PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Cuba Moretti (ranked 1286 p4p, 166 weight class) and Yordan Andonov (ranked 1957 p4p, 241 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Moretti
vs
Andonov

182 cm
30
168 lbs
8 - 6 - 1

185 cm
31
176 lbs
14 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Fast

Riner Clothing

Sin City Allstars

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 8 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Cuba Moretti!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Yordan Andonov!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Steve Montenegro and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice sprawl there from Moretti as Andonov shoots in.

Moretti moves into the clinch successfully.
Moretti stops a takedown attempt from Andonov.

Moretti pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Moretti clinches with his opponent.
Moretti lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Moretti lands a right hand that snaps the head of Andonov backwards.
Moretti swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Moretti gets through Andonov's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Moretti working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Moretti lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Moretti softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Moretti lands a hook to the side of the head.
Moretti gets underhooks to prevent Andonov's takedown attempt.
Cuba Moretti has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yordan Andonov.
Moretti avoiding damage.
Moretti scores with a nice hook to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Moretti lands with a left to the head.
Moretti lands with a right to the head.
Andonov goes for a takedown attempt but Moretti pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Moretti gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Andonov is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Moretti is defending well.
Moretti lands with a short shot to the head.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Moretti.
Andonov is working for takedown but Moretti is calmly controlling the position for now.
Moretti gets through Andonov's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Moretti lands a right hand.
Moretti is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Still in the clinch, Moretti scores with a nice short uppercut.
Andonov wants a takedown but no success here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Come on Moretti - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

Moretti breaks the clinch.

Moretti clinches with his opponent.
The referee calls for Moretti to work.
Moretti will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Andonov up against the cage.
Moretti makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Moretti pressing his opponent against the cage.
Moretti gets through Andonov's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Moretti lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Andonov is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Moretti pulls him back up using the underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Moretti leaning his opponent against the cage.
Andonov takes a shot to the head.
A nice left hand lands by Moretti.
Moretti pushes Andonov back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Andonov is working for takedown but Moretti is calmly controlling the position for now.
A bit of stalling here from Moretti.
Moretti gets through Andonov's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

Moretti escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Andonov on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Andonov shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Moretti but Moretti pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Moretti throwing a counter right hand but Andonov manages to avoid it.

Moretti clinches up with Andonov and pushes him back against the cage.
Moretti lands on the inside with an uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Andonov has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Moretti avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Moretti lands with a light punch inside.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Moretti escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Andonov throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Moretti tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Andonov is in Moretti's guard.
Moretti is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Andonov throws a big right hand that misses.
Andonov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Andonov scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Andonov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Andonov keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Moretti's head.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Andonov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cuba Moretti dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Moretti fails with an attempt to clinch.
Moretti is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Moretti buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Moretti connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Andonov's hands.
Andonov shoots in for a takedown but Moretti shows good takedown defense.
Moretti seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Andonov shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Moretti as he avoids it easily.

Moretti has Andonov up against the cage in a clinch.
Moretti lands with a short shot to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Moretti.

Moretti breaks from the clinch.
Moretti is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Andonov misses with a takedown
letting Moretti counter with a right hand.
Cuba Moretti has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yordan Andonov.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Moretti tries to sprawl but Andonov drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Moretti blocking the ground and pound attempt from Andonov.
Moretti slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Andonov preventing the sweep.
Moretti trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Moretti is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Andonov has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Moretti is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Moretti working Andonov over with strikes.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Andonov can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Moretti is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Moretti seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Andonov does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Moretti keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Andonov moves into full guard.
Moretti is looking to work some ground and pound but Andonov has wrist control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Moretti works over Andonov with some ground and pound from guard.
Moretti is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Andonov can do to turn this around?
Moretti showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Andonov tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Moretti works over Andonov with some ground and pound from guard.
Moretti is stalling in the full guard.
Moretti wants to control from the top but Andonov keeps moving.
Moretti looking to sit in guard and control but Andonov gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Andonov postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Andonov throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Moretti trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

Andonov is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Moretti is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Moretti has escaped and now he's on top!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Andonov throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Moretti stays in close to Andonov's body and controls the position.
Andonov preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Andonov 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.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Moretti with a flurry of punches that miss.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cuba Moretti dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Moretti instigates a clinch.
Moretti is trying to maintain a safe position but Andonov gets an underhook and turns Moretti into the cage.
Andonov changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Moretti fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Andonov shoots in but Moretti avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Andonov moves forwards but Moretti connects with a nice, crisp jab.

It looks like Yordan Andonov has been cut.
Moretti tries to close the distance and clinch but Andonov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Moretti tries to clinch up but Andonov circles away and keeps his distance.
And Andonov tries to counter it with a takedown but Moretti pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Andonov has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.

Moretti closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Moretti is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Andonov is defending well for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Moretti pushes off an throws an elbow but Andonov leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Moretti is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Cuba Moretti has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yordan Andonov.
Andonov is looking for a takedown.
Moretti scores with a shot to the side of Andonov's head.
Cuba Moretti has scored more points in the clinch so far.

Moretti manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice straight punches there by Moretti. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Moretti.

Andonov closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Moretti's guard.
Andonov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Moretti will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Moretti thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Moretti controls Andonov momentarily but Andonov frees himself.
Moretti looking to hit a scissor sweep but Andonov is one step ahead there.
Andonov connects with a couple of short punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Moretti holds on and takes a little breather.
Moretti controls Andonov momentarily but Andonov frees himself.
Moretti looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Moretti tries to clinch up.
Moretti uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Moretti connects with a single shot there.
Moretti scores with a nice right hand.

Andonov is rocked!
Andonov shoots in for a double leg but Moretti sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Andonov is still on wobbly legs! Can Moretti finish him?
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!
Andonov shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Moretti counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Andonov takes a shot to the head.
Moretti avoiding damage.
Andonov seems to have recovered his senses.
Andonov has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Moretti is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Cuba Moretti is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Moretti gets underhooks to prevent Andonov's takedown attempt.
Andonov is looking for a takedown.
Moretti lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Moretti has Andonov pushed against the cage.

Moretti pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Moretti moves into the clinch successfully.
Moretti lands a shoulder strike.
Andonov is looking to take this one to the mat.
Moretti holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Andonov is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Moretti lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Yordan Andonov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Andonov throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Morettis head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cuba Moretti showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Moretti, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Anthony Taglia scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 30:27
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cuba Moretti!
Cuba Moretti gave a mention to Riner Clothing in his post fight interview. That will please them (and hopefully generate some sales).