PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between War Machine (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Carvalho (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Michael Carvalho will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Machine
vs
Carvalho

172 cm
22
150 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

178 cm
22
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Decent elbows
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, War Machine!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Michael Carvalho!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Daniel Bishop and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Machine throws a head kick that misses.
Machine throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Machine misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Carvalho closes the distance and pushes Machine back into the cage.
Carvalho avoiding damage as Machine throws knees to the body.
Machine trying to land knees to the body.
Machine tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Carvalho unloads a knee to the mid-section. Machine lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Carvalho blocks a body shot from Machine.
Machine misses with an elbow over the top.

Carvalho jumps guard.
Carvalho wants to stand but Machine is controlling the position.
Machine trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Carvalho has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Machine can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Machine working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Carvalho looking to control.
Machine pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Carvalho is keeping the position for now.
Machine won't allow Carvalho to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machine postures up and lands a big shot to Carvalho's brow.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Machine looks to clinch

and Carvalho counters with a takedown into side control.
Machine is trying to improve his position.
Machine is working hard here to advance position.

Carvalho is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Machine knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Machine is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Carvalho off and has taken his back!
Machine is breathing heavily.
You can see the frustration on Carvalho's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machine thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.
Machine punishes Carvalho with strikes from the back mount.
Will Machine go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Machine throwing wild punches that miss their target.
Carvalho trying to control but not successfully.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Machine is hanging on to Carvalho's back as he tries to escape.
Machine lands a couple of good shots to his opponent's body and a final shot to the head. Good little attack there by Machine.
Machine is throwing punches to the body, looking to soften Carvalho up.
Carvalho manages to reverse the position and now he's in Machine's guard. Nice work there by Carvalho.
Machine tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Carvalho trying to control but Machine is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machine is pulling down on Carvalho's head. It's preventing any offense from Carvalho, at least for the moment.
Carvalho wants to pass the guard but Machine is keeping the position.
Machine wants to sweep here but Carvalho controlling him for the moment.
Machine bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Carvalho's guard.
Machine slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Carvalho takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Carvalho takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Carvalho is looking to reverse the position.
Machine landing strikes.
Carvalho is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Machine working the ground and pound.
Carvalho wants to control but Machine postures up.
Carvalho tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Machine advances to mount.
Machine lands a nice shot to the head.
Machine with shots to the head and body - Carvalho looks very uncomfortable down there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Carvalho 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.

Machine tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Machine takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
War Machine seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Machine throws a nice looking combination but Carvalho bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Carvalho throws out a leg kick but Machine moves out of range and Carvalho only half commits.
Carvalho fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Carvalho shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Machine looks to land a body kick but Carvalho moved away.
Carvalho ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Machine fails in his attempt to clinch.
Carvalho shoots in for a double leg but Machine sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
War Machine has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael Carvalho.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Machine doesn't manage to clinch there - Carvalho circles away.
Carvalho blocks a head kick by Machine.
Machine shoots in but no luck this time.
Machine shoots in but no luck this time.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Machine doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Carvalho counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Machine!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Carvalho with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Machine regains half guard.
Carvalho prevents Machine from improving his position.
The fighters are battling for position here. Machine manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Machine lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Carvalho!
Machine looking to control but Carvalho is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carvalho in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Machine breaks from Carvalho's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Machine wants to control the pace but Carvalho is squirming around nicely.
Machine with good strikes from the mount here!
Machine tries to control but Carvalho wriggling away.
Carvalho is wriggling around trying to escape.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Machine scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Carvalho?
Carvalho trying desperately to get to his feet.
Carvalho wants to hold on but Machine pushes him away.
Machine cracks Carvalho with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carvalho squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Machine lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Machine lands a nice shot to the head.
Machine has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Carvalho's face.
Carvalho is working to get back to half guard.
Carvalho is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Machine dominating with strikes here.
Machine with shots to the head and body - Carvalho looks very uncomfortable down there.
Carvalho tries to lock up and control but Machine gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Machine is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Carvalho is trying to escape the mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Machine controlling the position easily from mount.
Carvalho in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Machine has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Carvalho's face.
Carvalho is squirming around, avoiding Machine's attempts to control the action.
Machine lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Carvalho hang on?
Machine landing strikes, looking to finish!
Carvalho wants to hold on but Machine pushes him away.
Machine looking to control but Carvalho is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Machine scores with a couple of good head shots there.
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 War Machine will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Machine clinches but Carvalho breaks the clinch

and Carvalho decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Machine's guard.
Machine wants to sweep here but Carvalho controlling him for the moment.
Machine on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Machine tries to get out of the position.
Carvalho trying to control the position from guard on top but Machine is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Carvalho looking to pass the guard.
Carvalho trying to control the position from guard on top but Machine is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Machine wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carvalho controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Machine throws a head kick that misses.
Machine tries a head kick but it misses.
Nice sprawl there from Carvalho as Machine shoots in.
Carvalho looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Machine misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Carvalho has Machine up against the cage in a clinch.
Machine trying to land knees to the body.

Carvalho breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Machine tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Carvalho counters with a stiff right hand.

That's two 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.
Machine throws a head kick but Carvalho moves out of range.

Carvalho decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Machine is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Machine moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Machine manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Carvalho manages to get himself to full guard.

Carvalho had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Machine is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Carvalho Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Machine's back instead.
Carvalho misses with punches from the back.
Machine manages to reverse the position and now he's in Carvalho's guard. Nice work there by Machine.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Machine 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.

Machine avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Machine pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Carvalho is keeping the position for now.
Machine is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Carvalho keeping full guard, as Machine tries to pass.

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

Carvalho clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Carvalho blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Machine trying to land knees to the body.
Machine can't break the clinch.
Carvalho lands an elbow that stopped Machine in his tracks for a moment.
Machine tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Carvalho just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for War Machine. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The referee calls for Carvalho to work.
Machine missing with knees to the body.

Carvalho pulls Machine into guard.
Machine stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Carvalho swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Carvalho manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Carvalho circles away from the clinch attempt

and Carvalho counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Carvalho drags the fight down to the ground.
Machine makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Carvalho comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Carvalho has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Carvalho!