PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Otha Carson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Otto Van Driessche (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Carson
vs
Van Driessche

198 cm
18
151 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

178 cm
18
149 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Otha Carson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Otto Van Driessche!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Nard Betker and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck for Van Driessche with that takedown attempt.
Carson misses with a two punch combination.

Van Driessche shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Van Driessche showed some decent athleticism there.
Van Driessche seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Carson wants to get back to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice strikes from Van Driessche there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carson tries to roll over but Van Driessche keeps him under control.
Carson really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Van Driessche working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Carson is looking to escape.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Carson manages to get to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Carson is trying to control the position but Van Driessche postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Van Driessche is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Van Driessche's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Carson tries to clinch but Van Driessche moves out of range.
Van Driessche is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Carson shoots in looking for a takedown but Van Driessche manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Carson's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Van Driessche unleashes a big counter combination but Carson bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Carson scores with a one two! Van Driessche had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Van Driessche misses with an attempted mid kick.
Van Driessche throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Van Driessche rushes Carson and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Carson unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

Van Driessche breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Carson misses with a series of wild punches.
Van Driessche misses with a double jab.
Van Driessche shoots for a takedown but Carson saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Carson throws a big counter combination but Van Driessche scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Carson tries to clinch up.
Van Driessche fails with an attempt to clinch.
Carson is looking for a counter combo.
Van Driessche throws a sloppy head kick and Carson moves out of range easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Driessche is looking to clinch but Carson is avoiding it.
Van Driessche lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Carson circles away quickly and effectively.
No luck for Van Driessche with that takedown attempt.
Otha Carson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Otto Van Driessche.
Van Driessche shoots in for a takedown but Carson shows good takedown defense.
Van Driessche looks winded!
Carson stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Carson wants it to stay on the feet.

Van Driessche fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Carson sprawls well initially but Van Driessche persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Van Driessche is trying to control. Carson wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Carson looking for submissions off his back.

Carson looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Otto Van Driessche dominated 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.

Van Driessche misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Van Driessche shoots in but no luck this time.
Carson looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Van Driessche shoots and misses
and Carson counters with a left to the body.
Otha Carson is winning the standup battle so far.
Van Driessche misses with a right hand
and Carson counters with a one-two to the body.
Carson tries to clinch but Van Driessche moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Van Driessche lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Carson circles away quickly and effectively.
Van Driessche shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Carson defends it nicely.
Otha Carson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Otto Van Driessche.
Van Driessche is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Carson as Van Driessche shoots in.
Van Driessche shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Carson wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Van Driessche fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Carson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Van Driessche is fending him off so far but Carson persists. Nope, Van Driessche circles away and we're back to standing.
Van Driessche is trying to counter with his kicks.
Otha Carson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Carson takes the fight into the clinch.
Carson dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Carson trying to stall but Van Driessche improves his position.
The referee calls for Carson to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carson holding his opponent close, against the cage.

Van Driessche manages to break the clinch.
Van Driessche misses with a takedown
and Carson connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Carson fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Carson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Van Driessche is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Driessche looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Carson is fending him off so far but Van Driessche persists. Nope, Carson circles away and we're back to standing.

Van Driessche tries to keep at a distance but Carson has taken the fight into the clinch.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Carson manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Van Driessche has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Carson after a bit of a struggle.
Carson manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Otha Carson.
Carson fails in his attempt to clinch.
Carson moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Van Driessche circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Driessche darts in looking for a takedown but Carson gets double underhooks and turns Van Driessche into the cage.
Carson is looking for a counter combo.

Carson moves into the clinch.
Carson slowing the pace effectively.
Carson is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Van Driessche is keeping busy.
Carson wants to stall.
Carson is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Carson is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Otha Carson.
Carson misses with a wild combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Otha Carson dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Van Driessche slips a jab and a cross from Carson.
Van Driessche shoots for a takedown but Carson saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Carson looks for a takedown but Van Driessche sprawls well.
Van Driessche avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Van Driessche is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

Van Driessche darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Van Driessche frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Carson taking shots to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Driessche in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Van Driessche trying to control but Carson is having none of it.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Van Driessche cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Van Driessche landing shots from mount.

Carson is rocked!

Van Driessche goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Carson is on top in guard.
Van Driessche keeping moving, preventing Carson from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carson won't allow Van Driessche to get back to his feet.
Van Driessche is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Van Driessche has control of Carson's left arm, preventing Carson from doing any damage.
Otto Van Driessche has got the better of the ground game so far.
Van Driessche takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Carson's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Carson trying to control but Van Driessche is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carson is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Carson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Van Driessche swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Carson trying to control the position from guard on top but Van Driessche is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Van Driessche is trying to control the position but Carson postures up.
Carson has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Van Driessche is proving hard to escape from.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Carson defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Van Driessche.
Carson seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Van Driessche throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Otto Van Driessche seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Carson tries to clinch but Van Driessche is having none of it.
The fight stays on the outside here - Van Driessche looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Carson is looking for a counter combo.
Carson tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Van Driessche manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Van Driessche is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
Van Driessche is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Van Driessche shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Carson pinned against the cage. Carson gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Otto Van Driessche comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Van Driessche 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 Aafke Stam scores the fight 28:29
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Otto Van Driessche!