PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Helix Cabrera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eiji Kawashima (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cabrera comes to the cage accompanied by It's showtime!. 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.

Cabrera
vs
Kawashima

169 cm
27
156 lbs
17 - 8 - 0

182 cm
40
162 lbs
46 - 17 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Museum of Monsters & Madmen
Bullet Proof System

Sun-Tzu

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 17 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Helix Cabrera!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 46 - 17 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Eiji Kawashima!
The judges for this bout are , Jack Bonds and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kawashima misses with a kick to the body.
A shot to the liver by Kawashima. Beautiful body shot.
Cabrera shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
A little jabbing left from Kawashima on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Cabrera takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Cabrera looks to land a left hand but Kawashima moved out of range nicely.
Cabrera throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Kawashima stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Cabrera throws a big shot that misses.
Kawashima lands with a kick to the temple. Cabrera shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Cabrera fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Kawashima on the side of the head.
Good standup being displayed there by Cabrera as he connects with a hook.
Kawashima cracks Cabrera with a good jab.
Kawashima throws a hook but Cabrera blocks it.
Cabrera lunges at Kawashima with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Kawashima's hand.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Kawashima fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Cabrera throws a series of punches but Kawashima moves out of range.
Cabrera tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kawashima was well out of range. Poor timing from Cabrera.
Cabrera misses with a lunging right hand
and Kawashima counters with a nice uppercut.
Kawashima stalks Cabrera and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Cabrera's face. Cabrera staggers backwards, shaken.
Cabrera dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Kawashima. That did some damage!
Kawashima lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Cabrera circles away quickly and effectively.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kawashima attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Cabrera misses with a straight left.
Cabrera throws a leg kick which misses Kawashima's front leg but catches the back leg as Kawashima tries to avoid it.
Cabrera thows a left - swing and a miss!
Kawashima lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Kawashima.
Kawashima throws a right hand that misses
and Cabrera counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Kawashima, as that shot connected.
Cabrera jabs Kawashima to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Cabrera steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Kawashima.
Cabrera checks a leg kick.
Cabrera checks the leg kick.
Kawashima is looking to slow Cabrera down with leg kicks.
Kawashima misses with the combination.
Cabrera on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Kawashima. Kawashima obviously looking to wear him down.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kawashima throws a leg kick

and Cabrera counters with a nice double leg into side control. Kawashima won't be happy with that.

Kawashima throws Cabrera to one side and escapes!
Kawashima has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
Kawashima throws a body shot but no joy.
Cabrera half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cabrera will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
A slapping body kick lands there for Cabrera.
Cabrera jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Kawashima tries a quick counter leg kick but Cabrera is wise to it.
Kawashima tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Kawashima lands a right hook to the body.
Cabrera has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Gangsterdamage in the buildup to the fight.
Kawashima slips a jab and a cross from Cabrera.
Cabrera misses with a looping right.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Kawashima checks a leg kick.
Kawashima throws a chopping leg kick but Cabrera manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Kawashima with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Kawashima throws a leg kick but Cabrera sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Kawashima connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Cabrera misses with a wild combination.
Kawashima swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Cabrera takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Kawashima with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Eiji Kawashima seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cabrera tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
A punch combination from Cabrera misses.
Kawashima has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A leg kick checked by Kawashima.
Cabrera backing away here, and Kawashima unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Cabrera looks to land a right hand but Kawashima moved out of range.
Kawashima throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Eiji Kawashima is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Cabrera steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Kawashima.
Cabrera misses with a body shot
and Kawashima counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Cabrera blocks the body kick.
A slow jab from Cabrera misses its intended target.
Kawashima lands a leg kick that knocks Cabrera off balance momentarily.
Kawashima misses with a right hand
enabling Cabrera to counter with a crisp jab.

Cabrera looking to score a takedown here. Kawashima is defending well but Cabrera drives through and ends up in Kawashima's guard.
Kawashima wants to sweep but no luck.
Kawashima keeps trying to improve his position.
Cabrera postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Kawashima trying to control the position here.
Cabrera might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Cabrera cracks Kawashima with a solid left hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kawashima preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Cabrera drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Kawashima manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Cabrera has Kawashima in his guard.

This has been an exciting period of action!
Kawashima stopping the sweep attempt from Cabrera.

Cabrera had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Kawashima defends it easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cabrera is trying to keep Kawashima in close.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Eiji Kawashima will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Cabrera moves away from the strike by Kawashima.
A cross from Kawashima lands.
Cabrera throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Eiji Kawashima seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Cabrera fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Kawashima avoids it really well and circles away.
Kawashima checks the leg kick.
Kawashima tried to score with a low kick but Cabrera checks it.
Cabrera throws a jab when Kawashima was well out of range.
Cabrera tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kawashima was well out of range. Poor timing from Cabrera.
Cabrera uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Cabrera turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Kawashima throws a hook but Cabrera blocks it.
Cabrera drops down looking for a counter takedown but Kawashima sprawls and moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cabrera lands a right hook to the body.
Cabrera finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Kawashima feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Cabrera's calf.
Cabrera on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Cabrera blocks a leg kick.
Cabrera misses with a low kick.
Kawashima thinks about the counter body kick.
A big left from Kawashima misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cabrera avoids the body shot from Kawashima.
Cabrera throws a jab when Kawashima was well out of range.
Kawashima throws a jab when Cabrera was well out of range.
Kawashima checks a leg kick.
Cabrera showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kawashima.
Kawashima thows a leg kick but Cabrera checks it
and Kawashima takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
A jab lands there for Cabrera.
A solid body kick from Kawashima.
A punch lands to the side of Cabrera 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Cabrera with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Kawashima to score with a decent uppercut.
Cabrera wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Kawashima tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Cabrera appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Kawashima connects with an inside leg kick.
Cabrera tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kawashima swats him away and circles back towards the center.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kawashima checks a low kick from Cabrera.
Cabrera looks to score with a jab to the body but Kawashima is just out of range.
Cabrera defending well as Kawashima loads up on a big left hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Kawashima checks a leg kick.
Kawashima avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Kawashima throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Cabrera works over Kawashima's head and body with a nice combination.
Cabrera lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Cabrera tries to work over Kawashima's front leg with a kick but Kawashima checks it.
Kawashima swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Cabrera moves out of range as Kawashima strikes.
Cabrera lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Kawashima will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Cabrera throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Kawashima throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kawashima misses with a hook.
Cabrera scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
A bone on bone clash there as Cabrera blocks the leg kick.
Cabrera was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Cabrera motions for Kawashima to come forward. Cabrera throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Kawashima scores with a hook to the body. Cabrera takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Kawashima on the wrong end of a nice jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kawashima checks a leg kick.
Cabrera throws a chopping leg kick but Kawashima manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Cabrera slips a straight right by Kawashima.
Cabrera shoots for a takedown but Kawashima saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
A jab from Cabrera does it's job there.
Cabrera throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.

Cabrera shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Cabrera showed some decent athleticism there.
Kawashima makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Kawashima.
Kawashima working a defensive guard but Cabrera passes into half guard.
Cabrera throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Cabrera thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cabrera missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Kawashima gets full guard.
Kawashima keeping full guard, as Cabrera tries to pass.
Cabrera throwing strikes but missing.
Cabrera stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kawashima swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Cabrera won't allow Kawashima to sweep him here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Helix Cabrera dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Cabrera throws a sloppy head kick and Kawashima moves out of range easily.
And Kawashima responds with a good body kick, but Cabrera manages to step out the way in time.
A solid leg kick lands there for Kawashima.
Cabrera is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Kawashima throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Cabrera stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Kawashima on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Cabrera. Cabrera obviously looking to wear him down.
A slow jab from Kawashima misses its intended target.
Kawashima scores with a punch to the head.
A nice leg kick lands there from Cabrera.
Kawashima checks a leg kick nicely.
Cabrera comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Kawashima scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Cabrera fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Kawashima has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Cabrera throws a right and a left that both miss.
Cabrera tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Cabrera is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kawashima lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cabrera tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Kawashima manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Kawashima.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kawashima throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Kawashima keeps the fight on the outside.
Decent striking displayed by Kawashima there.
Nice body kick there by Kawashima.
Cabrera looks to score with a jab to the body but Kawashima is just out of range.
Cabrera uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Kawashima.
Cabrera changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Cabrera throws a low kick, looking for Kawashima's leg but Kawashima calmly moves out of range.
Cabrera throws out a leg kick but Kawashima moves out of range and Cabrera only half commits.
Kawashima swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Kawashima ducks under a wild hook from Cabrera.
Cabrera scores with a jab.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Cabrera, right into the meat.
Kawashima slips a straight right by Cabrera.
Cabrera tries to land a leg kick but Kawashima saw it coming and moves away.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Kawashima.
Cabrera turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Kawashima turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Kawashima defending well as Cabrera loads up on a big left hand.
Kawashima fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Cabrera manages to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cabrera smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cabrera throws a shot from downtown. Kawashima moves away and avoids it.
Cabrera moves out of range as Kawashima strikes.
Cabrera tries to clinch up.
Cabrera takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Cabrera slips a jab from Kawashima.
Kawashima throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Kawashima throws a half hearted mid kick.
A slapping leg kick lands for Cabrera.
A big right from Cabrera misses.
The fighters circling - Cabrera throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
The fighters circling - Cabrera throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Cabrera misses with a lunging right hand
and Kawashima counters with a leg kick.
Kawashima avoids the body shot from Cabrera.
Cabrera pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

Cabrera pushes Kawashima up against the cage in a clinch.
Kawashima prevents a body shot from Cabrera.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cabrera misses with a body punch.
Cabrera misses with a hook to the ribs.
Kawashima prevents a body shot from Cabrera.
Cabrera tries a body shot but Kawashima blocks it.
Kawashima working aggressively here.
Kawashima is trying to push Cabrera away but Cabrera has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Kawashima breaks from the clinch.
Cabrera jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Kawashima staying out of range there.
Cabrera walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Kawashima throws a lazy body kick
and Cabrera counters with a straight right hand.

Cabrera moves into the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Cabrera.
Kawashima has had enough of the clinch but Cabrera keeps him there for the moment.
Kawashima wants to get back to striking at distance but Cabrera won't allow it.
Cabrera misses with a punch on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cabrera doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Cabrera fails to pull guard.
Cabrera lands with a left to the head.
Kawashima digs a right hand underneath Cabrera's ribcage. Cabrera let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Cabrera changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Kawashima fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Kawashima takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Kawashima misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Cabrera.
Cabrera sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cabrera scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Cabrera dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Kawashima. That did some damage!
Kawashima waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Cabrera.
Kawashima blocks a jab.
Kawashima tries to score with a low kick but Cabrera moves his leg out of the way.
Kawashima lands with a kick to the temple. Cabrera shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Helix Cabrera.
I think Cabrera has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Helix Cabrera!
Helix Cabrera spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.