away.

Carti has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carti is pushing Arnold up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Arnold tries to pull guard but Carti won't allow it.
Arnold is trying to pull guard but Carti turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matthew Arnold. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Carti effectively controlling the action here.
Arnold blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Carti taking a breather.
Arnold is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

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.
Carti is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Matthew Arnold has scored more points in the clinch so far.
The referee calls for Carti to work.
Arnold fails to pull guard.
Carti is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Arnold to keep the fight standing.
Arnold tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Carti smiles and moves away.
Carti throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Arnold drops down looking for a counter takedown but Carti sprawls and moves away.
Playboi Carti seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Carti misses with a takedown attempt - Arnold sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arnold stuffs the takedown.
Carti takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Carti clinches up with Arnold and pushes him back against the cage.
Arnold has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Carti is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Arnold is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Carti.
Arnold on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Carti's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Arnold drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Carti gets the underhooks and prevents it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arnold is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Carti pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Arnold looking to slow down the pace here.

Carti ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Carti no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Carti keeping moving, preventing Arnold from controlling successfully.
Carti looking for a sweep. Not yet Carti, not yet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Arnold throws a big elbow that misses.
Arnold stands up over Carti, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Arnold wants to get up but he can't break Carti's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Playboi Carti comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Carti has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 David Schapiro scores the fight 28:29
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Playboi Carti!