PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Leif Carroll (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jason Kelly (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jason Kelly told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Carroll
vs
Kelly

166 cm
24
178 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

176 cm
25
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Determined

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Leif Carroll!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jason Kelly!
The judges for this bout are Summer Carpenter, Hugh Johnson and Damien Edna.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kelly looks to land a body kick but Carroll moved away.
Kelly doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Carroll counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Carroll.
Kelly is looking to break free of the clinch but Carroll has double underhooks.
Kelly stalling in the clinch.

Carroll works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Carroll trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Carroll lands a couple of digs.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Carroll throws a big elbow that misses.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Kelly is on top in guard.
Kelly trying to control but Carroll is working from the bottom.
Carroll being controlled here, momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carroll is adopting a defensive guard.
Carroll looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kelly is one step ahead there.
Carroll is working hard here to advance position.
Kelly must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Kelly pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Carroll is keeping the position for now.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Jason Kelly wasn't active enough on the ground.
Kelly shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Carroll pinned against the cage. Carroll gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Kelly gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Carroll counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Carroll.
Leif Carroll has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jason Kelly.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carroll throws a big right hand that misses.
Kelly is trying to control the position but Carroll postures up.
Carroll wants to stand but Kelly is controlling his posture from full guard.
Carroll lands a couple of decent looking shots.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Carroll wants to get up but he can't break Kelly's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Kelly wants to stand and escape but Carroll is having none of it.
Kelly looking to control.
Carroll working some strikes from top position.
Carroll throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kelly works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Kelly is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Carroll is controlling him.

Kelly is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carroll won't allow Kelly to sweep him here.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Kelly punching from the bottom.
Carroll throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kelly works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Carroll wants to stand but Kelly is controlling his posture from full guard.
Carroll throwing strikes from guard but Kelly blocks nicely.

Kelly looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Carroll won't allow Kelly to get back to his feet.
Kelly looks winded!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Carroll trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Carroll throws a big right hand that misses.
Kelly controls Carroll momentarily but Carroll frees himself.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Carroll would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Kelly is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Carroll is controlling him.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Carroll accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Carroll in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Carroll wants to get up but he can't break Kelly's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Carroll throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kelly works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Kelly wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leif Carroll dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Kelly with a lazy takedown attempt
and Carroll counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Kelly thinking.

Kelly forces Carroll back against the cage and clinches.
A frustrated look appears on Kelly's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Carroll could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Carroll lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Carroll letting Kelly take a breather here.
Kelly avoids a wild elbow strike from Carroll.
Carroll prevents Kelly from breaking the clinch.
Carroll is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Kelly to keep the fight standing.
Carroll prevents a takedown attempt there.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kelly escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Kelly closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Carroll quickly recovers to half guard.
Carroll has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Kelly is working away from the top position though.
Kelly not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Kelly tries to stand and escape but Carroll is controlling the position.
Carroll is trying to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kelly trying to mount his opponent but Carroll defends it.
Carroll tries to get to full guard but Kelly has control of the leg.
Carroll trying to control here.
Carroll keeping hold of Kelly's head, controlling as best he can.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Kelly shoots in but no luck this time.
Leif Carroll has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jason Kelly.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kelly dives in for a single leg takedown but Carroll sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Kelly is breathing heavily.
Kelly stalling the fight.
Kelly drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Carroll gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Kelly has had enough of the clinch but Carroll keeps him there for the moment.
Carroll struggles to land a body shot inside as Kelly controls his hands.

Kelly drags the fight down to the ground.
Kelly wants to stand but Carroll is controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Carroll lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Carroll trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Kelly looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Kelly has momentary wrist control but Carroll slips an elbow through the middle.
Carroll throwing strikes but missing.
Carroll trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Kelly looking for a sweep. Not yet Kelly, not yet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Carroll wants to stand but Kelly is controlling his posture from full guard.
Carroll throws a big elbow that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jason Kelly will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Kelly shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Carroll as he avoids it easily.
Carroll looks to score with a jab to the body but Kelly is just out of range.
Carroll will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Jason Kelly seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Kelly clinches with his opponent.
Kelly tries to break the clinch but Carroll is controlling the position.
Kelly effectively controlling the action here.

Kelly escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Kelly gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kelly looking to stall.
Kelly wants to break the clinch but can't.

Kelly jumps guard and drags Carroll to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Carroll being controlled here momentarily.

Kelly working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Carroll doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Carroll manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Kelly takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Carroll content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Carroll throws a big elbow that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kelly avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Kelly working a defensive guard here.
Carroll won't allow Kelly to sweep him here.
Carroll is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Carroll loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Carroll throws an elbow that misses. Kelly uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Carroll's guard. Nice move by Kelly!
Kelly preventing the sweep.
Kelly passes into half guard.
Carroll gets back to full guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Carroll pulls Kelly in to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kelly trying to control the position from guard on top but Carroll is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Carroll controlling the position.
Kelly loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Carroll trying to keep a closed guard but Kelly is proving a slippery customer.
Carroll wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Kelly changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Carroll tries to avoid it but Kelly manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Carroll to the ground. Carroll escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Kelly fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Carroll, pushing him back against the cage.
Kelly is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Carroll pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Leif Carroll has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jason Kelly.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kelly wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Kelly goes for a takedown in the clinch but Carroll prevents it.
Carroll keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Kelly's efforts to push away.
Carroll drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kelly misses with a punch to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jason Kelly comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Kelly 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 Summer Carpenter scores the fight 28:29
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Jason Kelly!
Jason Kelly thanked the fans post fight for their support.