PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Sack Atanatos (ranked 5408 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hakeem Carter (ranked 5403 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Atanatos
vs
Carter

178 cm
23
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

179 cm
25
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Sack Atanatos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Hakeem Carter!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Daniel Blasius and Wagner Zegers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Atanatos gets tackled into the cage by Carter. Carter maintains the clinch.
Carter lands a body punch.
Carter lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Atanatos tries for a takedown. No joy.
A hook to the body from Carter.
Carter is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Atanatos pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Carter blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Atanatos pulls guard effortlessly.
Atanatos is trying to keep Carter in close.
Carter really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Atanatos. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Atanatos is looking for a triangle but Carter pushes his legs off easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Carter 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.
Atanatos is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Atanatos 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 is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Carter.
Carter jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Atanatos walks away with a smile on his face. Carter gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Atanatos.
Atanatos slaps away a takedown attempt from Carter, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Sack Atanatos has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hakeem Carter.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Carter.
Atanatos with a lazy takedown attempt
and Carter counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Carter has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Carter there as he acknowledges the shot.
Carter closes the distance and clinches up with Atanatos, looking for a takedown. Carter pushes Atanatos against the cage but Atanatos circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Atanatos attempts a counter takedown but Carter avoids it well and moves away.
Nice body kick from Carter.
Carter stuffs the takedown attempt from Atanatos. Atanatos gets slowly back to his feet.
Atanatos is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carter misses with a two punch combination.
Carter is trying hard to land a takedown here. Atanatos sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
As Carter tries to get set, Atanatos tries to push him back and clinch up but Carter manages to avoid the attempt.

Carter clinches with his opponent.
Carter drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Atanatos gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Atanatos tries to pull guard but Carter forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Carter is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Carter lands with a left to the head.
Carter is working for takedown but Atanatos is calmly controlling the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Atanatos has Carter pressed against the cage.
Atanatos misses with a body punch.

Carter has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Atanatos uses from the top position.
Carter trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

Atanatos stands and steps away. Carter gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Carter fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Carter will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Atanatos looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Carter is fending him off so far but Atanatos persists. Nope, Carter circles away and we're back to standing.

Carter rushes Atanatos and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hakeem Carter dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Carter shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Atanatos pinned against the cage. Atanatos gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Atanatos stuffs the takedown.
Atanatos just misses with a punch to the body.
Carter has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Carter clinches up with Atanatos and pushes him back against the cage.
Atanatos wants to break free but Carter has control.

Carter jumps into guard, dragging Atanatos to the mat.
Atanatos working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Atanatos sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Carter's guard.
Atanatos passes to full mount!
Carter tries to reverse the position but Atanatos maintains control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Atanatos throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Carter because Atanatos loaded up on that one.
Carter tries to improve his position but instead Atanatos has taken his back!

Atanatos 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!
Carter trying to control the hands but Atanatos breaks the grip.

Atanatos 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.
Carter just looking to survive in the bad position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Carter is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Atanatos gets his way!
Atanatos throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
You can see the frustration on Carter's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Atanatos is not going to allow Carter to sit and survive in this position.
Carter covering up well under a barage of strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carter trying to control the hands but Atanatos won't let him.
Atanatos struggling to keep hold of the position.
Carter tries to escape but Atanatos has the hooks in and won't let him break free.

Atanatos has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Carter covering up well under a series of strikes from Atanatos.

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.

Atanatos is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Carter knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Carter for a finish.
Carter tries to break free.

Atanatos has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Carter can't escape the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Atanatos working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Atanatos is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sack Atanatos dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Atanatos leaves Carter with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Atanatos looking for a takedown.
Atanatos has had enough of the clinch but Carter keeps him there for the moment.
Carter has Atanatos pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Atanatos manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Atanatos wants to get back to striking at distance but Carter won't allow it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Atanatos manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Carter trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Carter preventing the sweep.
Sack Atanatos overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Carter is looking to stand up but Atanatos won't let him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carter wants to control from the top but Atanatos keeps moving.

Atanatos uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Carter looks to land a combination but Atanatos avoids it well.

Carter tries to keep at a distance but Atanatos has taken the fight into the clinch.
Carter jumps guard but Atanatos stands there with Carter around his waist. Carter gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Sack Atanatos has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hakeem Carter.
Carter stalling.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Atanatos is trying to pull guard but Carter turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Atanatos.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Atanatos fails to pull guard.
Carter on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Carter is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Atanatos to keep the fight standing.
Carter looking for a takedown.
Carter jumps guard but Atanatos stands there with Carter around his waist. Carter gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Carter is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Atanatos is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Atanatos wants a takedown but no success here.
Carter goes for a takedown in the clinch but Atanatos prevents it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Atanatos looking to stall.
The referee is keeping an eye on Carter - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Carter lands an elbow inside.
Carter prevents Atanatos from breaking the clinch.

Carter jumps guard and drags Atanatos to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Carter throws his legs up looking for a submission but Atanatos uses it to pass to side control.

Atanatos tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Atanatos wants to control but Carter is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Atanatos is really struggling to control Carter but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Carter is looking to regain half guard here but Atanatos keeps moving and retains side control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

And that's the end of the fight!
Sack Atanatos showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Atanatos has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Saam Ante scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 29:28
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sack Atanatos!
Sack Atanatos decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.