PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Steve Cantwell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Drake Firentz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Steve Cantwell has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Cantwell
vs
Firentz

187 cm
28
195 lbs
10 - 5 - 0

183 cm
21
185 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Steve Cantwell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Drake Firentz!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, George Francis and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cantwell takes one on the chin but seems OK.

Cantwell rushes Firentz and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Cantwell pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Cantwell shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Firentz napping and manages to drive through into side control!
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Cantwell trying to control the position but Firentz is working away.

Cantwell working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Firentz really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Cantwell. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Cantwell in side control, throwing shots but Firentz defends.

Cantwell looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Cantwell has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Drake Firentz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Firentz throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Cantwell throws a sloppy head kick and Firentz moves out of range easily.
Cantwell misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Cantwell keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Firentz lands a jab to the head.

Cantwell looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Firentz looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Cantwell wants to control from the top but Firentz keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cantwell scoring with punches to the head and body.
Firentz keeping moving, preventing Cantwell from controlling successfully.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Firentz looking to control.
Cantwell trying to control the position from guard on top but Firentz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
This has been an exciting period of action!

We're going to have a standup here because Steve Cantwell wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Firentz rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Cantwell counters with a body kick that stops Firentz in his tracks momentarily.

Cantwell dives in and scores a takedown into Firentz's guard.
Firentz not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cantwell stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Firentz swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Cantwell is stalling in the full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Firentz comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Firentz rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Cantwell counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Cantwell is looking to take a break and control but Firentz is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cantwell is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Firentz sees it coming and defends easily.
Cantwell is pressing down on Firentz's thigh, looking to free his foot. Firentz is holding on for now.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Cantwell connects with a nice short shot to Firentz's temple.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Cantwell 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.
Nice strikes from Cantwell there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Cantwell dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Cantwell 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.

Cantwell 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.
Cantwell passes Firentz's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Firentz wants to get back to his feet.
Cantwell content to control rather than advance.
Cantwell seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Firentz does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Cantwell sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Firentz defending well though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cantwell looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Cantwell stands up and beckons Firentz to join him on the feet.
Firentz throws a leg kick

and Cantwell counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Cantwell is looking to take a break and control but Firentz is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Cantwell with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Cantwell seems to be looking for submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cantwell thows a huge punch but Firentz dodges it nicely.
Firentz keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Firentz is trying to escape back to his feet but Cantwell uses the scramble to pass into side control.
Cantwell working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cantwell working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Firentz being controlled for a moment.
Cantwell wants to control for a moment but Firentz uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Cantwell is working for a kimura but Firentz is defending it quite comfortably.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Firentz trying to control here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cantwell trying to control from half guard but Firentz is working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Cantwell dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Firentz throws a good cross that connects.
Firentz looks to score with a jab to the body but Cantwell is just out of range.
Firentz catches Cantwell with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Cantwell throws a leg kick which misses Firentz's front leg but catches the back leg as Firentz tries to avoid it.

Cantwell shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Firentz is trying to defend but Cantwell finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Firentz wants to get back to full guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Cantwell postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Firentz to stand up.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cantwell closes this distance looking for a takedown but Firentz circles away.
Cantwell misses with a wild combination.
Steve Cantwell is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Firentz displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Cantwell.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Firentz lands with a cross.
Cantwell shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Firentz pinned against the cage. Firentz gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Steve Cantwell. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cantwell closes the distance and lands a one-two.
No joy there for Cantwell, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Cantwell dodges the punch combination from Firentz.
A jab from Firentz misses.
Cantwell has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Firentz finds it's way round the side to connect with Cantwell's head.
Cantwell slips a straight right by Firentz.
Cantwell swinging wildly here.
Firentz misses with an uppercut

and Cantwell counters by moving into the clinch.
Drake Firentz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cantwell pulls Firentz into guard.

Cantwell is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Firentz wants to stand but Cantwell is controlling his posture from full guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Cantwell working for submissions but it's allowed Firentz to get to half guard.
Firentz is looking to advance position but Cantwell won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cantwell makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Firentz thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Cantwell if he has to take too many more of those.
Firentz swings widly with a right hand

and Cantwell counters with a single leg into guard. Firentz didn't expect that.
Cantwell prevents Firentz from getting back to his feet.
Cantwell stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Firentz swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Firentz keeping moving, preventing Cantwell from controlling successfully.
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 four minutes gone in the round.
Cantwell is looking to stand up but Firentz won't let him.
Firentz keeping moving, preventing Cantwell from controlling successfully.
Steve Cantwell overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Cantwell controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Steve Cantwell.

Cantwell gets a double leg takedown into Firentz's guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Firentz looking for a guillotine here but Cantwell defends easily.
Steve Cantwell is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Cantwell slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

And that's the end of the fight!
Steve Cantwell showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Cantwell, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge George Francis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Steve Cantwell!
After winning the bout, Steve Cantwell thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.