PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Johnny Cage (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Moustakas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mike Moustakas has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Cage
vs
Moustakas

195 cm
26
213 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

190 cm
25
220 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Johnny Cage!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Mike Moustakas!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Robert Twigg and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cage lands a nice leg kick that just misses Moustakas's sensitive parts.
Nice takedown defense from Cage. No joy for Moustakas on that attempt.

Moustakas closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Moustakas lands in his opponent's guard.
Moustakas throwing strikes from guard but Cage blocks nicely.
Moustakas trying to control but Cage is working from the bottom.
Cage is trying to keep Moustakas in close.

Cage looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cage trying to control the position.
Moustakas won't allow Cage to sweep him here.
Moustakas wants to control from the top but Cage keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Moustakas works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Moustakas throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Moustakas is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Moustakas seems to be working for a kimura but Cage defends the submission attempt.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Moustakas throwing shots but Cage is blocking nicely.

Moustakas is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Cage has managed to free his arm - good work.
Cage gets full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Moustakas stops Cage from standing up.
Cage keeping full guard, as Moustakas tries to pass.
Moustakas wants to control from the top but Cage keeps moving.
Moustakas might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Cage haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Cage is on top in guard.

Cage engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Moustakas lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Moustakas is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Moustakas trying to control the position from guard on top but Cage is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Cage throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Moustakas lands a couple of elbows.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Moustakas is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Cage keeping moving, preventing Moustakas from controlling successfully.
Moustakas postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Cage looking to hit a scissor sweep but Moustakas is one step ahead there.

That's four 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.

Moustakas is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Moustakas drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Moustakas jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Moustakas with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Cage is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Moustakas controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Cage is on top in guard.

Moustakas can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Cage controls the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Moustakas dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Moustakas tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Cage swivels and escapes.
Moustakas shoots and misses

and Cage moves into the clinch.
Moustakas blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Moustakas has Cage pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Cage manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Johnny Cage has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mike Moustakas.
Cage misses with a punch to the body.
Moustakas digs a right hand underneath Cage's ribcage. Cage let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Cage tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Moustakas's elbow.
Moustakas tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Cage smiles and moves away.
Moustakas shoots in looking for a takedown but Cage manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Moustakas's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Moustakas misses with a takedown attempt

and Cage counters by clinching up.
Moustakas tries to score a body lock takedown but Cage shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cage lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Cage misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Moustakas is trying to drag Cage to the mat but Cage just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Still in the clinch, Cage scores with a nice short uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cage pushes Moustakas back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Moustakas misses with a punch to the body.
Moustakas tries to break free but Cage pushes him back against the cage.
Cage lands a left hand.
Moustakas is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Cage pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Moustakas is breathing heavily.
Cage lands a nice uppercut.
Cage struggles to land a body shot inside as Moustakas controls his hands.
Cage taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Moustakas fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Cage is pushing Moustakas up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Moustakas has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Cage is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Moustakas is looking to take this one to the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cage stops a takedown attempt from Moustakas.
Cage struggles to land a body shot inside as Moustakas controls his hands.
Moustakas is looking for a takedown.
Moustakas is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Cage to keep the fight standing.
Good body shot from Cage.
Cage makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Moustakas has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
We've been informed that Moustakas has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
A short right from Cage on the inside.
Cage lands with a left to the head.
Moustakas tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Cage working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cage scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Moustakas wants to take the fight to the mat but Cage manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Cage is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Johnny Cage has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Cage is pushing Moustakas up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Cage.
Moustakas wants to take the fight to the mat but Cage manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Moustakas jumps guard and drags Cage to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Cage slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Moustakas utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Cage sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Moustakas's guard.
Moustakas tries to kick Cage off but Cage keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Cage is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Moustakas sees it coming and defends easily.
Cage is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Moustakas can do to turn this around?
Cage trying to control from half guard but Moustakas is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cage missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Cage trying to control from half guard but Moustakas is working away.
Cage with the ground and pound but Moustakas uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Cage's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Cage preventing the sweep.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cage is fighting to break Moustakas's control of his arms but Moustakas is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Cage is stalling in the full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny Cage dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

A telegraphed takedown attempt from Moustakas is defended easily by Cage.
Moustakas throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Cage.
Moustakas dives in and grabs Cage's left leg, looking for a takedown. Cage pushes down on Moustakas's head and hops out.
Cage shoots for a double leg takedown but Moustakas sprawls well. He's pushed Cage's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Cage looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Cage shoots in for a double leg but Moustakas sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That kick from Cage tenderised Moustakas's leg. Moustakas is trying to keep his angry face on.
Moustakas tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Cage swivels and escapes.
Johnny Cage has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mike Moustakas.
Cage tests Moustakas's chin there with a solid looking shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Moustakas has closed the distance and engaged Cage in a clinch.
Cage lands a nice uppercut.
Moustakas blocks an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cage stalling in the clinch but Moustakas improves position.
Moustakas has Cage pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Cage manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Moustakas drops down looking for an ankle pick but Cage pulls his leg out and moves away.
Moustakas takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Moustakas pushes Cage up against the cage in a clinch.
Moustakas drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Cage gets the underhooks and prevents it.
A nice left hand lands by Cage.
Cage lands a right hand.
Moustakas tries to score a body lock takedown but Cage shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Cage tries to throw a body punch but Moustakas avoids it by throwing Cage back against the cage.
Cage lands with a light punch inside.
Cage lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cage is pressed up against the cage. Moustakas has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Cage down to the mat. Cage avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Cage dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Moustakas. That did some damage!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Moustakas.
Cage throws a nice inside leg kick.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Moustakas.

Cage throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Moustakas was covering up waiting for the punch and Cage finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Moustakas scrambles and gets back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cage shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Moustakas as he avoids it easily.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Cage.
Johnny Cage is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Moustakas closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Cage is not content to let Moustakas control the position.
Mike Moustakas has got the better of the ground game so far.
Cage takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Cage taking punishment in the form of punches.

Moustakas swings around for an armbar but Cage sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Moustakas's guard.
Moustakas keeping moving, preventing Cage from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Cage accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Moustakas not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Cage tries to free his leg and advance position but Moustakas is retaining full guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Moustakas tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Cage wants to control from the top but Moustakas keeps moving.
Cage slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Johnny Cage showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Cage 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Johnny Cage!