PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between James Shortman (ranked 3007 p4p, 3209 weight class) and Mike Carpenter (ranked 125 p4p, 134 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Shortman
vs
Carpenter

220 cm
33
300
11 - 16 - 0

182 cm
35
276
14 - 21 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

Good wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, James Shortman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 21 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Mike Carpenter!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Radbod Blank and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Carpenter closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Carpenter working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Shortman has hold of Carpenter's hands but Carpenter slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Shortman looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Carpenter is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Shortman is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Carpenter scores with a couple of nice shots.
Carpenter looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Carpenter lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Carpenter sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Shortman actively working from the bottom here.

Shortman looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Shortman is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Carpenter pulls his head out easily.
Carpenter sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shortman looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Nice strikes from Carpenter there.
Shortman on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Carpenter in particular looking to stall.
Carpenter really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Shortman. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Shortman moves into full guard.
Carpenter engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Shortman working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Carpenter doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Carpenter manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Carpenter working his ground and pound in the gym. So far it seems to be working well.
Carpenter is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Shortman is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Carpenter avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Carpenter stays in close to Shortman's body and controls the position.
Carpenter keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Shortman's head.
Carpenter showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Carpenter connects with a couple of short punches.
Carpenter showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Shortman has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Carpenter is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Shortman.
Carpenter cracks Shortman with an elbow. That is naaassty.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Check out the look on Carpenter's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Shortman is looking for a sweep.
Shortman sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Carpenter stalling.
Shortman on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Carpenter takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Carpenter is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Carpenter is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

Shortman is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Carpenter pulls his head out easily.
Carpenter stalling.
Carpenter working the head and body with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Shortman looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Carpenter is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Let's hope that Carpenter has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

Shortman looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Shortman looking for submissions off his back.

Shortman is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Carpenter pulls his head out easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Carpenter controlling the action here.

Shortman looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Carpenter dominated that round.
That's time! Shortman's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Carpenter moves into the clinch.

Shortman is fighting off a takedown attempt but Carpenter is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Shortman to the mat. Shortman regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.

Shortman is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Carpenter defends well.

Shortman is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Carpenter is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Carpenter is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Shortman had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Carpenter defends it easily.

Shortman is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Carpenter defends well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shortman is looking for a triangle but Carpenter pushes his legs off easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Shortman throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Carpenter is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Shortman had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Carpenter defends it easily.
Carpenter sitting in guard here, content to control.
Carpenter wants to pass the guard but Shortman is keeping the position.
Carpenter postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Carpenter keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Shortman's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Shortman throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Carpenter sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Shortman's guard.
Carpenter slows the pace down in half guard.
Carpenter has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Shortman actively working from the bottom here.
Nice strikes from Carpenter there.
Carpenter keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

Shortman looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Carpenter sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Shortman is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Carpenter scores with a couple of nice shots.
Carpenter looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carpenter working over Shortman with some ground and pound. Shortman looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Carpenter lands strikes from half guard.
Carpenter content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

Shortman actively working from the bottom here.
Carpenter slows the pace down in half guard.

Shortman looking for submissions off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Carpenter controlling the pace.

Shortman looking for submissions off his back.
Carpenter is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Shortman actively working from the bottom here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Carpenter trying to control the pace.

Shortman is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Carpenter pulls his head out easily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Carpenter showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Carpenter pushes Shortman up against the cage in a clinch.
Carpenter has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Shortman avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Carpenter digs a right hand into Shortman's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Shortman's gas tank.

Carpenter has clasped his hands together around Shortman's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Carpenter controls the position from side control.
Shortman is trying to get back to half guard.
Carpenter grinds an elbow into Shortman's temple.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Carpenter happy to just control the position for now.
We're seeing a lot of stalling here from Carpenter.
Shortman tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Carpenter presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shortman working to try and regain half guard.
Carpenter looking to control and managing it successfully.
Carpenter scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Shortman?

It looks like James Shortman has been cut.
Carpenter lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Shortman hang on?
Carpenter content just to control the position here.
Shortman gets back to half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Carpenter in particular looking to stall.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Carpenter lands a nice short elbow.
Carpenter prevents Shortman from improving his position.
Carpenter scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Carpenter is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shortman tries to roll over but Carpenter keeps him under control.
Carpenter content to control rather than advance.

Shortman looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Carpenter seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Carpenter seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

Shortman looking for submissions off his back.

Shortman looking for submissions off his back.
Carpenter looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Carpenter seems content to control.
Carpenter seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Carpenter is taking a breather. Shortman says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

Shortman looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Carpenter is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Carpenter is nestled in close to Shortman, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

James Shortman's cut is getting worse.
Carpenter seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Shortman on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

James Shortman's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Mike Carpenter has got the better of the ground game so far.
Carpenter perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Shortman looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Carpenter is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Carpenter is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Shortman doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Carpenter.
Carpenter looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Shortman looking for submissions off his back.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Carpenter is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Shortman defends it well.
James Shortman has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mike Carpenter is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Carpenter scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mike Carpenter comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Carpenter has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 27:30
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mike Carpenter!