PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Steve Cantwell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Amon Ra (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Cantwell
vs
Ra

187 cm
27
189 lbs
10 - 4 - 0

181 cm
29
189 lbs
3 - 8 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Knockout power

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 10 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Steve Cantwell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Amon Ra!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Frank Antenori and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cantwell tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ra swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Ra defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Cantwell.
Cantwell takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Cantwell avoids the head kick by Ra.
Cantwell goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

It looks like Amon Ra has been cut.

Ra fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Cantwell, pushing him back against the cage.

Ra breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Ra instigates a clinch.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Cantwell breaks from the clinch.
Cantwell lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Cantwell shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Ra defends it nicely.
Amon Ra seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ra slips a jab and a cross from Cantwell.
Good shot there by Ra.
Ra feints and then cracks Cantwell's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Cantwell down.
Cantwell looks for a takedown but Ra sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Steve Cantwell. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ra stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Ra wants it to stay on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cantwell shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Ra as he avoids it easily.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Ra tries to land a knee to the head but Cantwell blocks with his arms.

Ra breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Cantwell blocks a head kick by Ra.
Cantwell blocks a head kick by Ra.
Ra goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Ra tries a head kick but it misses.

Cantwell drives through with a takedown into Ra's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Ra seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Ra wants to sweep but no luck.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cantwell trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Ra manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Cantwell is trying to control the position but Ra postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cantwell tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Cantwell keeping moving, preventing Ra from controlling successfully.
Ra missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Cantwell has control of Ra's left arm, preventing Ra from doing any damage.
Ra with a flurry of punches that miss.
Ra throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Ra throwing strikes from guard but Cantwell blocks nicely.
Ra stands up over Cantwell, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Ra is fighting to break Cantwell's control of his arms but Cantwell is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cantwell looking for a sweep. Not yet Cantwell, not yet.
Ra stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cantwell swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ra prevents Cantwell from getting back to his feet.
Cantwell looking for a sweep. Not yet Cantwell, not yet.

Cantwell working for a triangle but Ra defends it easily.
Cantwell is breathing heavily.
Ra trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Ra throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Ra tries to free his leg and advance position but Cantwell is retaining full guard.
Cantwell looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ra is one step ahead there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ra loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Cantwell is trying to control the position but Ra postures up.
Ra tries to free his leg and advance position but Cantwell is retaining full guard.
Cantwell preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Ra wants to pass the guard but Cantwell is keeping the position.

Cantwell working for a triangle but Ra defends it easily.
Cantwell working a defensive guard here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Cantwell bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Ra's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Amon Ra will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Amon Ra's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Cantwell takes a kick to the side of the head.
Cantwell misses with a combination
and Ra counters with a low kick, right behind Cantwell 's knee.
Ra lands with a nice body kick.
Ra scores with a leg kick.

Ra closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Ra just misses with a elbow thrown towards Cantwell's brow.
Ra using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Cantwell has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Ra's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A clash of legs there as Ra blocks the low kick.
A solid body kick from Ra.
Ra scores with a head kick. Cantwell tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
This has been an exciting period of action!
No luck for Cantwell with that takedown attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Cantwell takes a kick to the side of the head.
Amon Ra seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Ra throws a lazy head kick

and Cantwell counters with a single leg into guard. Ra didn't expect that.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Ra can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cantwell won't allow Ra to get back to his feet.
Ra seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

Cantwell stands up from Ra's guard - Cantwell perhaps looking for a knockout.
Ra lands with a slapping head kick.
Ra throws a head kick that misses
and Cantwell counters with a nice kick to the body.

Cantwell shoots in and bounces Ra off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Ra is adopting a defensive guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Cantwell working some strikes from top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cantwell wants to pass the guard but Ra is keeping the position.
Ra looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Ra is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Let's hope that Ra has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Ra tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Cantwell throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ra works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Ra looking to hit a scissor sweep but Cantwell is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cantwell wants to pass the guard but Ra is keeping the position.
Steve Cantwell overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Ra tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Cantwell counters with a nice double leg into side control. Ra won't be happy with that.
Ra manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Cantwell trying to control here.

Ra wants to work for an arm triangle but Cantwell is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Ra lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ra prevents Cantwell from improving his position.
Ra working the head and body with strikes.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ra trying to control from half guard but Cantwell is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cantwell trying to control from the bottom.
Ra takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Ra works his foot free and advances to mount.
Ra working the ground and pound effectively.

Ra has control of Cantwell's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Cantwell regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Cantwell wants to hold on but Ra pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Amon Ra showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Amon Ra's cut.
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!

Cantwell shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Cantwell misses with the combination.
Ra misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Cantwell takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Ra is looking to clinch.
A head kick from Ra lands but Cantwell takes it in his stride.
Cantwell changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Ra tries to avoid it but Cantwell manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Ra to the ground. Ra escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Ra tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ra throws a head kick that Cantwell semi-blocks.
Cantwell shoots in for a takedown but Ra shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Steve Cantwell. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cantwell takes a jab right on the kisser.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ra throws a head kick but Cantwell moves out of range.
A slapping leg kick lands for Ra.
Ra connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ra misses with a head kick.
Steve Cantwell is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Cantwell tries to land a leg kick but Ra saw it coming and moves away.
Ra displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Amon Ra is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Cantwell fails with a takedown attempt.
Ra cracks the inside of Cantwell's front leg.

Ra darts in and clinches Cantwell up against the cage.
Ra lands with a right to the head.
Cantwell tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Ra smiles and moves away.
Cantwell throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Ra is looking to slow Cantwell down with leg kicks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cantwell tries a head kick but it misses.
Cantwell takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

Cantwell tries to keep at a distance but Ra has taken the fight into the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ra just leaning against Cantwell, taking a breather.
Cantwell takes a knee right on the jaw!
Ra working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

Ra manages to break the clinch.

Ra rushes Cantwell and presses him up against the cage.
Cantwell tries for a takedown but Ra manages to get underhooks.
Ra using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Cantwell has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Ra breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A head kick misses from Ra.
Cantwell shoots in but no luck this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ra is looking to slow Cantwell down with leg kicks.
Cantwell shoots in for a takedown but Ra shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Ra throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Cantwell shoots in for a takedown but Ra shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Ra thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Cantwell if he has to take too many more of those.
Cantwell tries to clinch but Ra moves out of range.
Cantwell on the wrong end of a kick to the body.

Ra moves into the clinch.
Ra throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Cantwell blocks it with crossed arms.

Ra's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Ra throws a head kick that misses.
Cantwell shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Ra as he avoids it easily.

Ra closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Ra.
Cantwell is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ra throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
A knee to the head by Ra.

Ra breaks from the clinch.
Cantwell tries to score a power double leg takedown but Ra sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Cantwell somewhat.
Ra throws a head kick that half lands.
Amon Ra is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Ra tries a head kick but it misses.
Cantwell takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Cantwell misses with a looping left.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A shot to the body from Cantwell misses
and Ra counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Cantwell blocks a head kick by Ra.
Steve Cantwell has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cantwell blocks a head kick by Ra.

And that's the end of the fight!
Amon Ra comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Ra winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Amon Ra!