PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ecce Homo (ranked 3816 p4p, 4292 weight class) and Joao Cardoso (ranked 190 p4p, 215 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Homo
vs
Cardoso

170 cm
27
140
5 - 10 - 2

175 cm
28
140
1 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Very quick

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

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 5 - 10 - 2, fighting out of Tokyo, Ecce Homo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Joao Cardoso!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Aafke Stam and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Homo has Cardoso up against the cage in a clinch.
Cardoso is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Homo gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Homo lands a good knee to the midsection. Cardoso won't want to take too many of those.
Cardoso wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Cardoso is working for takedown but Homo is calmly controlling the position for now.
Homo lands a nice knee to the body.
Homo prevents a takedown attempt there.
Ecce Homo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joao Cardoso.
Homo stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cardoso has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Homo is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Cardoso has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Homo after a bit of a struggle.
Homo will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Cardoso up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cardoso is looking to take this one to the mat.
Cardoso is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
The referee is keeping an eye on Homo - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Cardoso is trying to pull guard but Homo has him pressed against the cage.
Cardoso tries to pull guard but Homo won't allow it.
Cardoso is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Homo gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Homo stalling the fight.
Homo crunches a lovely knee into Cardoso's ribcage.
The referee is keeping an eye on Homo - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Homo lands a good knee to the midsection. Cardoso won't want to take too many of those.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Homo has Cardoso pushed against the cage.
A short left from Homo.
Cardoso fails to pull the fight into his guard.
A short body shot lands from Homo as the two fighters clinch.
Homo's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Cardoso wants a takedown but no success here.
Cardoso is looking for a takedown.
Cardoso wants a takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cardoso is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Homo to keep the fight standing.
Cardoso jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Homo walks away with a smile on his face. Cardoso gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
A jab from Cardoso misses.

Homo takes the fight into the clinch.
Homo gets underhooks to prevent Cardoso's takedown attempt.
Cardoso has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Homo is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Homo gets underhooks to prevent Cardoso's takedown attempt.
Cardoso has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Homo after a bit of a struggle.
Homo putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Cardoso in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Cardoso looks winded!
Cardoso goes for a takedown attempt but Homo pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Homo gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cardoso is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Cardoso drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Homo controlling the action here for a moment.
Cardoso tries for a takedown. No joy.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cardoso is trying to push Homo away but Homo has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Cardoso wants to take the fight to the mat but Homo manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Cardoso is looking to clinch but Homo is avoiding it.

Cardoso tries to keep at a distance but Homo has taken the fight into the clinch.
We've been informed that Cardoso has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Cardoso is looking to break free of the clinch but Homo has double underhooks.
Cardoso is trying to drag Homo to the mat but Homo just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Cardoso can't break the clinch.
Homo unloads a knee to the mid-section. Cardoso lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Cardoso looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Cardoso is trying to drag Homo to the mat but Homo just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Cardoso is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Homo gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Ecce Homo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joao Cardoso.
Homo gets underhooks to prevent Cardoso's takedown attempt.
Cardoso can't get the takedown.
The referee is keeping an eye on Homo - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Cardoso has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Homo after a bit of a struggle.

That's two 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.
Homo landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Cardoso is trying to stall.
Homo lands a nice knee to the body.
Cardoso changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Homo fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Cardoso rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
and Homo counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Ecce Homo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Homo has taken the fight to the clinch.
Homo gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Cardoso.
Homo is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Cardoso can do to turn this around?
Cardoso has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Homo after a bit of a struggle.
Cardoso is breathing heavily.
Homo controlling the action here for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Homo pressing his opponent against the cage.
Homo using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

Cardoso has clasped his hands together around Homo's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Cardoso creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Homo sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

Cardoso tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Cardoso has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Homo manages to work his way to half guard, despite Cardoso's best efforts.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cardoso missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Cardoso is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Homo has managed to free his arm - good work.
Homo tries to get to full guard but Cardoso has control of the leg.

Cardoso is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Homo is just riding it out for now. Cardoso eventually gives up the hold.
Homo is trying to get back to full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cardoso thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ecce Homo dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

A head kick misses from Homo.
Cardoso is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Homo.
Cardoso swings and misses with a hook to the body.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Homo taking a breather.
Cardoso goes for a takedown attempt but Homo pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Homo has taken the fight to the clinch.
Cardoso is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Homo is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Homo lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Homo landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Good body shot from Homo.
Homo comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Homo throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Homo leaning against his opponent.
Homo using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Cardoso wants a takedown but no success here.
Ecce Homo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joao Cardoso.
Homo stalling.
Cardoso takes an elbow to the temple.
Cardoso is trying to pull guard but Homo has him pressed against the cage.
Homo prevents the takedown attempt.
Cardoso takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Homo prevents the takedown attempt.
Cardoso tries to score a body lock takedown but Homo shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Cardoso has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Homo after a bit of a struggle.
Cardoso wants to take the fight to the mat but Homo manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Cardoso changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Homo fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Homo pushes Cardoso 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!
Homo unloads a knee to the mid-section. Cardoso lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Cardoso has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Homo is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Homo takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cardoso jumps guard but Homo turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Homo lands an elbow that stopped Cardoso in his tracks for a moment.
Homo is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Homo lands a shot to the body.
Homo stalling the fight.
Homo lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Cardoso backwards.

Cardoso is rocked!
Cardoso tries for a takedown but Homo manages to get underhooks.
Cardoso is still on wobbly legs! Can Homo finish him?
Homo crunches a lovely knee into Cardoso's ribcage.
Cardoso has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Homo after a bit of a struggle.
Homo landing knees to the body.
Cardoso seems to have recovered his senses.
Homo lands a shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Homo lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Cardoso.
Homo manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Homo lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Homo pressing his opponent against the cage.
Nice body punch from Homo.
Joao Cardoso has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cardoso tries to stall but Homo uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Ecce Homo is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Ecce Homo has scored more points in the clinch so far.
A hook to the body from Homo.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ecce Homo showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Homo, 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 Saam Ante scores the fight 30:25
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 30:25
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 30:25

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ecce Homo!
Our winner, Ecce Homo, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.