PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Fred Conrad (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Carl Sarmients (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Carl Sarmients will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Conrad
vs
Sarmients

158 cm
21
193 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

183 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Fred Conrad!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Carl Sarmients!
The judges for this bout are Roger Salmon, Josh West and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sarmients throws a left and a right that both miss

and Conrad counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Conrad working some strikes from top position.
Conrad throwing strikes but missing.
Sarmients preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Conrad accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Conrad throws a big right hand that misses.

Conrad decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Sarmients shoots for a double leg takedown but Conrad sprawls well. He's pushed Sarmients's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Sarmients looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Conrad missing with a left hand there. Sarmients was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Sarmients rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Conrad moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Conrad is looking to counter the offense by Sarmients and move into the clinch.
Sarmients throws a jab when Conrad was well out of range.
Conrad is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Sarmients.
Sarmients scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Sarmients looks winded!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sarmients throws a left and a right that both miss

and Conrad counters by moving into the clinch.

Conrad ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Conrad no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Conrad has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Sarmients can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Conrad is pulling down on Sarmients's head to control his posture.

Conrad is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

Conrad ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Conrad no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Conrad wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Sarmients trying to control the position from guard on top but Conrad is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Conrad seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

Conrad is looking for a triangle but Sarmients pushes his legs off easily.
Sarmients working some strikes from top position.

Conrad manages to escape and get back to his feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Conrad takes the fight into the clinch.
Sarmients is working for takedown but Conrad is calmly controlling the position for now.

Conrad pulls guard.

Conrad manages to escape and get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sarmients jabs Conrad right on the nose. Conrad blinks but takes it well.
Sarmients throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Conrad counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Conrad.
Sarmients has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Conrad avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Fred Conrad has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Carl Sarmients.

Conrad gets control of Sarmients's arms and successfully pulls guard. Conrad will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Conrad manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.

The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Conrad pulls Sarmients into guard.
Conrad has Sarmients pulled in close to control his posture.

Conrad pushes Sarmients off and gets back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sarmients changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Conrad tries to avoid it but Sarmients manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Conrad to the ground. Conrad escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Sarmients moves into range and connects with a jab.

Conrad forces Sarmients back against the cage and clinches.

Conrad gets control of Sarmients's arms and successfully pulls guard. Conrad will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Conrad has Sarmients pulled in close to control his posture.
Sarmients wants to get up but he can't break Conrad's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Conrad seems keen to control Sarmients's posture.
Sarmients tries to stand but Conrad is controlling from the bottom.
Sarmients tries to free his leg and advance position but Conrad is retaining full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fred Conrad dominated that round.
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.

Conrad throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Sarmients's head.
Sarmients misses with a double jab

and Conrad counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Conrad successfully pulls guard.
Conrad is pulling down on Sarmients's head. It's preventing any offense from Sarmients, at least for the moment.

Conrad had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Sarmients defends it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sarmients passes Conrad's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Conrad is doing well to control the position and prevent Sarmients from advancing to side control.
Sarmients seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Nice strikes from Sarmients there.
Sarmients is breathing heavily.
Conrad is looking to improve his position.
Conrad keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Conrad on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Sarmients wants to stand up but Conrad manages to regain full guard.

Conrad pushes Sarmients off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sarmients lands with a right hand.
Sarmients moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Conrad lands with a slapping head kick.

Sarmients gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Conrad is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sarmients can do to turn this around?
This has been an exciting period of action!
Conrad keeps control of Sarmients as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Conrad really is a fat lump.

Conrad pulls Sarmients into guard.
Conrad controlling the position.
Sarmients loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Conrad looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Fred Conrad overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sarmients landing some decent shots from guard.
Sarmients scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Sarmients postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Sarmients postures up in Conrad's guard and throws a big left but Conrad blocks it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Conrad is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Sarmients landing some decent shots from guard.
Conrad trying to control the position.
Sarmients working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Conrad's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sarmients got a little sloppy there for a moment and Conrad has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Sarmients has managed to get both his arms back between Conrad's legs - danger averted.
Sarmients wants to stand but Conrad has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Sarmients wants to control from the top but Conrad keeps moving.
Conrad tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Sarmients postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Conrad looking for a guillotine here but Sarmients defends easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sarmients works over Conrad with some ground and pound from guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Fred Conrad will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. And we move into the final round!

Sarmients swinging wildly here.
Conrad throws a big counter combination but Sarmients scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
A head kick by Sarmients misses

and Conrad counters by moving into the clinch.

Conrad jumps into guard, dragging Sarmients to the mat.
Conrad seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Conrad might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Sarmients trying to control but Conrad is working from the bottom.
Sarmients takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Conrad escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Sarmients gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Sarmients scoring with some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Conrad preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Conrad looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Sarmients content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Sarmients gets to his feet. Conrad looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Sarmients shoots for a takedown but Conrad saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Sarmients misses with a double jab

and Conrad counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Conrad slips a nice elbow through Sarmients's hands, connecting with Sarmients's forehead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Conrad postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Sarmients to stand up.

Conrad throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Sarmients tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Conrad is in Sarmients's guard.
Sarmients 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.
Conrad lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Conrad throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Sarmients looking to control.
Conrad throwing strikes but missing.
Conrad working some strikes from top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Conrad throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sarmients works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Sarmients shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Conrad tries to counter by clinching up but Sarmients breaks away and moves out of range.
Sarmients throws a series of punches but Conrad avoids them all with ease.

Conrad pushes Sarmients up against the cage in a clinch.

Conrad manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Conrad controlling Sarmients's posture.
Sarmients chips away with some ground and pound.
Carl Sarmients has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sarmients stands and throws Conrad's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Sarmients fails to land a wild elbow strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Conrad struggling a bit here.
Sarmients throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Sarmients working the ground and pound but Conrad is defending the strikes.
Conrad manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Conrad wants to get back to his feet.
Sarmients looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Conrad is staying active underneath Sarmients, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Sarmients missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Fred Conrad is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Conrad makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

And that's the end of the fight!
Fred Conrad showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Conrad, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Roger Salmon scores the fight 30:27
Judge Josh West scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Fred Conrad!