PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ricky Ponting (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Renato Cardoso (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cardoso has chosen Samba de Janeiro as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Renato Cardoso struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 156.1lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Ricky Ponting has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Ponting
vs
Cardoso

170 cm
30
160 lbs
19 - 16 - 0

170 cm
30
172 lbs
16 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ricky Ponting!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Renato Cardoso!
The judges for this bout are Chris Dean, Hugh Johnson and Ben Hemmingworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cardoso instigates a clinch.
Ponting working hard to break the clinch.
Cardoso putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Ponting in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Cardoso keeps control of Ponting as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Cardoso with a knee to the head.
Cardoso tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Cardoso lands with a light punch inside.
Cardoso trying to land knees to the body.
Cardoso tries to land knees in the clinch but Ponting avoids the damage to the body.
Ponting is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Cardoso is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Ponting is defending well for now.
Ponting has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Cardoso tries to throw a body punch but Ponting avoids it by throwing Cardoso back against the cage.
Cardoso told us before the fight that he's been working on his elbows. An under utilised technique these days - let's see if it can sway the outcome of the fight.
Ponting wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Cardoso has him pressed against the cage.
Good body shot from Cardoso.
Ponting is trying to break the clinch but Cardoso is controlling him.
Cardoso lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cardoso crunches a lovely knee into Ponting's ribcage.
Ponting tries to break the clinch but Cardoso is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ponting managing to block the knees to the body from Cardoso.
Cardoso tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Ponting avoids it.
Cardoso looking to throw knees to the head but Ponting is blocking nicely.
Cardoso has Ponting pressed against the cage, preventing Ponting from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Ponting tries to break free but Cardoso pushes him back against the cage.
Ponting wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Cardoso unloads a knee to the mid-section. Ponting lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Cardoso goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Ponting pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Ponting fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Cardoso on the side of the head.
Ponting thuds a left hand into Cardoso's body.
Ponting works Cardoso's body with a nice hook.
The fighters circle momentarily. Ponting darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Ricky Ponting seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ponting swings widly with a right hand

so Cardoso counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Ponting had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Cardoso defends it easily.
Cardoso content to stall in guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cardoso wants to pass the guard but Ponting is keeping the position.
Cardoso sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Cardoso passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Cardoso tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

Cardoso is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Ponting has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ponting is looking for a sweep.
Ponting is letting Cardoso control him for a moment.
Ponting is not content to let Cardoso control the position.
Ponting struggling a bit here.
Ponting is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at Sydney Elite Systems that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.
Ponting tries to improve position but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cardoso controlling the position from side mount.
Cardoso working away.
Cardoso wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ponting keeps working.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Renato Cardoso.
Ponting ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Cardoso moves away.
Ponting throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Cardoso on the side of the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ponting fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Cardoso manages to avoid it.
Cardoso tries a head kick but it misses.
Ponting throws a head kick that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Renato Cardoso dominated that round.
That's time! Ponting's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Cardoso fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ponting manages to avoid it.
Cardoso misses with a wild body shot.
Cardoso blocks a leg kick.
Cardoso throws a half hearted mid kick.
Cardoso's jab looks to have found its range, popping Ponting under the eye.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Ponting crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Cardoso - the referee stops the clock and Ponting gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Cardoso. Ponting manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Ponting tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Cardoso defends well and Ponting ends up having to push Cardoso into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Ponting is trying to break the clinch but Cardoso has him pressed against the cage.
Cardoso stalling.

Ponting breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ponting misses with a low kick.
Cardoso with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Ponting to score with a decent uppercut.
Cardoso fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ponting manages to avoid it.
Ponting throws a hook but Cardoso avoids it easily.
Cardoso fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cardoso on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Ponting scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Cardoso doesn't seem bothered though.
Cardoso takes one to the chin there.
Ponting is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Cardoso.
Cardoso pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Cardoso moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Cardoso avoids the head kick by Ponting.
Ponting fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Cardoso connects with a jab.
Ponting throws an off balance right hand
and Cardoso counters with a nice uppercut.
Ponting changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Cardoso tries to avoid it but Ponting manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Cardoso to the ground. Cardoso escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ricky Ponting. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cardoso lands a nice looking kick to the body. Ponting takes a step back to recover.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cardoso takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ponting misses with a takedown attempt - Cardoso sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Cardoso takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Cardoso takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Ponting looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Ponting, as that shot connected.
Renato Cardoso is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ponting looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Cardoso is fending him off so far but Ponting persists. Nope, Cardoso circles away and we're back to standing.
Cardoso tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ponting staying out of range there.
Cardoso avoids the head kick by Ponting.
Cardoso looks to land a body kick but Ponting moved away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Cardoso looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ponting comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Ricky Ponting is winning the standup battle so far.
Ponting avoids the head kick by Cardoso.
Ponting scores with a hook.
A big left from Ponting misses.
Ponting throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Cardoso counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Ponting takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Cardoso misses with an attempted mid kick.
Ponting swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Cardoso makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Ponting really felt that one!
Cardoso scores with a hook to the body. Ponting takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Cardoso tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Cardoso gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cardoso wants to sweep but no luck.
Ponting trying to control the position from guard on top but Cardoso is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ponting pushes down on Cardoso's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Cardoso makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Cardoso.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ponting throwing strikes from guard but Cardoso blocks nicely.

Cardoso has an active guard here but Ponting has managed to pass into half guard.
Cardoso trying to control from the bottom.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Ponting controlling the pace.
Ponting throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Renato Cardoso will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Ponting throws a right and a left that both miss.
Ponting lands with a nice body punch.
The fighters circling - Ponting throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A solid leg kick lands there for Cardoso.
Cardoso defending well as Ponting loads up on a big left hand.
Nice body punch from Cardoso.
Cardoso is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Ponting rather than just go for the knockout.
Cardoso buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
A telegraphed right hand from Ponting misses the target.
Ponting swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Ponting misses with a low kick.
Ponting shoots in looking for a takedown but Cardoso manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Ponting's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Cardoso clinches with his opponent.
Ponting tries to circle away but Cardoso has him pinned against the cage.
Ponting lands on the inside with an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cardoso is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Ponting is defending well for now.
Cardoso is trying to stall.
Ponting letting Cardoso take a breather here.
Still in the clinch, Cardoso scores with a nice short uppercut.
Cardoso holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Ponting on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Ponting looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Cardoso scores a nice knee to the body.
Cardoso landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cardoso works on Ponting's body with a couple of short punches.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ponting avoiding damage as Cardoso throws knees to the body.
Cardoso avoiding damage.
Nice body punch from Cardoso.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cardoso softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Cardoso pushes Ponting back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Ponting tries to break free but Cardoso pushes him back against the cage.
Cardoso lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Cardoso just leaning against Ponting, taking a breather.
Ponting avoiding damage as Cardoso throws knees to the body.
Cardoso lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Ponting wants to get back to striking at distance but Cardoso won't allow it.
Cardoso unloads a knee to the mid-section. Ponting lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Cardoso can't find room to land a body shot as Ponting controls the action.
Ponting blocks a body shot from Cardoso.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Cardoso takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Cardoso misses with a knee strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ponting wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Cardoso has him pressed against the cage.
Cardoso cracks Ponting with a nice body shot.
Cardoso lands a knee to the head.
Cardoso digs a right hand underneath Ponting's ribcage. Ponting let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Ponting misses with some punches.
Cardoso holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Cardoso pushes Ponting back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Ponting tries to circle away but Cardoso has him pinned against the cage.
Ponting tries to circle away but Cardoso has him pinned against the cage.
A short body shot lands from Cardoso as the two fighters clinch.
Cardoso missing with knees to the body.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Cardoso.
Ricky Ponting has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ponting takes a knee to the side of the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cardoso digs a right hand into Ponting's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Ponting's gas tank.
Renato Cardoso seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Cardoso lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Ponting backwards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ponting has had enough of the clinch but Cardoso keeps him there for the moment.
Cardoso works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Cardoso is leaning against Ponting and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Cardoso throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Cardoso working Ponting over with knees to the body.
Cardoso crunches a lovely knee into Ponting's ribcage.
Cardoso looking to throw knees to the head but Ponting is blocking nicely.
Cardoso misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Cardoso using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Cardoso using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Cardoso has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Cardoso with an attempt at a knee that misses.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Cardoso lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Ponting is trying to break the clinch but Cardoso is controlling him.
Cardoso tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Cardoso.
Cardoso scores with an uppercut up the middle.

And that's the end of the fight!
Renato Cardoso comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Cardoso has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Chris Dean scores the fight 27:30
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Hemmingworth scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Renato Cardoso!
Renato Cardoso decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.