PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Marcel Cerdan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bjj Spar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Cerdan might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to French National Anthem. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Cerdan
vs
Spar

173 cm
26
155 lbs
20 - 7 - 1

175 cm
28
159 lbs
18 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

ADCC Champion
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 7 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Marcel Cerdan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Bjj Spar!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, William Gold and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Spar throws a leg kick that is checked
and Cerdan counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Cerdan misses the shot to the body.
Cerdan throws a hook to the side of Spar's head but Spar sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Cerdan scores with a body shot.
Spar walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Cerdan checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Cerdan.
Cerdan changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Cerdan keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Cerdan thows a left - swing and a miss!
Cerdan ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Spar moves away.
Cerdan comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cerdan scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Cerdan misses with a wild body shot.
Cerdan uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Spar.
Cerdan swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Cerdan moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Spar takes a shot right to the bread basket.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cerdan blocks the body kick.
Cerdan throws a looping overhand right but Spar ducks down to avoid it.
Spar misses with a double jab.
Cerdan tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Cerdan blocks a leg kick.
Cerdan dips to his left and cracks Spar with an uppercut!
Spar throws a jab but it's blocked by Cerdan.
Cerdan swinging wildly here.
Cerdan stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Cerdan wants it to stay on the feet.
Spar fails to land the takedown.
Spar missing with a left hand there. Cerdan was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Cerdan looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Spar ducks under a wild hook from Cerdan.
Cerdan lands a jab to the head.
Cerdan scores with a body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cerdan chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Spar can pounce on him.
Spar slips under a jab.
Cerdan throws a right hand that Spar ducks under and follows up with a left that Spar also avoids with ease.
Marcel Cerdan is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Spar feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Spar postures up.
Cerdan utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Cerdan avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Spar won't allow Cerdan to sweep him here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Spar wants to control from the top but Cerdan keeps moving.
Spar throwing strikes but missing.
Spar stops Cerdan from standing up.
Cerdan utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spar won't allow Cerdan to get back to his feet.
Cerdan trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Spar throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Spar wants to control from the top but Cerdan keeps moving.
Cerdan controlling the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Cerdan staying out of range there.
Cerdan lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Spar throws a nice outside leg kick.

Spar gets the takedown into side control.

Spar wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Cerdan, who protects the arm well.
Spar has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
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!
Spar throwing shots but missing, from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Spar in side control, throwing shots but Cerdan defends.
Cerdan tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
Spar controlling from the back.
Well, with Spar on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Cerdan is tapping out... Can he escape the position?
Cerdan wants to get back to his feet.

Cerdan showing good submission defense here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Spar throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Marcel Cerdan will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Spar looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Spar connects with a right hand. Cerdan shakes it off.
Cerdan lands a nice shot that snaps Spar's head back.
Spar on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Cerdan throws a body punch but Spar moves out of range.
Cerdan wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Spar feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Cerdan's calf.
Spar looking to land some kicks to the body here.
A slow jab from Cerdan misses its intended target.
Spar moves out of range as Cerdan throws a body kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cerdan lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Spar uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Cerdan.
Cerdan throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Bjj Spar seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The fighters circling - Spar throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Cerdan darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Spar throws a push kick but Cerdan slaps the foot to one side.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spar pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Cerdan blocks a head kick by Spar.
Cerdan steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Spar.

Spar changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Cerdan looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Spar scoring with punches and elbows.
Spar prevents Cerdan from escaping the position.
Spar trying to control the position but Cerdan is working away.
Cerdan seems a little lost for a moment, as Spar dominates the positioning.
Cerdan pushes Spar away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Spar gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Spar trying to control the position but Cerdan is working away.
Cerdan tries to escape but Spar is in control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spar wants to control but Cerdan is keeping him busy.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Spar trying to control the position but Cerdan is working away.
This has been an exciting period of action!

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Bjj Spar wasn't active enough on the ground.
Nice body kick from Spar.
Cerdan looks to throw the jab but Spar is out of range.
Cerdan sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Cerdan looks to land a right hand but Spar moved out of range.
Cerdan throws a leg kick

and Spar counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Spar missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Cerdan avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Spar.
Ground and pound from Spar.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Spar looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Spar with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Spar works his foot free and advances to mount.
Spar landing punches.

Spar is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Cerdan is surviving well by controlling Spar's body position as best he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Spar goes for an armbar but Cerdan turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Cerdan.
Spar working a defensive guard here.
Cerdan tries to stand but Spar is controlling from the bottom.
Cerdan controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Spar looking for a sweep. Not yet Spar, not yet.

Spar is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Cerdan is aware though and is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bjj Spar showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Spar throws a body kick that misses.
Spar connects with a high kick.
Cerdan misses with a wild body shot.
Cerdan misses with a straight right.
Spar tries to score a power double leg takedown but Cerdan sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Spar somewhat.

Spar dives in and scores a takedown into Cerdan's guard.
Spar throwing strikes from guard but Cerdan blocks nicely.
Cerdan can't keep his opponent in guard - Spar advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Cerdan is trying to stand back up but Spar is controlling him
Spar not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Spar throwing shots but Cerdan is blocking nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spar lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Cerdan keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Cerdan wants to control but Spar is keeping busy.
Spar wants to take a breather but Cerdan is having none of it.
Spar thows a huge punch but Cerdan dodges it nicely.
Cerdan has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Spar is working away from the top position though.
Spar trying to pass the guard but Cerdan defending well.
Cerdan is looking for a sweep. Spar is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Cerdan blocking the ground and pound attempt from Spar.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Spar is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Spar thows a huge punch but Cerdan dodges it nicely.
Spar passes to full mount!
Cerdan is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Spar takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Spar looking to ground and pound but Cerdan is blocking nicely.
Spar throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Spar can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Cerdan is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cerdan is bucking up trying to escape but Spar cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Cerdan slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Spar sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Cerdan defending well though.
Spar tries to pass the half guard into mount. Cerdan knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Spar seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Cerdan does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Cerdan is trying to maintain the position but Spar is very close to passing his half guard.
Spar tries to pass to full mount but Cerdan defends it.
Spar is trying to control. Cerdan wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Spar trying to mount his opponent but Cerdan defends it.
Cerdan is pressing down on Spar's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Spar is stalling in the full guard.
Cerdan is looking to stand up but Spar isn't so interested in that idea.
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!
Spar wants to control from the top but Cerdan keeps moving.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Bjj Spar hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Cerdan blocks a low kick nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bjj Spar comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Spar has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight 28:29
Judge William Gold scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bjj Spar!
Our winner, Bjj Spar, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.