PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ray Cordero (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Weston (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Michael Weston has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Ray Cordero's chin.

Cordero
vs
Weston

190 cm
19
203 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
211 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Ray Cordero!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Michael Weston!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Weston fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Weston tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cordero swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Weston shoots in for a takedown but Cordero shows good takedown defense.
Cordero fails with the takedown.
Cordero tries for a takedown but Weston circles away easily
and Weston counters with a nice body shot.
Weston should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Cordero is breathing heavily.
Cordero will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Cordero tries to clinch up but Weston circles away and keeps his distance.
Weston misses with a head kick.
Weston looks to land a body kick but Cordero moved away.

Weston shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Cordero manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Weston thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cordero wants to stand up but Weston is controlling him.
Weston wants to stand but Cordero is controlling his posture from full guard.

Weston stands and steps away. Cordero gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Weston misses with a takedown attempt

and Cordero holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Ray Cordero has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael Weston.
Cordero blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Cordero prevents a takedown attempt there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Weston is working for takedown but Cordero is calmly controlling the position for now.
Cordero tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Weston just stands there and leans against the cage.
Weston tries a body shot but Cordero blocks it.
Weston is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Cordero pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Cordero has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Weston is trying to keep an underhook but Cordero manages to get the takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Weston actively working from the bottom here.
Cordero not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Weston tries to roll over but Cordero keeps him under control.
Weston is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Cordero's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Cordero's back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
I would not like to be Cordero right now.

Cordero preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Weston.

Cordero is trying to shake Weston off. He's managed it and has hopped back to his feet! Weston won't be happy about giving up the dominant position.
Weston tries to close the distance and clinch but Cordero swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Weston fails with a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Weston shoots in for a takedown but Cordero shows good takedown defense.

Cordero feints and as Weston raises his hands in defense, Cordero changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Weston trying to keep a closed guard but Cordero is proving a slippery customer.
Weston looking for a sweep. Not yet Weston, not yet.
Weston is striking off his back. Cordero thinks nothing of it though and passes easily into half guard.
Weston is looking for a sweep. Cordero is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Michael Weston will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Cordero fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Weston sprawls well initially but Cordero persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Weston makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Weston.
Cordero throws a strike but Weston rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Weston wants to stand but Cordero is controlling his posture from full guard.
Weston trying to control the position from guard on top but Cordero is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Weston throwing strikes from guard but Cordero blocks nicely.
Cordero pulls Weston in close to his closed guard and prevents Weston from doing any damage or advancing position.
Weston trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Cordero being controlled here, momentarily.

That's two 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.

Weston is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Weston wants to get up but he can't break Cordero's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Cordero gets a clinch.
Weston wants a takedown.
Cordero is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Weston gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Weston wants to get back to striking at distance but Cordero won't allow it.
Cordero swings wildly with an uppercut but Weston uses good head movement to avoid it.
Weston tries to break free but Cordero pushes him back against the cage.
Weston has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Cordero is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Weston blocks an uppercut.
Cordero prevents Weston from breaking the clinch.
Weston tries to circle away but Cordero has him pinned against the cage.
Nice body punch from Weston - that landed with a thud.
Weston is trying to break the clinch but Cordero has him pressed against the cage.

Weston manages to break the clinch.
Weston shoots and misses

and Cordero counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Ray Cordero has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael Weston.
Weston misses with a hook to the ribs.
Cordero scores with a shoulder strike.

Cordero breaks from the clinch.

Weston is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Cordero's half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Weston wants to take a breather but Cordero is having none of it.
Cordero is looking to control Weston's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Cordero avoid being mounted?
Weston tries to pass the half guard into mount. Cordero knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Weston stops Cordero from getting back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cordero is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Ray Cordero will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Weston doesn't manage to clinch there - Cordero circles away.
Weston with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Weston tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Cordero counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Cordero.
Cordero prevents the takedown attempt.
Cordero keeps control of Weston as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Weston is trying to drag Cordero to the mat but Cordero just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Weston is working for takedown but Cordero is calmly controlling the position for now.
Ray Cordero has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael Weston.
Weston is trying to break the clinch but Cordero is controlling him.
Weston is looking to break free of the clinch but Cordero has double underhooks.
Weston tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Cordero pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Ray Cordero is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cordero looks to land a combination but Weston avoids it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Weston throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Weston slaps away a takedown attempt from Cordero, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Weston doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Cordero counters with a nice double leg into side control. Weston won't be happy with that.
Weston is trying to improve his position.
Cordero trying to control the position but Weston is working away.
Cordero postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Cordero creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Weston sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The strikes coming from Cordero are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Weston is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Cordero off and has taken his back!
Weston biding his time, controlling Cordero.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Weston's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Cordero tries to break free.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cordero is keeping busy.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.

Weston working for a choke but Cordero is defending well.
Weston wants to control but Cordero manages to buck him off and is now in Weston's guard! Nice work there by Cordero!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Cordero stopping the sweep attempt from Weston.

Weston is actively looking for submissions from his back. He's worked himself a little space on the bottom and seems to be going for a triangle. No, he's switched into an armbar! That was slick! Cordero rolls with it to try and escape but Weston cranks on the arm and Cordero is forced to tap out! This one is aaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:50 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Michael Weston!