PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Joe Spencer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Luca Carmine (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Spencer
vs
Carmine

177 cm
21
170 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

183 cm
21
182 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Vandal Fight Boutique & Laundry

Namunamu Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Joe Spencer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Luca Carmine!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Sergei Dronov and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Spencer closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Carmine quickly recovers to half guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Carmine keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Spencer wants to lay and pray for a moment but Carmine keeps working.
Carmine avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Spencer.
Carmine is trying to stand up here but Spencer is controlling him well.
Carmine on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Carmine is looking to control Spencer's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Carmine avoid being mounted?
Carmine wants to get back to full guard.
Carmine trying to hold on to Spencer's head to control him but Spencer postures up.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Carmine can do anything to dispel that myth.
Spencer wants to take a breather but Carmine is having none of it.
Spencer 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carmine is looking to improve his position.
Carmine is looking to control Spencer's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Carmine avoid being mounted?
Spencer wants to lay and pray for a moment but Carmine keeps working.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Luca Carmine.
Spencer misses with a kick to the body.

Spencer moves into the clinch.
Spencer doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Spencer scores with a shoulder strike.
Spencer misses with a punch on the inside.
Carmine working aggressively here.
Carmine tries to break the clinch but Spencer is controlling the position.
Spencer tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Carmine is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Carmine wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Carmine wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spencer lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Spencer working aggressively here.

Carmine escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Spencer moves out of range of the strikes.
Spencer throws a predictable looking body shot
and Carmine counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Spencer lands a nice looking body shot.
Spencer showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Carmine.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Carmine throws a poor cross that misses
and Spencer counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Spencer avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Carmine stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Spencer throws a hook to the side of Carmine's head but Carmine sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Carmine lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Spencer misses with a straight right.
Carmine works Spencer's body with a nice hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carmine loads up on a big right hand but Spencer slips the punch.

Spencer looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Carmine controls Spencer momentarily but Spencer frees himself.
Spencer trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Carmine controlling Spencer's posture.
Spencer working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Spencer throws a big elbow that misses.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Spencer throws a big elbow that misses.
Carmine wants to sweep but no luck.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Spencer pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Carmine is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Spencer trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Carmine tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Carmine pulls Spencer in close to his closed guard and prevents Spencer from doing any damage or advancing position.
Spencer preventing the sweep.
Spencer tries to free his leg and advance position but Carmine is retaining full guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Spencer stays in close to Carmine's body and controls the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Spencer has Carmine up against the cage in a clinch.
Carmine goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Joe Spencer will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Carmine moves out of range as Spencer strikes.
Spencer looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Carmine is fending him off so far but Spencer persists. Nope, Carmine circles away and we're back to standing.
Spencer shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Carmine as he jumps to the side.
Carmine fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Spencer manages to avoid it.
Spencer tries to clinch there but Carmine circles away.
Carmine cracks a nice hook into Spencer's ribs.
Spencer moves in looking to clinch but Carmine pushes him off.
Carmine throws a good cross that connects.
Spencer lands a nice shot to the body.
Spencer misses with an uppercut.
Spencer misses the shot to the body.
Carmine throws a jab when Spencer was well out of range.

Spencer takes the fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spencer goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Nice body punch from Spencer.
Carmine misses with a body punch.
Spencer lands with a light punch inside.
Carmine misses with a hook to the ribs.

Carmine escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Carmine takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Spencer shoots in for a double leg but Carmine sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joe Spencer. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Spencer wants to clinch up but Carmine keeps it at a distance.
Carmine misses with a two punch combination.
Spencer keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Carmine uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Spencer.
Carmine moves away from the strike by Spencer.

Spencer looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Carmine!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spencer wants to control but Carmine is keeping him busy.
Spencer working the ground and pound.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Carmine tries to buck Spencer off but Spencer is having none of it.
Spencer trying to control the position but Carmine is working away.
Carmine is looking to regain half guard here but Spencer keeps moving and retains side control.
Carmine takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Spencer cracks Carmine with a big right hand but Carmine just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Carmine is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spencer throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Spencer landing a few strikes.
Spencer works to advance to full mount. Carmine defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Joe Spencer overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Carmine is trying to escape the mount.
Carmine is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Spencer fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Spencer lands a nice shot to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Spencer lands a heavy elbow.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Carmine is in a horrible position here. Spencer smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Carmine sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Carmine is trying to maintain the position but Spencer is very close to passing his half guard.
Spencer looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Carmine with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Nice strikes from Spencer there.
The fighters are battling for position here. Carmine manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Spencer accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Spencer postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Carmine has his hands on Spencer's head, controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Spencer dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Carmine looks to score with a jab to the body but Spencer is just out of range.
Spencer tries to clinch up but Carmine circles away and keeps his distance.
Spencer looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

Spencer forces Carmine back against the cage and clinches.

Carmine breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Joe Spencer seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Spencer fails with the takedown.

Spencer instigates a clinch.
A nice left hand lands by Spencer.
A frustrated look appears on Carmine's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Spencer presses Carmine against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
A short right from Spencer on the inside.
Spencer scores with a shoulder strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Carmine manages to break the clinch.
Nice straight punches there by Spencer. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Spencer.
Spencer lands a nice hook to Carmine's body. Carmine takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Spencer wants to clinch up but Carmine keeps it at a distance.
Carmine throws a body punch but Spencer moves out of range.
Carmine swings for the body but Spencer moves out of range.
Carmine throws a shot from downtown. Spencer moves away and avoids it.
Good exchange - Spencer coming out on top.
Carmine lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Spencer circles away quickly and effectively.
Carmine misses with a right hand
and Spencer counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Spencer uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Carmine.
Spencer has a takedown stuffed.
Carmine swats away the attempt to clinch by Spencer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spencer looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joe Spencer. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Carmine looks to throw the jab but Spencer is out of range.
Carmine throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Carmine gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Spencer.
Joe Spencer is winning the standup battle so far.
Carmine sizes up Spencer with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
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!
Good standup being displayed there by Spencer as he connects with a hook.

Spencer changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Carmine looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
An elbow from Spencer crashes against the mat.
Spencer postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
You can see the frustration on Carmine's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spencer wants to lay and pray for a moment but Carmine keeps working.
Carmine manages to get back to half guard.
Carmine is looking to improve his position.
Spencer working the head and body with strikes.
Carmine is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Spencer landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Spencer is trying to control. Carmine wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Carmine controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Carmine blocking the ground and pound attempt from Spencer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Carmine keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Carmine is looking for a sweep. Spencer is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Spencer throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Spencer seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Carmine does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Spencer not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
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!
Spencer landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Spencer passes the guard and advances to mount!
Spencer throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joe Spencer showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Spencer 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joe Spencer!
Joe Spencer decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.