PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Gustavo Carvalho (ranked 1061 p4p, 123 weight class) and John Rydeland (ranked 2164 p4p, 241 weight class). Rydeland has chosen Robbery - Not sneak attack as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Carvalho
vs
Rydeland

172 cm
32
165 lbs
15 - 10 - 1

185 cm
30
185 lbs
16 - 16 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Gustavo Carvalho!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, John Rydeland!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Wesley Smith and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Carvalho throws a poor cross that misses
and Rydeland counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
A nice inside leg kick there by Carvalho. That's going to slow Rydeland down.
Carvalho with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Rydeland bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Carvalho's head backwards.
Carvalho cracks Rydeland with an open hand slap.
Rydeland misses the shot to the body.
Rydeland throws the left hand but Carvalho avoids the punch easily.
Rydeland misses with a looping right.
Rydeland looks to score with a jab to the body but Carvalho is just out of range.
Carvalho lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Rydeland tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Carvalho paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Carvalho takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Carvalho slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rydeland thows a left - swing and a miss!
Rydeland uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Carvalho.
Carvalho connects with a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carvalho swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Rydeland wants to counter with a clinch but Carvalho pushes him away.
We've been hearing reports that Carvalho has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Carvalho lands a really nice looking cross but Rydeland seems unphased.
Carvalho keeps the fight on the outside.
Rydeland has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Carvalho throws a front kick aimed at Rydeland's knee but Rydeland avoids it well.
Carvalho pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Gustavo Carvalho seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Carvalho blocks a jab.
Carvalho throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Carvalho throws a lazy right hand but Rydeland sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Rydeland ducks right into an uppercut from Carvalho.
Rydeland slips under a jab from Carvalho.
Rydeland defending well as Carvalho loads up on a big left hand.
Carvalho connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Rydeland momentarily.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Carvalho!
Carvalho throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Rydeland has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Carvalho.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Carvalho swings widly with a right hand
and Rydeland makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Carvalho misses with an uppercut. Rydeland saw that one coming.
Carvalho smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Carvalho slips a jab from Rydeland.
Carvalho 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.
Rydeland slips under a jab.
Carvalho moves out of range as Rydeland strikes.
Rydeland scores with a jab.
Carvalho keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A solid leg kick lands there for Carvalho.
Rydeland throws a lazy right hand but Carvalho sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A right-left combo lands from Carvalho.
Carvalho takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
A slow jab from Carvalho misses its intended target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rydeland misses with a straight left.
Rydeland misses with a hook to the body
and Carvalho counters with an inside leg kick.
Rydeland displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Carvalho slips under a jab.
Carvalho fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Rydeland.
Rydeland misses with a hook.
Carvalho throws a half hearted mid kick.
Carvalho misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rydeland.
A jab lands there for Carvalho.
Rydeland lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Carvalho circles away quickly and effectively.
Rydeland tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Carvalho manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Carvalho connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Rydeland misses with a hook. Carvalho ducked under it nicely.
A big right from Carvalho misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Carvalho closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Rydeland to the mat! Rydeland manages to get full guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Carvalho won't allow Rydeland to sweep him here.
Carvalho looking to sit in guard and control but Rydeland gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Carvalho throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Rydeland escapes and throws Carvalho's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Carvalho is trying to control Rydeland's posture but Rydeland avoids it.
Carvalho taking punishment in the form of punches.
Rydeland working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Carvalho is trying to control Rydeland's posture but Rydeland avoids it.

Rydeland tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Carvalho tries to buck Rydeland off but Rydeland is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gustavo Carvalho dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

A slow jab from Rydeland misses its intended target.
A big left from Rydeland misses.
Rydeland slips under a jab from Carvalho.
Rydeland throws out a counter right but Carvalho avoids it with no problem.
Carvalho loads up on a big right hand but Rydeland slips the punch.
Rydeland looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Carvalho misses with a hook.
Carvalho throws an overhand right that lands on Rydeland's shoulder, as Rydeland tries to avoid the shot.
Carvalho chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Nice cross by Rydeland.
Carvalho lands with an overhand left.
Rydeland lands a really nice looking cross but Carvalho seems unphased.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Carvalho throws a low kick but Rydeland moves out of range easily.
Rydeland misses with a straight right.
Carvalho scores with a jab.
A leg kick checked by Rydeland.
Carvalho cracks Rydeland with a right hand to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Carvalho. Rydeland does a little dance to reset his feet.
Rydeland keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rydeland throws out a counter right but Carvalho avoids it with no problem.
Carvalho is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rydeland can do to turn this around?
A slapping leg kick lands for Carvalho.
Rydeland jabbing away but nothing is landing.
An inside leg kick lands from Carvalho.
Carvalho wants to slow Rydeland down by chopping away at his legs.
Carvalho misses with a hook
letting Rydeland counter with a right hand.

Carvalho throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Rydeland tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Carvalho is in Rydeland's guard.
Carvalho might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Carvalho with a flurry of punches that miss.
Carvalho stopping the sweep attempt from Rydeland.
Carvalho throwing strikes from guard but Rydeland blocks nicely.

Rydeland is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Carvalho trying to control but Rydeland is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carvalho lands a couple of digs.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Carvalho distracts Rydeland with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Carvalho is in close to Rydeland's body, working some short punches and elbows.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Carvalho pushing down on Rydeland's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Carvalho throwing shots but Rydeland is blocking nicely.
Rydeland is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Rydeland moves into full guard.
Rydeland utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carvalho lands a couple of decent looking shots.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rydeland is on top in guard.

Carvalho looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Rydeland passes into half guard.

Carvalho looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Rydeland winds up and cracks Carvalho with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Carvalho wants to improve his position but Rydeland is controlling well.
Carvalho taking some punishment here, with Rydeland in his half guard.
Carvalho is looking for a sweep. Rydeland is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Carvalho actively working from the bottom here.
Rydeland drops an elbow to the side of Carvalho's head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rydeland slips a nice elbow through Carvalho's hands, connecting with Carvalho's forehead.
Carvalho 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.
Rydeland wants to lay and pray for a moment but Carvalho keeps working.
Carvalho taking some punishment here, with Rydeland in his half guard.
Rydeland blocks the strikes from Carvalho.

Carvalho is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Rydeland pulls his head out easily.
John Rydeland has got the better of the ground game so far.
Carvalho trying to control but Rydeland postures up.
Carvalho regains full guard. Nicely done.
Rydeland passes easily into side control. Nice work.
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 Gustavo Carvalho will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Carvalho throws a jab when Rydeland was well out of range.
Carvalho throws a right hand that Rydeland ducks under and follows up with a left that Rydeland also avoids with ease.
Carvalho takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Carvalho throws a right hand that misses
and Carvalho takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Carvalho throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Rydeland sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Carvalho needs to keep his hands up - Rydeland had a free shot at his head there.
Rydeland might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Carvalho moves away from the strike by Rydeland.
Carvalho looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Carvalho pivots, looking for a leg kick but Rydeland is out of range and Carvalho settles back down.
Carvalho shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Carvalho throws a body punch but Rydeland moves out of range.
A countering left hand to the body from Rydeland misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rydeland waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Carvalho.
As Rydeland backs away, Carvalho returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Rydeland swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A shot to the body from Carvalho misses
and Rydeland counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Rydeland's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Rydeland throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Carvalho sees it coming and avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carvalho lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Carvalho jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Carvalho swings widly with a right hand
and Rydeland counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Rydeland cracks Carvalho with a good jab.
Rydeland throws a left and a right that both miss
and Carvalho counters with a stiff right hand.
Carvalho slips under a jab from Rydeland.
Carvalho throws an overhand right that lands on Rydeland's shoulder, as Rydeland tries to avoid the shot.
Carvalho misses with a straight right.
Carvalho tries to land a leg kick but Rydeland saw it coming and moves away.
Carvalho cracks the inside of Rydeland's front leg.
Carvalho throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Rydeland stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Carvalho takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Carvalho moves out of range of the strikes.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Carvalho throws a lazy right hand but Rydeland sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rydeland throws a body punch but Carvalho moves out of range.
Carvalho misses with a hook to the body
and Rydeland counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Rydeland throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Carvalho counters with a shoot takedown. Rydeland fights it but they end up in guard.
Rydeland bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Carvalho's guard.

Carvalho has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Rydeland can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Rydeland distracts Carvalho with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Carvalho is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Carvalho looking for a guillotine here but Rydeland defends easily.
Rydeland stands up over Carvalho, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rydeland landing with the ground and pound.

Carvalho is looking for a triangle here but Rydeland uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Rydeland is working Carvalho over with some ground and pound from side control.
Rydeland lands a nice forearm strike.
Rydeland working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Carvalho struggling a bit here.
Carvalho is trying to get back to half guard.
John Rydeland has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rydeland working the head with strikes.
Carvalho takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Carvalho is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Rydeland lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

Carvalho actively working from the bottom here.

Carvalho looking for submissions off his back.
Ground and pound from Rydeland.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Rydeland comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Carvalho 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 29:28
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gustavo Carvalho!
Gustavo Carvalho was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.