PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between JD Wood (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joey Cardinal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Cardinal's choice of entrance music: In Mourning - In The Failing Hour. Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Wood
vs
Cardinal

169 cm
27
150 lbs
12 - 5 - 0

175 cm
26
155 lbs
8 - 9 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, JD Wood!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Joey Cardinal!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Aafke Stam and Wagner Zegers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cardinal misses with a series of wild punches.

Wood moves into the clinch.
Cardinal is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Cardinal wants a takedown.
Cardinal wants a takedown but no success here.
JD Wood has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joey Cardinal.

Wood gets control of Cardinal's arms and successfully pulls guard. Wood will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Cardinal working some strikes from top position.
Cardinal throws a big right hand that misses.
Cardinal stopping the sweep attempt from Wood.
Cardinal wants to pass the guard but Wood is keeping the position.

Cardinal thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Wood pulls Cardinal in close to his closed guard and prevents Cardinal from doing any damage or advancing position.
Cardinal throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cardinal won't allow Wood to sweep him here.
Cardinal has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Cardinal accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Cardinal shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Cardinal thows a huge punch but Wood dodges it nicely.
Wood pushes Cardinal off looking to stand but Cardinal dives back in and keeps control.

Cardinal is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Wood misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Cardinal is thwarting Wood's attempts to control the position.
Cardinal is looking to advance position but Wood won't allow it.
Wood moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Wood is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cardinal wants to improve his position but Wood is controlling well.

Wood stands up from half guard.
A nice combination there by Cardinal.

Cardinal gets the takedown into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sloppy strikes there by Cardinal.
Cardinal looks gassed!
Cardinal misses with the ground and pound.
Wood sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cardinal seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Wood is trying to get back to full guard.
Cardinal winds up and cracks Wood with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wood is trying to stand.
Wood is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Cardinal sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Wood defending well though.
Wood blocking the ground and pound attempt from Cardinal.
Wood is trying to maintain the position but Cardinal is very close to passing his half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cardinal scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Cardinal throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Cardinal working the head and body with strikes.

Cardinal is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Wood holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Wood is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Cardinal's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Cardinal's back!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Wood is hanging on to Cardinal's back as he tries to escape.
Cardinal is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Wood throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
I really don't envy Cardinal right now.

Wood looking to break Cardinal's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Cardinal remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Wood will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Wood is hanging on to Cardinal's back as he tries to escape.
Cardinal looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
Will Wood go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Cardinal controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
Cardinal breaks Wood's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joey Cardinal dominated that round.
That's time! Wood's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Cardinal throws a right hand that Wood ducks under and follows up with a left that Wood also avoids with ease.
Wood misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Wood with a lazy takedown attempt

and Cardinal counters with a takedown into side control.
Cardinal cracks Wood with a big elbow.

Cardinal goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Wood rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Cardinal's guard! Nice work there by Wood!
Wood showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Wood wants to stand and escape but instead Cardinal has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Cardinal trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Wood working a defensive guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cardinal throws a big right hand that misses.
Cardinal trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Cardinal drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Wood manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Cardinal has Wood in his guard.
Wood tries to stand but Cardinal is controlling from the bottom.
Cardinal has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Wood has passed into side control.
Cardinal is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Wood is controlling him well.
Cardinal is looking to regain half guard here but Wood keeps moving and retains side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Wood decides to stand back up.
Cardinal connects with a good right hand that stumbles Wood. Wood circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Joey Cardinal seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cardinal shoots for a double leg takedown but Wood sprawls well. He's pushed Cardinal's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
A shot to the liver by Wood. Beautiful body shot.

Wood moves into the clinch successfully.

Wood works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Cardinal wants to sweep here but Wood controlling him for the moment.

Cardinal is looking for a triangle but Wood pushes his legs off easily.

Wood decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Cardinal shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Wood's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Wood kicks Cardinal off and gets to his feet.
Cardinal moves out of range of the body kick.
Cardinal will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
JD Wood is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Cardinal takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Wood throws a series of strikes that have Cardinal backpedaling.
Wood gets off balance looking for a body kick

and Cardinal counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Wood punching from the bottom.
Wood missing with punches from the bottom.
Wood wants to control but Cardinal is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Cardinal is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Cardinal uses his free foot to push down on Wood's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Wood.
Wood is in a horrible position here. Cardinal smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cardinal putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Cardinal has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Wood's face.
Cardinal raining down shots from the mount!
Cardinal avoids the attempt from Wood to control.
Wood keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Wood wants to hold on but Cardinal pushes him away.
Wood is bucking up trying to escape but Cardinal cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Cardinal working for a guillotine from mount but Wood is in no mood to give up.
Wood is working to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joey Cardinal 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 eachother down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Cardinal shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Wood had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Cardinal defends it easily.

Wood is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Cardinal is aware though and is defending well.
Cardinal scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Cardinal 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.
Cardinal stopping the sweep attempt from Wood.
Cardinal forces his way into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cardinal throwing shots but Wood is blocking nicely.
Cardinal prevents Wood from improving his position.
Cardinal lands strikes from half guard.

Cardinal wants to work for an arm triangle but Wood is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Wood avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Cardinal.
Cardinal not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Wood tries to kick Cardinal off but Cardinal keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Cardinal lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

Cardinal is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Wood doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Cardinal.
Joey Cardinal is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

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.
Wood is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Cardinal controlling the action here.
Cardinal lands strikes from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wood is looking to control Cardinal's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Wood avoid being mounted?
Cardinal wants to pass to mount but Wood is defending the position.
Cardinal with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Cardinal is working for a submission of some sort.
Wood is looking to control Cardinal's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Wood avoid being mounted?
Cardinal missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
JD Wood has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Wood pushes Cardinal off looking to stand but Cardinal dives back in and keeps control.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Wood tries to clinch there but Cardinal circles away.
Cardinal tries to clinch up but Wood circles away and keeps his distance.
Cardinal throws a head kick that misses.

Cardinal darts in and clinches Wood up against the cage.
Cardinal lands a left hand that snaps the head of Wood backwards.
Wood tries to pull guard but Cardinal holds him up against the cage and eventually Wood drops back down to his feet.
Wood stops a takedown attempt from Cardinal.
Cardinal goes for a takedown attempt but Wood pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Cardinal bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Cardinal is looking to take a break and control but Wood is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joey Cardinal comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Cardinal winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Nard Betker scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joey Cardinal!