PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Thomas Carpenter (ranked 6573 p4p, 6257 weight class) and William Roberts (ranked 619 p4p, 605 weight class). Roberts is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Phenomenal. William Roberts has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Carpenter
vs
Roberts

174 cm
18
190
0 - 1 - 0

183 cm
18
180
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Prefers standup

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Concrete Clothing (Laundry Re Stock Coming Soon)

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Thomas Carpenter!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, William Roberts!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Marco Blurström and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Carpenter misses the shot to the body.
Despite the aggression on Roberts's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Roberts shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Carpenter but Carpenter pushes him off and we're back to square one.
A little feinted left hand from Carpenter on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Carpenter defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Roberts.
Roberts throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Carpenter.
Carpenter looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Roberts uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Carpenter.
Roberts goes for a double leg but Carpenter avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Carpenter continues to drive forward.
Thomas Carpenter has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of William Roberts.
Roberts lands an overhand right.
Roberts is looking to clinch but Carpenter is avoiding it.
Carpenter moves out of range as Roberts strikes.
Carpenter could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Roberts displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Carpenter throws out the jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Carpenter circles away from the clinch attempt.
Carpenter swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Carpenter misses with the combination.

Roberts closes the distance and pushes Carpenter back into the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee is keeping an eye on Carpenter - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Carpenter is leaning against Roberts and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Roberts jumps guard but Carpenter turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Carpenter struggles to land a body shot inside as Roberts controls his hands.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Roberts.
Roberts blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Carpenter misses with a punch to the body.
Carpenter works on Roberts's body with a couple of short punches.
Carpenter misses with the head strike.
Roberts blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Roberts breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Carpenter throws an off balance right hand
and Roberts counters with a three punch combo that has Carpenter backing up. Carpenter nods at Roberts to acknowledge the strikes.
Carpenter misses with an uppercut.
Nice uppercut there from Carpenter.
We've been informed that Roberts has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Roberts tries to close the distance and clinch up but Carpenter swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Carpenter throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Jab, jab by Carpenter - just one landing.

It looks like William Roberts has been cut.
Roberts stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Carpenter.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Carpenter displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Roberts.
Roberts looks winded!
Carpenter looks to land a right hand but Roberts moved out of range.
Roberts moves out of range of the strikes.
A telegraphed right hand from Carpenter misses the target.
Roberts doesn't manage to clinch there - Carpenter circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Roberts drives through and clinches with Carpenter against the cage.

Roberts escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Roberts tries to score a power double leg takedown but Carpenter sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Roberts somewhat.
Carpenter cracks Roberts with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Roberts dives in for a single leg takedown but Carpenter sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
A cross from Carpenter lands.
Roberts throws a right and a left that Carpenter avoids nicely.
Roberts needs to keep his hands up - Carpenter had a free shot at his head there.
Carpenter looks to land a left hand but Roberts moved out of range nicely.
Roberts takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Roberts bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Roberts throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

Carpenter moves into range and clinches up with Roberts.
Carpenter misses with a body punch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Roberts is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Carpenter to keep the fight standing.
Carpenter can't find room to land a body shot as Roberts controls the action.
Carpenter content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Carpenter misses with a body punch.
Roberts throws a head punch that misses.
Carpenter lands a shot to the body.

Roberts escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Carpenter dominated that round.
The cut man is working on William Roberts's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Roberts 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.
Roberts wants to clinch.
Carpenter defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Roberts.
Carpenter throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Roberts sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Roberts tries to close the distance and clinch up but Carpenter swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Carpenter shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Carpenter lands a leg kick that knocks Roberts off balance momentarily.
Roberts tries to clinch up.
Carpenter throwing a counter right hand but Roberts manages to avoid it.

Carpenter has closed the distance and engaged Roberts in a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Roberts pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Carpenter misses with a jab, cross combination.
Roberts tries to clinch up but Carpenter circles away and keeps his distance.
Carpenter is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Thomas Carpenter is winning the standup battle so far.
Roberts avoids the body shot from Carpenter.
Thomas Carpenter is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carpenter swinging wildly here.
Roberts getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Roberts misses with a takedown
and Carpenter counters with a low kick, right behind Roberts 's knee.
Roberts is breathing heavily.
A looping hook to the body misses from Roberts. Carpenter does a little dance to reset his feet.
Carpenter lands with a straight right. Roberts didn't see that one coming.
Carpenter slips under a jab from Roberts.
Carpenter connects with a jab.
Carpenter misses with a jab, cross combination.
Carpenter throws a nice looking combination but Roberts bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
A little jabbing left from Roberts on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Carpenter swats away the attempt to clinch by Roberts.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carpenter throws a jab when Roberts was well out of range.
Carpenter keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Carpenter is looking to counter punch.
Thomas Carpenter has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of William Roberts.
Carpenter misses with a wild body shot.
Roberts throws out a counter right but Carpenter avoids it with no problem.
Roberts will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Carpenter swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Roberts tries to close the distance and clinch but Carpenter swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Carpenter is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Roberts can do to turn this around?
A looping hook to the body misses from Carpenter. Roberts does a little dance to reset his feet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Carpenter lands a jab to Roberts's midsection.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Carpenter working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
A head punch on the inside from Carpenter fails to land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roberts blocks an uppercut.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

Roberts escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Carpenter's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Roberts tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Roberts is defended easily by Carpenter.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Roberts scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Carpenter circles away from the clinch attempt.
Carpenter misses with a body shot.
Roberts throws out a counter right but Carpenter avoids it with no problem.

Carpenter clinches up against the cage.
Carpenter misses with a body punch.
Roberts is trying to pull guard but Carpenter turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Roberts doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Roberts tries to pull guard but Carpenter won't allow it.
Carpenter just leaning against Roberts, taking a breather.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Carpenter dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on William Roberts's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Carpenter misses with a straight left.
William Roberts seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Roberts ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Roberts moves in looking to clinch but Carpenter pushes him off.
Roberts fails in his attempt to clinch.
A counter left hand to the body from Carpenter misses its target.

Carpenter fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Roberts, pushing him back against the cage.
Carpenter misses with a shot to the kidneys.
The referee is keeping an eye on Carpenter - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
A bit of stalling here from Carpenter.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Carpenter doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Roberts pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Carpenter lunges at Roberts with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Roberts's hand.
Carpenter checks a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carpenter shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Roberts eats them both and turns towards Carpenter to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Carpenter wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
William Roberts is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Roberts takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Roberts uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Carpenter.
Roberts throws a combination. Carpenter tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Carpenter throws a shot from downtown. Roberts moves away and avoids it.

Roberts rushes Carpenter and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

Roberts breaks from the clinch.
Roberts tries to clinch up but Carpenter circles away and keeps his distance.
Roberts tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Carpenter paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Carpenter missing with a left hand there. Roberts was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Roberts tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Carpenter paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Carpenter misses with a hook. Roberts ducked under it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roberts has a takedown stuffed.
Roberts throws a half hearted mid kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Roberts displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Carpenter throws out the jab.
Carpenter uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Roberts has time to react.
Carpenter fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Roberts manages to avoid it.

Carpenter clinches up against the cage.
Carpenter scores with a nice hook to the head.
Roberts being controlled against the cage.
Carpenter dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carpenter avoiding damage.
Roberts blocks a body shot from Carpenter.

Roberts breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Roberts keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Carpenter.
Roberts unleashes a big counter combination but Carpenter bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Roberts scores with a punch to the head.
Carpenter connects with a nice looking jab.
Roberts uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Carpenter.

Carpenter forces Roberts back against the cage and clinches.
William Roberts has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Carpenter lands with a left to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Carpenter throws a head punch that misses.
Roberts blocking some punches.
Carpenter has a couple of punches blocked by Roberts.
A shot in the inside from Carpenter.
Carpenter tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Thomas Carpenter is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Roberts breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Roberts misses with a body kick.
Roberts misses with a takedown

and Carpenter counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
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!
Roberts controlling the action here for a moment.
A short right from Carpenter on the inside.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thomas 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thomas Carpenter!
A loyal slave to those sponsorship dollars, Thomas Carpenter made sure he mentioned Concrete Clothing (Laundry Re Stock Coming Soon), along with how happy he was to win his fight.
William Roberts was interviewed post fight and said 'I was obviously not fully prepared, I will not make the same mistake, bring on a rematch if you are worth it.'.