PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Fabricio Carvalho (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Niklas Backstrom (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Carvalho
vs
Backstrom

170 cm
33
149 lbs
22 - 5 - 0

183 cm
29
154 lbs
18 - 7 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Determined

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 22 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Fabricio Carvalho!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Niklas Backstrom!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Marco Blurström and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Backstrom moves out of range of the strikes.
And Backstrom responds with a good body kick, but Carvalho manages to step out the way in time.
Backstrom keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Carvalho shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Backstrom as he avoids it easily.

Carvalho moves into the clinch.

Carvalho gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Carvalho is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Carvalho has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Backstrom holds on and takes a little breather.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carvalho controlling from the top position.
Carvalho advances to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Carvalho is pressing down on Backstrom's thigh, looking to free his foot. Backstrom is holding on for now.

Carvalho is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Backstrom has managed to free his arm - good work.
Carvalho stalling.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Backstrom showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Carvalho.
Carvalho backing away here, and Backstrom unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Carvalho wants to clinch but Backstrom slips to the side

and Backstrom counters with a nice double leg into side control. Carvalho won't be happy with that.
Backstrom tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carvalho is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Backstrom tries to stand but Carvalho is controlling his head.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Carvalho misses with a two punch combination.

Carvalho moves into the clinch.

Carvalho gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Carvalho slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Carvalho trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Backstrom manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Backstrom stands up from Carvalho's guard - Backstrom perhaps looking for a knockout.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Carvalho pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Backstrom changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fabricio Carvalho dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Carvalho closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Carvalho will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Backstrom shapes to counter with a head kick.
Fabricio Carvalho is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Carvalho pivots, looking for a leg kick but Backstrom is out of range and Carvalho settles back down.
Backstrom is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Carvalho throws a hook but Backstrom blocks it.
Carvalho shoots in and drives through. Backstrom sprawls well.
Backstrom is looking for the big counter here.
A lazy left from Carvalho finds it's target.
Carvalho shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Backstrom defends it nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Fabricio Carvalho. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Carvalho throws a lazy right hand but Backstrom sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Backstrom is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Carvalho misses with an uppercut. Backstrom saw that one coming.
Backstrom unleashes a big counter combination but Carvalho bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Backstrom.
Backstrom tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Niklas Backstrom is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Carvalho lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Carvalho fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Carvalho will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Carvalho looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Carvalho working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Carvalho stands and throws Backstrom's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Carvalho trying to control the action but Backstrom is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Backstrom's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Carvalho controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carvalho is looking to take a break and control but Backstrom is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Carvalho is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Backstrom is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Backstrom prevents Carvalho from moving into mount.

That's four 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.
The referee asks Carvalho politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Carvalho prefers to stall for the moment though.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Backstrom gets caught flat footed, as Carvalho shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Carvalho lands a couple of digs.
Carvalho throws a big right hand that misses.
Backstrom keeping full guard, as Carvalho tries to pass.
Carvalho looking to sit in guard and control but Backstrom gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Carvalho 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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fabricio Carvalho dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Carvalho goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Carvalho tries to close the distance and clinch up but Backstrom swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Carvalho throws a hook but Backstrom blocks it.
Carvalho swinging wildly here.
Backstrom displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Carvalho throws out the jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Backstrom slips under a jab.
Carvalho tries to close the distance and clinch up but Backstrom swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Carvalho throws a hook but Backstrom blocks it.
A countering left hand to the body from Backstrom misses.
Carvalho fails with a takedown attempt.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Backstrom! But no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Carvalho looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
As Carvalho backs off Backstrom throws a huge counter combo but Carvalho manages to avoid it all.
Carvalho swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Backstrom.
Fabricio Carvalho seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Carvalho shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Backstrom as he avoids it easily.
It seemed like Backstrom was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Carvalho lands with a good body shot.
Carvalho fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Carvalho throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Backstrom's waist but Backstrom gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Carvalho off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Fabricio Carvalho. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Carvalho gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Backstrom tries for a takedown. No joy.
Backstrom is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Carvalho gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Carvalho turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Carvalho manages to end up in side control.
Backstrom tries to bench press Carvalho off him but Carvalho keeps the position.
Fabricio Carvalho overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Carvalho tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Carvalho working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Backstrom prevents Carvalho from moving into mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Backstrom tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Carvalho tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Carvalho controls the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Carvalho shoots in but Backstrom avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Niklas Backstrom has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Fabricio Carvalho is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Carvalho throws a good cross that connects.

And that's the end of the fight!
Fabricio Carvalho showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Carvalho 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Fabricio Carvalho!
Fabricio Carvalho got down on his knees post fight and begged the management for a title shot. 'Please, I want that title shot so bad! Give it to me!'