PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Evaristo Catricheo (ranked 2899 p4p, 2153 weight class) and Kenny Omega (ranked 355 p4p, 272 weight class). Catricheo comes to the cage accompanied by Entre a mi pago sin golpear. Omega has chosen Kenny Omega Entrance Theme from AEW as his entrance music. The key to victory for Evaristo Catricheo has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Catricheo
vs
Omega

197 cm
25
260
1 - 0 - 0

187 cm
26
278
2 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Experienced

Nutritional Shaved Ice

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Evaristo Catricheo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Kenny Omega!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, James Glass and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Omega defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Catricheo.

Catricheo feints and as Omega raises his hands in defense, Catricheo changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Catricheo controlling from the top position.

Omega escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Catricheo gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Catricheo seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Catricheo throwing strikes from guard but Omega blocks nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Catricheo slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

Catricheo got a little sloppy there for a moment and Omega has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Catricheo has managed to get both his arms back between Omega's legs - danger averted.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Omega is controlling Catricheo's posture.
Catricheo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Catricheo trying to control the position from guard on top but Omega is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Omega looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Catricheo has picked Omega up and slammed him! Omega can't keep hold of the triangle and Catricheo manages to pass to side control!
Omega struggling a bit here.
Omega is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Catricheo wants to control but Omega is keeping him busy.

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.
Omega told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
The strikes coming from Catricheo are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Omega is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Catricheo landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

Omega is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Catricheo pulls his head out easily.
Catricheo tries to pass the half guard into mount. Omega knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Catricheo wants to control but Omega is keeping him busy.
Catricheo working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Omega's thigh. Omega counters though and makes it back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Catricheo looking to sit in guard and control but Omega gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Catricheo keeping moving, preventing Omega from controlling successfully.

Catricheo is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Omega wants to control from the top but Catricheo keeps moving.
Catricheo 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.
Omega showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Catricheo is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Catricheo sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Omega defending well though.
Omega wants to control but Catricheo is keeping busy.
Catricheo trying to control from half guard but Omega is working away.

Catricheo is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Omega defends it well.
Omega is trying to control but can't.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Omega is looking to improve his position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Evaristo Catricheo 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.

Catricheo throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Omega's waist but Omega gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Catricheo off to one side.
Catricheo looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Omega is fending him off so far but Catricheo persists. Nope, Omega circles away and we're back to standing.
Catricheo shoots in looking for a takedown. Omega tries to sprawl out of it but Catricheo keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Omega manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Evaristo Catricheo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Omega stuffs the takedown.

Catricheo closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Omega quickly recovers to half guard.
Omega is looking to improve his position.

Catricheo is looking for a kimura but Omega is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Catricheo to get the leverage.

Omega looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Catricheo works his way into side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Omega is trying to control Catricheo's posture but Catricheo avoids it.
Catricheo looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Catricheo is looking to take a break and control but Omega is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Omega struggling a bit here.
Catricheo sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Omega is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Omega gets back to half guard.
Omega tries to roll over but Catricheo keeps him under control.
Catricheo wants to free his trapped foot but Omega is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Catricheo wants to take a breather but Omega is having none of it.

That's two 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.
Omega wants to improve his position but Catricheo is controlling well.

Omega looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Catricheo works his foot free and advances to mount.
Omega can't escape the position.
Catricheo controlling the pace for now.
Omega has worked his way to half guard, taking advantage of Catricheo's lack of action.
Catricheo is looking to take a break and control but Omega is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Evaristo Catricheo overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Omega is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Catricheo pulls his head out easily.
Catricheo is pressing down on Omega's thigh, looking to free his foot. Omega is holding on for now.
Catricheo is looking to take a break and control but Omega is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Omega trying to control here.
Omega wants to improve his position but Catricheo is controlling well.

Omega looking for submissions off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Omega moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Catricheo working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Omega keeping moving, preventing Catricheo from controlling successfully.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Omega is trying to keep Catricheo in close.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Catricheo fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Catricheo shoots in for a takedown but Omega shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Evaristo Catricheo dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Catricheo fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Omega avoids it really well and circles away.

Catricheo closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Omega quickly recovers to half guard.
Omega tries to get to full guard but Catricheo has control of the leg.
Catricheo wants to pass the guard but Omega is defending well.
Omega is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Omega is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Catricheo pulls his head out easily.
Omega has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Catricheo is working away from the top position though.

Omega looking for submissions off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Omega is trying to maintain the position but Catricheo is very close to passing his half guard.
Catricheo tries to pass the half guard into mount. Omega knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Catricheo sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Omega works his way to full guard. Good work.

Omega has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Catricheo can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Kenny Omega has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Catricheo trying to control the position from guard on top but Omega is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Catricheo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Catricheo controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Catricheo trying to control the position from guard on top but Omega is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Omega fails with the takedown.
Omega throws a body shot but no joy.
Omega throws a body punch but Catricheo moves out of range.
Catricheo doesn't succeed with the takedown

so Omega counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Catricheo not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Omega trying to control but Catricheo is working from the bottom.
Catricheo controls Omega momentarily but Omega frees himself.

Omega is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Omega is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Omega trying to control but Catricheo is working from the bottom.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Omega dives in and grabs Catricheo's left leg, looking for a takedown. Catricheo pushes down on Omega's head and hops out.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Catricheo enables Omega to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Catricheo manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Catricheo looking for a sweep. Not yet Catricheo, not yet.
Omega is stalling in the full guard.
Omega pushes down on Catricheo's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Catricheo is trying to get back to full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Omega moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Catricheo.
Catricheo regains half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kenny Omega comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Catricheo has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Andrew Berry scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Glass scores the fight 29:28
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Evaristo Catricheo!
Evaristo Catricheo very nearly forgot to thank Nutritional Shaved Ice 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.
The defeated Kenny Omega had this to say: 'I'll chalk this loss up to my hectic schedule.....I'll be back'.