PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Antonio Roja (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Emong Cordero (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Roja
vs
Cordero

178 cm
22
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
22
165 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Knockout power

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KING NUTRITION

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 Tokyo, Antonio Roja!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Emong Cordero!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Shigeki Sano and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice uppercut lands for Cordero. That snapped Roja's head back.

It looks like Antonio Roja has been cut.
Cordero fails to land with a series of punches.
Cordero lands a nice leg kick that just misses Roja's sensitive parts.
Cordero throws a head kick but Roja moves out of range.
Cordero misses with a wild body shot.
Roja takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
A leg kick checked by Roja.
Roja blocks a head kick by Cordero.
Roja falls off balance throwing a combination
and Cordero counters with a big head kick but Roja shrugs it off.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cordero wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Good leg kick by Cordero there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Emong Cordero is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Roja is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A jab from Roja misses.
Cordero throws a sloppy head kick and Roja moves out of range easily.
Cordero misses with a double jab
and Roja counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Roja lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Cordero throws a head kick but Roja moves out of range.
Cordero misses the shot to the body.
Roja scores with a three punch combo!
Cordero tries a head kick but it misses.

That's two 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.
Cordero uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Roja.
Roja fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Roja throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Cordero stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Roja jabs Cordero right on the nose. Cordero blinks but takes it well.
Roja misses the body punch
and Cordero counters with a thumping low kick.
Roja shoots for a double leg takedown but Cordero sprawls well. He's pushed Roja's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Roja lands a glancing blow to the side of Cordero's head.
Cordero throws a sloppy head kick and Roja moves out of range easily.
Roja lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cordero just misses with a punch to the body.
Cordero misses with a double jab
and Roja counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Cordero throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Roja bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Cordero's head backwards.
Cordero tries a head kick but it misses.
Cordero with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Roja to score with a decent uppercut.
Roja has a takedown stuffed.
Cordero connects with a body shot.

That's four 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.
Roja lands a jab to Cordero's midsection.
Roja lands with a shot to the body.
Roja lands a jab to Cordero's midsection.
Jab, jab by Cordero - just one landing.
Cordero throws a right and a left that Roja avoids nicely.
Roja shoots in looking for a takedown. Cordero tries to sprawl out of it but Roja keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Cordero manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Antonio Roja. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cordero feints and then cracks Roja's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Roja down.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Emong Cordero dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Antonio Roja's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

No joy there for Roja, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Cordero moves out of range as Roja strikes.
Roja jabs at Cordero's body.
Roja keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Cordero.
Cordero throws a predictable looking body shot
and Roja cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Cordero gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Roja scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Roja decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Cordero kicks Roja off and gets back to his feet.
Cordero is breathing heavily.
Roja with a lazy takedown attempt
and Cordero counters with a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cordero ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Roja moves away.
Cordero misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Roja counters with a nice uppercut.
No joy there for Cordero, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Roja throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Cordero stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Jab by Roja.
Cordero is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Roja rather than just go for the knockout.
Roja bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Roja uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Cordero.
Roja fails to land with a series of punches.
A head kick misses from Cordero.
Emong Cordero is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's two 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.
Jab from Roja.
Roja getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Roja connects with a jab.
Roja thuds his right hand into Cordero's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Roja fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Cordero avoids it really well and circles away.
Roja throws out a powerful jab.
Cordero needs to keep his hands up - Roja had a free shot at his head there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Roja.
Roja lands a nice looking body shot.
Cordero on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Cordero throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Roja lands a nice looking body shot.
Roja lands with an uppercut that bounces Cordero off the cage and back into rage.
Roja getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Cordero throws a head kick but Roja moves out of range.
Roja moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cordero walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Roja darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Cordero throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Cordero walks into a stiff left hand from Roja.
Danga de danga de dang - Roja scores with a four punch combination!
Cordero takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Cordero has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Roja looks to land a combination. Cordero sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

Roja scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antonio Roja dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Antonio Roja's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Roja dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Cordero drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Cordero throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
enabling Roja to counter with a crisp jab.
Cordero misses with a wild combination.
Cordero misses the body punch
and Roja counters with a left to the body.
Roja dodges the punch combination from Cordero.
Cordero takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Cordero takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Roja lands a with a good body shot.
Cordero shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cordero walks into a left hand.
Roja digs a good hook to Cordero's body.
Good shot there by Roja.

Roja scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Roja throwing shots but missing, from side control.

Roja is trying to get an arm triangle but Cordero is defending well.

Roja thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roja advances nicely into full mount.
You get the feeling that Cordero really doesn't like being in this position too much.

Roja looking to secure an arm triangle but Cordero defends it well.
Roja tries to control but Cordero wriggling away.
Roja throws some wild stikes that Cordero manages to avoid easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roja throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Roja thowing shots but they're missing.
Roja looking to control but Cordero is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Cordero wants to get back to his feet.
Roja wants to control but instead Cordero manages to regain half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Roja is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Roja is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Cordero reverses the position - he's now on top in Roja's guard.
Roja wants to sweep but no luck.

And that's the end of the fight!
Antonio Roja showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Roja has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 29:28
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Antonio Roja!