PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Calixto Cardona (ranked 506 p4p, 588 weight class) and Hratch Tzien (ranked 60 p4p, 67 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Tzien's choice of entrance music: R*ck It. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Cardona
vs
Tzien

170 cm
33
149
24 - 15 - 0

170 cm
31
145
16 - 11 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter

Voodoo Nutrition
KOMBAT KLOTHING

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 24 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Calixto Cardona!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 11 - 1, fighting out of London, Hratch Tzien!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Tiny Johnson and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tzien blocks a jab.

Tzien closes the distance and clinches.
Tzien throws a head punch that misses.

Tzien pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Tzien lands with a kick to the temple. Cardona shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Cardona avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Tzien misses with a lunging right hand
and Cardona connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Tzien moves out of range of the strikes.
Tzien keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Cardona.
Tzien is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.

Cardona clinches with his opponent.
Cardona tries a body shot but Tzien blocks it.
Cardona misses with some punches.
Cardona lands a nice uppercut.
Tzien scores with a hook to the body.
Tzien tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Cardona swings away with an uppercut that misses.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cardona lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Cardona tries to throw a body punch but Tzien avoids it by throwing Cardona back against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Cardona.
Tzien lands with a light punch inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Tzien.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tzien escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Nice straight punches there by Tzien. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Tzien.
A low kick lands for Cardona.
Cardona closes the distance and lands a one-two.

It looks like Hratch Tzien has been cut.
Cardona tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Cardona looks to land a right hand but Tzien moved out of range.
Cardona blocks a jab.
Cardona misses with a hook.
Cardona throws a low kick but Tzien moves out of range easily.
Cardona lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Tzien connects with a jab.
Tzien misses with a kick to the body.
Cardona keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Tzien.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Tzien dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Cardona. That did some damage!
Cardona is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Tzien connects with a single shot there.
Tzien moves out of range of the body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Cardona looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Cardona cracks a nice hook into Tzien's ribs.
Cardona misses with the combination.
Cardona lands an overhand right.
Cardona scores with a nice strike.
Tzien tries to land a leg kick but Cardona saw it coming and moves away.
Cardona moves in looking to clinch but Tzien pushes him off.
Tzien walks into a left hand.
Cardona lands a nice hook to Tzien's body. Tzien takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Cardona looks to score with a jab to the body but Tzien is just out of range.
Cardona goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Tzien lands with a slapping head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Tzien misses.
Cardona is looking to counter punch.
The fighters circling - Tzien throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Cardona with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Nice body punch from Cardona.
Both fighters circling a little - Tzien finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.

Cardona closes the distance and pushes Tzien back into the cage.

Tzien pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Calixto Cardona seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tzien throws a jab but it's blocked by Cardona.
Tzien misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Tzien drops his hands momentarily and Cardona takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

Cardona moves into the clinch.
Tzien tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Cardona scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cardona throws a head punch that misses.
Cardona blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Nice body punch from Cardona - that landed with a thud.
Tzien lands with a right to the head.
Cardona lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Tzien backwards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tzien swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Cardona blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Tzien has a couple of punches blocked by Cardona.
Tzien lands a nice uppercut.
Tzien fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Tzien lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Tzien misses with a punch on the inside.
Cardona lands a hook that snaps the head of Tzien backwards.
Cardona throws a head punch that misses.
Cardona lands a shoulder strike.

Tzien pulls guard effortlessly.

Cardona got a little sloppy there for a moment and Tzien has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Cardona has managed to get both his arms back between Tzien's legs - danger averted.
Cardona trying to control the position from guard on top but Tzien is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tzien is pulling down on Cardona's head to control his posture.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cardona slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Tzien working a defensive guard here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Calixto Cardona dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Hratch Tzien's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Cardona throws a half hearted mid kick.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Cardona lands a body shot.
Tzien lands with a kick to the temple. Cardona shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Cardona scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Tzien throws a lazy right hand but Cardona sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Cardona was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Cardona throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Cardona throws a combination that misses
and Tzien counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Cardona throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
A leg kick checked by Tzien.
Cardona lands a nice hook to Tzien's body. Tzien takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Cardona tries a head kick but it misses.
Cardona feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Tziens jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cardona looks to land a left hand but Tzien moved out of range nicely.
Tzien thinks about the counter body kick.
Cardona misses with a wild body shot.
Cardona lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Cardona dips to his left and cracks Tzien with an uppercut!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tzien instigates a clinch.
Tzien lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Cardona blocks a body shot from Tzien.
Cardona misses with a punch to the body.
Still in the clinch, Tzien scores with a nice short uppercut.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Cardona.
Calixto Cardona has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Tzien pushes Cardona back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Tzien misses with a hook from the clinch.
Tzien fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Cardona tries to work over Tzien's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Cardona lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Tzien has a couple of punches blocked by Cardona.
Tzien tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Tzien.
Cardona struggles to land a body shot inside as Tzien controls his hands.
Cardona struggles to land a body shot inside as Tzien controls his hands.
Cardona is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Tzien can do to turn this around?

Cardona breaks from the clinch.
Tzien throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Cardona misses with a body kick.
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!
Tzien misses with a series of wild punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cardona gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Tzien makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Cardona really felt that one!
Cardona throws a hook to the side of Tzien's head but Tzien sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Tzien looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Tzien lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Tzien throws a hook but Cardona avoids it easily.
Cardona swinging wildly here.
Cardona throws a front kick aimed at Tzien's knee but Tzien avoids it well.
Cardona scores with a hook to the body. Tzien takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Tzien swings for the body but Cardona moves out of range.
As Tzien backs away, Cardona returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Tzien walks into a jab.
Tzien lands with a slapping head kick.
Tzien just misses with a punch to the body.
Tzien throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Tzien steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Cardona.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tzien missing with a left hand there. Cardona was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Cardona slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Tzien throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Tzien takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Cardona wants to clinch up but Tzien keeps it at a distance.
Tzien looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Tzien throws a chopping leg kick but Cardona manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Tzien scoring well with a low kick there.
Nice uppercut lands for Cardona. That snapped Tzien's head back.
Nice shot lands for Tzien.
Cardona tries to score with a low kick but Tzien moves his leg out of the way.
Tzien only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Tzien throws a sloppy head kick and Cardona moves out of range easily.
Nice jab there from Cardona.
Tzien on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Cardona. Cardona obviously looking to wear him down.

Tzien pushes Cardona up against the cage in a clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cardona lands with a left to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tzien goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Cardona throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Cardona creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Cardona.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Tzien.
Tzien misses with a short punch on the inside.
Tzien has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Cardona seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Tzien can turn it around.
Cardona lands with a left to the head.
Cardona lands with a light punch inside.
Cardona swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Cardona lands a body punch in the clinch.
Tzien blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Tzien swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Tzien scores with a shot to the side of Cardona's head.
Cardona swings wildly with an uppercut but Tzien uses good head movement to avoid it.
Cardona lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Tzien.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cardona throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Tziens head.
Cardona doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Tzien tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Cardona smiles and moves away.
Calixto Cardona is winning the standup battle so far.
Tzien misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Jab, jab by Cardona - just one landing.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Calixto Cardona dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Hratch Tzien's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Cardona closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Tzien prevents a body shot from Cardona.
Cardona can't find room to land a body shot as Tzien controls the action.
Tzien lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Cardona backwards.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Cardona.
Cardona throws a punch but it's blocked by Tzien.
Tzien blocking some punches.
Cardona fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Tzien misses with the head strike.
Tzien tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Tzien pushes Cardona back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Cardona doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Tzien makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

Tzien pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Cardona moves into the clinch.
Tzien can't find room to land a body shot as Cardona controls the action.
Cardona tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Cardona misses with the head strike.
Tzien throws a head punch that misses.

Tzien ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Tzien no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cardona wants to control from the top but Tzien keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cardona postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cardona pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Tzien is keeping the position for now.
Tzien wants to sweep here but Cardona controlling him for the moment.
Cardona trying to control but Tzien is working from the bottom.
Tzien trying to control the position.
Cardona has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Cardona controlling from the top position.
Hratch Tzien has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Tzien looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Tzien controls Cardona momentarily but Cardona frees himself.
Cardona wants to control from the top but Tzien keeps moving.
Tzien working a defensive guard here.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Cardona misses with a body shot.
Nice defenses there by Cardona.
Tzien moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Tzien pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Tzien lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Cardona takes a jab right on the kisser.
Cardona scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Calixto Cardona is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tzien throws a jab when Cardona was well out of range.
Cardona throws a shot to the body.
Cardona is looking to slow Tzien down with leg kicks.
Cardona lands a high kick!
Tzien pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Cardona throws a leg kick which misses Tzien's front leg but catches the back leg as Tzien tries to avoid it.
Cardona misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Tzien looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Cardona connects with a nice looking jab.
Cardona pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A big right from Tzien misses.
The fighters circling - Tzien throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Tzien lands with a thumping leg kick.
Tzien takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Cardona steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Tzien.
A shot to the liver by Cardona. Beautiful body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cardona tries to clinch up but Tzien circles away and keeps his distance.
Cardona lands with a hook. Tzien tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Nice shot by Cardona.
Tzien takes a jab right on the kisser.
Cardona cracks Tzien with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
A head kick misses from Tzien.
Cardona throwing a counter right hand but Tzien manages to avoid it.
A slapping body kick lands there for Cardona.
A cross from Cardona lands.
Cardona throws a body punch but Tzien moves out of range.
Tzien flicks out a counter leg kick but Cardona steps away.
Cardona stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Tzien throws a low kick but Cardona avoids it.
Tzien takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Tzien takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Tzien tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.

And that's the end of the fight!
Calixto Cardona showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Cardona, 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 George Francis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Calixto Cardona!
During a confident post fight interview, Calixto Cardona thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.