PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Eli Armis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Frank Carlyle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Armis might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Mortal Kombat Theme. Eli Armis has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Armis
vs
Carlyle

165 cm
25
145 lbs
15 - 8 - 0

150 cm
24
145 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good takedowns
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

LOD: Affordable Quality
Fight Night Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Eli Armis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Frank Carlyle!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Frank Antenori and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Carlyle scores with a takedown into Armis's guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Armis is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Carlyle pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Armis is keeping the position for now.
Armis trying to keep a closed guard but Carlyle is proving a slippery customer.
Carlyle must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Armis has Carlyle pulled in close to control his posture.

Armis is looking for a triangle but Carlyle pushes his legs off easily.
Carlyle trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Armis manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Armis is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Carlyle is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Armis trying to control the position from guard on top but Carlyle is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Armis won't allow Carlyle to get back to his feet.
Carlyle is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Armis sitting in guard, not really doing much.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Eli Armis.

Armis changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Carlyle looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Carlyle tries to bench press Armis off him but Armis keeps the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Armis tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carlyle is looking for a sweep.
Armis takes a little break here. Carlyle wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Carlyle tries to control but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.
Armis tries to control but Carlyle wriggling away.
Armis will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Carlyle tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Armis sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Armis seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Carlyle for as long as he can get away with.
Armis wants to control the pace but Carlyle is squirming around nicely.
Armis is trying to take his opponent's back.
Carlyle is squirming around, avoiding Armis's attempts to control the action.

We're going to have a standup here because Eli Armis wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Armis closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Carlyle's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Armis wants to control from the top but Carlyle keeps moving.
Carlyle tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Armis looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Carlyle looking for a guillotine here but Armis defends easily.
Armis stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Carlyle swivels though and keeps the full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Armis slips nicely into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Still in half guard, Armis seems content to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eli Armis dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Carlyle throws a hook but Armis avoids it easily.

Carlyle shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Armis napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Carlyle has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Armis feints and as Carlyle raises his hands in defense, Armis changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Armis seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Carlyle wants to hit a switch here but Armis passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Carlyle there!
Armis controlling the position easily from mount.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Carlyle is looking to get to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carlyle slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Armis keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Carlyle is looking for a sweep. Armis is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Armis takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Carlyle is not content to let Armis control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Eli Armis wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Carlyle tries to sprawl but Armis drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Armis prevents Carlyle from improving his position.

Armis is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Carlyle has managed to free his arm - good work.
Armis tries to pass the half guard into mount. Carlyle knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Carlyle slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Armis trying to control but Carlyle is working from the bottom.

Carlyle looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Armis sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Carlyle's guard.
Armis looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Armis seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Carlyle does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Armis performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Armis is trying to control. Carlyle wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Carlyle is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Armis controlling the action here.

Eli Armis has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Armis jabs Carlyle right on the nose. Carlyle blinks but takes it well.
Armis scores with a jab. Carlyle acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Armis scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Armis is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Armis throws a series of punches but Carlyle avoids them all with ease.

Armis bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Armis in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Armis advances to mount.
Carlyle has given up his back - I don’t know if this is a deliberate ploy to try and escape or if he is just struggling down there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Carlyle is trying to get back to his feet but Armis has full control of the position and if anything, Carlyle has just worked his way into a worse spot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Carlyle tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Carlyle is trying desperately to improve position.
Carlyle gets back to half guard.
Armis wants to control but Carlyle is keeping him busy.
Armis perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Carlyle is trying to get back to full guard.
Armis is figuring out what he wants to do next.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Carlyle wants to sweep but Armis has passed to side control!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Armis is trying to get an arm triangle but Carlyle is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eli Armis dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Carlyle gets a double leg takedown into Armis's guard.
Eli Armis overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Carlyle wants to pass the guard but Armis is keeping the position.
Carlyle preventing the sweep.
Carlyle postures up in Armis's guard and throws a big left but Armis blocks it.

Carlyle thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Armis has his foot on Carlyle's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Carlyle works his way back into a safe position though.
Armis is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Carlyle got a little sloppy there for a moment and Armis has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Carlyle has managed to get both his arms back between Armis's legs - danger averted.

Carlyle has gone for a leg lock! Armis slips out almost immediately though and dives into Carlyle's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Armis trying to control the position from guard on top but Carlyle is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Armis drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Armis jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Carlyle working for a triangle but Armis defends it easily.

Carlyle is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Armis defends well.
Armis passes into half guard.
Carlyle tries to get to full guard but Armis has control of the leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carlyle wants to sweep but Armis has passed to side control!
Carlyle is looking for a sweep.
Armis trying to control the position but Carlyle is working away.
Armis passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Carlyle!
Armis mounts Carlyle! Really nice guard pass there!
Armis takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Armis can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Carlyle is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Armis sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Armis can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Carlyle is looking to escape.
Carlyle looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!

Armis working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.

Armis has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Carlyle is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Carlyle can't escape the position.

Carlyle is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Armis has good solid back control here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Carlyle tries to roll but Armis sticks to his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eli Armis clearly takes that 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.

Carlyle shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Armis looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Armis wants to sweep but no luck.
Carlyle tries to free his leg and advance position but Armis is retaining full guard.
Armis looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Carlyle with a flurry of punches that miss.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Eli Armis wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Armis.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Carlyle gets back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Armis seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Carlyle does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Carlyle wants to improve his position but Armis is controlling well.
Carlyle wants to control but Armis is keeping busy.
Armis with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Eli Armis has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Carlyle fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Armis to the ground. Carlyle is now in Armis's guard.
Carlyle postures up in Armis's guard and throws a big left but Armis blocks it.
Carlyle won't allow Armis to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carlyle trying to control but Armis is working from the bottom.
Armis has Carlyle pulled in close to control his posture.
Armis is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Armis pulls Carlyle in close to his closed guard and prevents Carlyle from doing any damage or advancing position.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Eli Armis.
Carlyle misses with an uppercut. Armis saw that one coming.

Carlyle tries to sprawl but Armis drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Carlyle wants to get back to full guard but Armis has mounted him!
Carlyle working to try and regain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Armis controlling from mount.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Carlyle regains half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Armis is looking for a kimura here.
Armis prevents Carlyle from improving his position.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Carlyle tries to roll over but Armis keeps him under control.
Armis sitting and controlling from the half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Armis is trying to control. Carlyle wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Eli Armis will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Armis scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

Armis closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Carlyle to the mat! Carlyle manages to get full guard.
Armis not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Carlyle is trying to keep Armis in close.
Armis slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Armis looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Carlyle is trying to improve his position.
Armis controlling the position from side mount.
Carlyle manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carlyle takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Carlyle throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Armis wants to control but Carlyle is keeping busy.
Armis regains full guard. Nicely done.
Armis not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Armis is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Carlyle works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Armis moves into full guard.
Armis is trying to hold Carlyle in close to prevent damage but Carlyle has managed to pass into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Armis is pressing down on Carlyle's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Armis is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - a gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Armis controls Carlyle momentarily but Carlyle frees himself.
Carlyle slips nicely into half guard.
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!

Armis looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Well, if Carlyle is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Armis tries to get to full guard but Carlyle has control of the leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Carlyle is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Armis defends it well.

Carlyle is trying to work for a kimura but Armis is defending well.
Armis preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Eli Armis is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Carlyle prevents Armis from improving his position.

Carlyle seems to be working for a kimura but Armis defends the submission attempt.
Armis desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Carlyle trying to control from half guard but Armis is working away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Armis tries to roll over but Carlyle keeps him under control.
Carlyle is keen to just control but Armis is a slippery customer.

And that's the end of the fight!
Eli Armis showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Armis has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 50:45
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 50:45
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 50:45

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Eli Armis!
During a confident post fight interview, Eli Armis thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.