PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Matheus Cardoso (ranked 2505 p4p, 1866 weight class) and Cero Dohbopavich (ranked 290 p4p, 221 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Cardoso
vs
Dohbopavich

183 cm
25
180
2 - 0 - 0

181 cm
26
191
5 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Good chin

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Northern Zombie

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Matheus Cardoso!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Cero Dohbopavich!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cardoso looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Cardoso prevents Dohbopavich from standing back up.
Cardoso definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.

Dohbopavich has one foot on Cardoso's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

Cardoso manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Dohbopavich on his heels. He'll look to pass Dohbopavich's guard now, I'm sure.

Dohbopavich has his feet on Cardoso's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Matheus Cardoso seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Horrible takedown attempt by Cardoso or perhaps it was just good defense by Dohbopavich, which made it look bad.

Dohbopavich shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Dohbopavich showed some decent athleticism there.
Cardoso is staying active underneath Dohbopavich, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Dohbopavich lands strikes from half guard.
Dohbopavich thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Cardoso knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Dohbopavich on the ground.
Dohbopavich perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dohbopavich thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Cardoso's head.
Dohbopavich missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cardoso keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Dohbopavich missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Cardoso keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Dohbopavich is pressing down on Cardoso's thigh, looking to free his foot. Cardoso is holding on for now.
Dohbopavich missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Dohbopavich has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Cardoso is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Dohbopavich lands strikes from half guard.
Cardoso holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Dohbopavich prevents Cardoso from improving his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Dohbopavich is looking to take a break and control but Cardoso is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Dohbopavich thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Dohbopavich not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Cardoso tries to get to full guard but Dohbopavich has control of the leg.
Dohbopavich winds up and cracks Cardoso with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Cardoso tries to roll over but Dohbopavich keeps him under control.
Cardoso taking some punishment here, with Dohbopavich in his half guard.
Dohbopavich working over Cardoso with some ground and pound. Cardoso looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Cardoso won't allow Dohbopavich to pass to mount.
Dohbopavich sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Cardoso defending well though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dohbopavich thows a huge punch but Cardoso dodges it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dohbopavich is trying to control. Cardoso wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Dohbopavich slips a nice elbow through Cardoso's hands, connecting with Cardoso's forehead.
Cardoso on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Cardoso tries to get out of the position.
Nice strikes from Dohbopavich there.
Dohbopavich thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Cardoso's head.
Cardoso avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Dohbopavich.
We've been informed that Dohbopavich has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Cardoso has his hands clasped together around Dohbopavich's back. He's all about the action.
Dohbopavich seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Dohbopavich in particular looking to stall.
Cardoso keeping hold of Dohbopavich's head, controlling as best he can.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Dohbopavich is trying to control. Cardoso wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Cardoso blocking the ground and pound attempt from Dohbopavich.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Cardoso tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Dohbopavich swivels and escapes.
Cardoso fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matheus Cardoso. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Cardoso closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Dohbopavich quickly recovers to half guard.
Dohbopavich is trying to stand.

Dohbopavich pushes Cardoso off and gets back to his feet.
Cardoso closes the distance and clinches up with Dohbopavich, looking for a takedown. Cardoso pushes Dohbopavich against the cage but Dohbopavich circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Dohbopavich is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

Cardoso closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Dohbopavich bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!

Cardoso closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Dohbopavich did well to prevent Cardoso getting side control.

Dohbopavich manages to escape and get back to his feet!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Cero Dohbopavich dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Cardoso looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Dohbopavich pushes Cardoso off and scrambles back to his feet.
Dohbopavich keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Horrible takedown attempt by Dohbopavich or perhaps it was just good defense by Cardoso, which made it look bad.

Cardoso shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Dohbopavich kicks off Cardoso and gets to his feet.
Dohbopavich has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
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!
Cardoso fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Dohbopavich avoids it really well and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cardoso shoots for a takedown but Dohbopavich saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matheus Cardoso. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cardoso misses with a takedown

and Dohbopavich counters with a single leg into guard. Cardoso didn't expect that.
Cardoso looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Dohbopavich is in close to Cardoso's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Cardoso tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Dohbopavich postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Cardoso has his hands on Dohbopavich's head, controlling the position.
Dohbopavich postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cardoso keeping moving, preventing Dohbopavich from controlling successfully.
Dohbopavich throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Dohbopavich working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Dohbopavich throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Dohbopavich makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Dohbopavich throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Cardoso avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Dohbopavich scoring with punches to the head and body.
Dohbopavich landing some decent shots from guard.
Dohbopavich is in close to Cardoso's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Dohbopavich distracts Cardoso with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Dohbopavich is looking to work some ground and pound but Cardoso has wrist control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Dohbopavich.

Cardoso manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Dohbopavich on his heels. He'll look to pass Dohbopavich's guard now, I'm sure.
Cardoso prevents Dohbopavich from getting back to his feet.
Cardoso working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Dohbopavich's head.
Cero Dohbopavich has got the better of the ground game so far.
Dohbopavich avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Dohbopavich has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Cardoso has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Dohbopavich drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Cardoso gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Cardoso stops a takedown attempt from Dohbopavich.
Cardoso changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Dohbopavich fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Cardoso gets a double leg takedown into Dohbopavich's guard.

Dohbopavich wriggles free and stands up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nice takedown defense from Cardoso. No joy for Dohbopavich on that attempt.
Cardoso looks for a takedown but Dohbopavich sprawls well.
Dohbopavich with the counter takedown but Cardoso avoids it easily.
Cardoso changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Dohbopavich tries to avoid it but Cardoso manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Dohbopavich to the ground. Dohbopavich escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Dohbopavich with the counter takedown but Cardoso avoids it easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Dohbopavich misses with a takedown attempt - Cardoso sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Cardoso gets caught flat footed, as Dohbopavich shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Cardoso utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Dohbopavich is fighting to break Cardoso's control of his arms but Cardoso is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Cero Dohbopavich showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. And we move into the final round!

Cardoso fails to land the takedown.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Cardoso enables Dohbopavich to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Cardoso manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Dohbopavich postures up in Cardoso's guard and throws a big left but Cardoso blocks it.
Dohbopavich lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Dohbopavich postures up.
Dohbopavich working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Cardoso is trying to control the position but Dohbopavich postures up.
Dohbopavich is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dohbopavich stands up over Cardoso, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Cardoso can't keep his opponent in guard - Dohbopavich advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Dohbopavich seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Cardoso does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dohbopavich thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Cardoso's head.
Dohbopavich drops an elbow to the side of Cardoso's head.
Dohbopavich looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Dohbopavich is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Dohbopavich lands a nice short elbow.
Cardoso trying to control here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Dohbopavich working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Cardoso keeping control of the position.
Dohbopavich passes to full mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cardoso takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Dohbopavich prevents Cardoso from getting the reversal.
Dohbopavich landing strikes from the mount and Cardoso is in trouble!
Dohbopavich has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Cardoso's face.

Cardoso is rocked!
Dohbopavich lands with some strikes.
Oh Cardoso is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Dohbopavich fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Dohbopavich looking to finish here with some ground and pound. He lands one big shot that has Cardoso covering up... and two more big strikes land, forcing the referee to step in and put and end to proceedings! This fight is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:52 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Cero Dohbopavich!