PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Chester Cardenas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anderson Souza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chester Cardenas has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Cardenas
vs
Souza

195 cm
19
177 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

183 cm
18
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Chester Cardenas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Anderson Souza !
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Yukihiro Shimada and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice shot by Souza .
Souza misses with a series of wild punches.
Souza misses with a double jab.
Cardenas looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Souza misses with a series of wild punches.

Souza moves into the clinch.
Stalling in the clinch from Cardenas.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stalling in the clinch from Souza .
Cardenas is working for takedown but Souza is calmly controlling the position for now.
Souza is struggling to control the position.
Souza blocks a body shot from Cardenas.
Cardenas is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cardenas goes for a takedown in the clinch but Souza prevents it.
Cardenas wants a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chester Cardenas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Souza wants to break free but Cardenas has control.

Cardenas breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Souza rushes Cardenas and presses him up against the cage.
Souza prevents a body shot from Cardenas.
Cardenas can't find room to land a body shot as Souza controls the action.
Cardenas tries to score a body lock takedown but Souza shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
A bit of stalling here from Cardenas.
Cardenas really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Cardenas tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Souza avoids it.
Cardenas trying to stall but Souza improves his position.
Souza lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Cardenas has Souza pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Souza manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Souza is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Cardenas jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Souza walks away with a smile on his face. Cardenas gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Souza moves into the clinch.
Cardenas is trying to pull guard but Souza turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Souza gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Cardenas.

Cardenas manages to break the clinch.
Cardenas slips a jab and a cross from Souza .
Cardenas throwing a counter right hand but Souza manages to avoid it.

Souza takes the fight into the clinch.
Cardenas has Souza pressed against the cage, preventing Souza from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Souza wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Cardenas tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Souza avoids it.
Souza wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Cardenas has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Souza after a bit of a struggle.
Souza managing to block the knees to the body from Cardenas.
Souza lands a body shot.
Cardenas has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Souza avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Cardenas is breathing heavily.
Souza content to slow the pace in the clinch.

Cardenas pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Cardenas shoots in for a takedown but Souza shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Cardenas gets tackled into the cage by Souza . Souza maintains the clinch.
Souza blocking some punches.
Cardenas is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Souza manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Souza softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Cardenas is trying to maintain a safe position but Souza gets an underhook and turns Cardenas into the cage.
Souza holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Cardenas lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Souza 's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Souza slowing the pace effectively.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cardenas being controlled against the cage.
Cardenas keeps control of Souza as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anderson Souza dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Souza darts in and clinches Cardenas up against the cage.
Cardenas changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Souza fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Souza shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Cardenas eats them both and turns towards Souza to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Souza swinging wildly here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Souza clinches up against the cage.
Souza is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
The referee calls for Cardenas to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Souza trying to land knees to the body.
Cardenas dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Cardenas is looking for a takedown.
Souza managing to block the knees to the body from Cardenas.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Souza .
Anderson Souza seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Souza is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Cardenas is defending well for now.

Cardenas's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Cardenas drives through and clinches with Souza against the cage.
Cardenas drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Souza gets the underhooks and prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chester Cardenas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Souza wants to break free but Cardenas has control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Souza lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Cardenas misses with a body punch.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Souza has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Souza lands a left hand.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Souza .
Souza wants to break free but Cardenas has control.
Cardenas wants a takedown.
Cardenas has Souza pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Souza manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Souza .
Souza is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Cardenas pulls guard successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Souza decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Cardenas, up you get!

Souza has managed to clinch.
Souza prevents a body shot from Cardenas.
Cardenas keeps control of Souza as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Cardenas misses with a punch to the body.
Cardenas trying to stall but Souza improves his position.
Souza effectively controlling the action here.
Souza is breathing heavily.
Cardenas is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Souza gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Cardenas tries to throw a body punch but Souza avoids it by throwing Cardenas back against the cage.
Souza tries to circle away but Cardenas has him pinned against the cage.
A short left from Souza .
Souza is pressed up against the cage. Cardenas has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Souza down to the mat. Souza avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Anderson Souza is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Souza throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Souza lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Souza throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Cardenas looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Cardenas showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Souza .
Cardenas changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Souza misses with a straight left.
Cardenas fails in his attempt to clinch.
Souza has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Souza circles away from the clinch attempt.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cardenas tries to clinch but Souza moves out of range.
Souza with the counter takedown but Cardenas avoids it easily.
No luck for Cardenas with that takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anderson Souza showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Cardenas uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Souza .
Cardenas on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Souza fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Souza misses with the combination.
Souza closes the distance and lands a one-two.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Souza throws a right hand that Cardenas ducks under and follows up with a left that Cardenas also avoids with ease.
Souza cracks Cardenas with a right hand to the side of the head.
Souza takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Cardenas blocks a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Souza misses with a few strikes there.
Cardenas fires out a quick counter leg kick but Souza just manages to avoid it.

Souza tries to keep at a distance but Cardenas has taken the fight into the clinch.
Cardenas stalling the fight.
A right hook to the body lands for Souza .
Cardenas can't get the takedown.
Souza has a couple of punches blocked by Cardenas.
Cardenas is looking to take this one to the mat.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Souza on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Cardenas tries to land knees in the clinch but Souza avoids the damage to the body.
Souza misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Cardenas.
Cardenas has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Souza avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chester Cardenas. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Souza looking to stall.
Souza cracks Cardenas with a nice body shot.
Cardenas can't get the takedown.
Souza misses with some punches.
Cardenas landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Souza tries to break the clinch but Cardenas is controlling the position.

Cardenas breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Anderson Souza is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Cardenas darts in looking for a takedown but Souza gets double underhooks and turns Cardenas into the cage.
Cardenas takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Souza scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Souza throws a jab when Cardenas was well out of range.
Anderson Souza seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cardenas tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Souza manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Cardenas tries to close the distance and clinch up but Souza swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Cardenas keeps the fight on the outside.
Cardenas tried to counter with a leg kick but Souza avoided it.
Cardenas bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

Souza gets tackled into the cage by Cardenas. Cardenas maintains the clinch.
Souza prevents the takedown attempt.
Cardenas drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Souza gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Cardenas breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Souza throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Cardenas stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Souza swinging wildly here.
Souza moves in looking to clinch but Cardenas pushes him off.
Cardenas is looking to counter punch.

Cardenas closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Cardenas lands in his opponent's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cardenas landing with the ground and pound.
Chester Cardenas has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Anderson Souza is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cardenas content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

And that's the end of the fight!
Anderson Souza comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Souza winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Taro Takaoka scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Anderson Souza !