PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Sylvain Sauvage (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cristian Carver (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cristian Carver has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Sauvage
vs
Carver

177 cm
25
180 lbs
8 - 7 - 0

173 cm
25
180 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

[IMMA] DTK Designs (Laundry)

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 8 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Sylvain Sauvage!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Cristian Carver!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Alexandre Firmino and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Carver circles away from the clinch attempt.
Carver moves away from the strike by Sauvage.
Sauvage looks to land a body kick but Carver moved away.
Sauvage throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

Carver drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Sauvage struggling a bit here.
Carver works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Sauvage is not content to let Carver control the position.

Carver thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
What's Sauvage going to do here then? He's in a bit of a pickle.
Sauvage dodges the ground and pound from Carver.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carver wants to control but Sauvage is keeping him busy.
Sauvage is trying to get back to half guard.
Carver wants to control but Sauvage is keeping him busy.
Carver lands a few punches from side control.
Sauvage is looking for a sweep.
Carver wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sauvage keeps working.
Sauvage tries to control but Carver manages to take his back.

Carver working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Sauvage trying to control the action but Carver just sinks the hooks in.
Will Carver go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Well, with Carver on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Sauvage is tapping out... Can he escape the position?

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Carver working for a choke but Sauvage is defending well.
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!
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Carver somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.
Carver punishes Sauvage with strikes from the back mount.
Carver scores with strikes from the back.
Carver is riding his opponent, not letting Sauvage buck him off.
Sauvage is taking damage to the body and head.
Carver is landing with strikes. Sauvage can't take much more of this.
Sauvage trying to control the hands but Carver won't let him.
Carver has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carver scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. Sauvage is looking for a way out.

Carver working for the choke.

Carver tightening his grip on Sauvage, looking for the choke.
You can see the frustration on Sauvage's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Sauvage breaks Carver's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

Carver is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Sauvage is aware though and is defending well.

Carver looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Carver working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Sauvage has passed into half guard!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Carver wants to get back to full guard.
Carver keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Carver looking for submissions off his back.

Carver looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Carver is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Sauvage pulls his head out easily.
Sauvage looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Carver with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Sauvage lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sauvage drops an elbow to the side of Carver's head.
Carver is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Sauvage thows a huge punch but Carver dodges it nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cristian Carver dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Sauvage keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Carver.
Sauvage ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Carver takes a swing at Sauvage's ribcage but misses.
Cristian Carver seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Crunch! Sauvage slams his shin into Carver's torso.
Carver waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Sauvage.
Sauvage fails in his attempt to clinch.
Sauvage tries to clinch up.
Carver lands a jab to Sauvage's midsection.
Sauvage goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

It looks like Cristian Carver has been cut.
Carver swings for the body but Sauvage moves out of range.
Carver throws an overhand right that lands on Sauvage's shoulder, as Sauvage tries to avoid the shot.
A slow jab from Carver misses its intended target.
Good shot there by Carver.
Sauvage throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A looping hook to the body misses from Carver. Sauvage does a little dance to reset his feet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sauvage scores with a nice body kick.
Carver fails to land the takedown.
Carver throws a jab but it's blocked by Sauvage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sauvage tries to clinch but Carver moves out of range.
Carver misses with a wild body shot.

Carver drives through with a takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sauvage wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Sauvage is trying to keep Carver in close.
Sauvage keeping moving, preventing Carver from controlling successfully.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Sauvage tries to clinch up.
Sauvage keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Carver scores with the left hand. Sauvage knows he should have avoided that one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sauvage throws a push kick but Carver slaps the foot to one side.
Carver throws a big shot that misses.
Sauvage bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Carver throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Sauvage on the side of the head.
Carver misses the shot to the body.
Carver throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Sauvage stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sauvage is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Carver throws a nice looking combination but Sauvage bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Left hook, right uppercut from Carver.
Carver throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Sauvage sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Carver scores with a body shot.
Carver avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Cristian Carver seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Carver walks into a straight right hand from Sauvage.
Sauvage lands with a straight right. Carver didn't see that one coming.

Sauvage has Carver up against the cage in a clinch.
Sauvage gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carver is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Sauvage gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Sauvage gets through Carver's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Sauvage creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Carver's defenses.

Sauvage wants the takedown. Carver is fighting it off but Sauvage persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Carver's guard against the cage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sauvage wants to control from the top but Carver keeps moving.

Carver looking for a guillotine here but Sauvage defends easily.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Carver is on top in guard.
Carver loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Sauvage looking to hit a scissor sweep but Carver is one step ahead there.
Carver trying to control but Sauvage is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Carver is working Sauvage over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Carver landing some decent shots from guard.
Carver trying to control but Sauvage is working from the bottom.
Sauvage preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Carver throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Carver pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sauvage is keeping the position for now.
Carver trying to control the position from guard on top but Sauvage is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Carver working some strikes from top position.
Sauvage preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cristian Carver showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Cristian Carver's cut.
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. And we move into the final round!

Carver has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Sauvage.
Carver swats away the attempt to clinch by Sauvage.
Carver drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Sauvage takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Carver loads up on a big right hand but Sauvage slips the punch.
An inside leg kick lands from Sauvage.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Carver.
Carver swats away the attempt to clinch by Sauvage.
Carver misses with a straight left.
Carver lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
A decent looking cross lands there for Carver.

Sauvage drives through and clinches with Carver against the cage.
Sauvage lands a nice elbow.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sauvage has Carver pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Carver manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Carver wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sauvage landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Carver struggles to land a body shot inside as Sauvage controls his hands.
Sauvage is trying to maintain a safe position but Carver gets an underhook and turns Sauvage into the cage.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Sauvage takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Sauvage lands an elbow that stopped Carver in his tracks for a moment.
A short right from Sauvage on the inside.
Carver lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Carver blocking some punches.
Sauvage wants to stall.
Sauvage tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Carver avoids it.
Sylvain Sauvage has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sauvage blocks a body shot from Carver.
Carver is looking to take this one to the mat.
Carver has Sauvage pressed against the cage.
Carver is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Sauvage is defending well.
Sylvain Sauvage has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cristian Carver.
Carver takes a knee to the side of the body.
Carver takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sauvage is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Sauvage gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Sauvage misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A right handed body shot lands from Sauvage.
Sauvage putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Carver in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Sauvage scores a nice knee to the body.
Carver is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Sauvage gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Sauvage.

That has opened up Cristian Carver's cut even more.
Carver slowing the pace effectively.
Carver lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Sauvage or not.
Sauvage lands an elbow that stopped Carver in his tracks for a moment.
Sauvage lands a nice elbow.
Carver tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Carver stalling in the clinch but Sauvage improves position.
Sauvage lands an elbow that stopped Carver in his tracks for a moment.

The cut above Cristian Carver's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Carver takes an elbow to the temple.
Sauvage lands an elbow that stopped Carver in his tracks for a moment.
Sauvage lands an elbow just above Carver 's eye.
A short left from Sauvage.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Sauvage.

Cristian Carver's cut is absolute horrible now. This looks like something out of a horror film with blood covering both fighters.

Sauvage gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sauvage is working Carver over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Sauvage with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Sauvage avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sauvage trying to control but Carver is working from the bottom.
Sauvage lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Carver manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Carver connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Sauvage tries to reverse the position but Carver maintains control.
Sauvage is working hard here to advance position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sauvage is flailing around like a fish out of water, trying to land strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sylvain Sauvage showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Carver has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 28:29

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