PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Julio Cordova (ranked 4193 p4p, 3802 weight class) and Miyamoto Musashi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cordova's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, El Borracho. Julio Cordova has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Cordova
vs
Musashi

169 cm
18
150
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
154
4 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Knockout power

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Julio Cordova!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Miyamoto Musashi!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Thiago Cunha and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Musashi has closed the distance and engaged Cordova in a clinch.
Cordova tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Musashi smiles and moves away.

Musashi instigates a clinch.
Cordova is trying to pull guard but Musashi turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Musashi misses with the head strike.
Cordova tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Musashi smiles and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Julio Cordova. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cordova circles away from the clinch attempt.
A quick step to the side and Cordova tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.

Musashi gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Cordova is trying to push Musashi away but Musashi has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Cordova misses with some punches.
Cordova is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Musashi is defending well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cordova blocks an uppercut.
Musashi swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Cordova jumps guard but Musashi turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Cordova.
Musashi throws a punch but it's blocked by Cordova.
Cordova tries to break the clinch but Musashi is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Musashi lands a hook to the side of the head.
Musashi lands a hook that snaps the head of Cordova backwards.
Musashi scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Musashi tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Musashi lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Musashi gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Cordova.
Musashi swings wildly with an uppercut but Cordova uses good head movement to avoid it.
Cordova stalling the fight.
Cordova wants a takedown.
Cordova blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Musashi stops a takedown attempt from Cordova.
Musashi throws a punch but it's blocked by Cordova.
Cordova effectively controlling the action here.
Musashi scores with a shot to the side of Cordova's head.
Musashi lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Musashi working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Cordova blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Musashi lands with a left to the head.
Musashi scores with a shoulder strike.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Musashi.
Musashi throws a head punch that misses.
Musashi misses with the head strike.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Cordova.
Musashi misses with some punches.
Cordova changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Musashi fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Cordova swats away the attempt to clinch by Musashi.

Cordova gets tackled into the cage by Musashi. Musashi maintains the clinch.
Musashi working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Cordova controlling the action here for a moment.
Musashi throws a head punch that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Musashi misses with a hook from the clinch.
Musashi throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Cordovas head.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Cordova.
Cordova tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Musashi just stands there and leans against the cage.
Musashi has a couple of punches blocked by Cordova.
Musashi dodges an elbow strike from Cordova.
Musashi misses with some punches.
Musashi working aggressively here.
Musashi keeps control of Cordova as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Musashi misses with the head strike.
A short uppercut from Musashi.
Musashi misses with a hook from the clinch.

Cordova pulls Musashi into guard.
Musashi wants to pass the guard but Cordova is keeping the position.
Musashi passes Cordova's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cordova is trying to get back to full guard.
Cordova on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Cordova tries to get out of the position.

Musashi is working for a kimura but Cordova is defending it quite comfortably.
Cordova works his way to full guard. Good work.
Cordova trying to keep a closed guard but Musashi is proving a slippery customer.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Miyamoto Musashi dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Musashi tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Cordova paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Musashi tries to clinch but Cordova is having none of it.
Cordova was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Musashi tries to clinch but Cordova moves out of range.
Musashi is looking to clinch.
Cordova is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Musashi tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Cordova paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Cordova is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Musashi wants to clinch.
A counter left hand to the body from Cordova misses its target.
Musashi fails with an attempt to clinch.
Musashi is looking to clinch but Cordova is avoiding it.
Cordova swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cordova swats away the attempt to clinch by Musashi.
Musashi tries to clinch but Cordova moves out of range.
Cordova throwing a counter right hand but Musashi manages to avoid it.
Musashi wants to clinch up but Cordova keeps it at a distance.
Cordova appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Miyamoto Musashi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Musashi looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Musashi tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Cordova paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Musashi tries to clinch up but Cordova circles away and keeps his distance.
A counter left hand to the body from Cordova misses its target.
Cordova swats away the attempt to clinch by Musashi.
Musashi tries to clinch there but Cordova circles away.
Musashi is looking to clinch but Cordova is avoiding it.
Musashi tries to clinch up but Cordova circles away and keeps his distance.
A counter left hand to the body from Cordova misses its target.
Musashi moves in looking to clinch but Cordova pushes him off.
Musashi tries to clinch but Cordova moves out of range.
Cordova throwing a counter right hand but Musashi manages to avoid it.
Musashi tries to clinch but Cordova is having none of it.
Cordova is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Musashi tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Cordova paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Cordova is looking to counter with a shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Musashi is looking to clinch.
Cordova is looking to wear down Musashi with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Musashi tries to clinch but Cordova moves out of range.
Cordova was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Cordova swats away the attempt to clinch by Musashi.

Musashi gets a clinch.
Cordova wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Cordova changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Musashi fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Cordova circles away from the clinch attempt.
It looked like Cordova was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Musashi.
Musashi fails with an attempt to clinch.
Musashi tries to clinch up but Cordova circles away and keeps his distance.
Musashi has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Musashi is looking to clinch.
A little feinted left hand from Cordova on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Musashi tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Cordova manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
It looked like Cordova was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Musashi.

Musashi clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cordova missing with knees to the body.
Miyamoto Musashi seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Musashi throws a head punch that misses.
Musashi tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Musashi working aggressively here.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Cordova.
Musashi misses with a punch on the inside.
Musashi throws a head punch that misses.
A shot in the inside from Musashi.
Musashi misses with some punches.
Cordova tries to circle away but Musashi has him pinned against the cage.
Cordova blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
With the fighters up against the cage, Cordova throws an elbow but misses.
Cordova is pushing Musashi up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Cordova wants to break the clinch but can't.
Cordova goes for a takedown in the clinch but Musashi prevents it.
Musashi lands with a short punch from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Musashi.
Cordova jumps guard but Musashi turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Julio Cordova. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cordova blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Cordova blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Cordova drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Musashi gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Musashi misses with some punches.

Cordova pulls guard.
Cordova tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Musashi looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cordova pulls Musashi in to control the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Miyamoto Musashi will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Musashi doesn't manage to clinch there - Cordova circles away.
Cordova swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Musashi is looking to clinch but Cordova is avoiding it.

Musashi closes the distance and clinches.
Musashi misses with some punches.
Musashi has a couple of punches blocked by Cordova.
Musashi misses with a short punch on the inside.
Musashi throws a head punch that misses.
Musashi misses with some punches.
Cordova blocking some punches.
Musashi lands with a short shot to the head.
Cordova tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Musashi just stands there and leans against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Musashi lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Musashi lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Musashi misses with a short punch on the inside.
Musashi tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Cordova.
Musashi swings wildly with an uppercut but Cordova uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Musashi working aggressively here.
Musashi scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Musashi working aggressively here.
Musashi misses with a short punch on the inside.
Musashi swings wildly with an uppercut but Cordova uses good head movement to avoid it.
Cordova has Musashi pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Musashi manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Cordova blocking some punches.
Cordova is trying to break the clinch but Musashi is controlling him.
Cordova tries to pull guard but Musashi forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Julio Cordova. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Musashi misses with some punches.
Musashi fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A short uppercut from Musashi.
Cordova takes a shot to the head.
Cordova wants a takedown.
Musashi misses with some punches.
Musashi gets through Cordova's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cordova has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Cordova wants to break free but Musashi has control.
Musashi misses with a short punch on the inside.
Musashi scores with a shot to the side of Cordova's head.
Cordova tries to pull guard but Musashi holds him up against the cage and eventually Cordova drops back down to his feet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Musashi.
Cordova is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Musashi misses with a hook from the clinch.
Musashi lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Musashi lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Cordova throws a punch but it's blocked by Musashi.
Cordova blocks an uppercut.
Cordova can't break the clinch.
Musashi makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Cordova tries a knee to the head but Musashi blocks it.
Cordova is working for takedown but Musashi is calmly controlling the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Musashi misses with a hook from the clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Musashi creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Cordova blocking some punches.
Musashi misses with the head strike.
Cordova's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Musashi scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Musashi lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Cordova backwards.
Cordova misses with the head strike.
Cordova is pushing Musashi up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Musashi keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Cordova's efforts to push away.
Musashi lands a right hand.
Cordova is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Musashi is defending well.
Still in the clinch, Musashi scores with a nice short uppercut.
Musashi lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Cordova backwards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Musashi throws a head punch that misses.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Musashi scores with a shoulder strike.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Musashi.
Musashi throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Cordovas head.
Musashi misses with a short punch on the inside.
Cordova blocks an uppercut.
Musashi lands a right hand that snaps the head of Cordova backwards.
Musashi has Cordova pressed against the cage, preventing Cordova from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Musashi misses with the head strike.
Cordova with an attempt at a knee that misses.
A short left from Musashi.
Cordova working hard to break the clinch.
Musashi misses with the head strike.
Musashi misses with the head strike.

Cordova successfully pulls guard.
Cordova wants to stand and escape but Musashi is having none of it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Miyamoto Musashi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Musashi winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 27:30
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 27:29
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Miyamoto Musashi!
A relieved looking Miyamoto Musashi thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.