PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Wagner Cardoso (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mo Kendo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mo Kendo is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Cardoso
vs
Kendo

181 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

189 cm
22
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 1

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Fight 4 America

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Wagner Cardoso!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mo Kendo!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Alan Glass and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kendo tries to clinch but Cardoso is having none of it.
Cardoso tries to clinch but Kendo moves out of range.
Cardoso fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Kendo shoots in for a double leg but Cardoso sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Kendo closes the distance and clinches up with Cardoso, looking for a takedown. Kendo pushes Cardoso against the cage but Cardoso circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Some wild striking there from Cardoso.
Kendo shoots in looking for a takedown. Cardoso tries to sprawl out of it but Kendo keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Cardoso manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Wagner Cardoso has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mo Kendo.
Kendo circles away from the clinch attempt

and Kendo counters by moving into the clinch.
Kendo can't get the takedown.
Cardoso wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Cardoso scores with a knee to the head.
Cardoso wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Kendo has him pressed against the cage.
Cardoso prevents the takedown attempt.
Cardoso tries a knee to the head but Kendo blocks it.
Cardoso avoiding damage as Kendo throws knees to the body.
Kendo keeps control of Cardoso as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cardoso slowing the pace effectively.
Kendo drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Cardoso gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Cardoso manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Cardoso wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Kendo has him pressed against the cage.
Cardoso throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Kendo blocks it with crossed arms.
Cardoso trying to land knees to the body.
Kendo prevents Cardoso from breaking the clinch.
Cardoso landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Cardoso using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Kendo has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Kendo wants to stall.
Cardoso looking to stall.
Kendo is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Kendo blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Kendo pulls guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kendo throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kendo looks gassed!
Cardoso has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Kendo is proving hard to escape from.
Cardoso trying to control the position from guard on top but Kendo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kendo has a closed guard, preventing Cardoso from standing up.
Kendo is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Cardoso has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Kendo might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Cardoso kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kendo is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Kendo looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Cardoso is fending him off so far but Kendo persists. Nope, Cardoso circles away and we're back to standing.
Cardoso wants to clinch.

Kendo moves into the clinch successfully.

Kendo manages to pull guard.
Cardoso looking to sit in guard and control but Kendo gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Kendo stands and steps away. Cardoso gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kendo shoots in but Cardoso avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Cardoso comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Wagner Cardoso is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Cardoso closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Kendo tries to score a body lock takedown but Cardoso shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Kendo decides to pull guard.

Kendo has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Cardoso can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Kendo is trying to control the position but Cardoso postures up.
Cardoso has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Kendo is proving hard to escape from.
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 Wagner Cardoso will probably get the nod.
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.

Kendo forces Cardoso back against the cage and clinches.
Cardoso is trying to break free.
Cardoso is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Kendo slows down the pace here.
Cardoso wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Cardoso gets underhooks to prevent Kendo's takedown attempt.
Cardoso has had enough of the clinch but Kendo keeps him there for the moment.

Kendo gets control of Cardoso's arms and successfully pulls guard. Kendo will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kendo seems keen to control Cardoso's posture.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Kendo escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Cardoso gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Kendo working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Cardoso doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Cardoso manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cardoso wanted to stand there but Kendo had control of the position.

Kendo has his feet on Cardoso's thighs here. He's pushed Cardoso off and worked for a very quick armbar from the bottom! He's flipped onto his stomach and he's cranking hard on the arm! Cardoso screams in pain and taps out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:01 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Mo Kendo!