PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Calixto Cardona (ranked 1052 p4p, 1072 weight class) and Bert River (ranked 120 p4p, 122 weight class). River has chosen Five Finger Death Punch- Bad Company as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Cardona
vs
River

170 cm
36
149
33 - 22 - 2

170 cm
31
145
16 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter
HELLBENT

Bondi MMA 🏝️
Carnage

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 33 - 22 - 2, 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 - 0, fighting out of New York, Bert River!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Paulo Santos and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cardona looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
River appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Cardona looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
River sizes up Cardona with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Cardona swings for the body but River moves out of range.
Cardona misses the shot to the body.
Cardona tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but River was well out of range. Poor timing from Cardona.
River throws out a counter right but Cardona avoids it with no problem.
Cardona bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps River's head backwards.
Cardona misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
River scores with a crisp jab that stopped Cardona in his tracks.
Cardona lands a really nice looking cross but River seems unphased.
River fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Cardona checks it well.
Cardona blocks the body kick.
Cardona tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but River was well out of range. Poor timing from Cardona.
River now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
River jabs at Cardona's body.
River throws a right and a left that Cardona avoids nicely.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cardona connects with the punch.
A slow jab from Cardona misses its intended target.
River tests Cardona's chin there with a solid looking shot.
River tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
River needs to keep his hands up - Cardona had a free shot at his head there.

River gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Cardona lands a nice uppercut.
River blocks an uppercut.
River struggles to land a body shot inside as Cardona controls his hands.
Cardona blocks a body shot from River.

River jumps guard and drags Cardona to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

River has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Cardona can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Cardona wants to control from the top but River keeps moving.
River has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
River trying to keep a closed guard but Cardona is proving a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

River throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Cardona is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

River has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Cardona can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Cardona accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cardona wants to stand but River has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
River looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Cardona controls from within his opponent's guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Cardona moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
River throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Cardona sees it coming and avoids it easily.
It looked like Cardona wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
River with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Cardona to score with a decent uppercut.
River scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Cardona ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
A big right from Cardona misses.
A looping hook to the body misses from Cardona. River does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cardona bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of River's head.
Cardona throws a hook but River blocks it.
Cardona throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
River misses with a few strikes there.
Crunch! River slams his shin into Cardona's torso.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cardona slips a jab from River.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from River is defended easily by Cardona.
Cardona connects with an inside leg kick.
Cardona misses with the combination.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Cardona scores with a crisp jab that stopped River in his tracks.
River moves out of range as Cardona strikes.
Cardona slips a straight right by River.
Cardona tries to close the distance and clinch but River swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Calixto Cardona will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Cardona tries to clinch there but River circles away.
Cardona keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from River.
Cardona loads up on a big right hand but River slips the punch.
A slow jab from Cardona misses its intended target.
Cardona's hands are dropping dangerously low here and River connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Cardona scrambles back to his feet.
Cardona connects with a solid leg kick.
River misses with a hook.
A slow jab from River misses its intended target.
Cardona throwing a counter right hand but River manages to avoid it.
Cardona bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Cardona throws out a loose jab but River uses good head movement to avoid it.
Cardona lands with a hook. River tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Cardona fakes the leg kick and cracks River in the body.
Cardona works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Cardona lands with a nice body punch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
River keeps the fight on the outside.
Cardona bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps River's head backwards.

Cardona gets tackled into the cage by River. River maintains the clinch.

Cardona breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Cardona throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
River moves out of range of the body kick from Cardona.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cardona keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Jab, jab by River - just one landing.
Cardona throws a body punch but River moves out of range.
River thows a body kick. Cardona tries to catch it but that hurt him.
River throws a low kick, looking for Cardona's leg but Cardona calmly moves out of range.
River throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Cardona stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
River looks to score with a jab to the body but Cardona is just out of range.
Cardona throws a quick counter kick to the body but River avoids it.
Cardona bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps River's head backwards.

Cardona gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows River to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Cardona is looking to stand back up but River counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Cardona.

This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
River is trying to control the action in half guard but Cardona is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cardona wants to get back to his feet.
River thows a huge punch but Cardona dodges it nicely.
Cardona has hold of River's hands but River slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Cardona has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but River is on him like a limpet, forcing Cardona back against the cage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Cardona.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Cardona.
River has a couple of punches blocked by Cardona.
A short body shot lands from River as the two fighters clinch.
A shot in the inside from Cardona.
River misses with a body punch.
A nice left hand lands by Cardona.
Cardona has a couple of punches blocked by River.
Cardona working some nice short punches in the clinch.

Cardona breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cardona ducks down and throws a hook to the body but River moves away.
Calixto Cardona is winning the standup battle so far.
Cardona bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Cardona is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by River.
Cardona's jab looks to have found its range, popping River under the eye.
Cardona is looking to clinch but River is avoiding it.
Cardona swings for the body but River moves out of range.
Cardona is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that River can do to turn this around?
Cardona tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but River paws at him with a jab and circles away.
River scoring well with a low kick there.
Calixto Cardona is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Cardona finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Cardona throws a hook to the side of River's head but River sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
River misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Cardona.
Cardona is looking to clinch but River is avoiding it.
River wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Cardona turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
River looks to land a left hand but Cardona moved out of range nicely.
River thuds his shin into the meat of Cardona's side.
River throws a low kick but Cardona avoids it.
River scores with a nice head shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cardona checks the leg kick.
A quick step to the side and Cardona tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
River blocks a jab.
River was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Cardona throws a hook but River blocks it.
Cardona chopping away at his opponent's legs.
The fighters circling - River throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
River gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
River throws a body punch but Cardona moves out of range.
River displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Cardona throws out the jab.
River throws a right and a left that both miss.
Cardona gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Cardona tries to work over River's front leg with a kick but River checks it.
River throws a chopping leg kick but Cardona manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Cardona misses with a hook.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
River throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
An attempted straight right counter from Cardona misses the target.
Cardona tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Cardona ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
River tries to move into range but Cardona moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Cardona lands with a thumping leg kick.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Calixto Cardona dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Cardona's jab looks to have found its range, popping River under the eye.
Cardona connects with a nice looking jab.
Cardona avoids the body shot from River.
Cardona looks to score with a jab to the body but River is just out of range.
Cardona moves into range and connects with a jab.
Nice body punch from River.
River throws a lazy right hand but Cardona sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Cardona looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Cardona jabs River to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Cardona takes one on the button.
River on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Cardona lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but River circles away quickly and effectively.
Cardona backing away here, and River unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
River tries to clinch but Cardona is having none of it.
It looked like Cardona wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
River slips a straight right by Cardona.
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!
River throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
River throws a body punch but Cardona moves out of range.
River throws a head kick that half lands.
River tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Cardona was well out of range. Poor timing from River.
A counter left hand to the body from Cardona misses its target.
River goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
A nice leg kick lands there from Cardona.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Decent striking displayed by River there.
River checks a low kick from Cardona.
Cardona thows a left - swing and a miss!
River connects with a body shot that sends Cardona's belly button to the back.
River pivots, looking for a leg kick but Cardona is out of range and River settles back down.
River ducks under a wild hook from Cardona.
Cardona tests River's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Cardona ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
River displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Cardona throws out the jab.
River takes one on the button.
Cardona paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Cardona throws a nice outside leg kick.
Cardona throws a head kick but River moves out of range.
Cardona throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
River throws a body shot but no joy.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
River throws a leg kick but Cardona sees it coming and checks it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
River throws a push kick but Cardona slaps the foot to one side.
Cardona blocks a jab.
River lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Cardona lands a glancing blow to the side of River's head.
River waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Cardona.
River has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
A telegraphed right hand from River misses the target.
A big left from River misses.
Cardona fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. River looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Cardona moves out of range of the body kick from River.
River takes a jab right on the kisser.
River throws a front kick aimed at Cardona's knee but Cardona avoids it well.
River tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Cardona swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
River is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Cardona throws a big shot that misses.
River throws a wild body kick that Cardona sees coming a mile off.
Cardona looks to land a left hand but River moved out of range nicely.
River fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
That kick from River tenderised Cardona's leg. Cardona is trying to keep his angry face on.
Bert River has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Calixto Cardona is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
River throws a leg kick but Cardona checks it.
River throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Jab, jab by River - just one landing.
River misses with a kick to the body.
Cardona tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but River was well out of range. Poor timing from Cardona.

Cardona fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with River, pushing him back against the cage.
Cardona takes a shot to the head.
River blocking some punches.
River jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Cardona walks away with a smile on his face. River gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Cardona checks a leg kick.
Cardona swings for the body but River moves out of range.
River throws an overhand right that lands on Cardona's shoulder, as Cardona tries to avoid the shot.
Cardona was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Cardona just misses with a punch to the body.
Cardona scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Cardona stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Cardona wants it to stay on the feet.
River throws the left hand but Cardona avoids the punch easily.
Cardona scores with a jab to the jaw.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
River shoots in looking for a takedown. Cardona tries to sprawl out of it but River keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Cardona manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Calixto Cardona has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bert River.
River takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
River walks into a stiff left hand from Cardona.
River uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Cardona.
Cardona tries to close the distance and clinch but River swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Cardona fails in his attempt to clinch.
Cardona lands with a nice body kick.
River shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Cardona as he avoids it easily.
River doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Cardona counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A punch lands to the side of River 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Cardona checks a leg kick.
Cardona was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Cardona scores with a body shot.
River throws a looping overhand right but Cardona ducks down to avoid it.

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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Calixto Cardona!
Calixto Cardona decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.