PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ezekiel Cash (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Theo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Cash
vs
Theo

157 cm
24
178 lbs
1 - 3 - 1

185 cm
25
182 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Good elbows
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ezekiel Cash!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Mike Theo!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Theo is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Theo tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Cash counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Theo pulls Cash in close to prevent any damage.
Cash's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Cash could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Cash trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Theo is trying to control the position from the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Theo darts in trying to clinch

and Cash moves into the clinch.
Theo is pressed up against the cage. Cash has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Theo down to the mat. Theo avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Theo tries to close the distance and clinch but Cash swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Theo fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Theo doesn't manage to clinch there - Cash circles away.
Theo tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Cash counters with a left to the body.
Theo tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Cash counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Theo!
Theo is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Cash's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Cash tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Theo is looking to escape.
Cash prevents Theo from improving his position.
Theo makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Theo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cash is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
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!
Theo is pulling down on Cash's head. It's preventing any offense from Cash, at least for the moment.
Cash trying to control the position from guard on top but Theo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

We're going to have a standup here because Ezekiel Cash wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Theo tries to clinch up but Cash circles away and keeps his distance.
Theo tries to clinch
and Cash counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Theo closes the distance looking to clinch
and Cash counters with a lovely shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Theo tries to clinch up

and Cash counters with a takedown into side control.
Theo tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Cash controlling the position from side mount.
Theo wants to control but Cash postures up.
Theo seems a little lost for a moment, as Cash dominates the positioning.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Theo is looking to reverse the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cash in side control, throwing shots but Theo defends.
Cash controls the position.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Theo is looking to regain half guard here but Cash keeps moving and retains side control.
Theo is still trying to improve position.
The ground and pound from Cash seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Cash happy to just control the position for now.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Theo is looking for a sweep.
Theo is not content to let Cash control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Theo tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cash swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Cash avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Cash wants to clinch.
Theo wants to clinch but Cash slips to the side
letting Cash counter with a right hand.
Theo closes the distance but Cash moves to the side
and Cash counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Cash circles away from the clinch attempt.
Theo wants to clinch up but Cash keeps it at a distance.
Mike Theo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Theo moves in looking to clinch but Cash pushes him off.
Cash doesn't manage to clinch there - Theo circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Theo tries to clinch up
and Cash counters with a nice body shot.
Theo tries to clinch but Cash moves out of range.
Theo darts in trying to clinch
and Cash counters with a straight right hand.
Cash has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Theo tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Cash manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Theo has taken the fight to the clinch.
Theo lands a knee to the body.

Theo breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Theo tries to clinch
and Cash counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Theo tries to close the distance and clinch but Cash swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Cash ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Theo moves away.

Theo clinches with his opponent.
Cash is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Theo is defending well.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Theo lands a knee to the body.
Theo lands an elbow inside that Cash shrugs off.

Theo breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cash fails with an attempt to clinch.
Cash circles away from the clinch attempt
and Cash counters with a nice uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cash avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Theo wants to clinch.
Theo tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Cash counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Theo working Cash over with knees to the body.

Cash manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Cash pulls Theo in close to his closed guard and prevents Theo from doing any damage or advancing position.
Cash is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cash has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Theo has passed into side control.
Theo trying to control the action but Cash is working from the bottom.
Cash regains half guard there - taking advantage of Theo's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Theo takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Theo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Cash avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Theo has taken the fight to the clinch.
Cash is trying to pull guard but Theo has him pressed against the cage.
Theo unloads a knee to the mid-section. Cash lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Cash leaning his opponent against the cage.
Theo stops a takedown attempt from Cash.
Theo lands a knee to the head.
Cash has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Theo avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ezekiel Cash. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Theo landing knees to the body.
Cash wants a takedown.
Cash tries to pull guard but Theo forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
A bit of stalling here from Theo.
Cash jumps guard but Theo turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee is keeping an eye on Theo - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Cash is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Theo obliges.
Theo lands an elbow inside.

It looks like Ezekiel Cash has been cut.
Cash jumps guard but Theo turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Cash tries to pull guard but Theo won't allow it.
Theo connects with a knee to the head.
Theo landing knees to the head.
Theo lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

Theo manages to break the clinch.

Theo drives through and clinches with Cash against the cage.
Theo slows down the pace here.
Nice elbow from Theo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Theo lands an elbow inside.
Theo content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Cash jumps guard but Theo stands there with Cash around his waist. Cash gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Theo breaks from the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cash misses the shot to the body.
The fight stays on the outside here - Theo looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
The fight stays on the outside here - Theo looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Cash throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Theo wants to clinch but Cash slips to the side
and Cash counters with a body kick that stops Theo in his tracks momentarily.
Cash tries to clinch but Theo is having none of it.
Theo wants to clinch.
Theo fails with an attempt to clinch.
Theo tries to clinch up.
Theo tries to clinch
and Cash connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Theo fails in his attempt to clinch.
Cash avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Theo wants to clinch up but Cash keeps it at a distance.
Theo wants to clinch.
Theo fails with an attempt to clinch.

Theo pushes Cash up against the cage in a clinch.

Theo breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Theo wants to clinch up but Cash keeps it at a distance.
Theo tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Theo tries to clinch but Cash is having none of it.
Cash circles away from the clinch attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mike Theo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Theo 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mike Theo!
In his post fight interview, Mike Theo started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.