PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Benji Cada (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nicky Youseph (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Cada might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Devil Went Down To Cadaville. Benji Cada has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Cada
vs
Youseph

165 cm
27
145 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

189 cm
27
145 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Benji Cada!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nicky Youseph!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, George Francis and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Youseph throws a solid leg kick but Cada takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Youseph.
Youseph fails with the takedown
enabling Cada to counter with a crisp jab.

Cada closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Youseph is looking to improve his position.
Youseph wants to get back to his feet.
Youseph wants to get back to full guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Youseph manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cada won't allow Youseph to sweep him here.
Cada is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Youseph is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Youseph content to control rather than advance.
Cada might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Youseph is looking to stall here but Cada recovers full guard.

That's two 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.
Cada wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Youseph controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Youseph drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Cada manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Youseph has Cada in his guard.
Youseph controls Cada momentarily but Cada frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Nicky Youseph wasn't active enough on the ground.
Youseph misses with a takedown attempt

and Cada counters with a takedown into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Youseph sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Cada is thwarting Youseph's attempts to control the position.
Youseph is looking for a sweep. Cada is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cada perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Youseph pushes Cada off but Cada dives into side control.
Youseph tries to bench press Cada off him but Cada keeps the position.
Youseph is trying to control Cada's posture but Cada avoids it.
Youseph pushes Cada away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Cada gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Youseph swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Cada counters with a shoot takedown. Youseph fights it but they end up in guard.

Youseph pushes Cada off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Youseph misses with a double jab

and Cada counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Cada.
Youseph wants to sweep but no luck.
Youseph pulls Cada in close to prevent any damage.
Youseph is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Youseph controls Cada momentarily but Cada frees himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Youseph wants to get back to his feet but Cada is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Nicky Youseph.
Youseph misses with a double jab

and Cada counters with a nice double leg into side control. Youseph won't be happy with that.
Cada controlling the position from side mount.
Youseph is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Youseph's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Youseph is looking for a sweep.
Cada trying to control the action but Youseph is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Youseph is looking for a sweep.
Cada is looking to take a break and control but Youseph is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Youseph wants to control but Cada postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Youseph throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Cada counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Youseph!
Youseph reaches up to try and control the position but Cada seems to have an arm triangle now! Uh oh! Youseph rolls and tries to escape and now Cada has his back!
Cada keeps control of the position easily here as Youseph tries to buck him off.
Youseph is really stuck here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Benji Cada dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Youseph fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Cada manages to avoid it.
Youseph gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Cada counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Youseph wants to get back to full guard.
Youseph trying to control here.
Youseph tries to get to full guard but Cada has control of the leg.
Youseph regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Youseph is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Youseph is trying to control. Cada wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Youseph thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Cada is trying to control but can't.
Youseph controlling the pace.
Youseph is thwarting Cada's attempts to control the position.
Nicky Youseph has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Benji Cada is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Youseph wants to lay and pray for a moment but Cada keeps working.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Nicky Youseph hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Youseph misses with a combination

and Cada counters with a single leg into guard. Youseph didn't expect that.
Cada postures up.
Youseph is controlling Cada's posture.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Cada preventing the sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Youseph is looking to sweep but instead, Cada has passed into half guard.
Youseph trying to control but Cada postures up.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Nicky Youseph.
Youseph shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Cada counters with a nice double leg into side control. Youseph won't be happy with that.
Cada trying to control the action but Youseph is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Youseph struggling a bit here.
Cada controls the position.
Youseph is trying to improve his position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Benji Cada showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Cada 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge George Francis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Benji Cada!