PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Travis Carter (ranked 5063 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kai Kahale (ranked 5057 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
Kahale

179 cm
23
164 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
20
164 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Travis Carter!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Kai Kahale!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Colin Fray and Ryoma Takatsuka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Carter fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Kahale, pushing him back against the cage.
Kahale is pressed up against the cage. Carter has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Kahale down to the mat. Kahale avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Carter tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Kahale swivels and escapes.

Kahale forces Carter back against the cage and clinches.
The referee is keeping an eye on Carter - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Kahale tries for a takedown but Carter manages to get underhooks.
Stalling in the clinch from Kahale.
Kahale tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Carter smiles and moves away.
Kahale throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Carter tries to clinch up.
Kahale is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Carter shoots in looking for a takedown. Kahale tries to sprawl out of it but Carter keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Kahale manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Travis Carter. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Carter shoots in and gets a takedown into Kahale's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carter not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Kahale is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Kahale wants to stand and escape but Carter is having none of it.
Kahale controls Carter momentarily but Carter frees himself.
Kahale is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Carter trying to control the position from guard on top but Kahale is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Kahale tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Kahale has control of Carter's left arm, preventing Carter from doing any damage.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Kahale moves in looking to clinch but Carter pushes him off.
Carter throws a head kick that Kahale semi-blocks.
Carter shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Kahale sprawls well. Kahale wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Carter gets slowly back to his feet.
Carter looks for a takedown but Kahale sprawls well.
Kahale shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Carter pinned against the cage. Carter gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kahale fails in his attempt to clinch.

Carter closes the distance and clinches.
Kahale tries to pull guard but Carter won't allow it.
Kahale blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Carter blocks the elbow strike.
Kahale wants to get back to striking at distance but Carter won't allow it.

Kahale pulls Carter into guard.
Kahale has a closed guard, preventing Carter from standing up.

Kahale had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Carter defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Carter is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Carter working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Carter controlling from the top position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
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 Travis Carter will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Kahale shoots in looking for a takedown. Carter tries to sprawl out of it but Kahale keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Carter manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Kahale on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Carter. Carter obviously looking to wear him down.
Kahale shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Carter as he jumps to the side.
No luck for Kahale with that takedown attempt.
Travis Carter has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kai Kahale.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kahale tries for a takedown but Carter circles away easily
and Carter counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Kahale tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Sloppy strikes from Carter. Those never looked like landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carter shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Kahale but Kahale pushes him off and we're back to square one.
As Carter backs off Kahale throws a huge counter combo but Carter manages to avoid it all.
Carter tries to clinch but Kahale moves out of range.
Kahale is looking for the big counter here.
Carter fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Kahale is looking for the big counter here.
Kahale misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Carter darts in and clinches Kahale up against the cage.
Carter is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kahale can do to turn this around?
Kahale jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Carter walks away with a smile on his face. Kahale gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Carter closes the distance and clinches.
Kahale drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Kahale is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carter keeps control of Kahale as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Kahale tries to pull guard but Carter won't allow it.
Carter has Kahale pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Kahale manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Carter gets control of Kahale's arms and successfully pulls guard. Carter will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Carter keeping moving, preventing Kahale from controlling successfully.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kahale accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Carter bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Kahale's guard.

Carter wants to pass the guard but Kahale is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carter's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Carter is looking to work some ground and pound but Kahale has wrist control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Carter stays in close to Kahale's body and controls the position.
Carter trying to control the position from guard on top but Kahale is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Carter postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Kahale looks for a takedown but Carter sprawls well.
Carter tries to clinch but Kahale moves out of range.
A right-left combo lands from Carter.
A head kick by Kahale misses
and Carter counters with a nice uppercut.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Carter misses with a takedown attempt - Kahale sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Kahale shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Carter but Carter pushes him off and we're back to square one.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Travis Carter dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Kahale shoots and misses
enabling Carter to counter with a crisp jab.

Kahale gets tackled into the cage by Carter. Carter maintains the clinch.
Kahale drops down looking for an ankle pick but Carter pulls his leg out and moves away.
Nice takedown defense from Kahale. No joy for Carter on that attempt.
Kahale swings away with a body shot that misses
and Carter counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Kahale keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Carter is trying hard to land a takedown here. Kahale sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Travis Carter. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Carter misses with the combination.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kahale is looking to clinch but Carter is avoiding it.
Carter is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Kahale.
Kahale tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Carter swivels and escapes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kahale misses with a double jab
and Carter counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Kahale tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Carter manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Carter shoots in for a takedown but Kahale shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Kahale tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Carter appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Kahale tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Carter manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Kahale tries for a takedown but Carter sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Carter tries to counter by clinching up but Kahale breaks away and moves out of range.
Carter throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Kahale's waist but Kahale gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Carter off to one side.
Carter gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Kahale counters with a slapping leg kick.
Kahale wants to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kahale is looking to clinch.
Kahale stuffs the takedown.
Kahale wants to counter the offense by Carter and move into the clinch position.
Carter wants to clinch up but Kahale keeps it at a distance.
Kahale is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Carter shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Kahale sprawls well. Kahale wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Carter gets slowly back to his feet.
Kahale dives in for a single leg takedown but Carter sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Kahale throws a sloppy head kick and Carter moves out of range easily.

Kahale darts in and clinches Carter up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Carter breaks from the clinch.
Kahale looks for a takedown but Carter sprawls well.

Carter moves into range and clinches up with Kahale.
Carter slowing the pace effectively.
Kahale is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Carter goes for a takedown in the clinch but Kahale prevents it.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Carter scores with an uppercut up the middle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Carter has Kahale pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Kahale manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Kahale stalling.
Carter is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Kahale gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Kahale will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Carter up against the cage.

Kahale breaks from the clinch.
Carter shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kahale tries to clinch up.
As Kahale looks to move away, Carter throws a big counter combo but Kahale just gets out of the way.
A nice combination there by Carter.
Kai Kahale has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Travis Carter is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Carter throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Kahale's waist but Kahale gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Carter off to one side.
Kahale is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.

And that's the end of the fight!
Travis Carter showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Carter 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 Josh West scores the fight 30:27
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Travis Carter!