PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Liam Donnelly (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Helix Cabrera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cabrera comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Security! Mean muggin Helix is about to assault the whole opposing camp! kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Donnelly
vs
Cabrera

173 cm
27
161 lbs
18 - 6 - 0

169 cm
29
158 lbs
22 - 9 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Bullet Proof System
Sun-Tzu

Zenith Nutrition (160q/225$)
Bullet Proof System

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Liam Donnelly!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Helix Cabrera!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Frank Antenori and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cabrera uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Donnelly.
Cabrera with the counter takedown but Donnelly avoids it easily.
Donnelly has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Wild Card in the buildup to the fight.
A telegraphed right hand from Cabrera misses the target.
Donnelly throwing a counter right hand but Cabrera manages to avoid it.
Cabrera with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Donnelly lands with a hook. Cabrera tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Cabrera scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Cabrera connects with a solid leg kick.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Cabrera.
Donnelly just misses with a punch to the body.
Cabrera throws a combination. Donnelly tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Donnelly with a hook.
Cabrera chopping away at his opponent's legs.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cabrera keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Cabrera drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Donnelly defends it well.
Cabrera misses with a double jab
and Donnelly counters with a good low kick that Cabrera was not able to check.
Cabrera misses with an uppercut.
Donnelly swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Cabrera is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Donnelly.
Donnelly is looking to counter punch.

Donnelly tries to sprawl but Cabrera drives through with a takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cabrera throwing shots but Donnelly is blocking nicely.
Cabrera prevents Donnelly from improving his position.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Cabrera working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Donnelly avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Cabrera.
Donnelly works his way to full guard. Good work.
Donnelly is trying to keep Cabrera in close.
Cabrera wants to pass the guard but Donnelly is keeping the position.
Donnelly working a defensive guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Donnelly is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Cabrera is controlling him.

Donnelly looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Donnelly 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.
Cabrera pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Donnelly is keeping the position for now.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Donnelly takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cabrera misses with a hook to the body
enabling Donnelly to counter with a crisp jab.
Liam Donnelly is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Donnelly stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Cabrera.
Donnelly avoids a punch combination nicely.
Donnelly throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Cabrera stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Donnelly waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Cabrera.
Cabrera throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Donnelly stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Cabrera just misses with a punch to the body.
Donnelly throws an overhand right that lands on Cabrera's shoulder, as Cabrera tries to avoid the shot.
Donnelly with a jab.
Cabrera lands a jab to the head.
Cabrera misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Donnelly.
Donnelly ducks under a wild hook from Cabrera.
It looked like Donnelly wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Donnelly fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Cabrera looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Helix Cabrera seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cabrera fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Donnelly blocks a jab.
Donnelly moves into range and connects with a jab.
Cabrera connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Donnelly throws a shot from downtown. Cabrera moves away and avoids it.
Donnelly looks to throw the jab but Cabrera is out of range.
Donnelly swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Donnelly connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Cabrera's hands.
Cabrera with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Cabrera misses with a right hand
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
and Donnelly counters with a left to the body.
Donnelly throws a jab but it's blocked by Cabrera.
Donnelly lands a jab to Cabrera's midsection.
Donnelly throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Cabrera stuns Donnelly with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Donnelly chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Cabrera can pounce on him.
Cabrera defending well as Donnelly loads up on a big left hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Helix Cabrera will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Cabrera scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Donnelly connects with a solid leg kick.
Donnelly changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Donnelly throws a hook to the side of Cabrera's head but Cabrera sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Cabrera keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Cabrera scores with a shot to the body.
Cabrera swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Donnelly scores with a jab to the head.
Donnelly keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Cabrera.
Donnelly takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Cabrera misses with a double jab
and Donnelly counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Donnelly misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Cabrera.
Cabrera counters with a body kick.
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!
A slow jab from Donnelly misses its intended target.
Cabrera throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Cabrera looking to land some kicks to the body here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Donnelly takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Cabrera lands a right hook to the body.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Donnelly.
Cabrera throws a hook but Donnelly blocks it.
Donnelly throws out a leg kick but Cabrera moves out of range and Donnelly only half commits.
Cabrera looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Donnelly throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Donnelly misses with a lunging right hand
and Cabrera counters with a nice uppercut.
Donnelly gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Cabrera.
Donnelly tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Cabrera was well out of range. Poor timing from Donnelly.
Cabrera takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Cabrera has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Cabrera there as he acknowledges the shot.

Cabrera dives in and scores a takedown into Donnelly's guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cabrera working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Cabrera looking to sit in guard and control but Donnelly gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cabrera keeping moving, preventing Donnelly from controlling successfully.
Donnelly is really struggling to control Cabrera but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Cabrera 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.
Donnelly's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Cabrera controls Donnelly momentarily but Donnelly frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Donnelly showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Donnelly trying to control but Cabrera is working from the bottom.
Donnelly stopping the sweep attempt from Cabrera.
Donnelly wants to control from the top but Cabrera keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Cabrera plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Donnelly lands a body shot.
Donnelly wants to land a leg kick but Cabrera is out of range.
Cabrera feints and then cracks Donnelly's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Donnelly down.
Donnelly scores with a jab. Cabrera acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Cabrera fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Donnelly misses the shot to the body.
Donnelly connects with an inside leg kick.
Cabrera tries to score with a low kick but Donnelly moves his leg out of the way.
Donnelly lands with an overhand left.
Helix Cabrera seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Cabrera lands with a slapping head kick.
Donnelly ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Cabrera moves away.
A leg kick checked by Cabrera.
Donnelly misses with an uppercut.
Cabrera thows a left - swing and a miss!
Cabrera throws a low kick, looking for Donnelly's leg but Donnelly calmly moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Helix Cabrera will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Donnelly misses with a body shot.
Donnelly is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Cabrera.
Cabrera throws a sloppy head kick
and Donnelly counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Good exchange - Donnelly coming out on top.
Cabrera on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Cabrera misses with a right hand
and Donnelly counters with a stiff right hand.
Cabrera connects with a solid leg kick.
Donnelly lands a glancing blow to the side of Cabrera's head.
Donnelly uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Cabrera throws a right hand that misses
and Donnelly counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Donnelly is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Cabrera fails to land with a series of punches.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cabrera ducks under a wild hook from Donnelly.
Donnelly gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Donnelly lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Donnelly attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cabrera misses the jab.
Cabrera tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Donnelly was well out of range. Poor timing from Cabrera.
A nice inside leg kick there by Donnelly. That's going to slow Cabrera down.
Cabrera misses with a takedown attempt - Donnelly sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
A low kick from Cabrera is predictable there
and Donnelly counters with a stiff right hand.
Cabrera misses with a left hand
enabling Donnelly to counter with a crisp jab.
Cabrera throws a low kick but Donnelly avoids it.
Cabrera misses with a low kick.
Donnelly fires out a quick counter leg kick but Cabrera just manages to avoid it.
Cabrera dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Nice defenses there by Cabrera.
Cabrera throws a low kick but Donnelly avoids it.
Donnelly moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Donnelly misses with a wild body shot.
Cabrera catches Donnelly with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Donnelly throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Cabrera feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Donnellys jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Donnelly tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Cabrera is able to avoid easily.
Cabrera on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Cabrera looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Cabrera misses with a hook. Donnelly ducked under it nicely.
Donnelly scores with a hook to the body. Cabrera takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Cabrera changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Cabrera connects with a jab.
Donnelly misses with a wild body shot.
Donnelly slips a jab from Cabrera.
Cabrera connects with a body shot.
A big right from Cabrera misses.
Cabrera throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Donnelly is looking to slow Cabrera down with leg kicks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cabrera misses with a kick to the body
and Donnelly counters with a low kick, right behind Cabrera 's knee.
Donnelly throws a lazy uppercut
and Donnelly takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Donnelly blocks a jab.
Donnelly bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Cabrera misses the shot to the body.
Cabrera throws a leg kick that is checked
enabling Donnelly to counter with a crisp jab.
Cabrera takes a swing at Donnelly's ribcage but misses.
Donnelly looks to throw the jab but Cabrera is out of range.
Cabrera swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nice straight punches there by Donnelly. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Donnelly.
Cabrera misses with the combination.
Donnelly misses with a body shot.
Cabrera with the counter takedown but Donnelly avoids it easily.
A big left from Donnelly misses.
Cabrera has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cabrera tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Donnelly is able to avoid easily.
Cabrera throws a hook to the side of Donnelly's head but Donnelly sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Donnelly scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
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!
Cabrera scores with a jab.
Donnelly throws a jab when Cabrera was well out of range.
Cabrera throws a leg kick but Donnelly sees it coming and moves out of range.
An attempted straight right counter from Donnelly misses the target.
Donnelly misses with a jab to the body
and Cabrera counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Cabrera gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Donnelly.
Donnelly throws a wild body kick that Cabrera sees coming a mile off.
Cabrera tries to score with a low kick but Donnelly moves his leg out of the way.
Donnelly keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Donnelly was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Donnelly circles away from the clinch attempt.
Donnelly is looking to counter punch.
Cabrera lands a leg kick that knocks Donnelly off balance momentarily.
Cabrera throws a leg kick but Donnelly checks it.
Donnelly was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Cabrera lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Liam Donnelly clearly takes that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Donnelly slips a jab from Cabrera.
An attempted straight right counter from Donnelly misses the target.
A swing and a miss from Cabrera.
A looping hook to the body misses from Cabrera. Donnelly does a little dance to reset his feet.
Donnelly lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Cabrera at a distance.
Cabrera throws out a loose jab but Donnelly uses good head movement to avoid it.
Cabrera staying out of range there.
Cabrera misses with an uppercut.
Donnelly is looking to counter punch.
Donnelly ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Cabrera finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Donnelly throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cabrera looking to land some kicks to the body here.

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

Donnelly isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Cabrera stacks Donnelly 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 Cabrera!
Donnelly wants to control but Cabrera postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cabrera throws a strike aimed at the side of Donnelly's head but Donnelly avoids it well.
Donnelly is trying to work for a sweep but Cabrera has mounted him!
Donnelly tries to hold on but Cabrera pushes him away.
Cabrera putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Cabrera landing strikes, looking to finish!
Cabrera trying to control but Donnelly is having none of it.
Helix Cabrera has got the better of the ground game so far.
Cabrera scores with a couple of good head shots there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cabrera postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Donnelly looks a forlorn figure.
Donnelly is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Donnelly is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Donnelly really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Donnelly gets back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Donnelly makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Donnelly.
Cabrera controls from within his opponent's guard.
Donnelly is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Cabrera looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Donnelly perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cabrera is looking to improve his position.
Cabrera makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Cabrera.
Donnelly content to stall in guard here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Donnelly preventing the sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Helix Cabrera dominated that fourth round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

A looping hook to the body misses from Donnelly. Cabrera does a little dance to reset his feet.
Donnelly throws a leg kick that is checked
and Cabrera counters with a good low kick that Donnelly was not able to check.
Donnelly slips under a jab.
Donnelly scores with a hook.
Donnelly takes a swing at Cabrera's ribcage but misses.
Cabrera slips under a jab from Donnelly.
Cabrera moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Donnelly gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Cabrera.
Cabrera feints and then cracks Donnelly's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Donnelly down.
Cabrera misses with a low kick as Donnelly jumps back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Donnelly takes one on the button.
Cabrera throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
A chopping leg kick lands by Donnelly.
Good leg kick by Donnelly there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Cabrera scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Donnelly throws a leg kick that misses.
Cabrera steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Donnelly.
Cabrera moves into range and connects with a jab.
Donnelly throws a lazy uppercut
and Cabrera counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Donnelly thinking.
Cabrera fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Cabrera throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Cabrera throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Cabrera loads up on a big right hand but Donnelly slips the punch.
Cabrera shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Donnelly was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Donnelly digs a good body shot into Cabrera's ribs.
Donnelly is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Cabrera.
Donnelly throws the left hand but Cabrera avoids the punch easily.
Donnelly staying out of range there.
Liam Donnelly has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cabrera fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Donnelly manages to avoid it.
Donnelly looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Donnelly defending well as Cabrera loads up on a big left hand.
Donnelly throwing a counter right hand but Cabrera manages to avoid it.
Cabrera slips a jab from Donnelly.
Cabrera with a jab.
Donnelly wants to slow Cabrera down by chopping away at his legs.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Donnelly uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Cabrera.
Donnelly swings widly with a right hand
and Donnelly takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Cabrera cracks the inside of Donnelly's front leg.
Cabrera connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

Cabrera shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Cabrera showed some decent athleticism there.

Donnelly actively working from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cabrera moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Donnelly.
Donnelly is looking for a sweep.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Donnelly wants to control but Cabrera postures up.
Cabrera tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Cabrera tries to advance position but instead Donnelly slips a leg back in to half guard.
Cabrera working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Cabrera is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Cabrera lands with a punch from half guard.
Donnelly tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Donnelly misses with some strikes from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Helix Cabrera comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Cabrera has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 46:49
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 46:49
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 46:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Helix Cabrera! Helix Cabrera retains his lightweight title!
A less than humble Helix Cabrera misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.