PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jimmy Carl Black (ranked 898 p4p, 115 weight class) and Kemen Etxeberria (ranked 1150 p4p, 149 weight class). Etxeberria is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: The Basque National Anthem. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Carl Black
vs
Etxeberria

179 cm
33
166 lbs
15 - 6 - 1

180 cm
28
160 lbs
11 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 6 - 1, fighting out of New York, Jimmy Carl Black!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kemen Etxeberria!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Franklyn Lucas and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Etxeberria moves away from the strike by Carl Black.
Carl Black throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Etxeberria stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Carl Black.
Carl Black swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Carl Black throws a good cross that connects.
Etxeberria staying out of range there.
Etxeberria misses with a body punch
and Carl Black counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Etxeberria throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Carl Black defending well as Etxeberria loads up on a big left hand.
It looked like Carl Black wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Carl Black attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Carl Black ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Carl Black throws a poor cross that misses
and Etxeberria counters with a stiff right hand.
Carl Black moves forwards but Etxeberria connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Etxeberria is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Carl Black.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Etxeberria blocks the body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A good leg kick by Etxeberria.
Etxeberria looks to land a left hand but Carl Black moved out of range nicely.
Etxeberria uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Carl Black.
Carl Black is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Etxeberria.
Etxeberria connects with a solid leg kick.
Kemen Etxeberria seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Carl Black scores with a jab.
Carl Black moves away from the strike by Etxeberria.
Nice defenses there by Etxeberria.
Carl Black slips a straight right by Etxeberria.
Etxeberria lands a jab to the head.
Carl Black misses with a hook.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Etxeberria! But no joy.
Etxeberria keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A right-left combo lands from Etxeberria.
Carl Black cracks a nice hook into Etxeberria's ribs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Carl Black misses with a low kick.
Etxeberria throws a front kick aimed at Carl Black's knee but Carl Black avoids it well.
Etxeberria misses with an uppercut
and Carl Black counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Etxeberria blocks a jab.
Etxeberria moves away from the strike by Carl Black.
Etxeberria fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Carl Black is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Etxeberria.
Carl Black bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Etxeberria's head backwards.
Etxeberria misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Carl Black.
Carl Black misses with an uppercut. Etxeberria saw that one coming.
Carl Black is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Carl Black ducks under a wild hook from Etxeberria.
Etxeberria circles away from the clinch attempt.
Etxeberria throws a series of punches but Carl Black moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Etxeberria checks a low kick from Carl Black.
Etxeberria looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Jab from Etxeberria.
Carl Black ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Etxeberria moves away.
Etxeberria fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Carl Black manages to avoid it.
Carl Black looks to land a right hand but Etxeberria moved out of range.

Carl Black closes the distance and clinches.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Etxeberria.
Etxeberria misses with some punches.
Etxeberria is trying to break the clinch but Carl Black has him pressed against the cage.
Carl Black throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Carl Black.
Carl Black misses with a short punch on the inside.
Carl Black blocks a body shot from Etxeberria.

Etxeberria's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Carl Black avoids the body shot from Etxeberria.
Etxeberria with a hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Etxeberria cracks Carl Black with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Etxeberria dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Carl Black lands a front kick.
Carl Black tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Etxeberria checks a low kick from Carl Black.
Etxeberria throws out a counter right but Carl Black avoids it with no problem.
Carl Black is looking to clinch but Etxeberria is avoiding it.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Carl Black.
Nice straight punches there by Carl Black. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Carl Black.
Carl Black throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Carl Black throws a hook but Etxeberria blocks it.

Carl Black moves into the clinch.
Etxeberria misses with the head strike.
Etxeberria lands a knee to the head.
Carl Black struggles to land a body shot inside as Etxeberria controls his hands.
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 Jimmy Carl Black will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Etxeberria lands with a shot to the body.
Carl Black tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Etxeberria manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
A swing and a miss from Etxeberria.
Etxeberria misses with a body shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Etxeberria. Carl Black does a little dance to reset his feet.
An attempted straight right counter from Carl Black misses the target.
Etxeberria takes a swing at Carl Black's ribcage but misses.
A telegraphed right hand from Etxeberria misses the target.
Etxeberria avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Etxeberria throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Carl Black jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Etxeberria takes a swing at Carl Black's ribcage but misses.
Kemen Etxeberria seems to be getting the better of the standup.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Carl Black throws a leg kick
and Etxeberria counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Carl Black misses with a body kick.
Carl Black looks to land a right hand but Etxeberria moved out of range.
Carl Black is looking to land body kicks.
It seemed like Etxeberria was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Carl Black, right into the meat.
Etxeberria with a hook.
Carl Black takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Etxeberria throws a jab but it's blocked by Carl Black.
Carl Black swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Carl Black has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Carl Black moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Carl Black keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Carl Black scores with a hook to the body. Etxeberria takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Etxeberria circles away from the clinch attempt
and Etxeberria counters with a three punch combo that has Carl Black backing up. Carl Black nods at Etxeberria to acknowledge the strikes.
The fighters circling - Etxeberria throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Carl Black throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
A countering left hand to the body from Etxeberria misses.
Etxeberria misses with an uppercut. Carl Black saw that one coming.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Etxeberria misses with a low kick.
Carl Black tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Etxeberria manages to circle out of the way.
Etxeberria swings for the body but Carl Black moves out of range.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Etxeberria throws a body shot but no joy.
Carl Black is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Etxeberria.
Etxeberria with a jab.
Etxeberria throws out a loose jab but Carl Black uses good head movement to avoid it.
Good exchange - Etxeberria coming out on top.
Carl Black lands with a shot to the body.
Carl Black takes a swing at Etxeberria's ribcage but misses.
Etxeberria moves out of range as Carl Black strikes.
Etxeberria slips a straight right by Carl Black.
Carl Black throws a looping overhand right but Etxeberria ducks down to avoid it.
Carl Black takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Carl Black walks into a straight right hand from Etxeberria.
Carl Black takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Etxeberria lands a leg kick that knocks Carl Black off balance momentarily.
Carl Black tries to clinch but Etxeberria is having none of it.
Etxeberria doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.

Carl Black instigates a clinch.
Etxeberria avoiding damage as Carl Black throws knees to the body.
Etxeberria lands a body punch.
Etxeberria misses with some punches.
Etxeberria working hard to break the clinch.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Carl Black throws a punch but it's blocked by Etxeberria.

Etxeberria breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Carl Black cracks Etxeberria with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Etxeberria fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Carl Black manages to avoid it.
A low kick from Etxeberria misses
and Carl Black counters with a stiff right hand.
A looping hook to the body misses from Etxeberria. Carl Black does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Carl Black. Etxeberria does a little dance to reset his feet.
Carl Black takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Carl Black moves away from the strike by Etxeberria.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Carl Black scores with a leg kick.
Carl Black wants to clinch.
Etxeberria is looking for the big counter here.
Etxeberria blocks a low kick nicely.
Carl Black chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Carl Black takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Carl Black cracks the inside of Etxeberria's front leg.
Carl Black scores with a sloppy right hand. Etxeberria should have avoided that one.
Carl Black takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kemen Etxeberria showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action!

The crowd cheers as Etxeberria lands an impressive looking overhand right. Carl Black doesn't seem phased though.
Carl Black throws a body kick that misses.
Etxeberria throws out a counter right but Carl Black avoids it with no problem.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Carl Black, right into the meat.
Etxeberria misses with a wild body shot.
Etxeberria misses with a body shot.

Carl Black clinches up with Etxeberria and pushes him back against the cage.
Carl Black misses with some punches.
Carl Black misses with a hook to the ribs.
Etxeberria lands with a right to the head.
Etxeberria has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Carl Black seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Etxeberria can turn it around.
Etxeberria blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Etxeberria lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Carl Black or not.
Carl Black doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Etxeberria working hard to break the clinch.
Etxeberria works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Etxeberria lands on the inside with an uppercut.
A short right from Carl Black.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Etxeberria is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Etxeberria displaying some good clinch control by pressing Carl Black up against the cage.
Carl Black swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Etxeberria on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
A left hand lands to the body for Carl Black.
Carl Black lands a knee to the head.

It looks like Kemen Etxeberria has been cut.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Etxeberria.
A head punch on the inside from Etxeberria fails to land.
Etxeberria softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Etxeberria lands a right hand that snaps the head of Carl Black backwards.
Jimmy Carl Black has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Carl Black stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Carl Black fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Carl Black tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Etxeberria's elbow.
Etxeberria is looking to control Carl Black's arms but Carl Black gets an underhook and turns him. Now Etxeberria has his back to the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carl Black tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Etxeberria has had enough of the clinch but Carl Black keeps him there for the moment.
Nice body punch from Carl Black - that landed with a thud.
Etxeberria misses with a punch to the body.
Etxeberria working aggressively here.
Carl Black misses with a body punch.
Etxeberria lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Carl Black lands a right hand that snaps the head of Etxeberria backwards.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A short left from Etxeberria.
Etxeberria tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Carl Black blocking some punches.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Etxeberria.
Etxeberria lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Carl Black backwards.
Etxeberria is trying to push Carl Black away but Carl Black has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Carl Black tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Carl Black lands a right hand that snaps the head of Etxeberria backwards.

Etxeberria is rocked!
Still in the clinch, Carl Black scores with a nice short uppercut.
Etxeberria is still on wobbly legs! Can Carl Black finish him?
Carl Black pushes Etxeberria against the cage. Carl Black is working some dirty boxing. Carl Black pushes off with a quick right hook! Etxeberria goes down! Etxeberria tries to stand but stumbles back to his kness! Carl Black moves in to finish and the ref steps in to prevent any more damage!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Jimmy Carl Black!
Jimmy Carl Black retains his lightweight title!
A relieved looking Jimmy Carl Black thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.
The defeated Kemen Etxeberria had this to say: ' '.