PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jose Luis Cantero (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leon Pasquale (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cantero comes to the ring accompanied by La mandanga. The crowd seem to be enjoying Pasquale's choice of entrance music: Fight Like A Brave. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Luis Cantero
vs
Pasquale

183 cm
19
183 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

185 cm
24
192 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Knockout power

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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jose Luis Cantero!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Leon Pasquale!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cantero shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Pasquale napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Pasquale throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.
Cantero trying to control the action but Pasquale is working from the bottom.
Pasquale tries to buck Cantero off but Cantero is having none of it.
Pasquale is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
A lull in the action here as Cantero stalls from top position.
Pasquale misses with an elbow from the bottom.
Pasquale misses with an elbow from the bottom.
Pasquale is not content to let Cantero control the position.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Cantero misses with a takedown attempt - Pasquale sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pasquale with a poor takedown

and Cantero counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Pasquale is looking for a sweep. Cantero is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Cantero is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Pasquale is just riding it out for now. Cantero eventually gives up the hold.
Pasquale avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Cantero.
Pasquale gets full guard.
Cantero wants to pass the guard but Pasquale is keeping the position.
Cantero stopping the sweep attempt from Pasquale.
Cantero trying to control but Pasquale is working from the bottom.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Cantero wants to pass the guard but Pasquale is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Cantero drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Pasquale dodges the ground and pound from Cantero.

Cantero is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Pasquale is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Pasquale stops Cantero from passing to mount.
Pasquale is looking to reverse the position.
Pasquale regains half guard there - taking advantage of Cantero's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Cantero is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Cantero takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pasquale is looking to get to half guard.
Cantero pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Cantero tries to control but Pasquale wriggling away.
Cantero blocks Pasquale's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.

Cantero jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Pasquale is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Pasquale and Cantero has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Cantero trying to control the action but Pasquale is working from the bottom.
Cantero is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Pasquale is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Cantero avoids the strikes from the bottom by Pasquale.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Pasquale is trying to work for a sweep but Cantero has mounted him!

Cantero working for a submission but Pasquale is keeping him at bay.
Pasquale takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Cantero wants to control the pace but Pasquale is squirming around nicely.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Pasquale flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Cantero blocks Pasquale's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.

Cantero is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Pasquale can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Pasquale tries to hold on but Cantero pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jose Luis Cantero dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Pasquale shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Cantero as he avoids it easily.

Cantero closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Pasquale to the mat! Pasquale manages to get full guard.
Pasquale throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Cantero pushes down on Pasquale's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Cantero is trying to control the action in half guard but Pasquale is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Pasquale tries to get to full guard but Cantero has control of the leg.

Pasquale looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Cantero seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Pasquale does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Cantero missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Pasquale wants to get back to full guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Pasquale shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Cantero pinned against the cage. Cantero gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Cantero looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Pasquale is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cantero pushes down on Pasquale's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Pasquale works his way to full guard. Good work.
Cantero trying to control but Pasquale is working from the bottom.
Cantero looking to pass the guard.
Cantero trying to control the position from guard on top but Pasquale is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cantero postures up in Pasquale's guard and throws a big left but Pasquale blocks it.
Pasquale keeping moving, preventing Cantero from controlling successfully.

Cantero got a little sloppy there for a moment and Pasquale has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Cantero has managed to get both his arms back between Pasquale's legs - danger averted.

That's two 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.
Cantero stands and throws Pasquale's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Cantero takes a little break here. Pasquale wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Cantero wants to lay and pray for a moment but Pasquale keeps working.

Cantero is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Pasquale is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Cantero controls the position.
Pasquale tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Cantero wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Pasquale wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pasquale is looking for a sweep.
Pasquale manages to get back to half guard.
Jose Luis Cantero overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Pasquale is looking for a sweep. Cantero is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Pasquale is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Cantero pulls his head out easily.
Cantero wants to control but Pasquale is keeping him busy.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Cantero shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Pasquale counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Cantero moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Cantero is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Pasquale defends well.

Pasquale drops back looking for a leg! Cantero is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Cantero manages to kick Pasquale off! Pasquale jumps back into Cantero's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pasquale thows a big elbow that misses.
Cantero keeping full guard, as Pasquale tries to pass.
Cantero looking to control.
Pasquale throwing strikes from guard but Cantero blocks nicely.
Cantero is trying to keep Pasquale in close.

Cantero had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Pasquale is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Cantero Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Pasquale's back instead.

Cantero is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Pasquale knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Pasquale for a finish.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jose Luis Cantero 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!

Cantero with a lazy takedown attempt

and Pasquale counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Cantero is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Cantero is adopting a defensive guard.
Pasquale stands and throws Cantero's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Cantero tries to bench press Pasquale off him but Pasquale keeps the position.

Pasquale is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Cantero knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Cantero tries to contro but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cantero is looking to get to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cantero wants to control but Pasquale is having none of it.
Pasquale prevents Cantero from getting the reversal.
Pasquale working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Cantero tries to reverse the position but Pasquale maintains control.
Cantero tries to hold on but Pasquale postures up.
Pasquale landing strikes from the mount and Cantero is in trouble!
A nice elbow there by Pasquale.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pasquale avoids the attempt from Cantero to control.
Pasquale is landing with some decent strikes but Cantero is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Cantero is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Cantero is working hard here to advance position.
Pasquale breaks from Cantero's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Pasquale lands a big elbow.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Pasquale lands a heavy elbow.
Cantero tries to lock up and control but Pasquale gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Pasquale has hold of Cantero's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Cantero manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pasquale putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Pasquale avoids the attempt from Cantero to control.
Cantero is looking to improve his position but Pasquale isn't that keen on the idea.
Cantero tries to lock up and control but Pasquale gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Cantero tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Pasquale is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Cantero is looking to get to half guard.
Pasquale in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Cantero tries to hold on but Pasquale pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pasquale is landing with some decent strikes but Cantero is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Cantero is trying to escape the mount.
Pasquale postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Cantero looks a forlorn figure.
Leon Pasquale has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cantero is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Pasquale connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Jose Luis Cantero is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Cantero tries to lock up and control but Pasquale gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Cantero looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pasquale lands with a big left hand that may well have hurt his opponent. Can Cantero hold on?!
Cantero is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

Cantero 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 Pasquale gets his way!

And that's the end of the fight!
Leon Pasquale comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Cantero has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 28:28
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 28:28
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 28:28

The fight is ruled a draw!