PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Garth Cantu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hustle King (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Cantu
vs
King

158 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
18
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Garth Cantu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Hustle King!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, Ben Hemmingworth and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
King throws a right and a left that Cantu avoids nicely.
King shoots in for a double leg but Cantu sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Cantu darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Still in half guard, Cantu seems content to control.
Cantu missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Cantu is working for a submission of some sort.

King is defending against the submission attempts here by Cantu.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
King pushes Cantu off looking to stand but Cantu dives back in and keeps control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cantu thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed King's head.
King has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Cantu is working away from the top position though.
Well, if Cantu is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
King wants to control but Cantu is keeping busy.
King tries to roll over but Cantu keeps him under control.
King keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Cantu is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. King doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Cantu.
King is doing well to control the position and prevent Cantu from advancing to side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Cantu stops King from getting back to his feet.
King wants to control but Cantu is keeping busy and won't allow it.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
King tries to land a front kick but Cantu steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Cantu closes this distance looking for a takedown but King circles away.
King circles away from the clinch attempt
and King counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

King closes the distance and pushes Cantu back into the cage.

King's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
King shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Cantu attempts a counter takedown but King avoids it well and moves away.
Cantu blocks a low kick nicely.
King shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Cantu but Cantu pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Cantu wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Garth Cantu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hustle King.
King shoots in and drives through. Cantu sprawls well.
King looks winded!

King drives through and clinches with Cantu against the cage.
Cantu tries to circle away but King has him pinned against the cage.
King tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

King breaks from the clinch.
King goes for a double leg but Cantu avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Cantu continues to drive forward.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cantu feints and as King raises his hands in defense, Cantu changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Cantu controlling from the top position.
Cantu stands up over King, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Cantu trying to control but King is working from the bottom.
Cantu is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Cantu decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cantu tries to clinch up but King circles away and keeps his distance.
King dives in for a single leg takedown but Cantu sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Cantu appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Garth Cantu dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

King finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Cantu appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

King forces Cantu back against the cage and clinches.
King keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Cantu's efforts to push away.
King blocks an elbow strike from Cantu.

King manages to break the clinch.
Cantu tries to close the distance and clinch but King swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Cantu slaps away a takedown attempt from King, before circling back to the center of the mat.
It appears Cantu was looking to counter with a kick there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
King tries for a takedown but Cantu sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

King clinches up against the cage.
Stalling in the clinch from King.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cantu has had enough of the clinch but King keeps him there for the moment.
Cantu working hard to break the clinch.
King keeps control of Cantu as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Cantu breaks from the clinch.
An inside leg kick from King misses.

King drives through and clinches with Cantu against the cage.
King prevents Cantu from breaking the clinch.

Cantu manages to break the clinch.
Cantu leaves King with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Cantu half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Garth Cantu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hustle King.
King shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Cantu as he jumps to the side.
Cantu throws a big counter combination but King scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
King is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

King has Cantu up against the cage in a clinch.
Cantu could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Cantu is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Cantu wants to break the clinch but can't.
King keeps control of Cantu as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Cantu breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

King gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Cantu wants to get back to striking at distance but King won't allow it.
Cantu tries to break free but King pushes him back against the cage.
Cantu pushes King back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Cantu is looking to break free of the clinch but King has double underhooks.
Cantu letting King take a breather here.
Cantu tries to circle away but King has him pinned against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A frustrated look appears on Cantu's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Cantu's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
King avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Cantu slaps away a takedown attempt from King, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Cantu shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
King misses with a takedown attempt

and Cantu counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
King keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Cantu decides to stand and escape the position.
King fails with a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cantu avoids the head kick by King.
Cantu throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around King's waist but King gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Cantu off to one side.
King shoots for a takedown but Cantu saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Garth Cantu is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sloppy strikes from Cantu. Those never looked like landing.
King tries to counter with a clinch but Cantu shakes him off and moves away.

Cantu shoots in and gets a takedown into King's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
King controls Cantu momentarily but Cantu frees himself.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cantu lands a couple of elbows.
Cantu is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that King can do to turn this around?
King being controlled here, momentarily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Garth Cantu dominated that second round.
That's time! Cantu's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

King tries to sprawl but Cantu drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Cantu is taking a breather. King 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.
Cantu trying to control the action but King is working from the bottom.

King looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cantu tries to stand and escape but King is controlling the position.

Cantu is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cantu prevents King from improving his position.
King takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Cantu thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Cantu is working for a kimura but King is defending it quite comfortably.
King is looking to control Cantu's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can King avoid being mounted?

Cantu decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

King clinches with his opponent.
A nice right hand lands inside from Cantu.
King dodges an elbow strike from Cantu.
Cantu misses with a knee to the head.
King keeps control of Cantu as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

King manages to break the clinch.
Cantu defends well against a solid takedown attempt from King.
Garth Cantu is winning the standup battle so far.

King clinches up with Cantu and pushes him back against the cage.

Cantu manages to break the clinch.
King misses with a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cantu shoots in looking for a takedown but King manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Cantu's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
King throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
King swings away with a leg kick that misses.
King shoots for a takedown but Cantu saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Cantu shoots in looking for a takedown. King tries to sprawl out of it but Cantu keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. King manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Cantu shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. King is trying to defend but Cantu finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
King trying to hold on to Cantu's head to control him but Cantu postures up.

Cantu gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
King tries for a takedown but Cantu sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Garth Cantu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hustle King.
King displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Cantu.
Hustle King has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Garth Cantu is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cantu slaps away a takedown attempt from King, before circling back to the center of the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
Garth Cantu showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Cantu, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Donatello Bradman scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ben Hemmingworth scores the fight 30:27
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Garth Cantu!