PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Jay Cartwright (ranked 1348 p4p, 1377 weight class) and Joey Horatius (ranked 83 p4p, 85 weight class). Jay Cartwright has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Cartwright
vs
Horatius

178 cm
28
143
9 - 2 - 0

164 cm
24
135
10 - 2 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Counter fighter
Very strong

Good wrestler
Solid Muay Thai
Good gas tank

Brooklyn Apothecary

Conquer
Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jay Cartwright!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Joey Horatius!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Daniel Cesar and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cartwright shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Cartwright was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Horatius wants to get back to his feet but Cartwright drags him back down.

Cartwright is trying to get an arm triangle but Horatius is defending well.
Cartwright in the domination position with Horatius hanging on.

Cartwright wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Horatius, who protects the arm well.
Horatius wants to get back to his feet.

Cartwright tries for a kimura but Horatius is defending well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cartwright is looking to take a break and control but Horatius is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Cartwright in the domination position with Horatius hanging on.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horatius is pushing Cartwright's head away, looking to escape. Cartwright manages to hold on to the position though.

Cartwright goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Horatius has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Cartwright but great work by Horatius.
Horatius lands a few punches from side control.
Horatius landing strikes.
Cartwright regains half guard.
Horatius working over Cartwright with some ground and pound. Cartwright looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Horatius working over Cartwright with some ground and pound. Cartwright looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Cartwright tries to get to full guard but Horatius has control of the leg.
Cartwright slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Horatius scoring with punches to the head and body.
Horatius connects with a couple of short punches.

Cartwright has his foot on Horatius's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Horatius works his way back into a safe position though.
Cartwright seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Horatius connects with a couple of short punches.

Cartwright has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Horatius can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Horatius wants to pass the guard but Cartwright is keeping the position.

Horatius avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Horatius is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Horatius lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Cartwright wants to improve his position but instead Horatius has moved into half guard.
Horatius scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Cartwright tries to get to full guard but Horatius has control of the leg.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Horatius looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Horatius takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Horatius sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Let's hope that Horatius has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cartwright tries to get to full guard but Horatius has control of the leg.
Horatius slips a nice elbow through Cartwright's hands, connecting with Cartwright's forehead.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Horatius looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Cartwright with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Cartwright trying to get back to full guard but Horatius takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Cartwright is bucking up trying to escape but Horatius cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

Cartwright is rocked!
Horatius lands a couple of good shots and Cartwright has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Oh Cartwright is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
The referee is taking a good look at Cartwright as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Horatius!
What can Cartwright do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Cartwright tries to roll but Horatius sticks to his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cartwright is trapped and Horatius is scoring with shots to the head and body.
Horatius scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. Cartwright is looking for a way out.
Horatius lands a shot to the body.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Horatius lands shots from the back.
Horatius doesn't have the hooks in and Cartwright manages to turn into his guard.
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!
Horatius is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Cartwright is controlling him.
Cartwright trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Cartwright looking to sit in guard and control but Horatius gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Cartwright seems to have got his legs back now.
Horatius's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Cartwright is working an open guard so Horatius takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Cartwright looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Horatius is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Cartwright with a body shot.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Joey Horatius 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.

Horatius throws out a powerful jab.
Horatius will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Horatius connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Horatius misses with a looping left.
Horatius throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Cartwright shoots and misses
and Horatius counters with a right hand to the body.
Horatius has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Horatius misses with a few strikes there.
Horatius lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Horatius throws a shot to the body.
Jay Cartwright is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Horatius throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cartwright fails with a takedown attempt.
Cartwright slips a jab and a cross from Horatius.
Horatius takes a swing at Cartwright's ribcage but misses.
Joey Horatius seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Horatius jabs at Cartwright's body.
Horatius misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Horatius scores with a jab. Cartwright acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Horatius throws a nice looking combination but Cartwright bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Cartwright will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jay Cartwright. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cartwright slips a jab and a cross from Horatius.
Horatius throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Cartwright with a lazy takedown attempt
and Horatius counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Joey Horatius is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Horatius lands a nice shot to the body.

Horatius drops Cartwright with a beautiful combination! Cartwright stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Horatius is looking for the KO!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Horatius misses with a body shot.
Horatius has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Cartwright is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Horatius scores with a shot to the body.
Horatius throws a body shot but no joy.
Horatius scores with a jab to the body.
Cartwright will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
A little jabbing left from Horatius on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Horatius works Cartwright's body with a nice hook.
Horatius scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Cartwright doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Horatius counters with a nice uppercut.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A decent looking cross lands there for Horatius.
Horatius scores with a shot to the body.
Cartwright takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Horatius misses with a wild combination.
Horatius punishes Cartwright's body with a nice straight punch.
Horatius connects with a jab.
Cartwright takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Cartwright tries for a takedown but Horatius sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Horatius is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Cartwright with a body shot.
Cartwright tries for a takedown but Horatius sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Horatius is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Cartwright rather than just go for the knockout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Horatius dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Horatius slaps away a takedown attempt from Cartwright, before circling back to the center of the mat.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Horatius misses with the combination.
Cartwright drops down looking for a counter takedown but Horatius sprawls and moves away.
A right-left combo lands from Horatius.
Cartwright tries for a takedown but Horatius circles away easily
and Horatius counters with a big right hand! Oh Cartwright is in trouble here! Horatius follows up with more strikes and that's it! The ref has stopped it!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:42 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Joey Horatius!
Joey Horatius very nearly forgot to thank Conviction amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.