PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Li (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cavan Cartwright (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cartwright has chosen The Irish Fighting Song as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Li
vs
Cartwright

180 cm
27
205 lbs
13 - 9 - 0

188 cm
26
220 lbs
10 - 12 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

FJCP Healthy Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, John Li!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Cavan Cartwright!
The judges for this bout are Ryoma Takatsuka, Roger Salmon and Micheangelo Fripello.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cartwright avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Li changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Cartwright tries to avoid it but Li manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Cartwright to the ground. Cartwright escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Cartwright gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Cartwright lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Cartwright is trying to control the action in half guard but Li is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Li is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Li slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Li is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cartwright is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Cartwright postures up in Li's guard and throws a big left but Li blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Li is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Cartwright defends well.

Li looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Li looking for a sweep. Not yet Li, not yet.
Cartwright working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Cartwright working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Li is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Cartwright wants to control from the top but Li keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cartwright postures up.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

That's two 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.

Li working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Cartwright doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Cartwright manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Cartwright trying to control the position from guard on top but Li is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Li lands the left hand.
Cartwright tries for a takedown but Li sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Cartwright slips under a jab from Li.
Cartwright changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Nice sprawl there from Cartwright as Li shoots in.
Cartwright throws a fast counter high kick but Li manages to duck under it in time.
Li tests Cartwright's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Li misses with an uppercut. Cartwright saw that one coming.
Li misses with a right hand

and Cartwright counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Cartwright is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Cartwright is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Li looking for submissions off his back.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Cartwright looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Li tries to roll over but Cartwright keeps him under control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Li is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Cartwright pulls his head out easily.

Cartwright is trying to work for a kimura but Li is defending well.
Li is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Cartwright's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Cartwright's back!
Li is hanging on to Cartwright's back as he tries to escape.
Cartwright turns into Li and is now in his guard.

Li working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Cartwright doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Cartwright manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Cartwright working his ground and pound in the gym.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Cartwright drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Cartwright jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Li looking to hit a scissor sweep but Cartwright is one step ahead there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cavan Cartwright dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Li doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Cartwright cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Li shoots in looking for a takedown but Cartwright manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Li's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Li looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Cartwright checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Li loads up on a big right hand but Cartwright slips the punch.

Cartwright closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Li to the mat! Li manages to get full guard.

Li is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Cartwright is aware though and is defending well.
Li is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Cartwright's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cartwright controlling from the top position.
Cartwright trying to control but Li is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Li is trying to keep Cartwright in close.
Cavan Cartwright has got the better of the ground game so far.
Cartwright wants to control from the top but Li keeps moving.

Li is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Cartwright is aware though and is defending well.
Cartwright pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Li is keeping the position for now.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Li controls Cartwright momentarily but Cartwright frees himself.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Cartwright.
Li throwing a counter right hand but Cartwright manages to avoid it.
Cartwright has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Cartwright is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Li's half guard.

Cartwright is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Li is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Li manages to get to full guard.
Cartwright passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Li tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Li is not content to let Cartwright control the position.

Cartwright working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cartwright works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Li tries to improve position but can't.

Cartwright has hold of Li's arm here. He's working for an Americana. It looks like he might have it! Li tries to escape but he's just digging himself in deeper - Cartwright cranks the arm and Li screams in pain! The ref makes a decision and ends the fight before the tap - no complains from Li, who is just happy to have his arm attached to his body.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:53 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Cavan Cartwright!
Cavan Cartwright managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, FJCP Healthy Nutrition, into his post fight interview.