PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Joey Cardinal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kyle Van Hook (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Van Hook has chosen The Cure's Close To Me as his entrance music. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Cardinal
vs
Van Hook

175 cm
21
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

170 cm
19
154 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Joey Cardinal!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Kyle Van Hook!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Yves DeLean and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cardinal darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Van Hook is not content to let Cardinal control the position.
Van Hook is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cardinal thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Van Hook's head.
Cardinal throwing shots but Van Hook is blocking nicely.
Cardinal trying to advance position but Van Hook counters by regaining guard.
Cardinal controlling from the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Van Hook working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Cardinal doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Cardinal manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Van Hook has an active guard here but Cardinal has managed to pass into half guard.
Cardinal is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Van Hook is looking to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Cardinal sitting and controlling from the half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Van Hook gets back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cardinal passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Cardinal taking a break here but Van Hook is having none of it and regains half guard.
Cardinal is just content to waste time from the top position. Van Hook takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

Van Hook throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Cardinal escapes and throws Van Hook's legs to the side, diving into side control!

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 trying to control the position but Van Hook is working away.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Joey Cardinal just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Cardinal lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Van Hook throws a series of punches but Cardinal avoids them all with ease.
Cardinal throws a right and a left that Van Hook avoids nicely.

Van Hook gets caught flat footed, as Cardinal shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Cardinal has gone for a leg lock! Van Hook slips out almost immediately though and dives into Cardinal's guard.
Van Hook looks gassed!
Cardinal manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Cardinal is standing up, even though he is in mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joey Cardinal dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Cardinal feints and as Van Hook raises his hands in defense, Cardinal changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Van Hook 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.
Van Hook avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Cardinal stands and steps away. Van Hook gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Van Hook is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Cardinal.
Van Hook misses with a combination

and Cardinal counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Van Hook keeping moving, preventing Cardinal from controlling successfully.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Cardinal accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cardinal decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Cardinal pushes Van Hook up against the cage in a clinch.

Van Hook escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Van Hook throws a left and a right that both miss

so Cardinal counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Cardinal 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.

Van Hook working for a triangle but Cardinal defends it easily.

Cardinal is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Van Hook is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Van Hook has escaped and now he's on top!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cardinal is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Cardinal has a closed guard, preventing Van Hook from standing up.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Cardinal is on top in guard.
Cardinal wants to control from the top but Van Hook keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cardinal throws and elbow that misses. Van Hook uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Cardinal's guard. Nice move by Van Hook!
Cardinal lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Van Hook!
Cardinal can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Van Hook is looking to escape.
Van Hook is looking to get to half guard.
Cardinal throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Cardinal controlling from the full mount.
Van Hook wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Cardinal.
Cardinal thowing shots but they're missing.
Van Hook slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

Cardinal seems to be trying to get a kimura but instead Van Hook has recovered full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joey Cardinal dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Cardinal avoids a punch combination nicely.
Cardinal changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Van Hook tries to avoid it but Cardinal manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Van Hook to the ground. Van Hook escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Kyle Van Hook seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Van Hook misses with a combination

and Cardinal counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Cardinal.
Cardinal controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Cardinal trying to control the position from guard on top but Van Hook is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Van Hook looking for a guillotine here but Cardinal defends easily.
Cardinal in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Hook keeping full guard, as Cardinal tries to pass.
Cardinal slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Cardinal sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Van Hook's guard.
Van Hook regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Cardinal.
Cardinal makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Van Hook is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Cardinal wants to control but Van Hook is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Hook is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.

Cardinal looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Cardinal manages to get to full guard.
Cardinal is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Cardinal tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cardinal is trying to control the position but Van Hook postures up.

Cardinal is looking for a triangle here but Van Hook uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Cardinal can't do much from the bottom here.
Cardinal throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.
Cardinal manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Cardinal punching from the bottom.

Cardinal is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Van Hook pulls his head out easily.

Cardinal actively working from the bottom here.

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.
Cardinal tries to roll over but Van Hook keeps him under control.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Cardinal circles away from the clinch attempt

and Cardinal counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Cardinal trying to control the position from guard on top but Van Hook is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cardinal throws a big right hand that misses.

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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 30:27
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 30:27

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