PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Cole Atkinson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Carter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). John Carter 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!

Atkinson
vs
Carter

219 cm
24
151 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

180 cm
21
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good in bed

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Cole Atkinson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, John Carter!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Roosa Järviläinen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Carter bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Carter remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Carter working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

Carter is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Atkinson knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Carter tries for a kimura but Atkinson is defending well.

Carter tries for a kimura but Atkinson is defending well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Carter is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Atkinson is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Atkinson really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Atkinson tries to improve position but can't.
Carter looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Atkinson is avoiding damage well.
Atkinson tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Carter wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Carter goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Atkinson has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Carter but great work by Atkinson.
Atkinson tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Atkinson working the ground and pound.
Carter parries the strikes from Atkinson easily there. Atkinson is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Carter to escape.
Atkinson cracks Carter with a big right hand but Carter just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Carter is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Atkinson's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Atkinson lands strikes from half guard.
Atkinson drops an elbow to the side of Carter's head.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Atkinson connects with a nice short shot to Carter's temple.
Atkinson is trying to control. Carter wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Atkinson thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Carter's head.
Carter has hold of Atkinson's hands but Atkinson slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Carter looks winded!
Carter is trying to get back to full guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carter avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Atkinson.
Atkinson is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Atkinson is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Carter keeping control of the position.
Atkinson slips a nice elbow through Carter's hands, connecting with Carter's forehead.
Atkinson thows a huge punch but Carter dodges it nicely.
Atkinson is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Atkinson 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.
Carter wants to control but Atkinson is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Atkinson will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Atkinson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Atkinson is trying to control. Carter wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Atkinson wants to get back to his feet.
Atkinson slips a nice elbow through Carter's hands, connecting with Carter's forehead.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Carter trying to control but Atkinson postures up.
Atkinson sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Carter defending well though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cole Atkinson dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Carter dives in and scores a takedown into Atkinson's guard.
Carter looking to pass the guard.
Carter trying to control the position from guard on top but Atkinson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Carter drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Atkinson manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Carter has Atkinson in his guard.
Atkinson throws a strike but Carter rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Atkinson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Carter is one step ahead there.
Atkinson keeping moving, preventing Carter from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Atkinson wants to sweep but no luck.
Carter slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Carter has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Atkinson!
Carter is breathing heavily.
Carter can't control as he wanted to and Atkinson manages to get the fight back to his half guard.

Carter seems to be working for a kimura but Atkinson defends the submission attempt.
Atkinson won't allow Carter to pass to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Atkinson is not content to let Carter control the position.
Atkinson is trying to get back to full guard.

Carter is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Atkinson has managed to free his arm - good work.
Cole Atkinson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Atkinson punching from the bottom.
Atkinson tries to roll over but Carter keeps him under control.
Atkinson throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Atkinson is not content to let Carter control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Atkinson is defending against the submission attempts here by Carter.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Carter wants to lay and pray for a moment but Atkinson keeps working.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Atkinson darts in looking for a takedown but Carter gets double underhooks and turns Atkinson into the cage.

Carter feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Atkinson uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Carter doesn't manage to clinch there - Atkinson circles away.

Atkinson pushes Carter off and gets back to his feet.
John Carter is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Carter scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Atkinson explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!

Carter scores with a takedown into Atkinson's guard.
Atkinson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Carter can do to turn this around?
Carter tries to free his leg and advance position but Atkinson is retaining full 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 Cole Atkinson will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Atkinson closes the distance and pushes Carter back into the cage.

Carter manages to pull guard.

Carter looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Atkinson lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Atkinson working some strikes from top position.
Atkinson postures up in Carter's guard and throws a big left but Carter blocks it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Atkinson throwing strikes but missing.
Atkinson scoring with some ground and pound.
Carter takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Atkinson landing some decent shots from guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Atkinson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Carter avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Atkinson content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Atkinson's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Atkinson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Carter is trying to hold Atkinson in close to prevent damage but Atkinson has managed to pass into half guard.
Atkinson scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Atkinson decides to stand up.
Carter displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Atkinson.

Carter darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Atkinson manages to get to full guard.
Carter throws a strike but Atkinson rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Atkinson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Carter works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Atkinson distracts Carter with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Carter has momentary wrist control but Atkinson slips an elbow through the middle.
Atkinson scoring with punches to the head and body.
Carter utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Atkinson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Atkinson scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Atkinson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Atkinson drops back looking for a leg! Carter is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Carter manages to kick Atkinson off! Atkinson jumps back into Carter's guard.
Carter working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Atkinson.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Atkinson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Atkinson's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Atkinson lands a couple of digs.
Atkinson scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Atkinson drops back looking for a leg! Carter is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Carter manages to kick Atkinson off! Atkinson jumps back into Carter's guard.
Carter wants to stand but Atkinson is controlling the position.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Cole Atkinson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Atkinson, 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:28
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cole Atkinson!