PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Brendan Carano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Simon Sermera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Sermera's choice of entrance music: HARKA. Simon Sermera will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Carano
vs
Sermera

175 cm
25
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

195 cm
25
260 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Brendan Carano!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Simon Sermera!
The judges for this bout are Skip Squint, Hugh Johnson and Donatello Bradman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sermera fails to land with a series of punches.
Sermera throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

Carano forces Sermera back against the cage and clinches.
Carano jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Sermera walks away with a smile on his face. Carano gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Carano blocks a head kick by Sermera.
Sermera misses with a head kick.
Carano tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Sermera manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Carano shoots in and bounces Sermera off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Carano wants to control from the top but Sermera keeps moving.
Sermera keeping full guard, as Carano tries to pass.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Carano showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Carano closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Sermera's guard.
Carano trying to control but Sermera is working from the bottom.
Carano could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Sermera is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Carano not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Carano might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Sermera wants to get back to his feet but Carano is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sermera trying to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

We're going to have a standup here because Brendan Carano wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Carano shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Sermera counters with a head kick. That will keep Carano thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Sermera throws a wild body kick that Carano sees coming a mile off.
Carano blocks a head kick by Sermera.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sermera throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Carano counters with an inside leg kick.

Carano dives in and scores a takedown into Sermera's guard.

Sermera has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Carano can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Sermera looks winded!
Carano 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carano trying to stand up but can't free himself from Sermera's guard.
Carano controls from within his opponent's guard.
Carano wants to get up but he can't break Sermera's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Sermera 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.
Carano cracks Sermera with a solid left hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sermera has a closed guard, preventing Carano from standing up.
Sermera looking for a sweep. Not yet Sermera, not yet.

Carano thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Sermera not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Carano passes Sermera's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Sermera looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Carano content to control rather than advance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brendan Carano dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Sermera throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Brendan Carano is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sermera tries to clinch but Carano moves out of range.
Carano throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sermera lands a nice looking body kick.
Sermera misses with a series of wild punches.
Sermera looks to land a combination but Carano avoids it well.
Carano misses with a head kick.
Carano tries to close the distance and clinch but Sermera swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Sermera will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Carano moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.

It looks like Brendan Carano has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carano throws a looping overhand right but Sermera ducks down to avoid it.

Carano shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Sermera napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Sermera is not content to let Carano control the position.
Carano working away.
Sermera is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Carano asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Sermera on the wrong end of some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Carano thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Sermera manages to get back to half guard.
Carano wants to control but Sermera is keeping him busy.
Sermera has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Carano is working away from the top position though.
Carano is taking a breather. Sermera says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Brendan Carano overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Carano is trying to control. Sermera wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carano is just content to waste time from the top position. Sermera takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Sermera wants to stand up but Carano is controlling him.
Carano wants to get up but he can't break Sermera's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Carano stops Sermera from standing up.
Carano trying to control but Sermera is working from the bottom.
Sermera really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Carano. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Brendan Carano just wasn't active enough.
Sermera scoring well with a low kick there.
Carano goes for a double leg but Sermera avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Sermera continues to drive forward.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sermera goes for a takedown in the clinch but Carano prevents it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sermera breaks from the clinch.
Nice takedown defense from Sermera. No joy for Carano on that attempt.
Sermera scores with a three punch combo!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Carano is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Carano blocks a head kick by Sermera.
Sermera works the jab nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Carano doesn't manage to clinch there - Sermera circles away.
Carano will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Carano moves into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Simon Sermera showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Brendan Carano's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Carano tries a head kick but it misses.
A head kick misses from Carano.

Carano decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Carano is trying to control. Sermera wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Sermera pushes Carano off looking to stand but Carano dives back in and keeps control.
Carano is trying to control. Sermera wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Carano is looking to stand up but he'll have to free his leg first. Instead, Sermera manages to get to full guard.
Sermera is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Carano dives into side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sermera is pushing Carano's head away, looking to escape. Carano manages to hold on to the position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Carano working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Carano taking a breather here.
Sermera tries to improve position but can't.
Carano fails to land a wild elbow strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sermera wants to get back to his feet.
Sermera is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
You can see the frustration on Sermera's face as Carano controls the position.
Carano has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Sermera is not content to let Carano control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carano wants to stand but Sermera has his arm trapped.
Carano is looking to take a break and control but Sermera is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Brendan Carano.
Sermera misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Carano.
Sermera closes the distance and clinches up with Carano, looking for a takedown. Sermera pushes Carano against the cage but Carano circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Carano avoids the head kick by Sermera.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Carano has a takedown stuffed.
Sermera stuffs the takedown.

Carano fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Sermera sprawls well initially but Carano persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Sermera tries to kick Carano off but Carano keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Sermera is trying to control but can't.
Carano trying to control the action but Sermera is working from the bottom.
Carano throwing shots but Sermera is blocking nicely.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Carano stops Sermera from getting back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Brendan Carano showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Carano 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 Skip Squint scores the fight 29:28
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brendan Carano!