PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Esteban Soto Carrass (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Saruwatari Tsubaki (ranked 0 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.

Soto Carrass
vs
Tsubaki

168 cm
18
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

153 cm
21
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Esteban Soto Carrass!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Saruwatari Tsubaki!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Alec Ball and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fight stays on the outside here - Tsubaki looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Soto Carrass lunges at Tsubaki with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Tsubaki's hand.
Soto Carrass throws a right hand that Tsubaki ducks under and follows up with a left that Tsubaki also avoids with ease.
Tsubaki tries for a takedown but Soto Carrass sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Tsubaki wants to clinch.
A punch combination from Soto Carrass misses.
Soto Carrass circles away from the clinch attempt.

Soto Carrass has managed to clinch.

Tsubaki manages to break the clinch.
Tsubaki has a takedown stuffed.
Tsubaki is looking to clinch.
Soto Carrass rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Tsubaki moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Soto Carrass fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Soto Carrass misses with an attempted mid kick.
Tsubaki tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soto Carrass tries to clinch

and Tsubaki counters by clinching up.
Tsubaki wants a takedown but no success here.
Esteban Soto Carrass has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Saruwatari Tsubaki.
Tsubaki tries to pull guard but Soto Carrass holds him up against the cage and eventually Tsubaki drops back down to his feet.
Tsubaki tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Soto Carrass just stands there and leans against the cage.
Soto Carrass looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Soto Carrass prevents the takedown attempt.
Tsubaki has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Soto Carrass is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Tsubaki goes for a takedown in the clinch but Soto Carrass prevents it.
A frustrated look appears on Soto Carrass's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Soto Carrass looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Soto Carrass is looking to break free of the clinch but Tsubaki has double underhooks.
Soto Carrass is trying to force a seperation but Tsubaki has the dominant position.
Tsubaki is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soto Carrass prevents a body shot from Tsubaki.
Soto Carrass has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Soto Carrass wants to get back to striking at distance but Tsubaki won't allow it.
Soto Carrass wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Soto Carrass is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Soto Carrass struggles to land a body shot inside as Tsubaki controls his hands.
Soto Carrass is trying to break the clinch but Tsubaki is controlling him.
Tsubaki prevents Soto Carrass from breaking the clinch.
Soto Carrass gets through Tsubaki's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Soto Carrass has had enough of the clinch but Tsubaki keeps him there for the moment.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Soto Carrass wants to get back to striking at distance but Tsubaki won't allow it.
Tsubaki tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Tsubaki is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tsubaki escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Soto Carrass throws a series of punches but Tsubaki avoids them all with ease.
Tsubaki should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Soto Carrass throws a lazy body kick

and Tsubaki holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
A short right from Soto Carrass on the inside.

Tsubaki's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Tsubaki shoots in but no luck this time.
Soto Carrass moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Tsubaki looks gassed!
Soto Carrass displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Tsubaki.
Soto Carrass misses with a few strikes there.
Soto Carrass throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Tsubaki counters with an outside leg kick.
Soto Carrass throws a nice looking combination but Tsubaki bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Soto Carrass throws a head kick but Tsubaki moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tsubaki avoids a punch combination nicely.
Tsubaki fails to land the takedown.
Soto Carrass keeps the fight on the outside.
Soto Carrass throws a left and a right that both miss
and Tsubaki counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Tsubaki plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Soto Carrass stuffs the takedown.
Soto Carrass throws a series of punches but Tsubaki moves out of range.
Soto Carrass fails with a takedown attempt.
Tsubaki misses with the combination.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Soto Carrass throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Esteban Soto Carrass dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Tsubaki fails with an attempt to clinch.

Soto Carrass has taken the fight to the clinch.

Tsubaki breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Tsubaki dodges the punch combination from Soto Carrass.
Soto Carrass misses with a wild combination.
Tsubaki avoids a punch combination nicely.
Tsubaki fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Soto Carrass lands a jab-cross combination.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Tsubaki shoots in for a double leg but Soto Carrass sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Tsubaki.
Esteban Soto Carrass has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Saruwatari Tsubaki.
Soto Carrass throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tsubaki will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Soto Carrass is trying hard to land a takedown here. Tsubaki sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Tsubaki looks for a takedown but Soto Carrass sprawls well.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Soto Carrass.
A combination from Soto Carrass does no damage.
Soto Carrass lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Soto Carrass.
Tsubaki fails with a takedown attempt.
Soto Carrass tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Tsubaki manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Soto Carrass throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Soto Carrass swinging wildly here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tsubaki tries to close the distance and clinch up but Soto Carrass swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Soto Carrass tries to keep at a distance but Tsubaki has taken the fight into the clinch.
Soto Carrass wants to break the clinch but can't.
Tsubaki jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Soto Carrass walks away with a smile on his face. Tsubaki gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Tsubaki shoots in looking for a takedown but Soto Carrass manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Tsubaki's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Soto Carrass misses with a few strikes there.

Soto Carrass has Tsubaki up against the cage in a clinch.
Soto Carrass tries to circle away but Tsubaki has him pinned against the cage.
Soto Carrass gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Tsubaki.
Soto Carrass can't break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Soto Carrass manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Soto Carrass avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Tsubaki wants to control from the top but Soto Carrass keeps moving.
Tsubaki tries to free his leg and advance position but Soto Carrass is retaining full guard.
Tsubaki is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Esteban Soto Carrass wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Soto Carrass walks forward, straight into a front kick from Tsubaki.
Soto Carrass keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Tsubaki tries to close the distance and clinch but Soto Carrass swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Tsubaki has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Tsubaki there as he acknowledges the shot.
A combination from Tsubaki does no damage.
Tsubaki slips a jab and a cross from Soto Carrass.
Tsubaki shoots in looking for a takedown. Soto Carrass tries to sprawl out of it but Tsubaki keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Soto Carrass manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Soto Carrass lands with a right hand.
Tsubaki looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Esteban Soto Carrass dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

A nice combination there by Soto Carrass.
Soto Carrass wants to clinch up but Tsubaki keeps it at a distance.
Soto Carrass is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Soto Carrass pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Tsubaki back to the cage. Soto Carrass follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Soto Carrass misses with the combination.
Tsubaki misses with a body kick.
Soto Carrass fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Tsubaki moves in looking to clinch but Soto Carrass pushes him off.
Sloppy strikes from Soto Carrass. Those never looked like landing.
Tsubaki tries to close the distance and clinch but Soto Carrass swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Tsubaki clinches up with Soto Carrass and pushes him back against the cage.

Tsubaki manages to break the clinch.
Tsubaki throws a series of punches but Soto Carrass moves out of range.
Esteban Soto Carrass is winning the standup battle so far.
Soto Carrass throws a nice looking combination but Tsubaki bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tsubaki shoots in for a double leg but Soto Carrass sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Esteban Soto Carrass is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A combination from Soto Carrass does no damage.
Tsubaki shoots in but no luck this time.
Soto Carrass misses with a double jab.
Tsubaki throws a right and a left that both miss.
Soto Carrass wants to clinch up but Tsubaki keeps it at a distance.
Tsubaki fails with a takedown attempt.
Esteban Soto Carrass has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Saruwatari Tsubaki.
A combination from Soto Carrass does no damage.
Tsubaki shoots in for a double leg but Soto Carrass sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Soto Carrass closes this distance looking for a takedown but Tsubaki circles away.
Soto Carrass throws a right and a left that both miss.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Tsubaki is defended easily by Soto Carrass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soto Carrass has a takedown stuffed.
Soto Carrass will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Tsubaki shoots for a double leg takedown but Soto Carrass sprawls well. He's pushed Tsubaki's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Soto Carrass lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Some wild striking there from Soto Carrass.
Tsubaki works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Tsubaki shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Soto Carrass defends it nicely.
Donk. Soto Carrass catches Tsubaki right on the button with a cross.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soto Carrass throws a nice looking combination but Tsubaki bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Tsubaki gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Soto Carrass has had enough of the clinch but Tsubaki keeps him there for the moment.
Tsubaki with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

Tsubaki breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Soto Carrass throws a series of punches but Tsubaki moves out of range.
Soto Carrass tries to clinch up but Tsubaki circles away and keeps his distance.
Tsubaki throws a head kick that half lands.

Tsubaki drives through and clinches with Soto Carrass against the cage.
Soto Carrass is trying to break the clinch but Tsubaki has him pressed against the cage.
Esteban Soto Carrass has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Tsubaki tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Soto Carrass smiles and moves away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tsubaki throws a nice looking combination but Soto Carrass bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Tsubaki showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Soto Carrass.
Soto Carrass misses with a combination
and Tsubaki counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Soto Carrass throws a nice looking combination but Tsubaki bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Soto Carrass misses with a double jab
and Tsubaki cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Tsubaki closes the distance and pushes Soto Carrass back into the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tsubaki tries to pull guard but Soto Carrass holds him up against the cage and eventually Tsubaki drops back down to his feet.
Soto Carrass is trying to break free.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Esteban Soto Carrass.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Soto Carrass, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Robert Douchet scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 30:27
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Esteban Soto Carrass!