PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Joey Cardinal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Madden Rush (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cardinal kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is In Mourning - In The Failing Hour. Joey Cardinal has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Cardinal
vs
Rush

175 cm
27
155 lbs
10 - 10 - 0

177 cm
28
165 lbs
14 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
KO power

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

STEEL PENN'S SKIN SHOP / Money Exchange!
STEEL PENN'S SKIN SHOP / Money Exchange!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Joey Cardinal!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Madden Rush!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Wagner Zegers and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cardinal throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Rush was covering up waiting for the punch and Cardinal finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Cardinal looking to pass the guard.
Rush is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Rush is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Cardinal wants to get back to full guard.
Cardinal looks like he's trying to stand up.

Cardinal makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Cardinal shoots for a double leg takedown but Rush sprawls well. He's pushed Cardinal's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Rush fails with the takedown

and Cardinal counters with a single leg into guard. Rush didn't expect that.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cardinal loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rush is on top in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cardinal is looking to stand back up but Rush counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Cardinal.
Rush wants to take a breather but Cardinal is having none of it.
Cardinal tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Rush has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Cardinal gives up his back whilst trying to strike.
Cardinal tries to escape the position.
Cardinal is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Rush doesn't have the hooks in and Cardinal manages to turn into his guard.
Rush is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cardinal actively working from the bottom here.
Cardinal is refusing to be controlled, as Rush sits in half guard.
Cardinal is trying to stand.

Cardinal kicks Rush off and gets back to his feet.
Rush fails with the takedown

and Cardinal counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Cardinal is working for a submission of some sort.
Cardinal moves nicely into side control.
Cardinal wants to stand but Rush has his arm trapped.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rush takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Cardinal lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.

Cardinal is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Rush is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Rush stops Cardinal from passing to mount.

Cardinal tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Cardinal has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Rush tries to bench press Cardinal off him but Cardinal keeps the position.
You can see the frustration on Rush's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cardinal lands a nice forearm strike.
Check out the look on Cardinal's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Rush is looking for a sweep.

Cardinal tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Cardinal has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Cardinal passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Rush!
Cardinal lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

Cardinal wants to finish this one by submission but Rush is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Cardinal.
Cardinal is landing with some decent strikes but Rush is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Cardinal has control of Rush's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Rush regains control of the situation pretty easily.

Cardinal looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joey Cardinal dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Rush tries for a takedown but Cardinal circles away easily

and Cardinal counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Cardinal.
Cardinal advances position into side control!

Cardinal goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Rush has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Cardinal but great work by Rush.
Cardinal tries to bench press Rush off him but Rush keeps the position.
Cardinal bucks up and tries to throw Rush off but instead Rush has got his back!
I really don't envy Cardinal right now.
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.

Rush looking for the choke from the back.
Cardinal tries to roll but Rush sticks to his back.
Cardinal is trying to get back to his feet but Rush has full control of the position and if anything, Cardinal has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rush is trying to stick to Cardinal's back but Cardinal is turning into Rush. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Rush's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Cardinal.
Rush looking for a sweep. Not yet Rush, not yet.
Cardinal wants to pass the guard but Rush is keeping the position.

Cardinal is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Cardinal won't allow Rush to sweep him here.

That's two 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.

Cardinal has gone for a leg lock! Rush slips out almost immediately though and dives into Cardinal's guard.
Cardinal wants to stand and escape but Rush is having none of it.
Cardinal is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Rush prevents Cardinal from getting back to his feet.
Rush with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Rush trying to control the position from guard on top but Cardinal is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rush won't allow Cardinal to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cardinal tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Cardinal kicks Rush off and gets to his feet.
A big right from Rush misses.
Rush misses with a few strikes there.
Rush doesn't succeed with the takedown

so Cardinal counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Rush keeping full guard, as Cardinal tries to pass.
Cardinal scoring with punches to the head and body.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Rush holds on and takes a little breather.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Cardinal's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Rush working a defensive guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cardinal keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Rush's head.

Cardinal thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Cardinal avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Cardinal advances to half guard.

Cardinal is trying to work for a kimura but Rush is defending well.

Cardinal is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Rush has managed to free his arm - good work.

Cardinal is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Rush has managed to free his arm - good work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joey Cardinal dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Rush fails with the takedown

and Cardinal counters with a single leg into guard. Rush didn't expect that.
Rush is trying to control the position but Cardinal postures up.
Cardinal with a flurry of punches that miss.
Cardinal working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Cardinal pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rush is keeping the position for now.
Rush has momentary wrist control but Cardinal slips an elbow through the middle.

Cardinal is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Rush is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Rush has escaped and now he's on top!
Rush trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rush takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Cardinal not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Cardinal keeping moving, preventing Rush from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cardinal tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Rush stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cardinal swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Cardinal has Rush pulled in close to control his posture.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Joey Cardinal.
Cardinal lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Rush fails with the takedown

and Cardinal counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Rush keeping full guard, as Cardinal tries to pass.
Rush working a defensive guard here.
Cardinal is looking to work some ground and pound but Rush has wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cardinal has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Rush is proving hard to escape from.
Cardinal trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Cardinal with a nice head shot there.
Madden Rush has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cardinal passes into half guard.
Cardinal sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Rush defending well though.
Rush on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rush gets full guard.
Cardinal with a flurry of punches that miss.
Cardinal trying to stand up but can't free himself from Rush's guard.
Cardinal is looking to work some ground and pound but Rush has wrist control.
Rush wants to get back to his feet but Cardinal is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cardinal is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Cardinal lands a couple of digs.
Cardinal in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Cardinal trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Cardinal distracts Rush with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Cardinal pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rush is keeping the position for now.
Rush looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Rush is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Cardinal is working Rush 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.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Cardinal is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Cardinal thows a big elbow that misses.
Rush can't keep his opponent in guard - Cardinal advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Cardinal not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Cardinal working Rush over with strikes.
Cardinal prevents Rush from improving his position.

Cardinal is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Rush is just riding it out for now. Cardinal eventually gives up the hold.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Cardinal decides to stand and escape the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joey Cardinal showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Cardinal has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Saam Ante scores the fight 30:27
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 30:27
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joey Cardinal!