PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jihadi Joseph (ranked 352 p4p, 622 weight class) and Herve Cabrera (ranked 42 p4p, 71 weight class). Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Joseph
vs
Cabrera

175 cm
26
145
10 - 3 - 0

177 cm
26
145
12 - 6 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Voodoo Nutrition

FF Gear
Voodoo Nutrition

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 10 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jihadi Joseph!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Herve Cabrera!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Hirohito Nitta and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Some bone on bone action there as Joseph checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Cabrera has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Joseph looks to land a combination. Cabrera sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Cabrera throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Joseph's waist but Joseph gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Cabrera off to one side.
Cabrera lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
We've been told by Joseph's head coaches at Just a bunch of gays that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Joseph checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
As Cabrera backs away, Joseph returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Cabrera scores with a punch to the head.
Joseph tries to move into range but Cabrera moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Herve Cabrera seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cabrera moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Cabrera sizes up Joseph with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Cabrera connects with a single shot there.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Joseph slips a jab from Cabrera.
Joseph is looking to counter punch.
Cabrera fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Joseph has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Cabrera lands a nice looking body shot.
Cabrera moves out of range of the strikes.
Joseph rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Cabrera moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joseph misses with a jab, cross combination.
Cabrera motions for Joseph to come forward. Cabrera throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Cabrera scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Cabrera scores with a leg kick.
Cabrera misses with a wild body shot.
Cabrera connects with a jab.
Cabrera connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Joseph momentarily.
Cabrera with a nice calf kick.
Cabrera lands with a slapping head kick.
Cabrera with the inside leg kick.
A punch combination from Joseph misses.
Joseph thows a left - swing and a miss!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cabrera steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Joseph.
Joseph checks a low kick from Cabrera.
Cabrera lands with a nice body punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Joseph scores with a nice head shot.
Cabrera misses with a combination
and Joseph counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Joseph jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Joseph lands with a cross.

Cabrera is rocked!
Jihadi Joseph is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Cabrera misses with a hook.
Cabrera throws a shot from downtown. Joseph moves away and avoids it.
Joseph throwing a counter right hand but Cabrera manages to avoid it.
Joseph cracks Cabrera with a right hand to the side of the head.
Cabrera is still on wobbly legs! Can Joseph finish him?
Cabrera comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Joseph uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Cabrera.
Cabrera seems to have recovered his senses.
Cabrera has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Joseph.
Joseph on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Nice defenses there by Cabrera.
Cabrera is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cabrera lands a jab.
Joseph lunges at Cabrera with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Cabrera's hand.
Cabrera is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Joseph had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into mush.
Cabrera throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Joseph on the side of the head.
Cabrera takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Cabrera takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Cabrera connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Joseph swinging wildly here.
Joseph walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Cabrera is looking to chop away at Joseph's legs.
Cabrera works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cabrera lands a lovely overhand right.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cabrera keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
A slapping leg kick lands for Joseph.
Joseph pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Joseph looks to throw the jab but Cabrera is out of range.
Cabrera blocks a jab.
Joseph misses with a wild body shot.
Cabrera lands a jab to the head.
Cabrera shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Cabrera shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Joseph defends it nicely.
Cabrera just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromJoseph.
Jihadi Joseph has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Herve Cabrera.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cabrera misses with a takedown attempt - Joseph sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Joseph is looking to counter punch.
Cabrera misses with a wild body shot.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Herve Cabrera dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Joseph looks to land a left hand but Cabrera moved out of range nicely.
Cabrera moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
A jab from Joseph misses.
Cabrera connects with a right hand. Joseph shakes it off.
Cabrera misses with a looping left.
Cabrera swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Cabrera moves into range and connects with a jab.

Cabrera fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Joseph to the ground. Cabrera is now in Joseph's guard.
Cabrera postures up in Joseph's guard and throws a big left but Joseph blocks it.
Cabrera is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Joseph keeping moving, preventing Cabrera from controlling successfully.
Cabrera throws a strike but Joseph rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Cabrera is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Joseph defends well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joseph trying to control the position from guard on top but Cabrera is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Joseph 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.
Joseph continues to stall.
Joseph slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Joseph taking a breather here.
Cabrera sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Cabrera is looking to control Joseph's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Cabrera avoid being mounted?
Joseph passes into side control, despite Cabrera's attempt to control the position.
Joseph has control of an arm but Cabrera manages to advance to Joseph's back!
Jihadi Joseph has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Joseph wants to get back to his feet.
Joseph covering up well under a barage of strikes.
Cabrera throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
Joseph rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Cabrera is thwarting Joseph's attempts to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joseph is staying active underneath Cabrera, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Cabrera sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Joseph defending well though.
Cabrera is trying to control the action in half guard but Joseph is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Joseph keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Joseph is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Cabrera's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Cabrera's back!
Cabrera is trying to break free.
Cabrera breaks Joseph's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Cabrera trying to control but Joseph is working from the bottom.
Joseph being controlled here, momentarily.
Cabrera has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Joseph controlling Cabrera's posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cabrera in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Cabrera throwing strikes but missing.
Cabrera scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Cabrera trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Cabrera won't allow Joseph to sweep him here.
Cabrera sitting in guard here, content to control.
Joseph has momentary wrist control but Cabrera slips an elbow through the middle.
Cabrera looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Cabrera has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Joseph keeping moving, preventing Cabrera from controlling successfully.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Herve Cabrera showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Cabrera looking to score a takedown here. Joseph is defending well but Cabrera drives through and ends up in Joseph's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cabrera trying to control the position from guard on top but Joseph is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Joseph has control of Cabrera's left arm, preventing Cabrera from doing any damage.
Cabrera throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Joseph works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Cabrera trying to control the position from guard on top but Joseph is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cabrera looking to sit in guard and control but Joseph gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Joseph stopping the sweep attempt from Cabrera.

Cabrera throws his legs up looking for a submission but Joseph uses it to pass to side control.
Joseph tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Herve Cabrera has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cabrera is looking to regain half guard here but Joseph keeps moving and retains side control.
Joseph gets to mount! Cabrera was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Cabrera regains half guard.
Joseph looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Cabrera is looking for a sweep. Joseph is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cabrera is trying to control but can't.
Joseph performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

Cabrera looking for submissions off his back.
Joseph with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Joseph throwing shots but Cabrera is blocking nicely.
Cabrera wants to control but Joseph is keeping busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cabrera looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Joseph controlling the action here.
Cabrera is pressing down on Joseph's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Joseph sitting in guard here, content to control.
Cabrera looking to control.
Joseph has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Joseph avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

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.
Joseph not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Joseph bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Joseph seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Cabrera lands with a shot to the body.
Joseph throws out a loose jab but Cabrera uses good head movement to avoid it.
Cabrera getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Cabrera misses with a body shot
and Joseph counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Cabrera slips a jab from Joseph.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
A shot to the body from Cabrera misses
and Cabrera takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Joseph tries to bum rush Cabrera with a series of wild strikes but Cabrera uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Cabrera with a poor takedown
and Joseph counters with a crisp right that sends Cabrera to the canvas! Joseph follows up with punches from the mount and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Jihadi Joseph!
A very excited looking Jihadi Joseph made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.