PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Odis Carter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sumail Isbad (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sumail Isbad has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Carter
vs
Isbad

225 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

187 cm
19
145 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite 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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Odis Carter!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Sumail Isbad!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
That kick from Carter tenderised Isbad's leg. Isbad is trying to keep his angry face on.
Carter on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Carter connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Carter takes one to the side of the head.
Carter plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Isbad looks to score with a jab to the body but Carter is just out of range.
Carter fails to land with a series of punches.
Carter throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Isbad shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Carter sprawls well. Carter wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Isbad gets slowly back to his feet.
Nice takedown defense from Carter. No joy for Isbad on that attempt.
Carter appears to be looking for a big counter.
Isbad fails with the takedown.
Odis Carter has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sumail Isbad.
Isbad shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Carter holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Carter 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.

Carter lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Carter with the ground and pound but Isbad uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Carter postures up in Isbad's guard and throws a big left but Isbad blocks it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Isbad working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Carter.
Carter scoring with some ground and pound.

Isbad looking for a guillotine here but Carter defends easily.
Carter throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Isbad has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Carter can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Isbad wants to sweep but no luck.
Carter throwing strikes but missing.
Isbad preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Isbad kicks Carter off and gets to his feet.
A combination from Isbad does no damage.
Carter throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Carter clinches up with Isbad and pushes him back against the cage.
Isbad wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Carter has him pressed against the cage.
Carter prevents Isbad from breaking the clinch.
Carter working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Carter tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Isbad wants to get back to striking at distance but Carter won't allow it.

Isbad jumps guard and drags Carter to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Isbad is trying to control the position but Carter postures up.

Carter gets to his feet. Isbad looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Isbad looks for the body kick but Carter saw that one coming.

Carter drives through and clinches with Isbad against the cage.

Isbad pulls guard successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Isbad seems keen to control Carter's posture.
Carter postures up and lands a big shot to Isbad's brow.

Isbad isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Carter stacks Isbad on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Carter!
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Isbad can't do much from the bottom here.

Carter decides to stand back up. Carter steps back and let's Isbad get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Odis Carter dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Carter throws a head kick that misses.
Isbad is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Isbad throws a head kick but Carter moves out of range.
Isbad shoots in for a takedown but Carter shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Carter throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Isbad's head.
Carter darts in trying to clinch
letting Isbad counter with a right hand.
Isbad keeps the fight on the outside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Carter tries to keep at a distance but Isbad has taken the fight into the clinch.
Isbad is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Isbad's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Isbad wants to take the fight to the mat but Carter manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Isbad prevents the takedown attempt.
Carter is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Isbad gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Odis Carter. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Isbad is trying to break free.
Carter has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Isbad after a bit of a struggle.
Isbad tries to score a body lock takedown but Carter shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Isbad managing to block the knees to the body from Carter.
Carter creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Isbad prevents the takedown attempt.
Carter looking for a takedown.
Isbad wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Carter fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Isbad is trying to break free.
The referee is keeping an eye on Isbad - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Isbad blocks an uppercut.

Isbad drags the fight down to the ground.
Carter will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Isbad is pulling down on Carter's head to control his posture.
Carter has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Isbad manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Carter manages to get himself to full guard.

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Isbad postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Isbad tries to free his leg and advance position but Carter is retaining full guard.
Isbad passes Carter's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Isbad lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Isbad working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Carter's thigh. Carter counters though and makes it back to full guard.

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

Carter throws an elbow that misses. Isbad uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Carter's guard. Nice move by Isbad!

Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Isbad seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sumail Isbad showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Isbad closes the distance and clinches.
Carter is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Isbad to keep the fight standing.
Carter drops down looking for an ankle pick but Isbad pulls his leg out and moves away.
Sumail Isbad seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Isbad misses with an attempted mid kick.
Isbad swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Carter tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Isbad manages to circle out of the way.
Isbad misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A head kick misses from Carter.
Isbad shoots in for a takedown but Carter shows good takedown defense.
Isbad throws out a powerful jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Isbad shoots in but Carter avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Odis Carter has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sumail Isbad.

Isbad moves into the clinch.
Carter misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Isbad escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Odis Carter is winning the standup battle so far.
Isbad shoots in but no luck this time.
Isbad blocks a jab.
No joy there for Carter, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Nice defenses there by Isbad.

Isbad gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Carter is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Isbad tries to pull guard but Carter forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Carter tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Isbad is looking to break free of the clinch but Carter has double underhooks.

Isbad decides to pull guard.
Carter preventing the sweep.
Isbad takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Isbad has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Carter can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Carter throws an elbow that misses. Isbad uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Carter's guard. Nice move by Isbad!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Isbad wants to control from the top but Carter keeps moving.
Carter trying to control the position.

Carter throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Isbad sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Isbad wants to control from the top but Carter keeps moving.
Isbad postures up.
Isbad throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Carter works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Isbad is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Carter tries to score with a low kick but Isbad moves his leg out of the way.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sumail Isbad comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Isbad 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sumail Isbad!
During a confident post fight interview, Sumail Isbad thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.