PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Orlando Cardigan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Oscar Sanchez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Oscar Sanchez is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Cardigan
vs
Sanchez

180 cm
24
196 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

180 cm
26
185 lbs
10 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Powerful

Supreme Anabolics

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 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Orlando Cardigan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Oscar Sanchez!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Winston Howard and Donatello Bradman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A head kick misses from Cardigan.
Cardigan connects with a high kick.
Sanchez loads up on a big right hand but Cardigan slips the punch.
Cardigan throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Sanchez's head.

Cardigan shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Sanchez manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Cardigan pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sanchez is keeping the position for now.
Cardigan is looking to stand up but Sanchez won't let him.
Sanchez is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Cardigan is looking for a sweep. Sanchez is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Sanchez wants to work for an arm triangle but Cardigan is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Cardigan wants to control but Sanchez is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Cardigan is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Sanchez's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Sanchez's back!

Cardigan goes for a risky armbar from back mount and it's not paid off. Sanchez escapes and is now in half guard on top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez winds up and cracks Cardigan with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Sanchez missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Well, if Sanchez is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Sanchez missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Sanchez is trying to control. Cardigan wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Sanchez is nestled in close to Cardigan, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Sanchez sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Cardigan defending well though.
Sanchez is keen to just control but Cardigan is a slippery customer.
Cardigan is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's two 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.
Sanchez seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Cardigan works his way to full guard. Good work.

Cardigan has an active guard here but Sanchez has managed to pass into half guard.
Cardigan slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Sanchez preventing the sweep.
Cardigan thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Sanchez passes Cardigan's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sanchez is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Sanchez missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Sanchez prevents Cardigan from improving his position.
Cardigan is working hard here to advance position.
Cardigan works his way to full guard. Good work.
Cardigan looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Sanchez wants to control from the top but Cardigan keeps moving.
Cardigan is trying to keep Sanchez in close.

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.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Cardigan tries to close the distance and clinch but Sanchez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Sanchez avoids the head kick by Cardigan.
Cardigan tries to clinch there but Sanchez circles away.
Sanchez wants to clinch up but Cardigan keeps it at a distance.

Cardigan instigates a clinch.
Cardigan can't get the takedown.
Cardigan scores a nice knee to the body.
Cardigan tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Cardigan escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A head kick from Cardigan lands but Sanchez takes it in his stride.
Both fighters circling a little - Cardigan finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Cardigan wants to clinch but Sanchez slips to the side

so Sanchez counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cardigan avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Cardigan keeping moving, preventing Sanchez from controlling successfully.
Cardigan tries to land a sweep but no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Orlando Cardigan will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Cardigan tries to close the distance and clinch but Sanchez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Cardigan lands with a kick to the temple. Sanchez shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Cardigan throws a lazy head kick

and Sanchez counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Sanchez.

Cardigan lands a takedown into guard.
Cardigan stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sanchez swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Cardigan trying to control the position from guard on top but Sanchez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cardigan wants to stand and escape but instead Sanchez has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Cardigan is looking for a triangle here but Sanchez uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Cardigan manages to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sanchez is working for a kimura but Cardigan is defending it quite comfortably.
Cardigan is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Sanchez is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Sanchez seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Cardigan does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Sanchez not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Sanchez is looking for a kimura but Cardigan is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Sanchez to get the leverage.

Sanchez is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Cardigan doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Sanchez.
Cardigan moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Sanchez is breathing heavily.

That's two 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.
Sanchez won't allow Cardigan to sweep him here.
Cardigan lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Sanchez!
Sanchez is trying to escape the mount.
Cardigan tries to take Sanchez's back but instead Sanchez uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Cardigan is looking to take a break and control but Sanchez is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cardigan is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Sanchez has managed to free his arm - good work.
Sanchez preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.

Cardigan is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's four 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.

Cardigan is working for a kimura from half guard. He's really concentrating on the hold and it's allowed Sanchez to slip a leg under and get back to full guard.
Cardigan tries to free his leg and advance position but Sanchez is retaining full guard.

Cardigan drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Sanchez manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Cardigan has Sanchez in his guard.
Sanchez must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Sanchez stands over his opponent and dives in with a flying punch! Cardigan throws up his legs and catches Sanchez in a triangle! Oh this looks tight! Sanchez tries to escape but he's forced to tap! Wow, fantastic work there by Cardigan! That came out of nowhere!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Orlando Cardigan!