PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Brenton Caldwell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tahgi Assad (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Caldwell
vs
Assad

187 cm
18
161 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

181 cm
18
162 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Heavy handed

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Brenton Caldwell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Tahgi Assad!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Trevor Gratis and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Caldwell.
Assad tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
Assad is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Caldwell's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Caldwell doesn't have the hooks in and Assad manages to turn into his guard.
Assad trying to control the position from guard on top but Caldwell is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Assad throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Assad being controlled here momentarily.
Caldwell preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Caldwell keeping moving, preventing Assad from controlling successfully.
Caldwell knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Assad on the ground.
Assad looking to sit in guard and control but Caldwell gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Assad looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Assad trying to keep a closed guard but Caldwell is proving a slippery customer.
Assad is looking to sweep but instead, Caldwell has passed into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Assad trying to control here.
Caldwell blocks the strikes from Assad.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Caldwell slips a nice elbow through Assad's hands, connecting with Assad's forehead.
Assad tries to roll over but Caldwell keeps him under control.
Assad wants to control but Caldwell is keeping busy.
Assad wants to get back to full guard but Caldwell has mounted him!
Assad tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Caldwell gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
Assad misses with a combination
and Caldwell counters with a left to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Caldwell avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Assad shoots for a takedown but Caldwell saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Assad tries to clinch
and Caldwell counters with a stiff right hand.
Caldwell leaves Assad with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Caldwell appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Assad. Caldwell does a little dance to reset his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Assad misses with a few strikes there.
Assad has his takedown stuffed
and Caldwell makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brenton Caldwell dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

No luck with that takedown attempt from Assad.
Assad misses with a jab to the body
and Caldwell counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Caldwell really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Caldwell throws a sloppy head kick and Assad moves out of range easily.
Assad throws a left and a right that both miss
and Caldwell counters with a series of strikes. Assad will be more careful next time no doubt.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Assad.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Assad tries to clinch but Caldwell is having none of it.
A swing and a miss from Assad.
Caldwell went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Caldwell tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Assad was well out of range. Poor timing from Caldwell.
Assad steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Caldwell.
Assad throws a predictable looking body shot
and Caldwell counters with a one-two to the body.
Brenton Caldwell is winning the standup battle so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A punch combination from Assad misses.
Assad throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Caldwell's waist but Caldwell gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Assad off to one side.
Brenton Caldwell has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tahgi Assad.
Assad tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Caldwell manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Assad fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Assad tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Caldwell swivels and escapes.
Assad throws a right hand that Caldwell ducks under and follows up with a left that Caldwell also avoids with ease.
As Assad looks to move away, Caldwell throws a big counter combo but Assad just gets out of the way.
Brenton Caldwell is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Assad looks for a takedown but Caldwell sprawls well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Horrible takedown attempt by Assad or perhaps it was just good defense by Caldwell, which made it look bad.
Caldwell looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
The fight stays on the outside here - Assad looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Caldwell blocks a leg kick.
Assad doesn't manage to clinch there - Caldwell circles away.
Assad tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Caldwell quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Caldwell looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Sloppy strikes from Assad. Those never looked like landing.
Assad throws a body shot but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Assad will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Caldwell throws a big counter combination but Assad scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Assad rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Caldwell moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Caldwell is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Assad tries to clinch
and Caldwell counters with a right hand to the body.
Assad throws a left and a right that both miss
and Caldwell counters with a straight right hand.
Assad swings for the body but Caldwell moves out of range.
Assad throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Caldwell counters with a nice uppercut.
Assad throws a left and a right that both miss
and Caldwell counters with a solid body kick.
Caldwell tries to land a front kick but Assad steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
The fight stays on the outside here - Assad looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Assad shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Caldwell but Caldwell pushes him off and we're back to square one.
A quick step to the side and Caldwell tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Assad throws a nice looking combination but Caldwell bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Assad shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Caldwell as he jumps to the side.
Caldwell defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Assad.
Caldwell half committed to a counter leg kick.
Assad is breathing heavily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Assad with a lazy takedown attempt
and Caldwell counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Assad thinking.
Assad wants to clinch
and Caldwell counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brenton Caldwell dominated that second round.
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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Assad doesn't manage to clinch there - Caldwell circles away.
Caldwell seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Assad wants to clinch but Caldwell slips to the side
and Caldwell counters with a left and a right that stings Assad.

Caldwell shoots in and bounces Assad off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Caldwell is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Assad can do to turn this around?
Assad tries to strike from the bottom.

Assad is looking for a triangle but Caldwell pushes his legs off easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Assad wants to stand but Caldwell is controlling the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Caldwell content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Assad is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Caldwell is staying active underneath Assad, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Assad is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Assad seems to be trying to get a kimura but instead Caldwell has recovered full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Caldwell has his hands on Assad's head, controlling the position.
Assad throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Assad throws a big elbow that misses.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Assad working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Caldwell keeping full guard, as Assad tries to pass.
Caldwell keeping moving, preventing Assad from controlling successfully.
Caldwell has Assad pulled in close to control his posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Assad postures up in Caldwell's guard and throws a big left but Caldwell blocks it.
Caldwell keeping moving, preventing Assad from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Assad shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Caldwell makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Assad changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Caldwell tries to avoid it but Assad manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Caldwell to the ground. Caldwell escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Caldwell thinks about countering with a head kick.
Assad wants to clinch but Caldwell slips to the side
and Caldwell counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Assad misses with a left hand
and Caldwell counters with a thumping low kick.
Assad misses with a takedown
and Caldwell counters with a nice body shot.
Brenton Caldwell has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tahgi Assad.
Assad takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Assad throws a nice looking combination but Caldwell bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Assad misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Caldwell appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Tahgi Assad has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Assad tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Caldwell leaves Assad with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
A counter left hand to the body from Caldwell misses its target.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Assad tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Caldwell counters with a head kick. That will keep Assad thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

And that's the end of the fight!
Brenton Caldwell showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Caldwell has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 30:27
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brenton Caldwell!