PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Drake Retso (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Cades (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cades has chosen The Ace Of Spades - Motorhead as his entrance music. Mike Cades told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Retso
vs
Cades

175 cm
27
270 lbs
14 - 8 - 0

200 cm
24
272 lbs
12 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Drake Retso!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Mike Cades!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Sosuke Kotani and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Retso throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Cades moves out of range as Retso strikes.
Retso thows a left - swing and a miss!
Cades avoids a punch combination nicely.
Cades throws an overhand right that lands on Retso's shoulder, as Retso tries to avoid the shot.
Cades throws an overhand right that lands on Retso's shoulder, as Retso tries to avoid the shot.
Cades is looking to clinch.
Retso connects with the punch.
Cades ducks under a wild hook from Retso.
Cades moves out of range as Retso strikes.
Cades throws an overhand right that lands on Retso's shoulder, as Retso tries to avoid the shot.
Retso throws a hook but Cades blocks it.
Retso defending well as Cades loads up on a big left hand.
Retso slips under a jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Retso throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Cades sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Cades ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Retso takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

It looks like Drake Retso has been cut.
Retso with a nice cross.

Retso scores with a takedown into Cades's guard.
Retso stops Cades from standing up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Retso passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Retso working the ground and pound but Cades is defending the strikes.
Retso wants to lay and pray for a moment but Cades keeps working.
Retso wants to take a breather but Cades manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Retso.
Retso working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Retso throwing strikes from guard but Cades blocks nicely.
Retso thows a big elbow that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Retso trying to control but Cades is working from the bottom.
Retso is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Cades is looking to stand up but Retso isn't so interested in that idea.
Cades avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Retso scoring with some ground and pound.
Retso throws and elbow that misses. Cades uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Retso's guard. Nice move by Cades!
Retso tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Retso seems keen to control Cades's posture.
Cades won't allow Retso to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Retso is looking to stand back up but Cades counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Retso.
Retso wants to control but Cades is keeping busy.
Retso is looking for a sweep. Cades is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Retso is working hard here to advance position.
Cades wants to stand up but Retso has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Retso blocking the ground and pound attempt from Cades.
Retso wants to control but Cades is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Cades throwing shots but Retso is blocking nicely.
Cades wants to stand up but Retso is controlling the position.
Retso might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Retso keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Retso tries to get to full guard but Cades has control of the leg.
Retso is looking to control Cades's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Retso avoid being mounted?
Cades wants to control but Retso is keeping him busy.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Retso connects with a single shot there.
Retso avoids the body shot from Cades.
A slow jab from Cades misses its intended target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Drake Retso dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Drake Retso's cut.
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.

Retso tries to score a power double leg takedown but Cades sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Retso somewhat.
Retso fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Cades on the side of the head.
Retso shoots in but no luck this time.
Cades moves in looking to clinch but Retso pushes him off.
Cades uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Retso.
Retso throws a head kick but Cades moves out of range.
Retso lands a lovely overhand right.
Cades lands a glancing blow to the side of Retso's head.
Cades slaps away a takedown attempt from Retso, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Drake Retso. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Retso decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Retso not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Retso missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Cades regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Retso.
Retso throws a strike but Cades rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cades drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Retso manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Cades has Retso in his guard.
Retso has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Retso stops Cades from standing up.
Retso throwing strikes from guard but Cades blocks nicely.
Retso wants to control from the top but Cades keeps moving.
Retso loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Retso wants to control from the top but Cades keeps moving.
Retso is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Retso lands a couple of digs.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Retso accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Retso postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Retso trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Retso throws and elbow that misses. Cades uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Retso's guard. Nice move by Cades!
Retso is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Retso is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Cades throwing strikes but missing.
Retso seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Drake Retso.
Cades tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Retso lunges at Cades with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Cades's hand.
Retso avoids a punch combination nicely.
Cades lands a jab to the head.
Retso takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Retso throws a leg kick but Cades moved away.
Mike Cades is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Cades misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cades looks to land a left hand but Retso moved out of range nicely.
Retso slips under a jab from Cades.
Retso is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Cades misses with a hook.
Drake Retso is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Retso gets a takedown into half guard.
Retso seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Cades does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Retso is just content to waste time from the top position. Cades takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Cades is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Retso is controlling him.
Retso keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Cades's head.

Cades has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Retso off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Drake Retso dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Drake Retso's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Retso will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Retso uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Cades.
Retso throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Cades sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Retso fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Cades avoids it really well and circles away.
Cades tries to clinch there but Retso circles away.
Cades misses with a combination
and Retso connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Retso looks to throw the jab but Cades is out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Retso misses with the combination.
Retso shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Cades sprawls well. Cades wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Retso gets slowly back to his feet.
Cades avoids the body shot from Retso.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cades tries to move into range but Retso moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

Retso shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Retso wants to control from the top but Cades keeps moving.
Retso throwing strikes from guard but Cades blocks nicely.
Retso working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Cades's head.
Retso wants to control from the top but Cades keeps moving.
Retso loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Cades wants to stand up but Retso is controlling him.

Cades kicks Retso off and gets to his feet.
Drake Retso is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Retso ducks under a wild hook from Cades.
Cades scores with the left hand. Retso knows he should have avoided that one.
Retso swinging wildly here.
Cades looks to land a left hand but Retso moved out of range nicely.
Cades scores with a sloppy right hand. Retso should have avoided that one.
No joy there for Retso, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Cades closes the distance looking to clinch

and Retso counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Retso is trying to control. Cades wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Retso looks to land a strike but Cades avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Retso connects with a couple of short punches.
Retso throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Cades works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Mike Cades has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Retso working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Cades avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Retso thows a big elbow that misses.
Retso pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Cades is keeping the position for now.
Retso trying to control the position from guard on top but Cades is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cades is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Retso trying to control the position from guard on top but Cades is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Retso is working Cades over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Retso throwing strikes but missing.
Cades keeping moving, preventing Retso from controlling successfully.
Cades working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Retso.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Retso's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Retso lands a couple of elbows.
Retso works over Cades with some ground and pound from guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Retso is in close to Cades's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Cades takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Retso postures up in Cades's guard and throws a big left but Cades blocks it.
Drake Retso overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Retso throws and elbow that misses. Cades uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Retso's guard. Nice move by Cades!

And that's the end of the fight!
Drake Retso showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Retso, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Drake Retso!