PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Russel Wilson (ranked 2243 p4p, 2518 weight class) and Mike Carpenter (ranked 110 p4p, 124 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Wilson
vs
Carpenter

185 cm
32
270
10 - 9 - 0

182 cm
36
276
16 - 22 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Very quick

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 10 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Russel Wilson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 22 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Mike Carpenter!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Saam Ante and Aafke Stam.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wilson stalks Carpenter and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Carpenter's face. Carpenter staggers backwards, shaken.

Wilson forces Carpenter back against the cage and clinches.

Carpenter tightens his grip and picks Wilson up, before dumping him to the ground. Wilson manages to land in guard.
Wilson is trying to control the position but Carpenter postures up.
Wilson lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Carpenter can do anything to dispel that myth.
Wilson is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Wilson chips away with some ground and pound.
Wilson trying to control the position from guard on top but Carpenter is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Wilson keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Carpenter's head.
Wilson passes Carpenter's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Wilson working the head and body with strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carpenter tries to kick Wilson off but Wilson keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Carpenter is refusing to be controlled, as Wilson sits in half guard.
Wilson not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Carpenter really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Wilson. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Wilson stops Carpenter from getting back to his feet.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Carpenter is looking to escape.
Wilson is keen to just control but Carpenter is a slippery customer.
Carpenter tries to kick Wilson off but Wilson keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Carpenter takes the fight into the clinch.
Wilson changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Carpenter fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Carpenter changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Wilson looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Wilson is letting Carpenter control him for a moment.
Wilson is trying to control Carpenter's posture but Carpenter avoids it.
Wilson throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.
Wilson manages to work his way to half guard, despite Carpenter's best efforts.
Wilson keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Carpenter trying to control from half guard but Wilson is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carpenter lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Wilson gets full guard.
Wilson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Wilson managing to control the position.
Wilson controls Carpenter momentarily but Carpenter frees himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Wilson seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Wilson tries to land a sweep but no joy.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Carpenter rushes Wilson and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Carpenter has picked Wilson up - he's going for a ride! Carpenter dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Wilson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Carpenter thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Wilson's head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Carpenter wants to lay and pray for a moment but Wilson keeps working.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mike Carpenter will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Carpenter moves into the clinch.
Wilson lands on the inside with an uppercut.
A short left from Wilson.
Wilson misses with a punch to the body.
Wilson tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Carpenter gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Carpenter must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Wilson is trying to control the position but Carpenter postures up.
Wilson looking for a sweep. Not yet Wilson, not yet.
Wilson looking to control but Carpenter passes into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Carpenter performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Carpenter seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Wilson does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wilson is looking to improve his position.
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 wants to lay and pray for a moment but Wilson keeps working.
Carpenter performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Carpenter scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Carpenter not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Carpenter takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Carpenter thows a huge punch but Wilson dodges it nicely.
Carpenter content to control rather than advance.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Carpenter thows a huge punch but Wilson dodges it nicely.
Wilson tries to get to full guard but Carpenter has control of the leg.
Carpenter looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Carpenter working his ground and pound in the gym.

Wilson looking for submissions off his back.
Wilson gets full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carpenter seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Carpenter working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Carpenter makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Wilson pulls Carpenter in close to his closed guard and prevents Carpenter from doing any damage or advancing position.
Carpenter lands a couple of elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Wilson trying to keep a closed guard but Carpenter is proving a slippery customer.
Wilson 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.
Wilson pulls Carpenter in close to his closed guard and prevents Carpenter from doing any damage or advancing position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Wilson avoids the body shot from Carpenter.

Carpenter has taken the fight to the clinch.

Wilson is fighting off a takedown attempt but Carpenter is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Wilson to the mat. Wilson regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Wilson manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Carpenter manages to get himself to full guard.

The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Carpenter is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Wilson is controlling him.
Wilson is standing up over Carpenter. Carpenter looks to escape but Wilson dives into side control.
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.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Carpenter changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Wilson looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Wilson is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Carpenter is looking to take a break and control but Wilson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Wilson sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wilson is trying to get back to full guard.
Carpenter scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Carpenter has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Carpenter missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wilson tries to roll over but Carpenter keeps him under control.
Wilson has his hands clasped together around Carpenter's back. He's all about the action.
Wilson keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Carpenter controlling the pace.
Carpenter is keen to just control but Wilson is a slippery customer.
Wilson gets full guard.
Wilson being controlled here, momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Wilson seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

Wilson looking for a guillotine here but Carpenter defends easily.
Carpenter makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Carpenter landing with the ground and pound.
Wilson controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wilson being controlled here, momentarily.
Carpenter trying to control but Wilson is working from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Carpenter closes the distance and clinches.

Carpenter tightens his grip and picks Wilson up, before dumping him to the ground. Wilson manages to land in guard.
Wilson keeping moving, preventing Carpenter from controlling successfully.
Carpenter pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Wilson is keeping the position for now.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Carpenter works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Carpenter seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Russel Wilson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Carpenter is keen to just control but Wilson is a slippery customer.
Carpenter is thwarting Wilson's attempts to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mike Carpenter is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Wilson moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mike Carpenter comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Carpenter winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Paul Aken scores the fight 27:30
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 27:30

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