PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Santino Cabal (ranked 925 p4p, 379 weight class) and AJ Brown (ranked 143 p4p, 57 weight class). Brown comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Ace Hood - Undefeated kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Cabal
vs
Brown

182 cm
27
213
11 - 9 - 0

188 cm
31
206
19 - 9 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

30th Century Beer Store
Champion Apparel

Northern Zombie
Shadow Realm Apparel

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Santino Cabal!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, AJ Brown!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Bruno Hogan and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cabal misses with a hook
letting Brown counter with a right hand.
We've been informed that Brown has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.

Cabal has taken the fight to the clinch.
Brown tries to circle away but Cabal has him pinned against the cage.
Brown lands a body punch.
Cabal misses with a short punch on the inside.
Cabal looking to slow down the pace here.
Brown lands with a right to the head.
Brown tries to work over Cabal's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Cabal blocks an uppercut.
Brown lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
I was talking to Cabal's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
A body shot lands from Brown.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Brown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cabal misses with a short punch on the inside.
Brown misses with the head strike.
Brown tries to work over Cabal's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Brown.
Brown throws a head punch that misses.
Brown blocking some punches.
Cabal is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cabal misses with a punch on the inside.

Cabal pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Cabal fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Brown has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Brown connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Cabal attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Cabal slips a jab and a cross from Brown.
Brown throws a poor cross that misses
and Brown takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Cabal shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Cabal is looking to chop away at Brown's legs.
Cabal misses with an uppercut
and Brown counters with a nice body shot.
Cabal throws a body punch but Brown moves out of range.
Brown lands a jab to the head.
Cabal misses with a right hand
and Brown counters with a stiff right hand.
Nice jab there from Brown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cabal misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Brown.
Brown scores with a jab to the body.
Brown misses with a body shot.
It looked like Cabal wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Cabal misses with a hook. Brown ducked under it nicely.
Cabal looks to score with a jab to the body but Brown is just out of range.
Cabal defending well as Brown loads up on a big left hand.
Cabal misses with a hook to the body
and Brown counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Brown fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Cabal manages to avoid it.
A slapping leg kick lands for Brown.

Cabal pushes Brown up against the cage in a clinch.
Cabal prevents a body shot from Brown.
Brown looking to stall.
Cabal blocks a body shot from Brown.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brown delivers a nice body kick.
Cabal misses with a head kick.
Cabal thuds his right hand into Brown's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Brown is looking to land body kicks.
Cabal fires out a quick counter leg kick but Brown just manages to avoid it.
Cabal throws a quick inside leg kick.
Brown connects with a single shot there.

Brown gets tackled into the cage by Cabal. Cabal maintains the clinch.
Cabal doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Brown tries to work over Cabal's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Brown can't find room to land a body shot as Cabal controls the action.
Brown swings wildly with an uppercut but Cabal uses good head movement to avoid it.
Brown goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Cabal breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Cabal misses with a jab to the body
and Brown counters with a nice low kick that buckles Cabal's knee momentarily.
Cabal misses with a body punch
and Brown connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cabal tries to work over Brown's front leg with a kick but Brown checks it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cabal checks the leg kick.
Cabal throwing a counter right hand but Brown manages to avoid it.
Cabal throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Brown sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Brown lands with a shot to the body.
Cabal scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Brown finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Cabal quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
A bone on bone clash there as Brown blocks the leg kick.
Cabal throws a hook to the side of Brown's head but Brown sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Cabal is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Brown.
Brown looks to land a left hand but Cabal moved out of range nicely.
Cabal throws a big counter combination but Brown scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Brown uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Cabal.
Cabal misses with an uppercut
letting Brown counter with a right hand.
Cabal throws a head kick but Brown moves out of range.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

AJ Brown dominated that round.
That's time! Cabal's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

A big left from Cabal misses.
It seemed like Brown was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Cabal scores with a nice strike.
Cabal throws a big shot that misses.
Brown takes one on the button.
Brown avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Cabal has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Brown swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Cabal feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Brown takes a swing at Cabal's ribcage but misses.
Brown scores with a jab to the body.
A nice leg kick lands there from Brown.
Brown throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cabal is looking to slow Brown down with leg kicks.
Brown moves out of range as Cabal throws a body kick.
Cabal keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Brown.
Cabal takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice jab there from Brown.
Cabal slips under a jab from Brown.
Cabal throws a low kick but Brown avoids it.
Brown let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Brown avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Cabal misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Cabal misses with an uppercut.
Cabal lands a jab.
Brown cracks Cabal with a right hand to the side of the head.
Cabal throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Cabal takes one to the chin there.
Cabal misses with a hook. Brown ducked under it nicely.
Cabal misses with a body shot
and Brown counters with a nice leg kick.
AJ Brown seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cabal gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cabal chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Brown can pounce on him.
Brown chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Cabal can pounce on him.
Brown pivots, looking for a leg kick but Cabal is out of range and Brown settles back down.
Brown lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Cabal swings widly with a right hand
and Brown counters with a stiff right hand.
Brown checks a leg kick nicely.
Cabal throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Brown throws a body shot but no joy.
Cabal pivots, looking for a leg kick but Brown is out of range and Cabal settles back down.
Brown misses with a body shot
enabling Cabal to counter with a crisp jab.
Brown takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Brown throws a body punch but Cabal moves out of range.
A quick step to the side and Cabal tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cabal throws a right hand that misses
and Brown counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Cabal thinking.
Brown throws out a loose jab but Cabal uses good head movement to avoid it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Cabal. Brown does a little dance to reset his feet.
Cabal swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Brown is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Cabal with a body shot.
No joy there for Cabal, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A clash of legs there as Brown blocks the low kick.
Brown throws out a counter right but Cabal avoids it with no problem.
Brown throws a hook but Cabal avoids it easily.
Brown misses with a hook.
Cabal scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Cabal just misses with a punch to the body.
Cabal avoids the body shot from Brown.
Cabal throws a sloppy head kick
and Brown counters with a nice body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Cabal throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Cabal throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Cabal stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Nice shot lands for Brown.
Brown feints and then cracks Cabal's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Cabal down.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cabal throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Brown throws a chopping leg kick but Cabal manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Cabal throws a leg kick
and Brown connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A jab from Brown misses.
Brown ducks under a wild hook from Cabal.
Brown throws a looping overhand right but Cabal ducks down to avoid it.
Cabal throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Cabal lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but AJ Brown will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Brown takes a jab right on the kisser.
Cabal tries to work over Brown's front leg with a kick but Brown checks it.
Brown with a jab.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Brown.
Cabal throws an overhand right that lands on Brown's shoulder, as Brown tries to avoid the shot.
Brown looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Brown throws a hook but Cabal blocks it.
Cabal throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Cabal cracks Brown with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Brown misses with a low kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cabal feints and then cracks Brown's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Brown down.
Decent striking displayed by Cabal there.
Cabal throws out a powerful jab.
Cabal is looking to score with low kicks.
Cabal chopping away at his opponent's legs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big left from Cabal misses.
Cabal fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Brown checks it well.

Cabal moves into range and clinches up with Brown.
Cabal tries to work over Brown's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Cabal scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Brown stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Brown throws a head punch that misses.
Brown lands a right hand that snaps the head of Cabal backwards.
Brown misses with a punch on the inside.
Brown misses with a punch on the inside.
Brown lands a left hand.
Brown's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.

Brown breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Cabal jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Cabal throws an off balance right hand
and Brown makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Cabal throws a nice outside leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Cabal.
Cabal throws a leg kick
and Cabal takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Brown lands a really nice looking cross but Cabal seems unphased.
Cabal swings for the body but Brown moves out of range.
Cabal misses with a wild combination.
Cabal walks forward, straight into a front kick from Brown.
Cabal slips a straight right by Brown.
Cabal misses with a head kick.
Brown slips a straight right by Cabal.
Brown looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Brown uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Cabal has time to react.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice leg kick lands there from Brown.
Cabal tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Brown was well out of range. Poor timing from Cabal.
Brown lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Cabal throws a hook but Brown avoids it easily.
Cabal takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Cabal swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Brown counters with a nice body shot.
Santino Cabal has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Brown with a nice calf kick.
Cabal misses with an uppercut
and Brown counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
A good leg kick by Brown.
Brown wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Cabal throws a lazy uppercut
and Brown counters with a good, hard body kick but Cabal shrugs it off.
Brown throws a hook but Cabal blocks it.
Cabal looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Cabal tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Brown is able to avoid easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cabal throws a lazy uppercut
and Brown counters with a nice leg kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cabal tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Brown throws a nice outside leg kick.
Cabal misses with a straight right.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Brown! But no joy.
Brown misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Cabal.
Cabal misses with a leg kick.
Cabal misses with a lunging right hand
enabling Brown to counter with a crisp jab.
Brown scores with the left hand. Cabal knows he should have avoided that one.
Brown blocks a head kick by Cabal.
Cabal throws a lazy uppercut
and Brown counters with a nice uppercut.
Cabal on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Brown. Brown obviously looking to wear him down.
Brown scores with a jab. Cabal acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
AJ Brown comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Brown has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 John Mangel scores the fight 27:30
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 27:30
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... AJ Brown!
After winning the bout, AJ Brown thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.