PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Joey Cardinal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cris Cage (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Cardinal
vs
Cage

175 cm
21
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
22
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Joey Cardinal!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Cris Cage!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Gregory Folan and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cage changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Cardinal tries to avoid it but Cage manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Cardinal to the ground. Cardinal escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Cage shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Cardinal as he jumps to the side.
Cardinal shoots for a takedown but Cage saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Cardinal scores a takedown into full mount!
Cardinal controlling from the full mount.
Cage really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Cardinal. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Cage is looking to get to half guard.
Cardinal controlling from the full mount.
Cage taking shots to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cardinal raining down shots from the mount!

Cage is rocked!
Cardinal 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.
Cage is wriggling around here but as he tries to escape, Cardinal has taken his back.
Cardinal is looking to control Cage but Cage is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Cage rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Cage trying to control from the bottom.

Cardinal stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Cage to get to his feet.
Cardinal closes the distance and clinches up with Cage, looking for a takedown. Cardinal pushes Cage against the cage but Cage circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Cage doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Cardinal counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Joey Cardinal has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cris Cage.
Cage darts in trying to clinch

and Cardinal counters with a takedown into side control.
Cage looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cage struggling a bit here.
Cage is looking for a sweep.
Cage is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Cardinal tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Cardinal has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cardinal scoring with punches and elbows.
Cardinal wants to control but Cage is keeping him busy.
Cardinal is working Cage over with some ground and pound from side control.

Cardinal decides to take the fight back to the feet.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cage sitting in guard doing not very much at all here. Cardinal doesn't need a second invitation though! He's locked up a guillotine and he's squeezing tight! That is tiiiiiiiiight! Cage paying the price for stalling here - he's pushing hard on the arm trying to free himself but it's no use! He's tapped! WOW, quick submission from Cardinal - great work!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:20 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Joey Cardinal!