PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Houston Odonnell (ranked 24214 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cruz Candelaria (ranked 5750 p4p, 0 weight class). Houston Odonnell has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Odonnell
vs
Candelaria

209 cm
20
161 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

183 cm
19
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Houston Odonnell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Cruz Candelaria!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Gregory Folan and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Candelaria closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Odonnell to the mat! Odonnell manages to get full guard.
Candelaria trying to control the position from guard on top but Odonnell is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Candelaria throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Odonnell works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Candelaria would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Candelaria content to stall in guard here.
Candelaria wanted to stand there but Odonnell had control of the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Odonnell looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Candelaria puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Odonnell is staying active underneath Candelaria, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Candelaria gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Nice takedown defense from Odonnell. No joy for Candelaria on that attempt.
Odonnell throws a quick counter head kick but Candelaria was just out of range.

Candelaria takes the fight into the clinch.
Odonnell tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Candelaria smiles and moves away.
Odonnell thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Candelaria if he has to take too many more of those.
Odonnell throws out a powerful jab.
Odonnell misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Candelaria changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Odonnell tries to avoid it but Candelaria manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Odonnell to the ground. Odonnell escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Odonnell displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Candelaria.
Houston Odonnell has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cruz Candelaria.

Candelaria looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Odonnell!

Candelaria tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Candelaria has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Candelaria creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Odonnell sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Candelaria trying to control the action but Odonnell is working from the bottom.
Odonnell can't do much from the bottom here.
Candelaria wants to control but Odonnell is keeping him busy.
Odonnell really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Candelaria might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Odonnell haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Odonnell sneaks back into half guard.
Candelaria is just content to waste time from the top position. Odonnell takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Candelaria advances to half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Odonnell is controlling Candelaria's position as best he can from this difficult position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cruz Candelaria 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.

Candelaria shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Odonnell defends it nicely.
Cruz Candelaria seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Candelaria shoots in looking for a takedown. Odonnell tries to sprawl out of it but Candelaria keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Odonnell manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Candelaria slaps away a takedown attempt from Odonnell, before circling back to the center of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Horrible takedown attempt by Odonnell or perhaps it was just good defense by Candelaria, which made it look bad.
Candelaria throws a left and a right that both miss

and Odonnell counters by clinching up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Candelaria is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Odonnell to keep the fight standing.
Houston Odonnell has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cruz Candelaria.
Odonnell is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Candelaria is defending well.
Odonnell is trying to break the clinch but Candelaria has him pressed against the cage.
Odonnell is working for takedown but Candelaria is calmly controlling the position for now.
Candelaria with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Candelaria is trying to pull guard but Odonnell turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Candelaria has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Odonnell tries a knee to the head but Candelaria blocks it.

Candelaria pulls Odonnell into guard.
Odonnell throwing strikes from guard but Candelaria blocks nicely.

Candelaria looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Candelaria is breathing heavily.
Odonnell throwing strikes from guard but Candelaria blocks nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Candelaria avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Odonnell postures up and lands a big shot to Candelaria's brow.
Odonnell throwing strikes but missing.
Candelaria trying to control the position.
Odonnell landing some decent shots from guard.

Odonnell decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Candelaria misses with a head kick.

Odonnell clinches up with Candelaria and pushes him back against the cage.

Odonnell turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Odonnell manages to end up in side control.
Candelaria can't do much from the bottom here.

Odonnell swings around for an armbar but Candelaria sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Odonnell's guard.
Odonnell is adopting a defensive guard.
Odonnell manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Candelaria manages to get himself to full guard.

Odonnell will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Odonnell throwing strikes from guard but Candelaria blocks nicely.
Odonnell makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Odonnell is in close to Candelaria's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Candelaria looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Odonnell working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Candelaria's head.
Odonnell scoring with some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Houston Odonnell dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Odonnell throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Candelaria shoots in and drives through. Odonnell sprawls well.
Odonnell throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Candelaria changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Odonnell tries to avoid it but Candelaria manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Odonnell to the ground. Odonnell escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Candelaria - that will leave a mark!
Candelaria misses with the combination.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Odonnell slips under a jab from Candelaria.
The fight stays on the outside here - Candelaria looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Candelaria takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Candelaria will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Odonnell is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Candelaria.
Houston Odonnell has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cruz Candelaria.
Odonnell wants to clinch.
Candelaria tries to clinch but Odonnell moves away

and Odonnell counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Candelaria!
Candelaria wants to get back to his feet but Odonnell is dominant here and he's now got Candelaria's back!
Odonnell gets his hands free as Candelaria looks to control.
Odonnell has Candelaria flattened out and is raining down punches.
Odonnell gets his hands free as Candelaria looks to control.
Odonnell scores with strikes from the back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Odonnell scores with punches from the back.
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!
Odonnell punches Candelaria on the ear.
Candelaria is trying to remain composed but Odonnell is hammering down strikes to the side of his head.
Candelaria grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.
Candelaria covers up after taking a massive shot to the side of the head.

Odonnell tightening his grip on Candelaria, looking for the choke.
Odonnell lands an elbow to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Odonnell scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. Candelaria is looking for a way out.
Candelaria wants to escape the position.
Candelaria just trying to survive but Odonnell is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Odonnell landing with strikes.
Odonnell lands a shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Odonnell lands a couple of good shots to his opponent's body and a final shot to the head. Good little attack there by Odonnell.
You can see the frustration on Candelaria's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Odonnell avoiding Candelaria 's attempts to control his hands.
Odonnell connects with a big shot to the side of Candelaria's head.
Candelaria is trying to remain composed but Odonnell is hammering down strikes to the side of his head.

Odonnell has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Candelaria has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
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!
I really don't envy Candelaria right now.

And that's the end of the fight!
Houston Odonnell showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Odonnell 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 Dillan Fox scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Houston Odonnell!