PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between River Carver (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joel Whitehead (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Joel Whitehead acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Carver
vs
Whitehead

187 cm
25
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

162 cm
20
154 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, River Carver!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Joel Whitehead!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Tiny Johnson and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Whitehead scores a takedown into full mount!
Carver is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.

Whitehead working for a guillotine from mount but Carver is in no mood to give up.
Carver is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Carver knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Whitehead on the ground.

Whitehead with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Carver squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Whitehead looking to control but Carver is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Whitehead won't let Carver get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Carver trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Whitehead can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Carver is looking to escape.
Carver tries to buck Whitehead off but he can't manage it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Whitehead has control of Carver's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Carver regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Whitehead pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

Whitehead is working for a guillotine from mount but Carver frees his head quite easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Carver wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Carver really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Carver is squirming around, avoiding Whitehead's attempts to control the action.
Carver is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joel Whitehead dominated that round.
That's time! Carver's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Carver swings for the body but Whitehead moves out of range.
Good exchange - Carver coming out on top.
Carver throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Whitehead is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Carver's half guard.
Carver pushes Whitehead off looking to stand but Whitehead dives back in and keeps control.
Whitehead is looking to take a break and control but Carver is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Joel Whitehead has got the better of the ground game so far.
Carver pushes Whitehead off looking to stand but Whitehead dives back in and keeps control.
Whitehead passes to full mount!

Whitehead is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
River Carver is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A combination from Carver does no damage.
Whitehead shoots in but Carver avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Whitehead is breathing heavily.
Carver fails to land with a series of punches.
Carver displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Carver scores with a jab to the jaw.
Carver misses with a double jab.
Whitehead takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
River Carver is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Carver looks to land a combination but Whitehead avoids it well.
Carver avoids a punch combination nicely.
A jab from Carver finds it's way through Whitehead's defenses.
Whitehead slips a jab and a cross from Carver.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big left from Whitehead misses.
Carver throws a good cross that connects.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Whitehead looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Carver is fending him off so far but Whitehead persists. Nope, Carver circles away and we're back to standing.
Carver misses with a few strikes there.
Carver misses with a few strikes there.
Whitehead takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Carver misses with a series of wild punches.
Carver misses with the combination.
Some wild striking there from Carver.
River Carver seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A punch combination from Carver misses.
Carver looks to land a combination but Whitehead avoids it well.
Whitehead has a takedown stuffed.
River Carver has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joel Whitehead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whitehead shoots in for a takedown but Carver shows good takedown defense.
Carver scores with a jab.
Carver lands a two punch combo.
Whitehead needs to keep his hands up - Carver had a free shot at his head there.
Carver throws a combination. Whitehead tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
River Carver is winning the standup battle so far.
Whitehead takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Carver bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Whitehead's head backwards.
Some wild striking there from Carver.
Whitehead avoids a punch combination nicely.
Carver scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Whitehead doesn't seem bothered though.
Carver throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Carver rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Whitehead moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Carver. Those never looked like landing.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Whitehead fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Whitehead shoots in but Carver avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Carver is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Carver throws a right hand that Whitehead ducks under and follows up with a left that Whitehead also avoids with ease.
Whitehead takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Carver throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Whitehead is defended easily by Carver.
Carver fails to land with a series of punches.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sloppy strikes from Carver. Those never looked like landing.
Carver tries to bum rush Whitehead with a series of wild strikes but Whitehead uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Whitehead shoots in for a takedown but Carver shows good takedown defense.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

River Carver dominated that second round.
That's time! Carver's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Carver throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Whitehead.
Carver throws a series of punches but Whitehead moves out of range.
Carver lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Sloppy strikes from Carver. Those never looked like landing.
Carver is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Sloppy strikes from Carver. Those never looked like landing.
Carver lands with a right hand.
Whitehead avoids the body shot from Carver.
Good standup being displayed there by Carver as he connects with a hook.
Carver lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Whitehead circles away quickly and effectively.
Carver with a jab.
Carver misses with a wild combination.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Whitehead shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Carver as he jumps to the side.
Carver throws a right hand that Whitehead ducks under and follows up with a left that Whitehead also avoids with ease.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No joy there for Carver, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Whitehead throws a right and a left that both miss.
Whitehead wants to clinch up but Carver keeps it at a distance.

Whitehead closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Whitehead lands in his opponent's guard.
Carver is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Whitehead is controlling him.
Whitehead loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Whitehead tries to free his leg and advance position but Carver is retaining full guard.

Whitehead thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Whitehead prevents Carver from getting back to his feet.
Whitehead wants to stand but Carver has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Carver wants to stand up but Whitehead is controlling him.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Whitehead trying to control but Carver is working from the bottom.
Carver will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Carver's corner calls for a 1-2. Carver obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Whitehead slips a jab and a cross from Carver.
Carver swinging wildly here.
Whitehead fails with an attempt to clinch.
Carver misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Whitehead gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Carver.
A nice combination there by Carver.
Carver looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Whitehead looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
A left and a right from Carver both land. Nice combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Carver darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Whitehead throws a low kick but Carver moves out of range easily.
Whitehead shoots for a double leg takedown but Carver sprawls well. He's pushed Whitehead's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Carver lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Carver throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Carver pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Whitehead back to the cage. Carver follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Whitehead has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Carver finds it's way round the side to connect with Whitehead's head.
Carver keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Carver throws a right and a left that both miss.
Nice straight punches there by Carver. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Carver.
Whitehead shoots in but Carver avoids the takedown attempt easily.
River Carver has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joel Whitehead.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Carver swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Whitehead.
Carver throws a right and a left that both miss.

And that's the end of the fight!
River Carver showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Carver 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... River Carver!