PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Aldo Stephenson (ranked 6033 p4p, 0 weight class) and Travis Carter (ranked 4618 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Stephenson
vs
Carter

181 cm
24
162 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

179 cm
23
164 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Aldo Stephenson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Travis Carter!
The judges for this bout are Roger Salmon, Micheangelo Fripello and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fight stays on the outside here - Stephenson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Stephenson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Carter moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Carter gets the takedown into side control.
Stephenson wants to get back to his feet.
You can see the frustration on Stephenson's face as Carter controls the position.
Stephenson wants to control but Carter postures up.
Carter prevents Stephenson from escaping the position.

Carter stands up and beckons Stephenson to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Carter bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Stephenson sneaks out the side door and pushes Carter away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Carter closes the distance and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Carter.
Carter blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Carter throws a knee to the head but misses.

Carter pulls guard successfully.
Carter wants to improve his position but instead Stephenson has moved into half guard.

Stephenson stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Carter tries a head kick but it misses.

Carter fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Stephenson, pushing him back against the cage.
Stephenson is trying to force a seperation but Carter has the dominant position.
Carter lands a hook that snaps the head of Stephenson backwards.
Stephenson goes for a takedown in the clinch but Carter prevents it.
Stephenson jumps guard but Carter turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stephenson has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Carter gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Stephenson regains guard.
Stephenson is pulling down on Carter's head. It's preventing any offense from Carter, at least for the moment.
Carter looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Stephenson wants to stand and escape but Carter is having none of it.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stephenson breaks the clinch.

Carter closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Carter decides to stand up, so the ref orders Stephenson to his feet.

Carter moves into the clinch.

Carter decides to pull guard.
Carter looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Stephenson is stalling in the full guard.
Carter has a closed guard, preventing Stephenson from standing up.
Carter bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Stephenson's guard.

Carter must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stephenson is looking to stand up but Carter isn't so interested in that idea.
Stephenson seems keen to control Carter's posture.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stephenson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Carter looking to pass the guard.

Carter gets to his feet - Stephenson follows without any prompting.

Carter closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Stephenson's guard.

Stephenson scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Aldo Stephenson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A head kick misses from Carter.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Travis Carter will probably get the nod.
That's time! Stephenson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Stephenson throws a combination. Carter tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

Carter closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Stephenson did well to prevent Carter getting side control.

Stephenson pushes Carter off and gets back to his feet.
Aldo Stephenson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Stephenson is looking to clinch but Carter is avoiding it.
Carter tries a head kick but it misses.

Carter gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Carter jumps guard.
Stephenson would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Stephenson 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.
Stephenson wants to control from the top but Carter keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stephenson trying to stand up but can't free himself from Carter's guard.
Carter tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Carter looking to control.

Stephenson stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Carter connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

Carter drives through and clinches with Stephenson against the cage.

Stephenson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Carter closes the distance and clinches.

Stephenson manages to break the clinch.
Carter connects with a high kick.

It looks like Aldo Stephenson has been cut.

Stephenson gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Carter jumps into guard, dragging Stephenson to the mat.
Carter wants to get back to his feet but Stephenson passes into half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Stephenson wants to take a breather but Carter is having none of it.
Stephenson wants to stand up but Carter manages to regain full guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Carter wants to stand and escape but Stephenson is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stephenson is looking to stand up but Carter won't let him.
Stephenson postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Stephenson postures up.

Carter working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Stephenson has passed into half guard!
Carter is breathing heavily.
Stephenson lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Stephenson scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Stephenson lands with a punch from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Stephenson escapes and gets back to his feet.
Carter swats away the attempt to clinch by Stephenson.
Carter is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Stephenson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Carter feints and as Stephenson raises his hands in defense, Carter changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Stephenson pushes Carter off and scrambles back to his feet.
Carter dodges the punch combination from Stephenson.
Carter is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
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 Aldo Stephenson will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Aldo Stephenson's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Carter clinches up against the cage.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Carter.
Stephenson tries to pull guard but Carter forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Carter's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Carter dives in and scores a takedown into Stephenson's guard.
Stephenson keeping moving, preventing Carter from controlling successfully.
Stephenson wants to stand up but Carter is controlling him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Carter stopping the sweep attempt from Stephenson.
Stephenson pulls Carter in close to his closed guard and prevents Carter from doing any damage or advancing position.
Carter is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stephenson had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Carter defends it easily.
Carter is looking to stand up but Stephenson won't let him.
Carter wants to control from the top but Stephenson keeps moving.
Stephenson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Carter forces Stephenson back against the cage and clinches.

Carter pulls guard.
Carter is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Carter has his foot on Stephenson's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Stephenson works his way back into a safe position though.
Carter takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Stephenson's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Stephenson continues to stall.
More hug and hope from Stephenson.
Stephenson cracks Carter with a solid left hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stephenson decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Stephenson misses with a two punch combination.

Carter closes the distance and clinches.
Carter prevents the takedown attempt.

Stephenson has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Carter is trying to keep an underhook but Stephenson manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Carter pushes Stephenson off but Stephenson dives into side control.
A lull in the action here.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Carter closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Carter lands in his opponent's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Carter wants to control from the top but Stephenson keeps moving.
Stephenson wants to stand up but Carter is controlling him.
Stephenson wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Stephenson working a defensive guard here.
Carter wants to stand but Stephenson has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

And that's the end of the fight!
Travis Carter comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Carter 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 Roger Salmon scores the fight 28:29
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Travis Carter!