PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ruben Carballar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steven Lewis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ruben Carballar has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Carballar
vs
Lewis

170 cm
25
206 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

190 cm
25
205 lbs
2 - 14 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ruben Carballar!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 14 - 0, fighting out of New York, Steven Lewis!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Chad Campbell and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lewis changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Carballar tries to avoid it but Lewis manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Carballar to the ground. Carballar escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Carballar drives through with a takedown into Lewis's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Carballar pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Lewis is keeping the position for now.
Carballar trying to control the position from guard on top but Lewis is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Carballar sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Carballar has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Carballar's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Carballar is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carballar forces his way into half guard.
Carballar trying to mount his opponent but Lewis defends it.
Carballar not doing much here.

Carballar is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Lewis doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Carballar.
Well, if Carballar is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Carballar trying to pass the guard but Lewis defending well.
Carballar is controlling the pace.
Lewis wants to get back to full guard.
Lewis is staying active underneath Carballar, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Lewis trying to hold on to Carballar's head to control him but Carballar postures up.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Lewis tries for a takedown but Carballar sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Lewis looks winded!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lewis gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Carballar pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Lewis is keeping the position for now.
Lewis not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Carballar passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Carballar is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Lewis is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Carballar has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Lewis!
Lewis is wriggling around here but as he tries to escape, Carballar has taken his back.
Lewis staying busy and making it hard for Carballar to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lewis is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Carballar gets his way!
Carballar trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Lewis doesn't escape.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Carballar working for the choke.

Lewis defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Carballar is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ruben Carballar dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Carballar shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Lewis sprawls well. Lewis wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Carballar gets slowly back to his feet.

Carballar drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Carballar wants to control from the top but Lewis keeps moving.
Ruben Carballar overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Carballar trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Carballar drops back looking for a leg! Lewis is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Lewis manages to kick Carballar off! Carballar jumps back into Lewis's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Carballar trying to control but Lewis is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carballar trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Carballar stopping the sweep attempt from Lewis.
Lewis is breathing heavily.
Carballar 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.
Carballar pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Lewis is keeping the position for now.
Carballar trying to control the position from guard on top but Lewis is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Carballar is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Lewis can do to turn this around?
Carballar shoots in looking for a takedown but Lewis manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Carballar's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Lewis tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Carballar swivels and escapes.
Carballar fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Lewis avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ruben Carballar. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Carballar shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Carballar showed some decent athleticism there.
Carballar is trying to control. Lewis wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Carballar is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Lewis is just riding it out for now. Carballar eventually gives up the hold.

Carballar is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carballar prevents Lewis from standing back up.
Lewis is not content to let Carballar control the position.
Carballar prevents Lewis from improving his position.
Carballar wants to free his trapped foot but Lewis is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Carballar is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Carballar is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Lewis defends it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Carballar is keen to just control but Lewis is a slippery customer.
Carballar passes to full mount!
Carballar content just to control the position here.

Carballar with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Lewis wants to control but Carballar is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ruben Carballar dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Carballar drives through with a takedown into Lewis's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Carballar content to stall in guard here.
Carballar stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Lewis swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Carballar is working hard here to advance position.
Lewis takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Carballar has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carballar sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Lewis's guard.
Lewis is trying to control but can't.
Lewis won't allow Carballar to pass to mount.
Carballar has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Carballar pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.
Carballar can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Lewis is looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carballar fails to move to back control.

Carballar has hold of Lewis's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Lewis manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Carballar seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but Lewis is holding on tight.
Carballar trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Lewis keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Carballar wants to take Lewis's back but he can't do it this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lewis is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Carballar mounts Lewis! Really nice guard pass there!
Lewis is wriggling around here but as he tries to escape, Carballar has taken his back.
Lewis is in bad spot here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Carballar is looking to control Lewis but Lewis is wriggling around and keeping busy.

Carballar is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Lewis looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Carballar slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Carballar is looking to control Lewis but Lewis is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Steven Lewis has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ruben Carballar is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Lewis is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Carballar.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ruben Carballar showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Carballar 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 John Kavanagh scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ruben Carballar!