PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between John Thompson (ranked 4444 p4p, 4551 weight class) and Leo Carten (ranked 474 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.

Thompson
vs
Carten

185 cm
18
185
0 - 0 - 0

191 cm
23
200
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, John Thompson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Leo Carten!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Johanna Lukiainen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Thompson moves into range and clinches up with Carten.
Thompson tries a knee to the head but Carten blocks it.
Carten is trying to break the clinch but Thompson is controlling him.
Carten has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Thompson is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Thompson tries to land a knee to the head but Carten blocks with his arms.

Carten is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Thompson can't fight it off and eventually Carten manages to take the fight to the floor. Thompson looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Thompson wants to stand up but Carten is controlling him.
Carten working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Thompson's head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thompson wants to get back to his feet but Carten is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Carten is stalling in the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carten passes into half guard.
Thompson wants to get back to his feet.

Carten is working for a kimura but Thompson is defending it quite comfortably.
Thompson is looking to control Carten's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Thompson avoid being mounted?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thompson wants to sweep but Carten has passed to side control!

Carten stands up and beckons Thompson to his feet.

Thompson drives through and clinches with Carten against the cage.

Carten has Thompson pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Carten pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Thompson tumbling to the mat - Carten dives into Thompson's guard.
Carten stays in close to Thompson's body and controls the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thompson is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Carten presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Thompson tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Thompson lands a left hand.
Carten drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Thompson with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Thompson manages to break the clinch.
Thompson scores with the left hand. Carten knows he should have avoided that one.
Carten checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Thompson tries to keep at a distance but Carten has taken the fight into the clinch.
Thompson lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Carten backwards.

Carten has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Thompson regains guard immediately.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Carten sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Thompson's guard.
Thompson is trying to stand back up but Carten is controlling him
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Carten tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Thompson.
Thompson is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Carten scores with a couple of nice shots.
Thompson has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Carten is working away from the top position though.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Leo Carten will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Carten throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Thompson darts in and clinches Carten up against the cage.
Thompson tries to land a knee to the head but Carten blocks with his arms.
Carten prevents a body shot from Thompson.
Carten drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Thompson gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Thompson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Thompson moves into the clinch successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thompson misses with a knee to the head.
Carten drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Thompson tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thompson is pressed up against the cage. Carten has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Thompson down to the mat. Thompson avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
John Thompson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Leo Carten.

Thompson rushes Carten and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Thompson tries a knee to the head but Carten blocks it.
Thompson prevents the takedown attempt.
Thompson with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Thompson tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Carten has Thompson pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Thompson manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Thompson connects with a nasty looking knee right to Carten's face.
Carten fails to pull guard.
Thompson looking to throw knees to the head but Carten is blocking nicely.
Carten tries for a takedown. No joy.
Thompson using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Carten has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thompson with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Thompson with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Carten gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Carten seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Carten uses his free foot to push down on Thompson's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Thompson.

Carten has isolated one of Thompson's arms. Thompson looking to fight him off but Carten twists into an armbar. It's tight... Will he tap?? YES, he's tapped! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:56 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Leo Carten!