PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kirk Bridges (ranked 4862 p4p, 0 weight class) and Frank Carter (ranked 4672 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.

Bridges
vs
Carter

213 cm
24
194 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
25
193 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Inexperienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Kirk Bridges!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Frank Carter!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Chris Saunders and Ryoma Takatsuka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bridges tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Carter paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Carter.
Frank Carter seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Carter shoots in looking for a takedown. Bridges tries to sprawl out of it but Carter keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Bridges manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Carter throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Bridges rushes Carter and presses him up against the cage.
Carter lands a left hand.

Carter breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Bridges gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bridges has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Carter avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Carter has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Bridges after a bit of a struggle.
Kirk Bridges has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Frank Carter.
Bridges tries to pull guard but Carter forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Carter escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Bridges really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Bridges tries to close the distance and clinch up but Carter swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Bridges closes the distance and clinches.
Carter has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Carter jumps into guard, dragging Bridges to the mat.
Carter trying to keep a closed guard but Bridges is proving a slippery customer.
Bridges working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Bridges content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Carter wants to stand up but Bridges is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Bridges's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Bridges working some strikes from top position.
Bridges works over Carter with some ground and pound from guard.
Bridges loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Carter avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Bridges working some strikes from top position.
Carter utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Bridges got a little sloppy there for a moment and Carter has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Bridges has managed to get both his arms back between Carter's legs - danger averted.
Bridges wants to stand but Carter has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Bridges is in close to Carter's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Bridges throws a big elbow that misses.

Bridges stands up and waves to Carter to follow him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Carter fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Bridges, pushing him back against the cage.
A left hand lands to the body for Bridges.

Bridges pulls guard effortlessly.
Carter wanted to stand there but Bridges had control of the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bridges trying to control the position here.
Carter trying to control the position from guard on top but Bridges is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bridges has Carter pulled in close to control his posture.
Carter wants to stand but Bridges has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bridges is striking but Carter is not phased and passes to half guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Carter trying to control from Bridges's half guard. Bridges has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kirk Bridges dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Carter throws a left and a right that both miss
and Carter takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
A big left from Bridges misses.
Carter gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Bridges holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Carter blocks a body shot from Bridges.
Bridges prevents a takedown attempt there.

Bridges has clasped his hands together around Carter's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bridges working the head and body with strikes.
Bridges is putting a hurting on Carter here, landing some big shots from side control.
Bridges lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Carter taking a bit of punishment here - Bridges scoring with strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carter can't do much from the bottom here.
Bridges lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.

Bridges is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Carter has escaped the position, nice work there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Bridges tries for a kimura but Carter is defending well.
Carter is not content to let Bridges control the position.

Bridges stands up and beckons Carter to his feet.

Carter rushes Bridges and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Carter has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Bridges regains guard immediately.
Bridges looking to control.

Bridges manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Bridges avoids a punch combination nicely.
Carter lands a nice shot to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Carter fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Bridges to the ground. Carter is now in Bridges's guard.
Carter is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bridges thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Carter showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Carter looking to pass the guard.

Carter avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Bridges managing to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Bridges is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Carter defends well.
Bridges wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Carter manages to pass to side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bridges preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kirk Bridges dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Carter moves into the clinch.
Bridges tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Carter's elbow.
Bridges is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Carter can do to turn this around?
Carter digs a right hand underneath Bridges's ribcage. Bridges let out a lung full of air as it connected.
A bit of stalling here from Carter.
Carter is trying to pull guard but Bridges has him pressed against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Carter just leaning against Bridges, taking a breather.

Carter breaks from the clinch.
Carter has a takedown stuffed.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carter pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Bridges is looking to counter punch.
Frank Carter is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Carter scores with a sloppy right hand. Bridges should have avoided that one.
Bridges stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Bridges wants it to stay on the feet.
Kirk Bridges has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Frank Carter.
Carter throws a wild body kick that Bridges sees coming a mile off.
Carter has a takedown stuffed.
Carter takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Bridges scores with a sloppy right hand. Carter should have avoided that one.

Carter moves into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carter looking to slow down the pace here.

Bridges works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Bridges postures up and lands a big shot to Carter's brow.
Bridges postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Bridges cracks Carter with a solid left hand.

Bridges gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Carter goes for a double leg but Bridges avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Bridges continues to drive forward.
Bridges appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Bridges stuffs the takedown.

Bridges darts in and clinches Carter up against the cage.
Bridges fails to pull the fight into his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bridges gets control of Carter's arms and successfully pulls guard. Bridges will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Bridges managing to control the position.
Bridges has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Bridges keeping moving, preventing Carter from controlling successfully.

Bridges looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Carter has picked Bridges up and slammed him! Bridges can't keep hold of the triangle and Carter manages to pass to side control!
You can see the frustration on Bridges's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Bridges is looking to regain half guard here but Carter keeps moving and retains side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Carter working away.

Carter thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bridges is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Kirk Bridges.
Well Bridges has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kirk Bridges!