PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between El Cucuy (ranked 4089 p4p, 24284 weight class) and Minatay Mibangon (ranked 426 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Cucuy
vs
Mibangon

180 cm
24
160
0 - 0 - 0

182 cm
19
160
3 - 15 - 3

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, El Cucuy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 15 - 3, fighting out of Las Vegas, Minatay Mibangon!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Richard Clark and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cucuy tries for a takedown but Mibangon sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
And Mibangon responds with a good body kick, but Cucuy manages to step out the way in time.
Cucuy shoots in and drives through. Mibangon sprawls well.
Mibangon is trying to counter with his kicks.
Cucuy looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for El Cucuy. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cucuy just misses with a punch to the body.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Cucuy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cucuy goes for a takedown in the clinch but Mibangon prevents it.
Cucuy lands an elbow just above Mibangon 's eye.

It looks like Minatay Mibangon has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mibangon can't get the takedown.

Cucuy pulls guard successfully.
Cucuy wants to hit a sweep here but Mibangon passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Cucuy there!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cucuy keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Cucuy is hanging on here. He's in a desperate position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cucuy tries to reverse the position but Mibangon maintains control.
Mibangon trying to control but Cucuy is having none of it.
Cucuy tries to hold on but Mibangon postures up.
Cucuy is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cucuy is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Cucuy is in all sorts of trouble here.
Mibangon controlling from the full mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cucuy really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cucuy is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Cucuy regains half guard.
Cucuy is looking for a sweep. Mibangon is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Cucuy is refusing to be controlled, as Mibangon sits in half guard.
Cucuy wants to get back to full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mibangon fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Minatay Mibangon will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Minatay Mibangon's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Cucuy fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Mibangon displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Cucuy.
And Mibangon responds with a good body kick, but Cucuy manages to step out the way in time.
Cucuy misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Mibangon.
El Cucuy seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mibangon stuffs the takedown attempt from Cucuy. Cucuy gets slowly back to his feet.
And Mibangon responds with a good body kick, but Cucuy manages to step out the way in time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for El Cucuy. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mibangon stuffs the takedown.
Mibangon follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Cucuy shoots in looking for a takedown but Mibangon manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Cucuy's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Cucuy fails to land the takedown.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cucuy plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Cucuy swinging wildly here.
Cucuy swings for the body but Mibangon moves out of range.
Mibangon thinks about the counter body kick.
Mibangon shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Cucuy pinned against the cage. Cucuy gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cucuy shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Mibangon sprawls well. Mibangon wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Cucuy gets slowly back to his feet.
And Mibangon responds with a good body kick, but Cucuy manages to step out the way in time.
Cucuy shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Mibangon as he avoids it easily.
Mibangon counters with a body kick.
Cucuy fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Mibangon thinks about the counter body kick.
Cucuy fails with the takedown
and Mibangon counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Mibangon drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cucuy regains half guard.
Mibangon takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Mibangon is looking to take a break and control but Cucuy is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Cucuy wants to sweep but Mibangon has passed to side control!
Mibangon trying to control the position but Cucuy is working away.
Cucuy is trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Cucuy trying to remain calm as Mibangon controls from the top position.
Cucuy tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Cucuy sneaks back into half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cucuy gets full guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Minatay Mibangon showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Minatay Mibangon's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Cucuy closes the distance and clinches up with Mibangon, looking for a takedown. Cucuy pushes Mibangon against the cage but Mibangon circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Mibangon follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.

Cucuy closes the distance and clinches.

Cucuy breaks the clinch.
Cucuy lands a high kick!

Cucuy rushes Mibangon and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Mibangon takes an elbow to the forehead.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cucuy is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Mibangon is defending well.
Cucuy changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Mibangon fights it off and pushes away nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for El Cucuy. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cucuy pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Mibangon is trying to counter with his kicks.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cucuy shoots in for a double leg but Mibangon sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
And Mibangon responds with a good body kick, but Cucuy manages to step out the way in time.
Mibangon displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Cucuy.
Mibangon counters with a body kick.
Cucuy shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Mibangon sprawls well. Mibangon wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Cucuy gets slowly back to his feet.
Mibangon goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
A low kick from Cucuy misses

and Mibangon decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Cucuy's guard.
Mibangon is stalling in the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cucuy managing to control the position.
Cucuy is trying to control the position but Mibangon postures up.
Minatay Mibangon has got the better of the ground game so far.
Mibangon wants to control from the top but Cucuy keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cucuy looking to control.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Mibangon trying to control the position from guard on top but Cucuy is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Cucuy fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Mibangon avoids it really well and circles away.
El Cucuy is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Cucuy shoots for a double leg takedown but Mibangon sprawls well. He's pushed Cucuy's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Cucuy stuffs the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Mibangon looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Cucuy clinches with his opponent.
Minatay Mibangon is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Cucuy landing knees to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
El Cucuy showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Mibangon has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 29:29
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Minatay Mibangon!