PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Joey Cardinal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ash Campbell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cardinal comes into the arena with In Mourning - In The Failing Hour blaring out of the sound system. Campbell comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Sun Poison and Skin Cancer kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Cardinal
vs
Campbell

175 cm
25
155 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

173 cm
21
156 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Brown Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Shango Designs ($10 sale)

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 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Joey Cardinal!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ash Campbell!
The judges for this bout are Albert Achterberg, Patrick Alders and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Campbell throws a shot to the body.

Cardinal shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Campbell tries to roll over but Cardinal keeps him under control.
Cardinal slips a nice elbow through Campbell's hands, connecting with Campbell's forehead.
Cardinal has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Campbell actively working from the bottom here.
Campbell gets full guard.
Cardinal preventing the sweep.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Cardinal lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Campbell avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Cardinal scoring with some ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cardinal missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Campbell wants to sweep here but Cardinal controlling him for the moment.
Cardinal landing with the ground and pound.
Campbell avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Cardinal looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cardinal is looking to work some ground and pound but Campbell has wrist control.
Campbell looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Campbell throws a right and a left that Cardinal avoids nicely.
Jab by Campbell.
Cardinal throws a right and a left that Campbell avoids nicely.
Campbell just misses with a punch to the body.
Campbell looks to land a combination. Cardinal sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

Cardinal closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Cardinal missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Cardinal throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Campbell is looking for a sweep. Cardinal is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Campbell avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Cardinal.
Cardinal not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Campbell wants to improve his position but Cardinal is controlling well.
Campbell is pressing down on Cardinal's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cardinal with a flurry of punches that miss.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Campbell's corner calls for a 1-2. Campbell obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Cardinal fails with an attempt to clinch.
Cardinal shoots for a double leg takedown but Campbell sprawls well. He's pushed Cardinal's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Campbell connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Campbell moves away from the strike by Cardinal.
Cardinal tries for a takedown but Campbell sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Cardinal is breathing heavily.
Cardinal ducks under a wild hook from Campbell.
Cardinal fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joey Cardinal. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Campbell tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Cardinal was well out of range. Poor timing from Campbell.
Campbell bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Cardinal's head.
Cardinal moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.

Cardinal gets a takedown into half guard.
Campbell is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Campbell regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Campbell looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Campbell manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Campbell landing strikes from the mount and Cardinal is in trouble!

Campbell jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Cardinal manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Cardinal is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Cardinal makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Cardinal.
Campbell not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Cardinal scrambles and gets back to his feet.
A jab from Campbell misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Campbell stuffs the takedown attempt from Cardinal. Cardinal gets slowly back to his feet.
Campbell misses with a double jab.
Cardinal shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A leg kick checked by Campbell.
Campbell connects with a right hand. Cardinal shakes it off.
Cardinal is looking to clinch.
Cardinal with a hook.
Campbell cracks a nice hook into Cardinal's ribs.
Cardinal takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Ash Campbell is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Campbell looks to land a combination. Cardinal sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Campbell dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Cardinal closes the distance and clinches up with Campbell, looking for a takedown. Cardinal pushes Campbell against the cage but Campbell circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Campbell with a hook.
A jab from Campbell finds it's way through Cardinal's defenses.
Campbell dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Campbell fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The fight stays on the outside here - Cardinal looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ash Campbell will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Cardinal ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Joey Cardinal is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Cardinal shoots in for a takedown but Campbell shows good takedown defense.
Cardinal shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Campbell defends it nicely.
Campbell lands a jab-cross combination.
Cardinal looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joey Cardinal. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cardinal fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Nice straight punches there by Campbell. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Campbell.
Campbell comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Campbell looks to land a left hand but Cardinal moved out of range nicely.
Campbell defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Cardinal.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Campbell tests Cardinal's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Campbell bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Cardinal's head backwards.
Cardinal takes a jab right on the kisser.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cardinal checks the leg kick nicely there.
Cardinal takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Cardinal shoots in looking for a takedown. Campbell tries to sprawl out of it but Cardinal keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Campbell manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Cardinal ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Campbell lands a jab.
Cardinal on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Cardinal closes the distance and clinches up with Campbell, looking for a takedown. Cardinal pushes Campbell against the cage but Campbell circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Campbell connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Cardinal momentarily.
Cardinal loads up on a big right hand but Campbell slips the punch.
Ash Campbell seems to be getting the better of the standup.
An inside leg kick lands from Campbell.
Cardinal misses with a body kick.
Campbell defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Cardinal.
Campbell lands a jab-cross combination.
Nice uppercut there from Campbell.
Campbell fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Campbell, as that shot connected.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Campbell darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Campbell lands a slapping body shot.
Campbell digs a good body shot into Cardinal's ribs.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cardinal takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Nice jab there from Campbell.
Campbell scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Campbell darts in and out, connecting with a jab.

Cardinal drives through with a takedown into guard.
Campbell looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Campbell is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Campbell has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Cardinal can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Campbell is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cardinal missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Campbell throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Campbell is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Cardinal is aware though and is defending well.
Campbell wants to sweep here but Cardinal controlling him for the moment.
Cardinal distracts Campbell with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Cardinal throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Campbell works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Cardinal connects with a couple of short punches.
Cardinal with a flurry of punches that miss.
Joey Cardinal overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Cardinal trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Cardinal preventing the sweep.

Campbell is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Campbell preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Cardinal is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Cardinal passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Campbell is looking to regain half guard here but Cardinal keeps moving and retains side control.
Cardinal scores with punches from side control.
Campbell is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Cardinal is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Campbell knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Campbell manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cardinal is pressing down on Campbell's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ash Campbell showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Campbell keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Cardinal shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Campbell but Campbell pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Cardinal falls off balance throwing a combination
and Campbell counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Campbell swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A telegraphed right hand from Campbell misses the target.
Campbell throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
The fighters circle momentarily. Campbell darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Cardinal tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Campbell makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Campbell rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Cardinal moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Cardinal looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
A big right from Campbell misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Campbell scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Campbell lands a really nice looking cross but Cardinal seems unphased.

Cardinal scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Campbell is looking for a sweep. Cardinal is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Cardinal is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Campbell trying to control but Cardinal postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cardinal is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Campbell sees it coming and defends easily.
Campbell is looking to improve his position.
Campbell is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Cardinal's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Cardinal's back!
Cardinal is really stuck here.
Campbell looking to soften up his opponent with punches.
Campbell trying to control.
Cardinal rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
The fighters are battling for position here. Cardinal manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Campbell working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Cardinal's head.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Cardinal is on top in guard.
Campbell managing to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Campbell wants to sweep but no luck.
Campbell utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Campbell looking to control.
Campbell scores with a couple of body punches from the bottom.
Cardinal postures up in Campbell's guard and throws a big left but Campbell blocks it.
Cardinal throws a big right hand that misses.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Cardinal misses with a takedown
and Campbell counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joey Cardinal. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cardinal uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Campbell.
Campbell lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Campbell connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Cardinal's hands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cardinal slips a jab and a cross from Campbell.
Campbell lands a lovely overhand right.
Cardinal with a lazy takedown attempt
and Campbell connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Donk. Campbell catches Cardinal right on the button with a cross.
Campbell scores with a shot to the body.
Campbell lands a lovely overhand right.
Cardinal shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Cardinal takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Cardinal takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Cardinal with a lazy takedown attempt
and Campbell counters with a straight right hand.
Campbell uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Cardinal has time to react.
Cardinal gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Campbell counters with a right hand to the body.
Cardinal doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Campbell stalks Cardinal and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Cardinal's face. Cardinal staggers backwards, shaken.
A jab from Campbell finds it's way through Cardinal's defenses.
Campbell misses with a series of wild punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Campbell misses.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Campbell, as that shot connected.
Campbell fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
A jab from Campbell misses.
Cardinal doesn't succeed with the takedown
letting Campbell counter with a right hand.
Cardinal gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Cardinal takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Ash Campbell is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Campbell scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Campbell scores with a jab to the body.
Cardinal takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Campbell connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Cardinal shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Campbell counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Campbell wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Joey Cardinal has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Campbell cracks Cardinal with a good jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ash Campbell comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Campbell 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 Albert Achterberg scores the fight 27:30
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ash Campbell!