PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Benton Carroll (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ritvars Ozolins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Benton Carroll has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Carroll
vs
Ozolins

185 cm
22
177 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

170 cm
25
180 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Benton Carroll!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Ritvars Ozolins!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, James Glass and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Carroll moves into the clinch successfully.
Ozolins wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Carroll has him pressed against the cage.
Carroll is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Ozolins to keep the fight standing.

Carroll has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Ozolins regains guard immediately.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Ozolins manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.

Carroll manages to pull guard.
Carroll will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Carroll working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Ozolins doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Ozolins manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Ozolins content to stall in guard here.
Ozolins throws a big right hand that misses.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Carroll working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ozolins.
Carroll not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Ozolins not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carroll is striking from the bottom but Ozolins uses the opportunity to pass into half guard.
Ozolins stalling.
Carroll tries to kick Ozolins off but Ozolins keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Ozolins slows the pace down in half guard.
Ozolins tries to pass to full mount but Carroll defends it.

Ozolins stands up out of the half guard.

Ozolins pushes Carroll up against the cage in a clinch.

Ozolins turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Ozolins manages to end up in side control.
Carroll can't do much from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carroll sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Carroll won't allow Ozolins to pass to mount.

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

Carroll tries to sprawl but Ozolins drives through with a takedown into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

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

Carroll pushes Ozolins up against the cage in a clinch.
Carroll wants to take the fight to the mat but Ozolins manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Carroll trying to stall but Ozolins improves his position.

Ozolins pulls guard effortlessly.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Carroll is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Ozolins is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Ozolins has escaped and now he's on top!

Ozolins gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carroll checks a low kick from Ozolins.

Ozolins closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Ozolins lands in his opponent's guard.
Ozolins throwing strikes but missing.
Ozolins content to stall in guard here.
Ozolins stands and throws Carroll's legs to the side, diving into side control.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ozolins misses with a head kick.
Ozolins misses with a low kick as Carroll jumps back.

Ozolins shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Ozolins was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Ozolins tries to advance to mount but can't.
Ozolins working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

Ozolins stands up.

Ozolins feints and as Carroll raises his hands in defense, Ozolins changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Ozolins is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ritvars Ozolins 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.

Carroll moves into range and clinches up with Ozolins.
Carroll jumps guard but Ozolins stands there with Carroll around his waist. Carroll gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Carroll is trying to pull guard but Ozolins has him pressed against the cage.
Carroll tries to pull guard but Ozolins holds him up against the cage and eventually Carroll drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Benton Carroll. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Ozolins jumps guard and drags Carroll to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Carroll has gone for a leg lock! Ozolins slips out almost immediately though and dives into Carroll's guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ozolins not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Let's hope that Ozolins has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ozolins in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Ozolins 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.
Ozolins throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Carroll works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Ozolins stays in close to Carroll's body and controls the position.
Ozolins works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Ozolins stands up and beckons Carroll to join him on the feet.
Ozolins dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

Ozolins looking to score a takedown here. Carroll is defending well but Ozolins drives through and ends up in Carroll's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ozolins is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Ozolins prevents Carroll from getting back to his feet.
Ozolins throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Carroll works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Ozolins stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Carroll swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ozolins controls from within his opponent's guard.
Carroll is looking to stand up but Ozolins isn't so interested in that idea.
Ozolins trying to control but Carroll is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Carroll pushes Ozolins up against the cage in a clinch.
Ozolins tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Ozolins has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Ozolins manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Carroll wants to control from the top but Ozolins keeps moving.
Ozolins controlling the position.
Carroll looking to pass the guard.

Carroll got a little sloppy there for a moment and Ozolins has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Carroll has managed to get both his arms back between Ozolins's legs - danger averted.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Carroll drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Ozolins dives on top into guard.

Ozolins loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Ozolins has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Carroll wants to stand but Ozolins is controlling the position.

Ozolins gets to his feet - Carroll follows without any prompting.
Ozolins does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Carroll tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Ozolins changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Carroll looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
A control attempt from Carroll but he's now mounted!
Ozolins takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ritvars Ozolins showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Ozolins throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Carroll tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Ozolins is in Carroll's guard.

Carroll manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Carroll moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Carroll scores with a spinning back kick!

Ozolins throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Carroll tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Ozolins is in Carroll's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Carroll is trying to control the position but Ozolins postures up.
Ozolins is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Ozolins throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Carroll works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Ozolins stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Carroll swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carroll lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Carroll has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Ozolins keeping moving, preventing Carroll from controlling successfully.
Ozolins looking for a sweep. Not yet Ozolins, not yet.
Carroll tries to stand but Ozolins is controlling from the bottom.

Ozolins has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Carroll can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Ozolins is pulling down on Carroll's head. It's preventing any offense from Carroll, at least for the moment.

That's two 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.
Ritvars Ozolins has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ozolins manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Carroll manages to get himself to full guard.

Carroll is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Ozolins is controlling him.
Carroll seems keen to control Ozolins's posture.
Carroll controls Ozolins momentarily but Ozolins frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carroll is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Ozolins engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Ozolins decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Carroll is looking to escape.
Well, if Ozolins is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Carroll wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ozolins thows a huge punch but Carroll dodges it nicely.
Ozolins performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Carroll is doing well to control the position and prevent Ozolins from advancing to side control.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Carroll tries to clinch there but Ozolins circles away.
Ozolins stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Carroll.

Ozolins rushes Carroll and presses him up against the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Ozolins gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Ozolins is looking to advance position but Carroll won't allow it.
Benton Carroll has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ritvars Ozolins is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Ozolins slows the pace down in half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Ritvars Ozolins.
I've got Ozolins winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ritvars Ozolins!