PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Thomas Zyekowski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gustavo Cardoso (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Zyekowski
vs
Cardoso

183 cm
20
172 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

188 cm
20
190 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent elbows
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Thomas Zyekowski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Gustavo Cardoso!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Emerson Jorge and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cardoso avoids the body shot from Zyekowski.

Zyekowski fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Cardoso, pushing him back against the cage.
Cardoso has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Zyekowski trying to land knees to the body.
A frustrated look appears on Cardoso's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Knees in the clinch landing for Zyekowski.
Zyekowski tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Cardoso avoids it.
Cardoso tries to break the clinch but Zyekowski is controlling the position.
Zyekowski landing knees to the body.
Zyekowski scores with a hook to the body.
Zyekowski tries to land knees in the clinch but Cardoso avoids the damage to the body.
Cardoso is trying to break the clinch but Zyekowski is controlling him.
Nice elbow from Zyekowski.
Zyekowski is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Cardoso is looking to break free of the clinch but Zyekowski has double underhooks.

Zyekowski pulls Cardoso into guard.
Cardoso wants to stand but Zyekowski is controlling his posture from full guard.

Zyekowski is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zyekowski bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Cardoso's guard.
Zyekowski seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Cardoso wants to stand but Zyekowski is controlling the position.

Zyekowski drops back, looking for a kneebar! Cardoso looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Cardoso looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Cardoso!

Cardoso decides to stand up, so the ref orders Zyekowski to his feet.
Thomas Zyekowski seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cardoso misses with a two punch combination.
Zyekowski throws a sloppy head kick and Cardoso moves out of range easily.

Zyekowski instigates a clinch.
Zyekowski gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Zyekowski lands an elbow inside that Cardoso shrugs off.
Zyekowski swings wildly with an uppercut but Cardoso uses good head movement to avoid it.
Cardoso takes a knee to the side of the body.
Zyekowski lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Zyekowski creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Cardoso's defenses.
Zyekowski keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Cardoso's efforts to push away.
Nice elbow from Zyekowski.

It looks like Gustavo Cardoso has been cut.
Zyekowski tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Cardoso avoids it.

Zyekowski pulls guard effortlessly.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cardoso wants to stand but Zyekowski has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Cardoso stands up from Zyekowski's guard - Cardoso perhaps looking for a knockout.
Zyekowski tries to clinch up.
Cardoso doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Cardoso uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Zyekowski.
Zyekowski with a nice cross.
Nice body punch from Zyekowski.
Zyekowski tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Cardoso was well out of range. Poor timing from Zyekowski.
Cardoso looks to land a right hand but Zyekowski moved out of range.
Zyekowski uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Cardoso.
Cardoso staying out of range there.
Zyekowski throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Zyekowski swings for the body but Cardoso moves out of range.
Zyekowski is looking to wear down Cardoso with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Zyekowski comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.

Zyekowski closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Cardoso wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zyekowski ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Zyekowski no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cardoso won't allow Zyekowski to sweep him here.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Cardoso avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Cardoso wants to stand but Zyekowski is controlling his posture from full guard.

Cardoso avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Zyekowski looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Cardoso puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Zyekowski tries to get to full guard but Cardoso has control of the leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Zyekowski dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Gustavo Cardoso's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Cardoso misses with a jab, cross combination.

Zyekowski gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Cardoso has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Cardoso working hard to break the clinch.
Zyekowski connects with a nasty looking knee right to Cardoso's face.
Cardoso is trying to break the clinch but Zyekowski has him pressed against the cage.
Cardoso takes an elbow to the forehead.
Zyekowski lands a good knee to the midsection. Cardoso won't want to take too many of those.
A short body shot lands from Zyekowski as the two fighters clinch.
Cardoso blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Cardoso takes an elbow to the temple.
Zyekowski lands a knee to the head.
Cardoso is trying to break the clinch but Zyekowski has him pressed against the cage.
Cardoso is trying to break free.
Nice elbow from Zyekowski.

That's one minute gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Zyekowski.
Zyekowski lands an elbow just above Cardoso 's eye.
Cardoso is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Cardoso avoiding damage as Zyekowski throws knees to the body.
Zyekowski tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Cardoso avoids it.
Zyekowski landing knees to the body.
Zyekowski tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Zyekowski looking to throw knees to the head but Cardoso is blocking nicely.
Zyekowski lands a nice elbow.
Cardoso wants to get back to striking at distance but Zyekowski won't allow it.
Cardoso tries to break free but Zyekowski pushes him back against the cage.
Cardoso tries to break free but Zyekowski pushes him back against the cage.
Zyekowski lands a nice knee to the body.
Zyekowski unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Cardoso is trying to break the clinch but Zyekowski is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Zyekowski using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Cardoso has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Zyekowski is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Cardoso is defending well for now.
Zyekowski lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Zyekowski tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Cardoso avoids it.
Cardoso tries to break the clinch but Zyekowski is controlling the position.
Cardoso blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Cardoso tries to circle away but Zyekowski has him pinned against the cage.
Cardoso looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Zyekowski tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Cardoso just stands there and leans against the cage.
Zyekowski lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Zyekowski jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Cardoso walks away with a smile on his face. Zyekowski gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Zyekowski forces Cardoso back against the cage and clinches.
Cardoso blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Cardoso tries to break the clinch but Zyekowski is controlling the position.
Cardoso blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Zyekowski tries to land knees in the clinch but Cardoso avoids the damage to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zyekowski lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Cardoso is trying to break the clinch but Zyekowski is controlling him.
Cardoso looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Zyekowski lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Cardoso wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Zyekowski obliges.
Cardoso tries to break free but Zyekowski pushes him back against the cage.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Zyekowski here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Cardoso is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Zyekowski working Cardoso over with knees to the body.
Cardoso avoiding damage as Zyekowski throws knees to the body.
A knee to the head by Zyekowski.
Cardoso wants to break the clinch but can't.

Cardoso manages to break the clinch.

Cardoso tries to keep at a distance but Zyekowski has taken the fight into the clinch.
Zyekowski 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.
Zyekowski is working Cardoso over against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zyekowski tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Cardoso avoids it.
Zyekowski landing knees to the body.
Zyekowski is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Cardoso is defending well for now.
Cardoso tries to break the clinch but Zyekowski is controlling the position.
Cardoso has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Cardoso looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Zyekowski gets control of Cardoso's arms and successfully pulls guard. Zyekowski will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Zyekowski is on top in guard.
Zyekowski stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cardoso swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zyekowski's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Zyekowski works a leg free and moves into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Zyekowski dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Gustavo Cardoso's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. And we move into the final round!

A combination from Cardoso does no damage.
Zyekowski moves in looking to clinch but Cardoso pushes him off.
Gustavo Cardoso is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Zyekowski tries a head kick but it misses.
Zyekowski is looking to clinch.

Zyekowski fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Cardoso, pushing him back against the cage.
Zyekowski keeps control of Cardoso as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Cardoso has had enough of the clinch but Zyekowski keeps him there for the moment.
Zyekowski with a knee to the head.
Zyekowski has Cardoso pressed against the cage, preventing Cardoso from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Cardoso is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Zyekowski is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Cardoso is defending well for now.
Zyekowski with an attempt at a knee that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cardoso wants to break free but Zyekowski has control.
Cardoso wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Zyekowski tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Zyekowski tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cardoso working hard to break the clinch.
Zyekowski lands a good knee to the midsection. Cardoso won't want to take too many of those.
Cardoso wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Zyekowski throws a head punch that misses.
Cardoso has had enough of the clinch but Zyekowski keeps him there for the moment.
Zyekowski is leaning against Cardoso and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Zyekowski misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Cardoso.
Cardoso takes a knee right on the jaw!
Zyekowski keeps control of Cardoso as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Cardoso looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Zyekowski landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Cardoso wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Cardoso blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Knees to the body from Zyekowski.
Zyekowski lands a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zyekowski using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Zyekowski lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Zyekowski connects with a nasty looking knee right to Cardoso's face.
Zyekowski with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Nice elbow from Zyekowski.
Zyekowski keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Cardoso's efforts to push away.
Cardoso prevents a body shot from Zyekowski.
Zyekowski has the Thai clinch. He lands a big knee to the head that stumbles Cardoso - he's in trouble! Another big knee to the head from Zyekowski, and another! Cardoso is out on his feet - the ref jumps in to save him and ends the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:43 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Knees). Thomas Zyekowski!