PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Damon Macready (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nicola Cardinale (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Macready comes to the cage accompanied by Born to be Wild. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Macready
vs
Cardinale

178 cm
23
182 lbs
7 - 2 - 1

182 cm
24
182 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

KAISER Nutrition (160!/220$)

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 7 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Damon Macready!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Nicola Cardinale!
The judges for this bout are Radbod Blank, Nard Betker and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cardinale lands a leg kick that knocks Macready off balance momentarily.
Macready connects with a good right hand that stumbles Cardinale. Cardinale circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

It looks like Nicola Cardinale has been cut.
Macready pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Cardinale connects with a right hand. Macready shakes it off.
Macready catches Cardinale with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Macready misses with a low kick.
Cardinale is looking to slow Macready down with leg kicks.
Macready fails with an attempt to clinch.
Cardinale connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Macready's hands.
Macready tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Cardinale manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Cardinale shoots for a double leg takedown but Macready sprawls well. He's pushed Cardinale's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Cardinale throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Cardinale scores with a spinning back kick!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cardinale thuds his shin into the meat of Macready's side.
Macready takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Macready slips a straight right by Cardinale.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cardinale throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Macready connects with a single shot there.
Macready chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Cardinale can pounce on him.
Macready lunges at Cardinale with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Cardinale's hand.
Macready tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Macready has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Fight Time Fitness, Thirteen 150.0 Coaches & Saun in the buildup to the fight.
Cardinale wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Macready drops his hands momentarily and Cardinale takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Cardinale fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Macready.
Macready takes one on the chin but seems OK.
A head kick from Cardinale lands but Macready takes it in his stride.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cardinale scores with a nice strike.
Cardinale throws a push kick but Macready slaps the foot to one side.
Macready ducks under a wild hook from Cardinale.
Macready just misses with a punch to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Macready is looking to clinch.
Damon Macready is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Cardinale lands with an uppercut that bounces Macready off the cage and back into range.
Macready takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
A head kick misses from Cardinale.
Cardinale throws a low kick but it's checked well by Macready.
Cardinale scores with a head kick.

Macready fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Cardinale, pushing him back against the cage.
Macready stalling against the cage.
Cardinale fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Cardinale wants to break free but Macready has control.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Cardinale takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Macready blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Macready misses with a body punch.
Cardinale is trying to break the clinch but Macready has him pressed against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Macready tries to work over Cardinale's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Macready lands a body shot in the clinch.
Cardinale lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Macready is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Cardinale is keeping busy.
Macready wants to take the fight to the mat but Cardinale manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Macready is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Cardinale avoiding damage as Macready throws knees to the body.
Macready looking to stall.
Cardinale is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Macready misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Macready can't find room to land a body shot as Cardinale controls the action.
Cardinale misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cardinale digs a right hand underneath Macready's ribcage. Macready let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Macready goes for a takedown in the clinch but Cardinale prevents it.
Macready misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Cardinale is trying to push Macready away but Macready has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Cardinale tries to land knees in the clinch but Macready avoids the damage to the body.
A bit of stalling here from Macready.
Macready misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Cardinale can't get the takedown.
Damon Macready has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nicola Cardinale.
Cardinale lands with a short shot to the head.
Cardinale wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Macready misses with a body punch.
Cardinale is trying to stall.
Cardinale swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Cardinale fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Cardinale works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
A nice left hand lands by Cardinale.
Cardinale lands a hook to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Macready is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Cardinale tries a head kick but it misses.
Cardinale has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Macready darts in and clinches Cardinale up against the cage.
Cardinale lands a left hand that snaps the head of Macready backwards.
Cardinale lands a body punch.
Come on Cardinale - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Macready has Cardinale pressed against the cage, preventing Cardinale from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Macready tries to throw a body punch but Cardinale avoids it by throwing Macready back against the cage.

Cardinale has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Macready clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Macready rolls, trying to escape but Cardinale keeps control of the position.
Cardinale tries to get the hooks in deep but Macready pushed the leg off.
Cardinale is trying to stick to Macready's back but Macready is turning into Cardinale. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Cardinale's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Macready.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cardinale wants to sweep but no luck.
Macready knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Cardinale on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Cardinale is pulling down on Macready's head to control his posture.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Cardinale is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Cardinale manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Macready manages to get himself to full guard.

Macready keeping full guard, as Cardinale tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Macready preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Cardinale in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Cardinale stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Macready swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Macready trying to keep a closed guard but Cardinale is proving a slippery customer.

Cardinale stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Macready looks to land a combination but Cardinale avoids it well.
Macready throws a solid leg kick but Cardinale takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Macready.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cardinale lands with an uppercut that bounces Macready off the cage and back into range.
Cardinale is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Macready.
Cardinale throws the left hand but Macready avoids the punch easily.

Macready drives through and clinches with Cardinale against the cage.
Cardinale managing to block the knees to the body from Macready.
Cardinale lands a body shot in the clinch.
Cardinale taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Macready is trying to stall.
Cardinale lands with a right to the head.
Cardinale blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Cardinale jumps guard and drags Macready to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Cardinale pulls Macready in to control the position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Cardinale is on top in guard.

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cardinale working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Macready is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Macready keeping full guard, as Cardinale tries to pass.
Macready working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Cardinale.
Cardinale working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Cardinale throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Macready works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Cardinale stays in close to Macready's body and controls the position.
Cardinale has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Cardinale wants to control from the top but Macready keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nicola Cardinale showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Nicola Cardinale's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Macready just misses with a punch to the body.
Cardinale misses with a body shot.
Nicola Cardinale seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Cardinale stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Macready.
Cardinale keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Macready.
Macready takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Cardinale walks into a stiff left hand from Macready.
Nice body kick from Cardinale.
Cardinale scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Cardinale cracks Macready with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cardinale has a takedown stuffed.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Cardinale.
Cardinale lands a head kick!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Macready takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Cardinale blocks a low kick nicely.
Cardinale throws a jab when Macready was well out of range.
Cardinale is looking to land body kicks.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Cardinale.
A low kick from Cardinale misses

and Macready counters with a single leg into guard. Cardinale didn't expect that.
Macready passes Cardinale's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Macready is taking a breather. Cardinale says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Cardinale wants to control but Macready passes into side.
Macready working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cardinale tries to control but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.
Cardinale is squirming around, avoiding Macready's attempts to control the action.
Cardinale is looking to improve his position but Macready isn't that keen on the idea.
Macready looking to control but Cardinale is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Macready can't control as he wanted to and Cardinale manages to get the fight back to his half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Cardinale looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cardinale keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Cardinale regains full guard. Nicely done.

Cardinale working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Macready doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Macready manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Cardinale keeping moving, preventing Macready from controlling successfully.
Nicola Cardinale has got the better of the ground game so far.
Macready postures up in Cardinale's guard and throws a big left but Cardinale blocks it.
Damon Macready has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Macready has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Cardinale keeping full guard, as Macready tries to pass.
Cardinale is trying to keep Macready in close.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Cardinale looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Macready puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Nicola Cardinale is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Cardinale moves into full guard.
Macready wants to stand but Cardinale has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Macready is looking to work some ground and pound but Cardinale has wrist control.
Macready scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Macready got a little sloppy there for a moment and Cardinale has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Macready has managed to get both his arms back between Cardinale's legs - danger averted.

Macready is posturing up here but Cardinale has hold of an arm and he's gone for an armbar! Macready tries to roll out but it's too tight and Macready has to tap! Slick submission there by Cardinale!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Nicola Cardinale!