PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Orlando Cardigan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cael Sanderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Cardigan
vs
Sanderson

180 cm
24
196 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

186 cm
25
193 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very strong

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

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 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Orlando Cardigan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Cael Sanderson!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Summer Carpenter and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cardigan connects with a jab.
Cardigan looks to throw the jab but Sanderson is out of range.

Cardigan shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Sanderson is trying to defend but Cardigan finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Cardigan frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

Cardigan is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Sanderson can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.

Cardigan is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Sanderson has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Sanderson swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Sanderson is wriggling around trying to escape.
Cardigan landing strikes from the mount.
Cardigan with a couple of short strikes.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sanderson is trying desperately to improve position.
Cardigan tries to control but Sanderson wriggling away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cardigan is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Sanderson to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Sanderson shrugs it off.
Sanderson is desperately trying to improve his position but Cardigan has a good base and remains in mount.
Cardigan punishing his opponent with strikes.

Cardigan jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Sanderson manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Cardigan blocks the strikes from Sanderson.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Sanderson takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.

Cardigan thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Sanderson tries to bench press Cardigan off him but Cardigan keeps the position.
Cardigan works to advance to full mount. Sanderson defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Cardigan trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Sanderson is desperately trying to improve his position but Cardigan has a good base and remains in mount.
Sanderson really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Cardigan. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Sanderson is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cardigan lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

It looks like Cael Sanderson has been cut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Cardigan working for a guillotine from mount but Sanderson is in no mood to give up.
Cardigan is breathing heavily.
Sanderson wants to hold on but Cardigan pushes him away.
Cardigan cracks Sanderson with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Sanderson is working to get back to half guard.
Cardigan has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Sanderson is in a horrible position here. Cardigan smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Cardigan can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Sanderson is looking to escape.
Sanderson can't escape the position.
Sanderson is squirming around, avoiding Cardigan's attempts to control the action.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sanderson is looking to get to half guard.
Sanderson bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cardigan pushes Sanderson off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

Sanderson bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Sanderson working the body and head with strikes.
Cardigan pushes Sanderson away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Sanderson gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Cardigan gets back to half guard.
Cardigan gets back to full guard.
Sanderson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Sanderson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Sanderson prevents Cardigan from getting back to his feet.
Sanderson with a nice head shot there.
Cardigan avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Cardigan uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Sanderson avoids the head kick by Cardigan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cardigan throws a head kick that misses.
Cardigan keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Cardigan with a poor takedown

and Sanderson counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sanderson working the head and body with strikes.

Cardigan pushes Sanderson off and gets back to his feet.
Cardigan gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Sanderson decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Cardigan's guard.
Cardigan is looking to stand up but Sanderson isn't so interested in that idea.
Sanderson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cardigan swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Sanderson trying to control but Cardigan is working from the bottom.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sanderson with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Cardigan is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Sanderson is controlling him.
Cardigan lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Sanderson!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Orlando Cardigan dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Cael Sanderson's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Cardigan shoots in and bounces Sanderson off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Orlando Cardigan overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Cardigan wanted to stand there but Sanderson had control of the position.
Sanderson keeping moving, preventing Cardigan from controlling successfully.
Cardigan passes Sanderson's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Sanderson tries to roll over but Cardigan keeps him under control.
Sanderson trying to control but Cardigan postures up.
Cardigan winds up and cracks Sanderson with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Cardigan works his way into full mount!
Sanderson in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cardigan has hold of Sanderson's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Sanderson manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sanderson swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.

Cardigan working for a submission but Sanderson is keeping him at bay.
Cardigan lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Sanderson bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

Cardigan working for a triangle but Sanderson defends it easily.
Sanderson trying to control the position from guard on top but Cardigan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sanderson looking to pass the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cardigan is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Cardigan is trying to control the position but Sanderson postures up.
Sanderson throwing strikes but missing.
Sanderson trying to control but Cardigan is working from the bottom.
Sanderson might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Cardigan kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Sanderson shoots in for a double leg but Cardigan sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Sanderson connects with a right hand. Cardigan shakes it off.
Cardigan lands a nice leg kick that just misses Sanderson's sensitive parts.
Cael Sanderson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Horrible takedown by Sanderson or perhaps it was just good defense by Cardigan which made him look bad.
Cardigan swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cardigan fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Sanderson sprawls well initially but Cardigan persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Cardigan works his way into side control.

Cardigan is trying to get an arm triangle but Sanderson is defending well.
Cardigan scoring with punches from side control.
Sanderson is looking to regain half guard here but Cardigan keeps moving and retains side control.
Cardigan is looking to take a break and control but Sanderson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Sanderson throws a couple of strikes even though he's not really in a good position to do so.

Cardigan wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Sanderson, who protects the arm well.
Sanderson tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Cardigan wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cardigan looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Sanderson is looking to regain half guard here but Cardigan keeps moving and retains side control.
Cardigan remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Cardigan decides to stand back up. Cardigan steps back and let's Sanderson get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Orlando Cardigan dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Cael Sanderson's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Sanderson tries to clinch up but Cardigan circles away and keeps his distance.

Sanderson looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Sanderson lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Cardigan is refusing to be controlled, as Sanderson sits in half guard.
Sanderson not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Cardigan wants to get back to his feet.
Cardigan has hold of Sanderson's hands but Sanderson slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Sanderson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Cardigan is trying to stand back up but Sanderson is controlling him
Cardigan manages to get to full guard.
Sanderson throwing strikes but missing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Cardigan scores with a decent looking hook.
Cardigan doesn't manage to clinch there - Sanderson circles away.
Cardigan shoots in for a takedown but Sanderson shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Sanderson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Cardigan pinned against the cage. Cardigan gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Sanderson fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Cardigan avoids it really well and circles away.

Sanderson closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Sanderson lands in his opponent's guard.
Cardigan bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Sanderson's guard.
Cardigan wants to control from the top but Sanderson keeps moving.
Sanderson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanderson keeping moving, preventing Cardigan from controlling successfully.
Cardigan pushes down on Sanderson's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Cardigan trying to pass the guard but Sanderson defending well.
Sanderson tries to get to full guard but Cardigan has control of the leg.

Cardigan is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Cardigan working Sanderson over with strikes.
Cardigan not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Sanderson is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cardigan works his foot free and advances to mount.
Cardigan looking to control but Sanderson is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Cardigan blocks Sanderson's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Sanderson can do anything to dispel that myth.
Cardigan landing punches.
Sanderson swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Sanderson keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Cardigan looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.

Cardigan working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.

Sanderson defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Cardigan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cardigan throws some wild stikes that Sanderson manages to avoid easily.
Sanderson is trying desperately to improve position.
Cardigan blocks Sanderson's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Orlando Cardigan is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Sanderson keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
The referee warns Sanderson that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Cardigan scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Sanderson?
Cardigan tries to control but Sanderson wriggling away.
Cael Sanderson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cardigan blocks Sanderson's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Cardigan controlling from the full mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Orlando Cardigan showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Cardigan has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 30:27
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 30:27
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Orlando Cardigan!