PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Carson Tully (ranked 3328 p4p, 5052 weight class) and Rashid Atkins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rashid Atkins has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Tully
vs
Atkins

180 cm
26
190
7 - 3 - 0

187 cm
19
192
1 - 0 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Great elbows
KO power

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Good gas tank

Fantasy Threads (Laundry 15%)

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 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Carson Tully!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rashid Atkins!
The judges for this bout are Jeff Smith, Paul Gruel and Josh West.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Atkins fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Tully swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Rashid Atkins seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Atkins closes this distance looking for a takedown but Tully circles away.
Tully circles away from the clinch attempt
and Tully counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Atkins thinking.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Atkins shoots in looking for a takedown. Tully tries to sprawl out of it but Atkins keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Tully manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Carson Tully has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rashid Atkins.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tully lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
A cross from Tully lands.

It looks like Rashid Atkins has been cut.
Atkins shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Atkins closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Tully to the mat! Tully manages to get full guard.

Tully looking for a guillotine here but Atkins defends easily.
Atkins really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Tully. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Atkins not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Tully seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tully is trying to control the position but Atkins postures up.
Atkins is looking to advance position but Tully has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

This has been an exciting period of action!
Tully looking to finish Atkins with some ground and pound. This is bad for Atkins!
Atkins tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tully trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Atkins tries to lock up and control but Tully gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Tully lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

That has opened up Rashid Atkins's cut even more.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tully can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Atkins is looking to escape.
Tully has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Tully softens up his opponent with a couple of shots there and then CRACK! One massive shot lands there and Atkins is out cold! Tully jumps to his feet and celebrates on the cage with the fans, who are, quite frankly, going absolutely mental!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:26 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Carson Tully!
During a confident post fight interview, Carson Tully thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.