PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Opie Carter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josha Loraine (ranked 0 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.

Carter
vs
Loraine

190 cm
22
275 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
22
270 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Great elbows
Big right hand

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Opie Carter!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Josha Loraine!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Carter fails with the takedown.
Carter fails with the takedown.
Carter tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Loraine swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Opie Carter. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Carter throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Carter wants to clinch.
Carter throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Loraine.
Carter shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Loraine shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Carter pinned against the cage. Carter gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Loraine thows a body shot but no joy.
Loraine circles away from the clinch attempt.
Carter throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Loraine.

It looks like Josha Loraine has been cut.
Carter stuffs the takedown attempt from Loraine. Loraine gets slowly back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Loraine avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Loraine looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Carter is fending him off so far but Loraine persists. Nope, Carter circles away and we're back to standing.
Carter tries to clinch but Loraine is having none of it.
Loraine scores with a jab to the body.
Carter misses with a takedown attempt

and Loraine counters by clinching up.
Loraine wants a takedown.
Carter goes for a takedown in the clinch but Loraine prevents it.
Loraine wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Loraine pulls guard.
Loraine looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Carter being controlled here momentarily.
Let's hope that Loraine 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Loraine tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Carter wants to control from the top but Loraine keeps moving.
Loraine trying to keep a closed guard but Carter is proving a slippery customer.
Loraine wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Carter in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Loraine keeping busy on the bottom but Carter has passed one foot through into half guard.
Loraine tries to get to full guard but Carter has control of the leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Loraine misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Carter throwing shots but Loraine is blocking nicely.
Carter could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Carter works his way into full mount!
Carter thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Carter can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Loraine is looking to escape.

Carter jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Loraine is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Loraine and Carter has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Carter is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Loraine throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.
Carter wants to control but Loraine is keeping him busy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Carter decides to stand back up.
Carter fails with a takedown attempt.
Carter misses with a takedown attempt - Loraine sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Loraine has a takedown stuffed.
Nice sprawl there from Carter as Loraine shoots in.
Carter looks frusrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Josha Loraine will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Josha Loraine's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Horrible takedown by Loraine or perhaps it was just good defense by Carter which made him look bad.
Carter takes a swing at Loraine's ribcage but misses.
Carter gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Loraine counters with a nice double leg into side control. Carter won't be happy with that.
Carter stops Loraine from passing to mount.
Loraine takes a little break here. Carter wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.

Loraine decides to stand back up.
Carter fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Loraine clinches up with Carter and pushes him back against the cage.

Loraine gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Carter regains guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Loraine decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Carter, up you get!
Loraine misses with a low kick.
Carter shoots in for a takedown but Loraine shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Opie Carter. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Loraine shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Carter but Carter pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Carter throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Loraine's waist but Loraine gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Carter off to one side.
Loraine avoids the head kick by Carter.
Carter lands with a nice combination. Loraine backs away looking to recover.
Carter shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Loraine pinned against the cage. Loraine gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Nice takedown defense from Loraine. No joy for Carter on that attempt.
Horrible takedown by Carter or perhaps it was just good defense by Loraine which made him look bad.
Loraine swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Carter counters with a single leg into guard. Loraine didn't expect that.

Carter drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Carter jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Carter advances to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Loraine looks like he's trying to stand up.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Loraine can do anything to dispel that myth.
Carter missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Carter stops Loraine from getting back to his feet.
Carter missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Loraine is looking to improve his position.
Carter seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Loraine does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Carter takes the fight into the clinch. Loraine misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Carter.
Loraine wants to get back to striking at distance but Carter won't allow it.

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

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Loraine tries to pull guard but Carter won't allow it.

Carter successfully pulls guard.
Carter is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Carter is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Carter is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Loraine distracts Carter with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Loraine postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Carter wants to stand but Loraine is controlling the position.
Josha Loraine has got the better of the ground game so far.

Carter pushes Loraine off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Loraine fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Nice takedown defense from Loraine. No joy for Carter on that attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Carter misses with a jab to the body
and Loraine counters with a stiff right hand.
Loraine bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Carter misses with a takedown attempt - Loraine sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Carter looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Loraine is fending him off so far but Carter persists. Nope, Loraine circles away and we're back to standing.
Loraine misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Carter counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Loraine is lucky that one didn't land flush.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Carter.
The fight stays on the outside here - Carter looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Loraine tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Carter circles away from the clinch attempt.

Carter fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Loraine, pushing him back against the cage.

Loraine pulls guard.

Carter stands up from guard. Let's bang!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Opie Carter will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Josha Loraine's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Carter clinches up with Loraine and pushes him back against the cage.

Loraine pulls Carter into guard.

Loraine looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Carter passes Loraine's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Carter wants to lay and pray for a moment but Loraine keeps working.

Carter postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Loraine to stand up.
Loraine avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Loraine avoids the head kick by Carter.
Loraine has a takedown stuffed.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Carter shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Carter takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Loraine has managed to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carter tries to stall but Loraine uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Loraine blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Carter fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Carter goes for a takedown in the clinch but Loraine prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Opie Carter. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Loraine tries to pull guard but Carter won't allow it.

Carter jumps into guard, dragging Loraine to the mat.
Carter keeping full guard, as Loraine tries to pass.
Loraine controls from within his opponent's guard.
Loraine passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Loraine working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Loraine is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Carter knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Carter sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Loraine wants to control but Carter is keeping him busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Loraine is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Loraine looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Loraine prevents Carter from improving his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carter wants to control but Loraine is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Loraine is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Loraine is taking a breather. Carter 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.

Carter makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Loraine stuffs the takedown.
Loraine shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Carter misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Carter closes this distance looking for a takedown but Loraine circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Carter tries to clinch up but Loraine circles away and keeps his distance.
Carter wants to clinch

so Loraine counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Carter trying to control the position.
Loraine content to stall in guard here.

Carter is looking for a triangle but Loraine pushes his legs off easily.
Loraine passes Carter's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Carter trying to hold on to Loraine's head to control him but Loraine postures up.
Carter is trying to get back to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Josha Loraine comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Loraine has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 29:30
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 29:30
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Josha Loraine!