PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jamal Blade (ranked 4792 p4p, 4640 weight class) and Clian Cartwright (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Blade
vs
Cartwright

185 cm
18
185
0 - 0 - 0

189 cm
18
215
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jamal Blade!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Clian Cartwright!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Seu Braga and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Blade moves into the clinch successfully.

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

Blade has managed to clinch.

Cartwright's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Blade scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

It looks like Clian Cartwright has been cut.

Cartwright gets tackled into the cage by Blade. Blade maintains the clinch.
Cartwright pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.

Cartwright has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Blade uses from the top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cartwright 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.
Blade pushes down on Cartwright's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Cartwright has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Blade is working away from the top position though.
Cartwright is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cartwright trying to control here.

Blade seems to be working for a kimura but Cartwright defends the submission attempt.
Cartwright keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cartwright is trying to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Cartwright is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Blade pulls his head out easily.
Blade trying to control the pace.
Blade tries to stand and escape but Cartwright is controlling the position.
Blade prevents Cartwright from improving his position.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Blade throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Cartwright regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Blade.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blade preventing the sweep.
Blade sitting in guard here, content to control.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Blade scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Cartwright throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Blade thinks about countering with a head kick.
Cartwright slaps away a takedown attempt from Blade, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Blade keeps the fight on the outside.
Blade misses with a takedown attempt - Cartwright sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Cartwright clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blade has Cartwright pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Cartwright manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jamal Blade. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Blade is trying to push Cartwright away but Cartwright has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Cartwright tries a knee to the head but Blade blocks it.

Cartwright manages to pull guard.
Blade forces his way into half guard.
Cartwright tries to kick Blade off but Blade keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Cartwright trying to control but Blade postures up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Blade wants to lay and pray for a moment but Cartwright keeps working.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jamal Blade dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Clian Cartwright's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Blade is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Blade tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Blade clinches with his opponent.

Cartwright manages to break the clinch.
Cartwright tries to clinch up.

Blade closes the distance and clinches.
Cartwright avoiding damage.
Cartwright is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Blade is defending well.
Blade is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Cartwright can do to turn this around?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cartwright tries to pull guard but Blade holds him up against the cage and eventually Cartwright drops back down to his feet.
Blade looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Blade breaks the clinch.
Jamal Blade is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blade throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Cartwright misses with an uppercut. Blade saw that one coming.
Blade seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Blade's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Blade duly obliges.
Cartwright is trying hard to land a takedown here. Blade sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Blade attempts a counter takedown but Cartwright avoids it well and moves away.
Jamal Blade has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Clian Cartwright.
Blade moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

Cartwright tries to keep at a distance but Blade has taken the fight into the clinch.
Cartwright fails to pull guard.
Cartwright tries to pull guard but Blade forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Blade looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Cartwright manages to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Blade closes the distance and clinches.
Cartwright is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Blade is defending well for now.

Cartwright escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Blade looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cartwright tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Blade tries for a takedown but Cartwright circles away easily
and Cartwright counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

Cartwright fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Blade sprawls well initially but Cartwright persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Blade has one foot on Cartwright's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Blade tries to clinch there but Cartwright circles away.
Blade throws a sloppy head kick and Cartwright moves out of range easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blade avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Blade shoots in for a takedown but Cartwright shows good takedown defense.

Blade clinches.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Blade.
Cartwright keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Blade's efforts to push away.

Cartwright gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Blade is not content to let Cartwright control the position.
Blade is trying to get back to full guard.

Blade kicks Cartwright off and gets back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cartwright closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cartwright wants to lay and pray for a moment but Blade keeps working.
Cartwright passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Blade!
Cartwright dominating with strikes here.
Blade is squirming around, avoiding Cartwright's attempts to control the action.
Cartwright tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jamal Blade dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Clian Cartwright's cut.
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. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Blade shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Cartwright sprawls well. Cartwright wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Blade gets slowly back to his feet.
Cartwright swats away the attempt to clinch by Blade.
Cartwright steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.

Cartwright takes the fight into the clinch.
Blade tries to pull guard but Cartwright holds him up against the cage and eventually Blade drops back down to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blade has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Cartwright after a bit of a struggle.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jamal Blade. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cartwright keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Blade's efforts to push away.
Blade jumps guard but Cartwright turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blade wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Cartwright gets a trip takedown into half guard.

Blade makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

Blade moves into the clinch successfully.
Cartwright gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Blade.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Blade tries for a takedown but Cartwright manages to get underhooks.
Cartwright avoids a wild elbow strike from Blade.
Cartwright has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Blade is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Blade trying to control the position but instead, Cartwright has worked for underhooks and has pushed Blade into the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blade is trying to push Cartwright away but Cartwright has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Cartwright goes for a takedown attempt but Blade pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Cartwright is looking to clinch.
Blade throws a big counter combination but Cartwright scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Blade scores with a nice right hand.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cartwright throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Blade's waist but Blade gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Cartwright off to one side.

Cartwright dives in and scores a takedown into Blade's guard.
Cartwright won't allow Blade to get back to his feet.
Blade keeping moving, preventing Cartwright from controlling successfully.
Cartwright looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cartwright works over Blade with some ground and pound from guard.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Blade here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Cartwright passes Blade's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Blade knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Cartwright on the ground.
Cartwright is controlling the pace.
Blade wants to improve his position but Cartwright is controlling well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Cartwright slows the pace down in half guard.
Cartwright is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Cartwright keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Blade stuffs the takedown.
Blade throws a head kick that misses.
Clian Cartwright has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jamal Blade is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Blade checks the leg kick nicely there.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Jamal Blade.
Well Blade 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight for Jamal Blade!
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight for Jamal Blade!
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight for Jamal Blade!

Jamal Blade wins by unanimous decision!