PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rick Knuckles (ranked 2063 p4p, 4192 weight class) and Zai Zai Cabango (ranked 278 p4p, 469 weight class). Cabango has chosen HonestKey- Point A as his entrance music. Zai Zai Cabango has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Knuckles
vs
Cabango

179 cm
21
167
5 - 3 - 0

174 cm
21
165
2 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Brown Belt
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Champion Apparel

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 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Rick Knuckles!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Zai Zai Cabango!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Dillan Fox and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cabango scores with a leg kick.
Knuckles moves out of range of the strikes.
Knuckles cracks Cabango with a good jab.
Knuckles avoids the head kick by Cabango.
Cabango fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Knuckles checks it well.
Knuckles swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Knuckles cracks Cabango with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Knuckles looks to land a left hand but Cabango moved out of range nicely.
Cabango wants to counter the offense by Knuckles and move into the clinch position.
Cabango tries a head kick but it misses.
Knuckles stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Knuckles thows a left - swing and a miss!
Rick Knuckles seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cabango pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
An attempted straight right counter from Knuckles misses the target.
Knuckles looks to land a right hand but Cabango moved out of range.
Knuckles looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Cabango avoids the body shot from Knuckles.
Cabango gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Knuckles tries to clinch but Cabango moves out of range.
Cabango scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A big left from Knuckles misses.
Knuckles throws a hook to the side of Cabango's head but Cabango sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Cabango swings for the body but Knuckles moves out of range.
Knuckles was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cabango bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Cabango wants to slow Knuckles down by chopping away at his legs.
Cabango lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Cabango misses with a body kick.
Cabango misses the shot to the body.
Cabango throws a head kick that misses.
Knuckles avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Knuckles waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Cabango.
Cabango throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Cabango tries to close the distance and clinch up but Knuckles swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Cabango misses the jab.
Cabango moves out of range as Knuckles strikes.
Cabango takes one on the button.
Cabango jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Knuckles throws a lazy right hand but Cabango sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A big left from Knuckles misses.
Knuckles connects with a body shot.
Cabango defending well as Knuckles loads up on a big left hand.
Crunch! Cabango slams his shin into Knuckles's torso.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knuckles misses with an uppercut.
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!
Cabango throws a body punch but Knuckles moves out of range.
Knuckles throws an overhand right that lands on Cabango's shoulder, as Cabango tries to avoid the shot.
Cabango throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Knuckles throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Knuckles has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Cabango.
Cabango slips under a jab from Knuckles.

Knuckles moves into range and clinches up with Cabango.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Cabango.
A short right from Knuckles.
Cabango blocks an uppercut.

Knuckles pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Cabango scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
A swing and a miss from Knuckles.
Cabango throws a sloppy head kick and Knuckles moves out of range easily.
Knuckles lands a nice looking body shot.
Cabango misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Knuckles misses with a straight left.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cabango staying out of range there.
Cabango is looking to clinch.
Knuckles lands a slapping body shot.
Knuckles doesn't manage to clinch there - Cabango circles away.
Knuckles moves in looking to clinch but Cabango pushes him off.
Knuckles bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Knuckles swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Knuckles swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Knuckles misses with an uppercut.
Knuckles throws a hook but Cabango avoids it easily.
Cabango misses with a head kick.
Cabango slips a jab from Knuckles.
Knuckles connects with a body shot.
Cabango misses with a kick to the body.
Knuckles swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Knuckles throws a jab when Cabango was well out of range.
Cabango misses with a hook to the body

and Knuckles moves into the clinch.
Cabango prevents a body shot from Knuckles.
Cabango is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Knuckles to keep the fight standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cabango tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Knuckles just stands there and leans against the cage.
Cabango tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Knuckles smiles and moves away.
Rick Knuckles has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zai Zai Cabango.
Knuckles connects with a looping right hand.
Knuckles throws an overhand right that lands on Cabango's shoulder, as Cabango tries to avoid the shot.

Knuckles moves into the clinch successfully.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Knuckles scores with a shot to the side of Cabango's head.
Knuckles has Cabango pressed against the cage, preventing Cabango from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Knuckles lands with a short shot to the head.
Cabango doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Knuckles blocks an uppercut.
Cabango working aggressively here.
A right hook to the body lands for Cabango.

Cabango decides to pull guard.
Knuckles looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Cabango has his foot on Knuckles's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Knuckles works his way back into a safe position though.

That's five minutes gone in the round.

Cabango looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Knuckles postures up.

Cabango working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Knuckles doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Knuckles manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Cabango has his foot on Knuckles's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Knuckles works his way back into a safe position though.
Knuckles 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.
Cabango looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Cabango trying to control the position.

Cabango working for submissions but it's allowed Knuckles to get to half guard.
Cabango wants to improve his position but Knuckles is controlling well.
Cabango slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Cabango looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Knuckles has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Knuckles controlling from the top position.

Knuckles avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Cabango throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Cabango looking for a guillotine here but Knuckles defends easily.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Knuckles's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Cabango trying to control the position here.
Knuckles pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Cabango is keeping the position for now.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Knuckles lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Knuckles fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Cabango on the side of the head.
Cabango throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Cabango fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Knuckles is out of range.
An attempted straight right counter from Knuckles misses the target.
Cabango uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Knuckles.
Good exchange - Cabango coming out on top.
Cabango bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Knuckles loads up on a big right hand but Cabango slips the punch.
Knuckles throws a jab but it's blocked by Cabango.
Knuckles throws a poor cross that misses
and Cabango counters with a right hand to the body.
Knuckles dodges the punch combination from Cabango.
Cabango misses the shot to the body.
Knuckles gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Cabango.
Cabango darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Cabango misses with an attempted mid kick.
Cabango with a hook.

Knuckles is rocked!
Cabango fires a straight punch through the middle that cracks Knuckles square on the jaw! Damn, Knuckles is out cold on his feet and topples face first to the canvas! Wow, I haven't seen a knockout that brutal in a long time!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 9:55 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Zai Zai Cabango!
Zai Zai Cabango thanked the fans post fight for their support.