PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Sly Randolph (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hector Cabrera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cabrera has chosen Tarot - I Walk Forever as his entrance music. 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.

Randolph
vs
Cabrera

170 cm
32
151 lbs
32 - 12 - 1

165 cm
37
154 lbs
36 - 15 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

TWGC Champion
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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Perkele!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 32 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Sly Randolph!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 36 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Hector Cabrera!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, William Gold and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A big left from Randolph misses.
Randolph slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Cabrera walks into a stiff left hand from Randolph.
Randolph feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Cabreras jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Randolph swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Cabrera lands a leg kick that knocks Randolph off balance momentarily.
Cabrera displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Randolph throws out the jab.
Randolph connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Nice shot by Cabrera.
Cabrera loads up on a big right hand but Randolph slips the punch.
Randolph connects with a solid leg kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cabrera tries to score with a low kick but Randolph moves his leg out of the way.
Randolph pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Randolph throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Cabrera fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Randolph is out of range.
Randolph connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Randolph misses with a low kick.
Randolph throws a big shot that misses.
Cabrera lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Randolph misses with a body kick.
Cabrera scores with a decent looking hook.
Randolph looks to land a body kick but Cabrera moved away.

Cabrera shoots in and bounces Randolph off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Cabrera advances to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cabrera throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Randolph trying to hold on to Cabrera's head to control him but Cabrera postures up.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cabrera working the head and body with strikes.
Cabrera missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Randolph is trying to get back to full guard.
Cabrera throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Cabrera sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Randolph defending well though.
Randolph avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Cabrera.
Randolph trying to hold on to Cabrera's head to control him but Cabrera postures up.
Cabrera not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cabrera takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Cabrera is nestled in close to Randolph, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Randolph keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Randolph tries to roll over but Cabrera keeps him under control.
Randolph wants to control but Cabrera is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Cabrera thows a huge punch but Randolph dodges it nicely.
Randolph moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cabrera throwing strikes from guard but Randolph blocks nicely.
Cabrera throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Randolph works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Cabrera lands a couple of decent looking shots.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cabrera throws an elbow that misses. Randolph uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Cabrera's guard. Nice move by Randolph!
Cabrera is trying to keep Randolph in close.
Cabrera has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Randolph is looking to work some ground and pound but Cabrera has wrist control.
Cabrera looking to hit a scissor sweep but Randolph is one step ahead there.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Randolph is in close to Cabrera's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Cabrera working for a triangle but Randolph defends it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Hector Cabrera will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

A low kick from Cabrera misses

and Randolph counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Randolph throwing shots but Cabrera is blocking nicely.
Cabrera gets full guard.

Cabrera working for submissions but it's allowed Randolph to get to half guard.
Cabrera trying to control here.
Randolph is looking to take a break and control but Cabrera is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Randolph lands with a punch from half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Randolph prevents Cabrera from improving his position.
Randolph looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Randolph stalling.
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.
Cabrera keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Randolph is trying to control the action in half guard but Cabrera is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Cabrera makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Cabrera.
Hector Cabrera has got the better of the ground game so far.
Cabrera is trying to hold Randolph in close to prevent damage but Randolph has managed to pass into half guard.
Cabrera tries to get to full guard but Randolph has control of the leg.
Cabrera blocking the ground and pound attempt from Randolph.
Cabrera trying to control from the bottom.
Randolph throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cabrera manages to get to full guard.
Cabrera keeping moving, preventing Randolph from controlling successfully.
Cabrera trying to control the position.
Cabrera keeping moving, preventing Randolph from controlling successfully.
Cabrera trying to control the position.

Cabrera looking for a guillotine here but Randolph defends easily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Cabrera working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Randolph doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Randolph manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Randolph wants to pass the guard but Cabrera is keeping the position.
Cabrera is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Randolph wants to control from the top but Cabrera keeps moving.
Randolph passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Randolph lands an elbow.
Cabrera manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Randolph keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Cabrera working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Randolph tries to get to full guard but Cabrera has control of the leg.
Cabrera stalling away here and it's allowed Randolph to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Cabrera cracks Randolph with a solid left hand.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cabrera is looking to pass into half guard but Randolph pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Randolph is in guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cabrera is trying to keep Randolph in close.
Randolph postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Randolph postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Sly Randolph will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Randolph lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Randolph swings away with a leg kick that misses.
A head kick misses from Randolph.
Randolph throws a big shot that misses.
Randolph connects with a jab.
Cabrera misses with a leg kick

so Randolph counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Randolph wants to control from the top but Cabrera keeps moving.
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!
Cabrera looking to hit a scissor sweep but Randolph is one step ahead there.
Cabrera keeping moving, preventing Randolph from controlling successfully.
Cabrera looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cabrera can't keep his opponent in guard - Randolph advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Randolph trying to control the pace.
Cabrera wants to sweep but Randolph has passed to side control!

Randolph thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Cabrera is trying to control Randolph's posture but Randolph avoids it.
Randolph trying to control the action but Cabrera is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Randolph is really struggling to control Cabrera but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Cabrera dodges the ground and pound from Randolph.
Cabrera tries to buck Randolph off but Randolph is having none of it.
Cabrera is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Randolph's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Cabrera is pressing down on Randolph's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Cabrera looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Randolph controlling from the top position.
Cabrera has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Randolph has passed into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cabrera wants to control but Randolph postures up.
Cabrera is looking to regain half guard here but Randolph keeps moving and retains side control.
Cabrera manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Randolph keeping control of the position.
Cabrera is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Cabrera trying to control the position from guard on top but Randolph is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Randolph controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cabrera postures up in Randolph's guard and throws a big left but Randolph blocks it.
Randolph is trying to keep Cabrera in close.
Randolph is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Cabrera trying to move into half guard but instead Randolph has managed to sweep!
Randolph is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Cabrera working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Randolph.
Randolph controls from within his opponent's guard.
Cabrera is trying to keep Randolph in close.
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!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cabrera looking for a sweep. Not yet Cabrera, not yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sly Randolph clearly takes that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Cabrera throws a half hearted mid kick.
Cabrera throws a leg kick but Randolph checks it.
Cabrera comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Randolph throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Cabrera looks to score with a jab to the body but Randolph is just out of range.
Randolph throws a jab when Cabrera was well out of range.
Randolph moves out of range of the body kick.
Cabrera misses with an attempted mid kick.
Randolph lands a really nice looking cross but Cabrera seems unphased.
Randolph takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Randolph looks to throw a body kick

and Cabrera counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Randolph pulls Cabrera in close to prevent any damage.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Cabrera accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Cabrera trying to move into half guard but instead Randolph has managed to sweep!
Randolph keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Cabrera's head.
Cabrera is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Randolph is working Cabrera over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Randolph is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Cabrera looking to control.
Cabrera tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cabrera pushes a forearm under Randolph's chin to create some space. He's escaped his hips and pivoted quickly for an armbar! Can he extend the arm? Yes, Randolph is tapping out! Damn, that was fast!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:20 of round 4, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Hector Cabrera!
Hector Cabrera is the new featherweight champion!
In his post fight interview, Hector Cabrera gave a big smile as he said 'I was at the top of the world at 24 years old. That was like a million years ago. Now at 37 I have completed my dream of a great comeback. And it feels... So good. Thank you.'.