PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Phobos Carter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yefar Mehwadi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mehwadi is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Khe Sahn. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Carter
vs
Mehwadi

175 cm
23
137 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

162 cm
20
142 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Very strong

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Phobos Carter!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Yefar Mehwadi!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Joseph Jones and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Mehwadi.
Mehwadi shoots in for a double leg but Carter sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Carter.
Carter wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mehwadi keeps working.
Mehwadi struggling a bit here.
Carter tries to move to full mount but Mehwadi actually manages to regain half guard.
Mehwadi is controlling Carter's trapped leg to prevent Carter from advancing to side control.

Carter is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Mehwadi sees it coming and defends easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Carter prevents Mehwadi from improving his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Carter is trying to work for a kimura but Mehwadi is defending well.
Carter will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Carter trying to pass the guard but Mehwadi defending well.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Carter looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Carter wants to stand up but Mehwadi has a hold of him and won't allow it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mehwadi moves into full guard.

Mehwadi looking for a guillotine here but Carter defends easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mehwadi looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Carter trying to move into half guard but instead Mehwadi has managed to sweep!
Mehwadi preventing the sweep.

Carter is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Mehwadi won't allow Carter to sweep him here.
Mehwadi thows a big elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mehwadi advances to half guard.
Mehwadi is looking to advance position but Carter won't allow it.
Mehwadi wants to control but Carter is keeping him busy.
Mehwadi slows the pace down in half guard.

Mehwadi is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Carter defends it well.
Mehwadi trying to pass the guard but Carter defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Carter is looking to get back to full guard here but Mehwadi has managed to pass to side control instead.
Carter working to try and regain half guard.
Carter is working hard here to advance position.
Mehwadi controlling the position easily from mount.
Carter wants to control but Mehwadi is having none of it.

Mehwadi jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Carter manages to avoid the submission attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Phobos Carter will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Nice sprawl there from Carter as Mehwadi shoots in.

Mehwadi gets the takedown into side control.
Carter manages to get back to half guard.
Carter is trying to control but Mehwadi passes into side control!
Carter manages to get back to half guard.
Mehwadi prevents Carter from improving his position.
Mehwadi missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Mehwadi is controlling the pace.
Mehwadi wants to control but Carter is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mehwadi slows the pace down in half guard.
Carter throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Mehwadi is thwarting Carter's attempts to control the position.
Mehwadi wants to control but Carter is keeping him busy.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Carter tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Phobos Carter is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Carter misses with a low kick.
Carter misses with a wild body shot.
Carter pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Nice sprawl there from Carter as Mehwadi shoots in.
Carter throws a jab but it's blocked by Mehwadi.

Mehwadi decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Carter wants to control but Mehwadi is keeping busy.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Carter looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Mehwadi passes into side control, despite Carter's attempt to control the position.
You can see the frustration on Carter's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Carter tries to buck Mehwadi off but Mehwadi is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mehwadi controls the position from side control.
Carter is not content to let Mehwadi control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Carter tries to close the distance and clinch up but Mehwadi swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Mehwadi throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Carter's waist but Carter gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Mehwadi off to one side.
Phobos Carter has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yefar Mehwadi.
Mehwadi keeps the fight on the outside.

Carter decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Mehwadi regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mehwadi had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Carter is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Mehwadi Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Carter's back instead.
Carter staying busy and making it hard for Mehwadi to control.
Carter tries to break free.
Mehwadi is riding his opponent, not letting Carter buck him off.

Mehwadi has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Carter prevents Mehwadi from getting a body triangle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yefar Mehwadi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Mehwadi shoots and misses

and Carter counters with a shoot takedown. Mehwadi fights it but they end up in guard.
Carter sitting in guard here, content to control.

Mehwadi looking for a guillotine here but Carter defends easily.
Mehwadi tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Carter trying to control the position from guard on top but Mehwadi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Carter tries to free his leg and advance position but Mehwadi is retaining full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Mehwadi working for a triangle but Carter defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carter wanted to stand there but Mehwadi had control of the position.

Carter avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Mehwadi 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 postures up.

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.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Mehwadi circles away from the clinch attempt.
Carter fails with the takedown

and Mehwadi counters with a takedown into side control.
Yefar Mehwadi has got the better of the ground game so far.
Carter is trying to improve his position.
Carter is trying to work for a sweep but Mehwadi has mounted him!
Mehwadi manages to capitalize on a mistake by Carter to take his back!
Carter is in bad spot here.
Mehwadi is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Well, with Mehwadi on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Carter is tapping out... Can he escape the position?

Mehwadi has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Carter has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Mehwadi is not going to allow Carter to sit and survive in this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carter tries to roll but Mehwadi sticks to his back.
Mehwadi not allowing Carter to control his hands.

Mehwadi is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Carter defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Mehwadi connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Carter to escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Carter is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Mehwadi.

Mehwadi working for the choke.
You can see the frustration on Carter's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Carter staying busy and making it hard for Mehwadi to control.
Mehwadi doesn't have the hooks in and Carter manages to turn into his guard.
Mehwadi looking for a sweep. Not yet Mehwadi, not yet.
Carter wants to control from the top but Mehwadi keeps moving.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yefar Mehwadi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Mehwadi 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 John Kavanagh scores the fight for Yefar Mehwadi!
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight for Yefar Mehwadi!
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight for Yefar Mehwadi!

Yefar Mehwadi wins by unanimous decision!