PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Matt Carpenter (ranked 4617 p4p, 0 weight class) and Robby Lawler (ranked 4646 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.

Carpenter
vs
Lawler

177 cm
24
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
24
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Big right hand

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Matt Carpenter!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Robby Lawler!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, Donatello Bradman and Darius Henderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Lawler forces Carpenter back against the cage and clinches.
Lawler tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Carpenter's elbow.
Carpenter can't find room to land a body shot as Lawler controls the action.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Carpenter.
Lawler lands a right hand.
Carpenter lands a nice shot to the body.
Carpenter working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Carpenter tries to throw a body punch but Lawler avoids it by throwing Carpenter back against the cage.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Carpenter.
Lawler lands a hook that snaps the head of Carpenter backwards.
Lawler tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Carpenter's elbow.
Lawler misses with a punch to the body.
Lawler blocks a body shot from Carpenter.
Carpenter misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Lawler can't find room to land a body shot as Carpenter controls the action.
Lawler throws a head punch that misses.
Lawler throws a punch but it's blocked by Carpenter.
Carpenter makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Carpenter tries to work over Lawler's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Carpenter lands a left hand that snaps the head of Lawler backwards.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Carpenter tries to throw a body punch but Lawler avoids it by throwing Carpenter back against the cage.
Lawler misses with a punch to the body.
Lawler fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Carpenter misses with a punch on the inside.
Lawler misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carpenter lands with a right to the head.
Carpenter working aggressively here.
Lawler misses with some punches.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Carpenter blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Carpenter blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Lawler tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A hook to the body from Carpenter.
Carpenter tries a body shot but Lawler blocks it.
Carpenter lands a body punch.
Carpenter blocking some punches.
Carpenter pushes Lawler back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Lawler creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Lawler presses Carpenter against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Lawler's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Carpenter lands a shot to the body.
Lawler fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A right hook to the body lands for Carpenter.
Carpenter blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lawler misses with the head strike.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
A shot in the inside from Carpenter.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lawler misses with a hook to the ribs.
Carpenter works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Carpenter blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Lawler fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Lawler has a couple of punches blocked by Carpenter.
A nice left hand lands by Lawler.
Lawler lands with a light punch inside.
A head punch on the inside from Lawler fails to land.
A body shot lands from Carpenter.
A short left from Carpenter.

Carpenter's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Lawler scores with a jab to the body.
Lawler throws a lazy uppercut
and Carpenter counters with a stiff right hand.
Lawler tries to clinch there but Carpenter circles away.

Carpenter clinches up against the cage.
Lawler misses with some punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Carpenter - that landed with a thud.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Lawler.
Carpenter blocking some punches.
Lawler misses with some punches.
Carpenter doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Lawler misses with a hook from the clinch.
Lawler manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Lawler misses with a short punch on the inside.
Lawler throws a head punch that misses.
Carpenter lands a body shot in the clinch.
Carpenter misses with a punch to the body.

Carpenter escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Lawler lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Carpenter ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Carpenter lands with a good body shot.
Carpenter lands a jab to the nose.
Lawler misses with a hook
letting Carpenter counter with a right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Carpenter tries to land a front kick but Lawler steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
The fighters circle momentarily. Lawler darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Carpenter keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Carpenter really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Lawler has closed the distance and engaged Carpenter in a clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Lawler.
Carpenter is working Lawler over against the cage.
Carpenter lands a body punch in the clinch.
Carpenter tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Lawler's elbow.
A nice left hand lands by Lawler.
Lawler lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

Carpenter breaks the clinch.

Carpenter takes the fight into the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lawler goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Carpenter scores with a hook to the body.
Carpenter misses with a punch to the body.
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 Matt Carpenter will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Lawler rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Lawler takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Lawler misses with a shot to the body
and Carpenter counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Lawler moves into range and clinches up with Carpenter.
Lawler tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Lawler is stalling here.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Lawler.
Carpenter struggles to land a body shot inside as Lawler controls his hands.
Carpenter lands with a light punch inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Lawler.
Carpenter pushes Lawler back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Carpenter lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Lawler backwards.
Lawler doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lawler leaning against his opponent.
Carpenter blocks an uppercut.
Lawler misses with a body punch.
Carpenter misses with a hook from the clinch.
Carpenter working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Carpenter goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Lawler keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Carpenter's efforts to push away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carpenter lands a body shot in the clinch.
Carpenter lands with a short shot to the head.
Lawler is leaning against Carpenter and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.

Carpenter pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Carpenter lands a body shot.
Carpenter connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Carpenter tries to land a front kick but Lawler steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Lawler rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Carpenter counters with a series of strikes. Lawler will be more careful next time no doubt.
Lawler throws a looping overhand right but Carpenter ducks down to avoid it.
Carpenter shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Nice body kick there by Carpenter.
The fighters circling - Lawler throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lawler misses with a looping left.
Lawler misses with an uppercut. Carpenter saw that one coming.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lawler drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Lawler takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Carpenter uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Lawler has time to react.
Carpenter keeps the fight on the outside.
Carpenter thinks about countering with a body kick.

Carpenter rushes Lawler and presses him up against the cage.
Carpenter is working Lawler over against the cage.
Lawler misses with some punches.
A nice left hand lands by Carpenter.
Carpenter misses with a hook from the clinch.
Matt Carpenter has scored more points in the clinch so far.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Carpenter.
Lawler controlling the action here for a moment.
Carpenter tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Still in the clinch, Carpenter scores with a nice short uppercut.
Carpenter tries to throw a body punch but Lawler avoids it by throwing Carpenter back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carpenter blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Carpenter blocking some punches.
Lawler fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Carpenter lands a right hand that snaps the head of Lawler backwards.
A short body shot lands from Carpenter as the two fighters clinch.
Lawler swings wildly with an uppercut but Carpenter uses good head movement to avoid it.
Lawler trying to control the position but instead, Carpenter has worked for underhooks and has pushed Lawler into the cage.
Carpenter goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Carpenter lands a hook that snaps the head of Lawler backwards.
Lawler lands with a short head shot on the inside.
A short right from Carpenter.
Lawler taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Lawler wants to stall.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Lawler creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Lawler misses with a body punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lawler blocks a body shot from Carpenter.
Carpenter pushes Lawler back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Carpenter lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Lawler lands a body punch in the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Still in the clinch, Lawler scores with a nice short uppercut.
Lawler can't find room to land a body shot as Carpenter controls the action.
Carpenter doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Lawler tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Carpenter's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Carpenter wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Lawler looks to land a left hand but Carpenter moved out of range nicely.
Lawler takes a swing at Carpenter's ribcage but misses.
Carpenter blocks a jab.
Carpenter scores with the left hand. Lawler knows he should have avoided that one.
Lawler listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
A jab from Lawler misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Carpenter dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Lawler tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Carpenter counters with a stiff right hand.
Lawler throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Carpenter counters with a nice uppercut.
Lawler misses with a lunging right hand
and Carpenter counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Lawler thinking.
Lawler misses with a jab to the body
letting Carpenter counter with a right hand.
Lawler misses with a body punch
and Carpenter counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Carpenter takes the fight into the clinch.
Carpenter misses with a punch to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Carpenter tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Carpenter presses Lawler against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Carpenter doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Lawler throws a head punch that misses.
Carpenter misses with a hook from the clinch.
Carpenter blocks an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carpenter cracks Lawler with a nice body shot.
Lawler swings wildly with an uppercut but Carpenter uses good head movement to avoid it.
Carpenter lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Lawler or not.
Carpenter is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Lawler can do to turn this around?
Carpenter working some nice short punches in the clinch.

Carpenter manages to break the clinch.
Lawler slips a jab and a cross from Carpenter.
Lawler throws out a counter right but Carpenter avoids it with no problem.
Carpenter slips a straight right by Lawler.
Matt Carpenter is winning the standup battle so far.
Carpenter looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Lawler keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Lawler swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Carpenter.

Carpenter instigates a clinch.
Carpenter throws a punch but it's blocked by Lawler.
Lawler blocks a body shot from Carpenter.
Carpenter misses with a hook to the ribs.
Carpenter lands a hook that snaps the head of Lawler backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A hook to the body from Carpenter.
Carpenter scores with a shoulder strike.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lawler lands with a light punch inside.
Carpenter goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Carpenter.
Lawler takes a shot to the head.
Lawler throws a head punch that misses.

Carpenter breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Carpenter misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Lawler.
Carpenter moves out of range as Lawler strikes.
Lawler throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Carpenter misses with a kick to the body.
Lawler might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Lawler lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Left hook, right uppercut from Lawler.
Lawler throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Carpenter counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lawler looks to land a left hand but Carpenter moved out of range nicely.
Carpenter takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Lawler just misses with a punch to the body.
Lawler lands a head shot.
Lawler tries to clinch but Carpenter moves out of range.
Lawler misses the body punch
and Carpenter counters with a stiff right hand.
Lawler throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Carpenter counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Carpenter slips under a jab from Lawler.
Carpenter throws a low kick but Lawler moves out of range easily.
Lawler misses with a hook
and Carpenter counters with a nice uppercut.
Carpenter tries a head kick but it misses.
Lawler tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Carpenter manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lawler walks into a straight right hand from Carpenter.
Carpenter tests Lawler's chin there with a solid looking shot.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lawler tries to clinch but Carpenter moves away
and Carpenter counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Lawler throws a nice looking combination but Carpenter bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Lawler takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Lawler throws a hook but Carpenter avoids it easily.
The fighters circling - Lawler throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Carpenter feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Matt Carpenter is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Lawler tries to clinch but Carpenter moves away
and Carpenter counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

Carpenter gets a clinch.
Lawler swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Carpenter swings wildly with an uppercut but Lawler uses good head movement to avoid it.
Carpenter digs a right hand into Lawler's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Lawler's gas tank.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matt Carpenter showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Carpenter 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 Steve Erwin scores the fight for Matt Carpenter!
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight for Matt Carpenter!
Judge Darius Henderson scores the fight for Matt Carpenter!

Matt Carpenter wins by unanimous decision!