PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ricard Cuenca (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tangerine Dream (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cuenca comes into the arena with 2pac - Troublesome '96 blaring out of the sound system. Dream comes into a darkened arena with his song building. One Night In Space kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Tangerine Dream has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Cuenca
vs
Dream

189 cm
29
197 lbs
17 - 4 - 0

188 cm
38
194 lbs
22 - 6 - 2

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
World class MT
Good gas tank

Fury Nutrition Inc.
Hellbent

Just Fight (Everything 7$)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ricard Cuenca!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 6 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tangerine Dream!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Dillan Fox and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cuenca has closed the distance and engaged Dream in a clinch.
Dream misses with some punches.
Dream throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Cuencas head.
Dream misses with a hook from the clinch.
Dream fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Cuenca scores with a hook to the body.
Cuenca trying to land knees to the body.
Cuenca lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
A short right from Dream.
Dream is trying to stall.
Cuenca lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
We've been informed that Dream has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Dream makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Cuenca has a couple of punches blocked by Dream.
Dream misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Cuenca scores with a shot to the side of Dream's head.

It looks like Tangerine Dream has been cut.
Cuenca makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Cuenca doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Dream swings wildly with an uppercut but Cuenca uses good head movement to avoid it.
Cuenca working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Dream scores with a shoulder strike.
Cuenca lands with a light punch inside.
I was talking to Cuenca's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dream escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Cuenca misses with a left hand
and Dream counters with a straight right hand.
Cuenca misses with a low kick.
Cuenca takes one on the chin but seems OK.
A head kick misses from Dream.
Cuenca bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
A swing and a miss from Dream.
Dream checks a low kick from Cuenca.

Dream gets tackled into the cage by Cuenca. Cuenca maintains the clinch.
Cuenca blocking some punches.
Cuenca struggles to land a body shot inside as Dream controls his hands.
Cuenca lands with a left to the head.
Dream tries to break the clinch but Cuenca is controlling the position.
Cuenca misses with a knee strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dream pushes Cuenca back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Dream misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Cuenca swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Dream misses with a hook from the clinch.
Cuenca tries to throw a body punch but Dream avoids it by throwing Cuenca back against the cage.
Cuenca lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Dream scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Cuenca lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Dream tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A shot in the inside from Cuenca.
Cuenca lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Dream lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Dream can't break the clinch.
Dream has a couple of punches blocked by Cuenca.
Dream misses with a hook to the ribs.
Dream has had enough of the clinch but Cuenca keeps him there for the moment.
Cuenca lands a right hand that snaps the head of Dream backwards.
Dream takes an elbow to the temple.

Dream escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Cuenca slips under a jab from Dream.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A chopping leg kick lands by Cuenca.
Dream misses with a body shot.
Dream catches Cuenca with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Dream showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Cuenca.
Cuenca keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Dream.
Cuenca ducks under a wild hook from Dream.
Dream throws a leg kick that is checked
and Dream takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Dream throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Cuenca.
Dream waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Cuenca.
Dream thows a leg kick but Cuenca checks it
and Cuenca counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cuenca connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Dream's hands.
Cuenca misses with a kick to the body.
Dream throws a right hand that misses
and Cuenca connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Dream throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Dream checks the leg kick.
Cuenca connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Dream's hands.
Dream lands with a kick to the ribs.
Dream tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Cuenca counters with a big head kick but Dream shrugs it off.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Cuenca cracks Dream with a good jab.
Ricard Cuenca seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Dream tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Cuenca was well out of range. Poor timing from Dream.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricard Cuenca dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Tangerine Dream's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Cuenca swings for the body but Dream moves out of range.

Cuenca gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Dream swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Dream lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Dream wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Cuenca has him pressed against the cage.
Cuenca lands a body shot.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Cuenca blocking some punches.
Dream swings away with an uppercut that misses.
The referee calls for Dream to work.
Cuenca blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Dream wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Cuenca breaks the clinch.

Dream clinches with his opponent.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cuenca stalling.

Cuenca breaks the clinch.
Dream takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cuenca throws the kick towards the body but Dream avoids it.
Dream pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

Cuenca closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Cuenca misses with a hook to the ribs.
Cuenca throws an elbow that misses.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Dream creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Ricard Cuenca has scored more points in the clinch so far.
A short left from Cuenca.
Cuenca lands a left hand that snaps the head of Dream backwards.
Cuenca blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Nice elbow from Cuenca.
Dream is trying to maintain a safe position but Cuenca gets an underhook and turns Dream into the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cuenca missing with knees to the body.
A nice right hand lands inside from Dream.
Cuenca lands an uppercut.
Cuenca lands a nice uppercut.
Cuenca throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Cuenca working some nice short punches in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Dream fails to land.

Dream escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Dream fails with an attempt to clinch.
Cuenca comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.

Dream pushes Cuenca up against the cage in a clinch.
Cuenca taking a breather.
Dream blocks a body shot from Cuenca.
Dream swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Dream manages to break the clinch.
Ricard Cuenca is winning the standup battle so far.
Dream swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Cuenca scores with a jab to the jaw.
Cuenca scores with a crisp jab that stopped Dream in his tracks.
Dream moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cuenca looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Dream blocks a head kick by Cuenca.
Cuenca slips under a jab.
Cuenca scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Dream thows a body shot but no joy.
Dream misses with an uppercut. Cuenca saw that one coming.
Cuenca darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Cuenca cracks Dream with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
A punch combination from Dream misses.
Cuenca moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dream throws a looping overhand right but Cuenca ducks down to avoid it.
The fighters circling - Dream throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Tangerine Dream is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A solid leg kick lands there for Dream.
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!
Dream throws a hook but Cuenca blocks it.
Dream connects with the punch.
Dream needs to keep his hands up - Cuenca had a free shot at his head there.
Dream on the wrong end of a nice jab.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Dream has closed the distance and engaged Cuenca in a clinch.
Cuenca misses with a short punch on the inside.
Cuenca lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Cuenca goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricard Cuenca dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Tangerine Dream's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Cuenca walks forward, straight into a front kick from Dream.
Dream moves to clinch but Cuenca breaks away
and Cuenca counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Dream scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Dream moves in looking to clinch but Cuenca pushes him off.
Cuenca takes one on the button.
Cuenca tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
A big left from Cuenca misses.
Cuenca moves away from the strike by Dream.
Dream displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Dream takes a swing at Cuenca's ribcage but misses.
Cuenca 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dream on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Dream avoids a kick to the body.
Dream walks into a straight right hand from Cuenca.
Cuenca misses with a body punch
and Dream counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Cuenca lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Dream at a distance.
Dream dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Cuenca. That did some damage!
Dream throws a head kick that misses.
Dream takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Cuenca moves forwards but Dream connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Cuenca fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Dream has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cuenca slips a straight right by Dream.
Dream just misses with a punch to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cuenca throws a head kick that misses.
Cuenca does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Cuenca thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Dream if he has to take too many more of those.
Dream checks the leg kick.
Dream connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Dream throws a front kick that sends Cuenca stumbling back into the cage.
Dream throws a body punch but Cuenca moves out of range.
Dream avoids a kick to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dream tries to clinch up.
Dream throws a push kick but Cuenca slaps the foot to one side.
Cuenca throws a shot to the body.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Cuenca.
Cuenca feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Dream's calf.
Dream tries to clinch but Cuenca moves out of range.
Cuenca with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Dream to score with a decent uppercut.
Cuenca throws out a leg kick but Dream moves out of range and Cuenca only half commits.
Jab by Dream.
Cuenca thumps Dream with a low kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cuenca fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Dream.
A telegraphed right hand from Dream misses the target.
Dream throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Cuenca counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Dream loads up on a big right hand but Cuenca slips the punch.
Cuenca walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Dream checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Cuenca throws a hook but Dream avoids it easily.
Dream throws an overhand right that lands on Cuenca's shoulder, as Cuenca tries to avoid the shot.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cuenca throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cuenca wants to land a leg kick but Dream is out of range.
Cuenca looks to land a combination. Dream sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Ricard Cuenca did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
The cut man is working on Tangerine Dream's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

A jab from Dream misses.
Dream tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Cuenca paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A head kick misses from Dream.
Cuenca paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Cuenca throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Dream fails with an attempt to clinch.
Cuenca takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Cuenca checks a leg kick.
Cuenca throws out a leg kick but Dream moves out of range and Cuenca only half commits.
Cuenca takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Some wild striking there from Cuenca.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cuenca throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Cuenca throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Dream fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Cuenca checks it well.
Dream tests Cuenca's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Cuenca walks into a straight right hand from Dream.
Dream misses with a looping left.
Cuenca is looking to score with low kicks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dream misses with a double jab
and Cuenca counters with a nice uppercut.
Cuenca throws a nice inside leg kick.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Cuenca, as that shot connected.
Cuenca throws a leg kick that is checked
and Dream counters with a solid body kick.
Dream swinging wildly here.
Some bone on bone action there as Dream checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Dream misses with a leg kick.
Cuenca misses with an attempted mid kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cuenca throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Dream's head.
Dream has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Dream looks to land a left hand but Cuenca moved out of range nicely.
Cuenca scores with a jab. Dream acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Dream.
Dream misses the body punch
and Cuenca counters with a nice leg kick.
A lazy left from Dream finds it's target.
Cuenca scores with a hook to the body. Dream takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Dream looks to land a left hand but Cuenca moved out of range nicely.
Dream works over Cuenca's head and body with a nice combination.
Dream closes the distance and lands a one-two.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Dream checks the leg kick.
Dream has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Cuenca.
Dream's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Dream will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Dream throws a looping overhand right but Cuenca ducks down to avoid it.
Cuenca missing with a left hand there. Dream was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Dream tests Cuenca's chin there with a solid looking shot.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Dream ducks under a wild hook from Cuenca.

Cuenca pushes Dream up against the cage in a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Ricard Cuenca will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Tangerine Dream's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Dream has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Cuenca.
A jab from Dream misses.
Cuenca avoids the body shot from Dream.
Dream misses with a jab, cross combination.
Dream fails to land with a series of punches.
Dream wants to slow Cuenca down by chopping away at his legs.
Dream throws a right hand that Cuenca ducks under and follows up with a left that Cuenca also avoids with ease.
Cuenca cracks Dream with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Donk. Dream catches Cuenca right on the button with a cross.
Dream takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cuenca takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Cuenca uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Dream.
Dream on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Cuenca throws a body punch but Dream moves out of range.
Dream on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Cuenca takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Dream throws a right and a left that Cuenca avoids nicely.
Cuenca comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.

Cuenca takes the fight into the clinch.
Cuenca lands a nice shot to the body.
Tangerine Dream has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Dream is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cuenca lands a hook to the side of the head.
Cuenca keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Dream's efforts to push away.
Cuenca scores with a shot to the side of Dream's head.
Cuenca blocks an elbow strike from Dream.
Dream looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Dream misses with some punches.
Dream lands with a right to the head.
Cuenca lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Dream backwards.
A short uppercut from Cuenca.
Cuenca with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Cuenca digs a right hand underneath Dream's ribcage. Dream let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Cuenca creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Dream's defenses.

Dream is rocked!
A short right from Dream.
Dream is still on wobbly legs! Can Cuenca finish him?
Cuenca content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Dream seems to have recovered his senses.
Dream fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Dream lands a damaging elbow.
Cuenca digs a right hand underneath Dream's ribcage. Dream let out a lung full of air as it connected.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cuenca scores with a nice hook to the head.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Cuenca.
Dream tries to break free but Cuenca pushes him back against the cage.
Cuenca controlling the action here for a moment.
Cuenca scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Cuenca gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Cuenca lands a shoulder strike.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Dream is trying to push Cuenca away but Cuenca has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Cuenca lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Dream backwards.

Dream gets dropped by a huge elbow on the inside by Cuenca! He drops to his knees and Cuenca takes his back! This one might not last much longer!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Dream holding both Cuenca 's hands and preventing any damage.
Cuenca has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Dream's body.
Ricard Cuenca is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dream has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Cuenca missing with strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ricard Cuenca showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Cuenca has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 48:47
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 50:45
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 50:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ricard Cuenca!
Ricard Cuenca retains his middleweight title!
A victorious Ricard Cuenca thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.