PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Matt Cardone (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josh Rosendall (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rosendall has chosen Remember the name as his entrance music. Josh Rosendall told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Cardone
vs
Rosendall

187 cm
24
260 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

196 cm
20
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Matt Cardone!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Josh Rosendall!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fray, Micheangelo Fripello and Jeff Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cardone will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Rosendall looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Rosendall looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Cardone is fending him off so far but Rosendall persists. Nope, Cardone circles away and we're back to standing.
Rosendall goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Rosendall keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Rosendall has a takedown stuffed.
Cardone shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Rosendall but Rosendall pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matt Cardone. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rosendall shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Cardone defends it nicely.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rosendall tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Cardone counters with a nice double leg into side control. Rosendall won't be happy with that.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Rosendall is trying to control Cardone's posture but Cardone avoids it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sloppy strikes there by Cardone.
You can see the frustration on Rosendall's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Rosendall is looking for a sweep.
Cardone trying to control the position but Rosendall is working away.
Cardone prevents Rosendall from escaping the position.
Rosendall is working to avoid the ground and pound but Cardone connects with a decent elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rosendall is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Cardone trying to control the action but Rosendall is working from the bottom.
Cardone has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Rosendall is looking for a sweep.
Rosendall struggling a bit here.

Cardone has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Rosendall looks winded!
Rosendall defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Cardone.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rosendall tries for a takedown but Cardone sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Horrible takedown by Rosendall or perhaps it was just good defense by Cardone which made him look bad.
Cardone looks for a takedown but Rosendall sprawls well.

Rosendall moves into the clinch successfully.
Rosendall is trying to pull guard but Cardone has him pressed against the cage.
Cardone tries to pull guard but Rosendall forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Cardone could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Rosendall is trying to pull guard but Cardone has him pressed against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cardone can't find room to land a body shot as Rosendall controls the action.

Rosendall is fighting off a takedown attempt but Cardone is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Rosendall to the mat. Rosendall regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Cardone trying to control but Rosendall is working from the bottom.
Rosendall working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Cardone.
Rosendall trying to strike off his back.
Cardone slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Cardone trying to control the action but Rosendall is working from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cardone happy to just control the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Cardone dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Cardone fails with a takedown attempt.
Rosendall fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Cardone.
Cardone shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Cardone displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Rosendall.
Cardone swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Cardone takes a head kick and keeps coming.

It looks like Matt Cardone has been cut.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rosendall looks for a takedown but Cardone sprawls well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rosendall misses with a takedown

and Cardone counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Cardone.
Matt Cardone has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Josh Rosendall.
Cardone gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Rosendall.

Cardone has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Rosendall uses from the top position.
Cardone trying to keep a closed guard but Rosendall is proving a slippery customer.
Rosendall looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Cardone not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cardone wants to stand but Rosendall is controlling the position.
Rosendall working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Cardone is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Cardone trying to control the action but Rosendall is working from the bottom.

Cardone seems like he's working for an arm triangle here. He's freed his trapped foot and he's rotating nicely. Rosendall is in big trouble! He's tapping out! This one is aaaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:56 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Matt Cardone!
Our winner, Matt Cardone, 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.