PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Darell Cantu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ramiro Reskabo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Cantu
vs
Reskabo

205 cm
18
161 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

225 cm
24
160 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Good elbows
Determined

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Darell Cantu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ramiro Reskabo!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Illya Tyunina and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Reskabo breaks the clinch.

Cantu clinches.
Cantu trying to land knees to the body.

Reskabo breaks the clinch.

Reskabo shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Reskabo showed some decent athleticism there.
Reskabo trying to control the action but Cantu is working from the bottom.
Cantu might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Reskabo seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Cantu missing with punches from the bottom.
Reskabo trying to control the action but Cantu is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cantu wants to improve his position but Reskabo is controlling well.
Reskabo missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Cantu looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Reskabo wants to control but Cantu is keeping him busy.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Reskabo has Cantu up against the cage in a clinch.
Cantu wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Reskabo crunches a lovely knee into Cantu's ribcage.
Cantu stalls.
Reskabo wants a takedown but no success here.

Reskabo breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Cantu misses with a looping right.
Cantu really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Reskabo gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Reskabo wants to stall.
Reskabo jumps guard but Cantu turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reskabo is looking to take this one to the mat.
Darell Cantu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ramiro Reskabo.

Reskabo pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Cantu takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Reskabo shoots in for a takedown but Cantu shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Cantu is looking for a counter combo.

Cantu closes the distance and clinches.
Reskabo keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Cantu's efforts to push away.
Cantu looking for a takedown.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Reskabo.
Cantu wants to get back to striking at distance but Reskabo won't allow it.
Cantu is looking for a takedown.

Reskabo breaks from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cantu tries to keep at a distance but Reskabo has taken the fight into the clinch.
Reskabo blocks a body shot from Cantu.

Reskabo breaks the clinch.
Cantu throws a body kick that misses
and Reskabo connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Sloppy strikes from Cantu. Those never looked like landing.

Reskabo has taken the fight to the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Cantu manages to pull guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cantu being controlled here, momentarily.
Reskabo wants to control from the top but Cantu keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ramiro Reskabo dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Reskabo shoots in and bounces Cantu off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Reskabo wants to control from the top but Cantu keeps moving.

Cantu is looking for a triangle but Reskabo pushes his legs off easily.
Reskabo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cantu swivels though and keeps the full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reskabo is in close to Cantu's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Reskabo controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Reskabo trying to control the position from guard on top but Cantu is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Cantu looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Cantu working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Reskabo doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Reskabo manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Reskabo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cantu swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Reskabo cracks Cantu with a solid left hand.
Cantu looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Reskabo wants to stand and escape but instead Cantu has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Reskabo is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Cantu stopping the sweep attempt from Reskabo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reskabo wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Cantu is now in half guard.
Reskabo regains full guard. Nicely done.
Reskabo is breathing heavily.

Reskabo throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Cantu escapes and throws Reskabo's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Reskabo has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Reskabo regains half guard.
Cantu not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cantu is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Cantu is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Reskabo has managed to free his arm - good work.

Cantu is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Reskabo defends it well.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Cantu is working for a kimura but Reskabo is defending it quite comfortably.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ramiro Reskabo will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Cantu's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Reskabo tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Cantu swivels and escapes.
Cantu tries to clinch but Reskabo is having none of it.

Reskabo has closed the distance and engaged Cantu in a clinch.
Reskabo wants to take the fight to the mat but Cantu manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Reskabo is trying to pull guard but Cantu has him pressed against the cage.
Darell Cantu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ramiro Reskabo.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cantu drops down looking for an ankle pick but Reskabo pulls his leg out and moves away.
Reskabo throws a series of punches but Cantu avoids them all with ease.

Reskabo has Cantu up against the cage in a clinch.
Reskabo has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Cantu after a bit of a struggle.
Ramiro Reskabo seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Reskabo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reskabo tries to stall but Cantu uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

Cantu breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Reskabo has Cantu up against the cage in a clinch.
Cantu is stalling here.
Cantu can't break the clinch.
Cantu is trying to push Reskabo away but Reskabo has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Cantu blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Reskabo is trying to stall.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Cantu takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Cantu holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Reskabo works on Cantu's body with a couple of short punches.
Reskabo scores with a shot to the side of Cantu's head.
Cantu taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Reskabo content to slow the pace in the clinch.

Reskabo breaks from the clinch.
Reskabo has his takedown stuffed
and Reskabo takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Some wild striking there from Cantu.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reskabo shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Reskabo swings for the body but Cantu moves out of range.
It looked like Cantu wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Reskabo tries for a takedown but Cantu circles away easily
and Cantu counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Cantu drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cantu chips away with some ground and pound.

Cantu is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Cantu is looking to work some ground and pound but Reskabo has wrist control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reskabo controls Cantu momentarily but Cantu frees himself.

Cantu avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Cantu drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Cantu jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Cantu preventing the sweep.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Darell Cantu has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ramiro Reskabo is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cantu looks to throw the jab but Reskabo is out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
Darell Cantu showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Reskabo 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 28:29
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Ramiro Reskabo!