PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Luis Cardoza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Emil Gustafsson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Cardoza might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Holy See. Emil Gustafsson has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Cardoza
vs
Gustafsson

180 cm
23
199 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

190 cm
22
195 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Luis Cardoza!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Emil Gustafsson!
The judges for this bout are Jeff Smith, Colin Fray and Josh West.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cardoza moves into the clinch.
Gustafsson can't find room to land a body shot as Cardoza controls the action.
Gustafsson lands a left hand.

It looks like Luis Cardoza has been cut.
Gustafsson changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Cardoza fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Cardoza shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Gustafsson pinned against the cage. Gustafsson gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
We've been hearing reports that Cardoza has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Cardoza closes the distance looking to clinch

and Gustafsson counters with a shoot takedown. Cardoza fights it but they end up in guard.

Cardoza uses the cage to get back to his feet.

Gustafsson clinches up against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cardoza is looking for a takedown.
Gustafsson lands a body shot in the clinch.

Gustafsson jumps guard and drags Cardoza to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Cardoza stops Gustafsson from standing up.
Gustafsson managing to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gustafsson can't keep his opponent in guard - Cardoza advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Gustafsson is looking for a sweep. Cardoza is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Gustafsson pushes Cardoza off looking to stand but Cardoza dives back in and keeps control.
Gustafsson wants to improve his position but Cardoza is controlling well.
Gustafsson regains full guard. Nicely done.
Gustafsson looking for a sweep. Not yet Gustafsson, not yet.
Cardoza looking to pass the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gustafsson is pulling down on Cardoza's head to control his posture.
Cardoza seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Cardoza wants to control from the top but Gustafsson keeps moving.
Cardoza pushing down on Gustafsson's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Gustafsson is looking for a sweep. Cardoza is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Cardoza trying to control from half guard but Gustafsson is working away.
Gustafsson tries to roll over but Cardoza keeps him under control.
Gustafsson is trying to stand.
Gustafsson gets full guard.
Cardoza is standing up over Gustafsson. Gustafsson looks to escape but Cardoza dives into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gustafsson tries to buck Cardoza off but Cardoza is having none of it.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Gustafsson manages to get back to half guard.
Gustafsson tries to kick Cardoza off but Cardoza keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Gustafsson is positioning himself well to prevent Cardoza advancing to mount.
Gustafsson is continuing to stall.
Cardoza wants to take a breather but Gustafsson is having none of it.
Cardoza prevents Gustafsson from improving his position.

Cardoza is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Gustafsson has managed to free his arm - good work.
Gustafsson is refusing to be controlled, as Cardoza sits in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Gustafsson tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Cardoza has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Cardoza takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Cardoza tries to control but Gustafsson wriggling away.
Gustafsson looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cardoza keeps control of the position as Gustafsson tries to break free.
Gustafsson breaks Cardoza's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Luis Cardoza will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Luis Cardoza's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Cardoza throws a head kick that misses.
Gustafsson drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Cardoza defends it well.
Cardoza avoids the body shot from Gustafsson.
Cardoza throws a head kick that misses.
Luis Cardoza is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Cardoza with a poor takedown

and Gustafsson counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Gustafsson.
Gustafsson scores with a shot to the side of Cardoza's head.
Gustafsson tries to work over Cardoza's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Gustafsson stops a takedown attempt from Cardoza.
Cardoza wants to take the fight to the mat but Gustafsson manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Luis Cardoza. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cardoza blocks a body shot from Gustafsson.
Cardoza has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Gustafsson is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Cardoza's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Gustafsson stalling the fight.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cardoza prevents a body shot from Gustafsson.
Gustafsson tries to throw a body punch but Cardoza avoids it by throwing Gustafsson back against the cage.
Gustafsson prevents the takedown attempt.
Cardoza can't get the takedown.
Gustafsson stops a takedown attempt from Cardoza.
Cardoza is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Cardoza takes a shot to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gustafsson makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Cardoza changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Gustafsson fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Cardoza is trying hard to land a takedown here. Gustafsson sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Cardoza gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Gustafsson holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Cardoza manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Gustafsson makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Gustafsson postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Cardoza is rocked!
Gustafsson keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Cardoza's head.
Oh Cardoza is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Gustafsson arches his back and unloads with a massive left and a right! Cardoza's eyes roll back into his head, he's out cold! The ref dives in to stop the fight - wow, they were hard shots!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:52 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Emil Gustafsson!
Luis Cardoza was interviewed post fight and said 'I was robbed god damn it.....Jesus christ, this place is hell !!!'.