PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Rick Cartside (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Philemon Christou (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Christou is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Slipknot - Disasterpiece. Philemon Christou will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Cartside
vs
Christou

170 cm
20
140 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

168 cm
24
144 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

ENDLESS 152
Valhalla War Gear

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 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Rick Cartside!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Philemon Christou!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, Donatello Bradman and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cartside shoots in looking for a takedown. Christou tries to sprawl out of it but Cartside keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Christou manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Christou scores with a decent looking hook.
Christou swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

Cartside shoots in and bounces Christou off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Christou keeping full guard, as Cartside tries to pass.
Christou trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Cartside wants to control from the top but Christou keeps moving.
Christou thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Cartside wants to pass the guard but Christou is keeping the position.
Cartside postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Cartside is stalling in the full guard.
Christou doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Christou tries to keep at a distance but Cartside has taken the fight into the clinch.
Christou wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Cartside has him pressed against the cage.
Cartside fails to pull the fight into his guard.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Cartside just misses with a elbow thrown towards Christou's brow.

Cartside is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Christou can't fight it off and eventually Cartside manages to take the fight to the floor. Christou looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Christou looking to hit a scissor sweep but Cartside is one step ahead there.
Christou has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Cartside trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Christou doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Christou throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Christou wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Christou is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cartside looking to pass the guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Cartside moves out of range as Christou strikes.
Cartside closes this distance looking for a takedown but Christou circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rick Cartside. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Cartside feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Christou lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Cartside!
Cartside tries to hold on but Christou pushes him away.
Cartside is looking to get to half guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Christou lands a nice shot to the head.
Christou scoring with strikes but Cartside is staying in there.
BOOM! Christou connects with a massive shot to the dome!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Christou pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Christou cracks Cartside with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Cartside is working to get back to half guard.
Christou landing shots from mount.

Cartside is rocked!
Christou lands a big elbow.
Oh Cartside is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
The referee warns Cartside that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Cartside tries to hold on but Christou pushes him away.
Cartside really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Cartside seems to have got his legs back now.
Christou connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Cartside takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Christou prevents Cartside from getting the reversal.
Christou lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Cartside hang on?
Cartside tries to lock up and control but Christou gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Cartside is breathing heavily.
Christou landing shots from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cartside wants to hold on but Christou pushes him away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Christou controlling the pace for now.
Christou fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Christou raining down shots from the mount!
Christou postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Cartside looks a forlorn figure.
Christou lands a big elbow.
Christou working the ground and pound effectively.
Christou tries to control but Cartside wriggling away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cartside tries to hold on but Christou pushes him away.
Cartside is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Philemon Christou dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Cartside will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Christou tries to keep at a distance but Cartside has taken the fight into the clinch.

Christou's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Christou misses with a jab, cross combination.
Christou throws a right and a left that both miss.

Cartside changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Christou looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Christou throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.
Cartside tries to move to mount but Christou blocks the move with his legs.
Christou is letting Cartside control him for a moment.
Cartside is looking to take a break and control but Christou is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Christou is looking to reverse the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Christou tries to strike from the bottom but misses.
Cartside trying to control the action but Christou is working from the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Christou throws a series of punches but Cartside moves out of range.
Christou is breathing heavily.
Christou throws a right hand that Cartside ducks under and follows up with a left that Cartside also avoids with ease.
Christou throws a nice looking combination but Cartside bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Cartside shoots in but no luck this time.
Christou misses with a double jab.

Cartside has managed to clinch.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Christou.
Christou is trying to drag Cartside to the mat but Cartside just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Cartside tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rick Cartside. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Christou wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Cartside tries to pull guard but Christou won't allow it.

Cartside decides to pull guard.
Cartside not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Christou throws a big right hand that misses.
Christou must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Cartside seems keen to control Christou's posture.
Philemon Christou has got the better of the ground game so far.
Cartside tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Cartside has his hands on Christou's head, controlling the position.
Cartside is trying to control the position but Christou postures up.
Cartside has Christou pulled in close to control his posture.
Christou trying to control the position from guard on top but Cartside is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Christou thows a big elbow that misses.
Christou throws a strike but Cartside rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Christou being controlled here, momentarily.
Cartside wants to control from the top but Christou keeps moving.
Cartside is really struggling to control Christou but he's trying to hold on to the position.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Rick Cartside just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Christou looks to throw the jab but Cartside is out of range.
Cartside shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Christou as he jumps to the side.

Cartside looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Christou manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Christou raining down shots from the mount!
Cartside tries to lock up and control but Christou gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Christou raining down shots from the mount!
Christou fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Cartside keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Christou working Cartside over with strikes here.
Christou lands a nice shot to the head.
Cartside bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rick Cartside dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Christou scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Christou throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Christou misses with the combination.
Christou misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
No luck for Christou with that takedown attempt.
Christou misses with a series of wild punches.
Cartside shoots in but no luck this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cartside misses with a takedown

and Christou counters with a shoot takedown. Cartside fights it but they end up in guard.
Cartside is pulling down on Christou's head to control his posture.
Cartside working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Christou.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cartside has Christou pulled in close to control his posture.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cartside working a defensive guard here.
Christou trying to control the position from guard on top but Cartside is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Christou being controlled here momentarily.
Cartside trying to keep a closed guard but Christou is proving a slippery customer.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Christou misses with a series of wild punches.
Christou scores with a nice right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Cartside misses with a takedown
and Christou counters with a stiff right hand.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rick Cartside. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cartside shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Christou counters with a shoot takedown. Cartside fights it but they end up in guard.
Christou wants to pass the guard but Cartside is keeping the position.
Cartside is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Christou sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Cartside's guard.
Cartside regains full guard. Nicely done.
Christou stands up over Cartside, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Christou in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Christou makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Cartside pulls Christou in close to prevent any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Christou missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Cartside not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Christou passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Christou scoring with punches and elbows.
Cartside wants to control but Christou postures up.
Cartside takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Cartside manages to get back to half guard.
Christou not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Cartside wants to improve his position but Christou is controlling well.
Cartside is refusing to be controlled, as Christou sits in half guard.

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.
Christou missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Cartside misses with a takedown attempt

and Christou counters with a takedown into side control.
Christou scoring with punches and elbows.
Cartside taking a bit of punishment here - Christou scoring with strikes.
Sloppy strikes there by Christou.
Christou connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Cartside some visible discomfort.
Cartside is trying to get back to half guard.
Christou working the body and head with strikes.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Christou looks up at the clock and then as Cartside takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Christou smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Cartside is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Christou's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Christou is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Philemon Christou comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Christou 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 Winston Howard scores the fight 28:29
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 28:29
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Philemon Christou!