PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Theo Apostolou (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Casey Carwin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Apostolou comes to the cage accompanied by "Deep" by Nine Inch Nails. Carwin has chosen Tool - Vicarious as his entrance music. Theo Apostolou has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Apostolou
vs
Carwin

177 cm
25
199 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

188 cm
20
199 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Great elbows
Very strong

Good takedowns
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Theo Apostolou!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Casey Carwin!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Apostolou fails with an attempt to clinch.
Nice shot lands for Carwin.
Carwin takes a swing at Apostolou's ribcage but misses.
Apostolou checks a leg kick nicely.
Carwin scores with a body shot.
Carwin lands a right hook to the body.
Carwin connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Carwin fails with the takedown.

Apostolou gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Carwin to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Carwin wants to control from the top but Apostolou keeps moving.
Carwin advances position into side control!
Apostolou is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Carwin asserts his dominance and retains side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Carwin tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Carwin trying to control the action but Apostolou is working from the bottom.
Carwin tries to advance to mount but can't.
Apostolou is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Carwin looking to control but instead Apostolou has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Carwin wants to control but Apostolou is keeping him busy.
Carwin perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Carwin trying to pass the guard but Apostolou defending well.

Carwin is trying to work for a kimura but Apostolou is defending well.
Apostolou is refusing to be controlled, as Carwin sits in half guard.
Carwin is pressing down on Apostolou's thigh, looking to free his foot. Apostolou is holding on for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Apostolou is refusing to be controlled, as Carwin sits in half guard.

Carwin decides to stand up.
Carwin wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Apostolou is looking to clinch but Carwin is avoiding it.
Apostolou moves in looking to clinch but Carwin pushes him off.
Carwin throws a series of strikes that have Apostolou backpedaling.
Apostolou takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Carwin cracks Apostolou with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Carwin shoots for a double leg takedown but Apostolou sprawls well. He's pushed Carwin's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Carwin moves into range and connects with a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Carwin shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Theo Apostolou has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Casey Carwin.
Apostolou moves forwards but Carwin connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Carwin scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Carwin rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Apostolou moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Apostolou uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Carwin.
Apostolou wants to clinch.
Apostolou fails with an attempt to clinch.
Apostolou uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Carwin.
Carwin misses with a series of wild punches.
Carwin lands a lovely overhand right.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Apostolou on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Casey Carwin dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Carwin uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Apostolou has time to react.
Carwin fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Carwin shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Carwin showed some decent athleticism there.
Carwin thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Apostolou to regain full guard.
Carwin wants to control from the top but Apostolou keeps moving.
Apostolou can't keep his opponent in guard - Carwin advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Apostolou wants to get back to his feet.
Apostolou knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Carwin on the ground.

Carwin is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Carwin trying to pass the guard but Apostolou defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carwin is keen to just control but Apostolou is a slippery customer.
Carwin wants to pass the guard but Apostolou is defending well.

Carwin is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Apostolou is just riding it out for now. Carwin eventually gives up the hold.
Carwin is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.

That's two 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.
Apostolou keeping full guard, as Carwin tries to pass.
Apostolou wants to stand and escape but Carwin is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Carwin looking to pass the guard.
Carwin in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Carwin pushing down on Apostolou's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Carwin is pressing down on Apostolou's thigh, looking to free his foot. Apostolou is holding on for now.
Carwin trying to control from half guard but Apostolou is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carwin slows the pace down in half guard.
Carwin seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Apostolou does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Carwin missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Carwin stops Apostolou from getting back to his feet.
Carwin lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Carwin is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Carwin missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Carwin wants to take a breather but Apostolou is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Carwin wants to free his trapped foot but Apostolou is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Apostolou on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Apostolou on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Apostolou is trying to stand up here but Carwin is controlling him well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Carwin is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Carwin trying to control the action but Apostolou is working from the bottom.
Carwin is taking a breather. Apostolou says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Casey Carwin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

A jab lands there for Carwin.
Carwin looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
A lazy left from Carwin finds it's target.
Carwin ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Apostolou moves away.
Carwin throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Carwin misses with a wild body shot.
Carwin lands a right hook to the body.
Carwin shoots in but no luck this time.
Carwin ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Carwin.
Carwin dips to his left and cracks Apostolou with an uppercut!
Carwin throws a wild body kick that Apostolou sees coming a mile off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carwin throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Apostolou on the side of the head.
Casey Carwin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Carwin connects with a body shot.
Nice shot by Carwin.
Theo Apostolou is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Carwin keeps the fight on the outside.
Apostolou is looking to clinch but Carwin is avoiding it.
Apostolou takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Carwin connects with a good right hand that stumbles Apostolou. Apostolou circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Decent striking displayed by Carwin there.
Apostolou is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Carwin misses with a wild body shot.
Carwin lands a jab.
The fight stays on the outside here - Apostolou looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Apostolou avoids the body shot from Carwin.
Carwin lands with a shot to the body.
Carwin is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Carwin scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Carwin has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Carwin scores with a punch to the head.
Apostolou tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Carwin paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Carwin lands with a right hand.
Carwin scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Carwin avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Carwin misses with a low kick as Apostolou jumps back.
Carwin slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Carwin, as that shot connected.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Carwin looks to land a combination but Apostolou avoids it well.
Casey Carwin seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Apostolou checks a leg kick.
Carwin smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Carwin tests Apostolou's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Carwin will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Carwin uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Carwin lands with an uppercut that bounces Apostolou off the cage and back into rage.
Carwin moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Apostolou is looking to clinch.
Apostolou is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Carwin misses with a low kick.
Apostolou is looking to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Apostolou has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Carwin shoots for a double leg takedown but Apostolou sprawls well. He's pushed Carwin's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Theo Apostolou has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Casey Carwin.
Nice shot lands for Carwin.
Carwin throws a right and a left that both miss.
Carwin connects with a solid leg kick.
Carwin closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Apostolou uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Carwin.
Carwin 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.
Carwin looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Apostolou has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Carwin finds it's way round the side to connect with Apostolou's head.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Carwin keeps the fight on the outside.
Apostolou takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Apostolou looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Carwin scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Casey Carwin really dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Carwin throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Carwin swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Apostolou.
Carwin scores with a body shot.
Nice takedown defense from Apostolou. No joy for Carwin on that attempt.
Carwin swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Carwin throws a nice looking combination but Apostolou bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Carwin stuns Apostolou with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Apostolou wants to clinch up but Carwin keeps it at a distance.
Carwin uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Apostolou has time to react.
Apostolou on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Carwin dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Carwin throws a good cross that connects.
Apostolou checks the leg kick.
Apostolou walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carwin throws a solid leg kick but Apostolou takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Carwin.
Carwin misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Apostolou.
Apostolou doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Carwin fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Carwin throws a good cross that connects.
Apostolou takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Carwin connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Apostolou's hands.
Apostolou takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Carwin lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Apostolou circles away quickly and effectively.
Carwin scores with a jab to the body.
Carwin has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Carwin throws a nice looking combination but Apostolou bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Carwin fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Carwin looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carwin misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Carwin lands with a right hand.
Apostolou avoids a punch combination nicely.
Carwin lands a nice hook to Apostolou's body. Apostolou takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Carwin scores with a jab to the head.
Carwin throws a right hand that Apostolou ducks under and follows up with a left that Apostolou also avoids with ease.
Carwin shoots in but no luck this time.

Apostolou gets caught flat footed, as Carwin shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Apostolou is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Carwin trying to control but Apostolou is working from the bottom.
Apostolou utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Apostolou is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Carwin is controlling him.
Carwin missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Carwin advances to half guard.
Carwin is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

Carwin is trying for a kimura here. Apostolou looks like he's in a lot of pain... and he's tapping out! Carwin wins by kimura!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:51 of round 4, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Casey Carwin!
Casey Carwin is the new light heavyweight champion!