PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Clint Cartwright (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Micah Hays (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cartwright comes to the cage accompanied by Total Domination. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Cartwright
vs
Hays

170 cm
26
141 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

168 cm
26
140 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Irish Collar & Elbow Nutrition and Laundry

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 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Clint Cartwright!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Micah Hays!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Marco Blurström and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hays lands a high kick!
Hays tries to clinch but Cartwright moves away

and Cartwright decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Hays's guard.
Cartwright in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Cartwright throwing strikes but missing.
Cartwright distracts Hays with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Hays is adopting a defensive guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hays utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Cartwright definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Cartwright preventing the sweep.
Cartwright trying to control the position from guard on top but Hays is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cartwright throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Hays works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Cartwright pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hays is keeping the position for now.

Hays has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Cartwright can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hays is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Cartwright postures up in Hays's guard and throws a big left but Hays blocks it.
Cartwright postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Cartwright trying to control the position from guard on top but Hays is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cartwright throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Cartwright in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Hays working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Cartwright.
Cartwright in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Hays preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Cartwright working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Hays has momentary wrist control but Cartwright slips an elbow through the middle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cartwright working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Cartwright postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Cartwright loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Hays preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Hays has his hands on Cartwright's head, controlling the position.
Cartwright throws a big right hand that misses.
Hays is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Cartwright throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Hays working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Cartwright.
Hays is adopting a defensive guard.
Cartwright controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Cartwright accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Cartwright trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Hays looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Cartwright accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Hays wants to sweep but no luck.
Cartwright landing with the ground and pound.

Cartwright drops back, looking for a kneebar! Hays looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Hays looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Hays!

Hays gets to mount! Cartwright was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Hays sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cartwright is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Hays takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Hays trying to control but Cartwright is having none of it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cartwright slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Clint Cartwright dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Cartwright bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Cartwright shoots in for a takedown but Hays shows good takedown defense.
Hays throws a head kick that half lands.
Hays has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Hays stuns Cartwright with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Cartwright swats away the attempt to clinch by Hays.
Hays leaves Cartwright with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Hays closes the distance and pushes Cartwright back into the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cartwright tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Hays just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Clint Cartwright. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hays misses with a body punch.
Hays lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Cartwright backwards.
Cartwright changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Hays fights it off and pushes away nicely.
A head kick misses from Hays.
Cartwright thinks about countering with a head kick.
Cartwright tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Hays defends well and Cartwright ends up having to push Hays into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hays scores with a jab.
Cartwright fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Hays avoids it really well and circles away.
Hays now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Hays misses with a head kick.
Cartwright takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Cartwright avoids the head kick by Hays.
Cartwright is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Cartwright tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hays paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Micah Hays seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hays throws a head kick but Cartwright moves out of range.
Hays catches Cartwright with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

Hays clinches up against the cage.
Hays misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hays breaks from the clinch.
Hays throws a quick inside leg kick.
Cartwright closes the distance and clinches up with Hays, looking for a takedown. Cartwright pushes Hays against the cage but Hays circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Hays gets caught flat footed, as Cartwright shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cartwright with a flurry of punches that miss.

Cartwright drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Hays dives on top into guard.

Cartwright looking for a guillotine here but Hays defends easily.
Hays with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Cartwright keeping moving, preventing Hays from controlling successfully.
Hays postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cartwright keeping moving, preventing Hays from controlling successfully.

Cartwright has his foot on Hays's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Hays works his way back into a safe position though.
Hays wants to control from the top but Cartwright keeps moving.
Cartwright lands a decent shot there.
Hays trying to control but Cartwright is working from the bottom.

Cartwright is looking for a triangle but Hays pushes his legs off easily.

Cartwright looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Hays is stalling in the full guard.

Cartwright is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Hays is aware though and is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hays slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

Cartwright isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Hays stacks Cartwright on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Hays!
Cartwright is looking to regain half guard here but Hays keeps moving and retains side control.
Cartwright gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Hays wants to lay and pray for a moment but Cartwright keeps working.
Cartwright lands a couple of sideways elbows.
Cartwright trying to control but Hays postures up.
Cartwright is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Hays is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Micah Hays showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Cartwright gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Hays counters with a nice body shot.
Hays swinging wildly here.
Hays misses with a head kick.
Cartwright is looking to clinch but Hays is avoiding it.
Hays swats away the attempt to clinch by Cartwright.
Hays scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cartwright shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Hays has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Cartwright tries to score a power double leg takedown but Hays sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Cartwright somewhat.
Hays lands with a cross.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hays misses with a jab, cross combination.
Hays tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Cartwright manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Hays.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Cartwright jumps guard but Hays stands there with Cartwright around his waist. Cartwright gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Clint Cartwright. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hays lands a hook that snaps the head of Cartwright backwards.
Cartwright is trying to pull guard but Hays has him pressed against the cage.
Cartwright is trying to drag Hays to the mat but Hays just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Hays manages to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hays moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Hays lands a high kick!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Cartwright pulls Hays into guard.
Hays must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Hays controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Cartwright working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Hays doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Oh but Cartwright is tightening it up a little... Hays has to be careful here... He's got his foot tucked under now, this looks tight! Hays reacted too slowly and this one could be over in a matter of seconds! YES! Hays taps out! Nice BJJ there by Cartwright!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:53 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Clint Cartwright!
An out of breath Clint Cartwright thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.