PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Nicola Cardinale (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dan Maverick (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Cardinale
vs
Maverick

182 cm
28
180 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

184 cm
28
171 lbs
15 - 10 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

KAISER Nutrition - Q160/$250

Spartan Nutrition

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 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Nicola Cardinale!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Dan Maverick!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Aafke Stam and Radbod Blank.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Cardinale.
We've been informed that Maverick 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.
Maverick tries a low kick but Cardinale avoids it.
A bone on bone clash there as Maverick blocks the leg kick.
Cardinale throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Cardinale connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Cardinale misses with a low kick.

Cardinale rushes Maverick and presses him up against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Cardinale.
Cardinale lands a hook that snaps the head of Maverick backwards.

Maverick manages to break the clinch.
Cardinale misses with a body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maverick tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Maverick cracks Cardinale with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

It looks like Nicola Cardinale has been cut.
Cardinale buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Cardinale throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cardinale tries to clinch there but Maverick circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cardinale moves to clinch but Maverick breaks away
and Maverick counters with a good low kick that Cardinale was not able to check.
Cardinale throws a looping overhand right but Maverick ducks down to avoid it.
Cardinale moves out of range of the body kick from Maverick.
Maverick pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Cardinale is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Maverick.
Cardinale throws a low kick but it's checked well by Maverick.
Maverick explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
A good leg kick by Maverick.
Cardinale sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Cardinale throws a wild body kick that Maverick sees coming a mile off.
Cardinale is looking to clinch.
Cardinale blocks a jab.
Maverick connects with a solid leg kick.
Maverick throws a jab when Cardinale was well out of range.
Cardinale cracks the inside of Maverick's front leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cardinale scores with a jab to the jaw.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cardinale throws a body kick that misses.
Cardinale throws a jab but it's blocked by Maverick.

Cardinale rushes Maverick and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Cardinale manages to break the clinch.
Maverick throws a low kick but Cardinale avoids it.
Cardinale throws a leg kick but Maverick sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Maverick throws a sloppy head kick and Cardinale moves out of range easily.
Cardinale fires out a quick counter leg kick but Maverick just manages to avoid it.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Cardinale.
Cardinale checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Maverick throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Cardinale misses with a leg kick.
Maverick throws a body kick that misses
and Cardinale counters with a nice uppercut.
Cardinale fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Maverick on the side of the head.
Maverick 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.
Maverick throws a sloppy head kick and Cardinale moves out of range easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maverick avoids the head kick by Cardinale.
Maverick only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Maverick connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Maverick takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Maverick turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Maverick blocks the body kick.
Maverick only half commits to the counter leg kick.

Cardinale scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Cardinale is nestled in close to Maverick, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Cardinale connects with a nice short shot to Maverick's temple.
Cardinale throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Cardinale sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Maverick defending well though.
Maverick trying to control but Cardinale postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cardinale throws a strike but Maverick avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Maverick looking for a sweep. Not yet Maverick, not yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Maverick is adopting a defensive guard.
Maverick looking for a sweep. Not yet Maverick, not yet.
Cardinale trying to control but Maverick is working from the bottom.
Cardinale working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Cardinale sitting in guard here, content to control.
Cardinale throwing strikes from guard but Maverick blocks nicely.
Cardinale throwing strikes from guard but Maverick blocks nicely.
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.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Cardinale looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Cardinale motions for Maverick to come forward. Cardinale throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Maverick throws a fast counter high kick but Cardinale manages to duck under it in time.
Maverick throws a head kick that misses.
Cardinale thows a leg kick but Maverick checks it
and Maverick counters with a nice low kick that buckles Cardinale's knee momentarily.
Cardinale darts in looking for a takedown but Maverick gets double underhooks and turns Cardinale into the cage.
Maverick tries a quick counter leg kick but Cardinale is wise to it.
Maverick scoring well with a low kick there.
Cardinale misses with a straight right.
Dan Maverick seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Maverick gets the takedown into side control.
Cardinale taking punishment in the form of punches.
Cardinale is trying to improve his position.
Maverick slows the pace down.
Cardinale takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maverick trying to control the action but Cardinale is working from the bottom.
Maverick grinds an elbow into Cardinale's temple.
Dan Maverick has got the better of the ground game so far.
Cardinale is looking for a sweep.
Maverick wants to control but Cardinale is keeping him busy.
Cardinale is trying to improve his position.
Cardinale takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cardinale is trying to get back to half guard.
Maverick scores with punches from side control.
Maverick is working Cardinale over with some ground and pound from side control.
Cardinale looking for a sweep but Maverick has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Cardinale regains half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Cardinale manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Cardinale has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Maverick can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Cardinale keeping moving, preventing Maverick from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cardinale looking for a sweep. Not yet Cardinale, not yet.
Maverick passes Cardinale's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Maverick has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Maverick is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

Cardinale is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Maverick pulls his head out easily.
Maverick trying to control the action but Cardinale is working from the bottom.
Maverick sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Cardinale defending well though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Cardinale tries to get to full guard but Maverick has control of the leg.
Maverick landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Maverick working Cardinale over with strikes.
Maverick drops an elbow to the side of Cardinale's head.
Cardinale has a hand on Maverick's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Maverick takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Maverick breaks from Cardinale's wrist control and lands an elbow.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Maverick putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Cardinale wants to control but Maverick is having none of it.
Cardinale is looking to get to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dan Maverick 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!

Maverick connects with a high kick.
Cardinale throws a low kick but Maverick avoids it.
Maverick looks for the body kick but Cardinale saw that one coming.
Cardinale tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Maverick manages to circle out of the way.
Cardinale has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Maverick finds it's way round the side to connect with Cardinale's head.
Both fighters circling a little - Maverick finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Maverick throws a nice inside leg kick.
Nicola Cardinale seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Maverick checks a leg kick.

Cardinale gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Maverick misses with a short punch on the inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Cardinale.
Maverick misses with a short punch on the inside.
A right hand to the body from Cardinale.

Maverick breaks the clinch.
Maverick missing with a left hand there. Cardinale was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maverick ducks under a wild hook from Cardinale.
Cardinale on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Cardinale takes a kick to the side of the head.
Maverick checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Maverick takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Maverick throws a leg kick but Cardinale sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Cardinale pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Maverick chopping away at his opponent's legs.
A bone on bone clash there as Maverick blocks the leg kick.
Cardinale throws a left and a right that both miss
and Maverick counters with a nice body shot.
Maverick takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Maverick throws a wild body kick that Cardinale sees coming a mile off.
Cardinale moves out of range of the body kick from Maverick.
Maverick steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Cardinale.
Cardinale lands a leg kick that knocks Maverick off balance momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cardinale tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Maverick paws at him with a jab and circles away.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cardinale is looking to clinch.
Maverick clobbers Cardinale with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Cardinale misses with an attempted mid kick.
Maverick replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Cardinale blocks it well.
Cardinale goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Cardinale is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Cardinale throws a low kick, looking for Maverick's leg but Maverick calmly moves out of range.
Maverick blocks a low kick nicely.
Cardinale throws a leg kick that is checked
and Maverick counters with a straight right hand.
Maverick looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Cardinale throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Cardinale uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Maverick.
Cardinale lands a leg kick that knocks Maverick off balance momentarily.
Cardinale keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Maverick.
Cardinale wants to clinch up but Maverick keeps it at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cardinale throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Cardinale misses with a body kick.
Cardinale tries to land a body kick
and Maverick counters with a good low kick that Cardinale was not able to check.
Maverick misses with a head kick.
Maverick catches Cardinale with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Maverick throws a push kick but Cardinale slaps the foot to one side.
Maverick slips a jab and a cross from Cardinale.
Cardinale misses with a low kick as Maverick jumps back.
A low kick from Maverick misses
and Cardinale counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Cardinale checks a leg kick nicely.
Cardinale throws a leg kick that misses.
Cardinale pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Cardinale is looking to score with low kicks.
Cardinale tries to close the distance and clinch up but Maverick swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maverick scores with a body shot.
Cardinale loads up on a big right hand but Maverick slips the punch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nice defenses there by Maverick.
A slapping leg kick lands for Maverick.
Cardinale misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Maverick.
A nice leg kick lands there from Maverick.
Cardinale misses with an attempted mid kick.
Cardinale steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Maverick. That one must have hurt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cardinale is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Maverick is looking to score with low kicks.
Cardinale throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Maverick counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
An inside leg kick lands from Maverick.
Cardinale checks the leg kick nicely there.
Cardinale tries to close the distance and clinch up but Maverick swats him away and circles back towards the center.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dan Maverick comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Maverick 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 Nard Betker scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 28:29
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dan Maverick!
A very excited looking Dan Maverick made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.