PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Felix Cardosa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Roman Levchenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Roman Levchenko was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Cardosa
vs
Levchenko

173 cm
19
185 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

176 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Very quick

BJJ White Belt
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Felix Cardosa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Roman Levchenko!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, Franklyn Lucas and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cardosa on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Levchenko. Levchenko obviously looking to wear him down.
Cardosa throws an overhand right that lands on Levchenko's shoulder, as Levchenko tries to avoid the shot.
Cardosa throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Cardosa getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Levchenko staying out of range there.
Cardosa rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Levchenko counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Cardosa throws an overhand right that lands on Levchenko's shoulder, as Levchenko tries to avoid the shot.
Cardosa throws an overhand right that lands on Levchenko's shoulder, as Levchenko tries to avoid the shot.
Levchenko drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Cardosa throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Levchenko swings widly with a right hand
and Cardosa counters with a left and a right that stings Levchenko.
Cardosa with a body punch. A glancing blow.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cardosa throws out a powerful jab.
Cardosa misses with an uppercut
and Levchenko counters with a nice uppercut.
Levchenko looks to score with a jab to the body but Cardosa is just out of range.
Levchenko takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cardosa throws a nice looking combination but Levchenko bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Levchenko.
Cardosa misses with a looping right.
Levchenko moves in looking to clinch but Cardosa pushes him off.
Cardosa throws a head kick but Levchenko moves out of range.
Levchenko displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Cardosa throws out the jab.
Levchenko is looking to slow Cardosa down with leg kicks.
Cardosa misses with a wild body shot.
Cardosa blocks a jab.
Cardosa misses with a hook. Levchenko ducked under it nicely.
Levchenko slips a jab from Cardosa.
Cardosa's jab looks to have found its range, popping Levchenko under the eye.
Levchenko uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Cardosa.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Levchenko steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Cardosa.
Levchenko pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Levchenko takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Cardosa slips under a jab.
Cardosa lands a really nice looking cross but Levchenko seems unphased.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Levchenko throws a lazy right hand but Cardosa sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Levchenko loads up on a big right hand but Cardosa slips the punch.
Cardosa misses with a hook
and Levchenko counters with a slapping leg kick.
Cardosa fails with a takedown attempt.
Levchenko misses with a looping left.
Cardosa misses with a hook
and Levchenko counters with a nice leg kick.
No luck for Cardosa with that takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cardosa misses with a combination
and Levchenko counters with a left to the body.
No joy there for Cardosa, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Cardosa fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Felix Cardosa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A slow jab from Levchenko misses its intended target.
Levchenko takes a swing at Cardosa's ribcage but misses.
Cardosa looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Levchenko displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Cardosa throws out the jab.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Cardosa.
Cardosa throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Levchenko.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Levchenko throws a hook but Cardosa avoids it easily.
Levchenko on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Levchenko moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Cardosa uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Levchenko.
Good standup being displayed there by Cardosa as he connects with a hook.
Cardosa will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Cardosa lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Levchenko circles away quickly and effectively.
A head kick by Cardosa misses
and Levchenko counters with a nice low kick that buckles Cardosa's knee momentarily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Levchenko fails with an attempt to clinch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Levchenko tries to clinch up.
A solid leg kick lands there for Levchenko.
Cardosa cracks Levchenko with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Felix Cardosa dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Cardosa dives in and grabs Levchenko's left leg, looking for a takedown. Levchenko pushes down on Cardosa's head and hops out.
Cardosa throws a nice looking combination but Levchenko bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Cardosa misses with a hook.
Cardosa throws a jab but it's blocked by Levchenko.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Levchenko.
Cardosa is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Cardosa throws a series of punches but Levchenko avoids them all with ease.
Levchenko takes a swing at Cardosa's ribcage but misses.
Cardosa tries to land a front kick but Levchenko steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Levchenko ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Cardosa moves away.
Levchenko uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Cardosa.
Cardosa is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Cardosa listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Levchenko throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Cardosa counters with a two punch combo.
Levchenko ducks under a wild hook from Cardosa.
Cardosa connects with a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cardosa throws a hook but Levchenko avoids it easily.
A slow jab from Levchenko misses its intended target.
Levchenko throws a lazy right hand but Cardosa sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Levchenko lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Levchenko is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Cardosa.
Levchenko keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Levchenko throws a quick inside leg kick.
Cardosa drops his hands momentarily and Levchenko takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Nice defenses there by Levchenko.
Felix Cardosa is winning the standup battle so far.
Levchenko throws an overhand right that lands on Cardosa's shoulder, as Cardosa tries to avoid the shot.
Cardosa misses with a few strikes there.
Cardosa slips under a jab from Levchenko.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Levchenko avoids a punch combination nicely.
Cardosa throws a right hand that Levchenko ducks under and follows up with a left that Levchenko also avoids with ease.
Cardosa fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Levchenko manages to avoid it.
Levchenko connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Cardosa's hands.
Cardosa will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Cardosa throws a jab when Levchenko was well out of range.
Cardosa misses with a looping right.
Cardosa fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Levchenko is out of range.
Cardosa throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Levchenko counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Roman Levchenko is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Levchenko connects with a looping right hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cardosa misses with a hook
and Levchenko counters with a two punch combo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cardosa misses with a series of wild punches.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Levchenko steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Cardosa.
Levchenko takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Cardosa throws a right and a left that both miss.
Cardosa displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Levchenko throws out the jab.
Levchenko staying out of range there.
Cardosa blocks a jab.
Levchenko scores with a jab.
A punch combination from Cardosa misses.
Cardosa throws a big shot that misses.
Levchenko throws a hook to the side of Cardosa's head but Cardosa sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Levchenko has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Levchenko looks to land a right hand but Cardosa moved out of range.
Levchenko tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Cardosa was well out of range. Poor timing from Levchenko.
Cardosa swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Levchenko counters with an inside leg kick.
Levchenko blocks a jab.
A telegraphed right hand from Levchenko misses the target.
Cardosa is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Levchenko.
A telegraphed right hand from Levchenko misses the target.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cardosa uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Levchenko.
Levchenko throws a nice inside leg kick.
Cardosa keeps the fight on the outside.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cardosa on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Levchenko. Levchenko obviously looking to wear him down.
Cardosa uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Levchenko.
Cardosa scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Felix Cardosa will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Levchenko throws a quick inside leg kick.
Cardosa closes this distance looking for a takedown but Levchenko circles away.
A telegraphed right hand from Levchenko misses the target.
Cardosa avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Levchenko with a nice cross.
Levchenko misses with a body punch
and Cardosa cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Cardosa throws a body kick the misses
and Levchenko counters with a nice leg kick.
Cardosa ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Levchenko throws a body punch but Cardosa moves out of range.
Cardosa lands a glancing blow to the side of Levchenko's head.
Levchenko throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Cardosa sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Jab by Levchenko.
Cardosa tries for a takedown but Levchenko sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Levchenko lands with an uppercut that bounces Cardosa off the cage and back into range.
Levchenko misses with a straight right.
Cardosa throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cardosa chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Levchenko can pounce on him.
Cardosa stuns Levchenko with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Levchenko lands a nice shot to the body.
Felix Cardosa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cardosa looks for the body kick but Levchenko saw that one coming.
Cardosa thows a body shot but no joy.
Levchenko tries to close the distance and clinch but Cardosa swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Cardosa throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Cardosa throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Cardosa shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Levchenko's guard.
Cardosa won't allow Levchenko to sweep him here.
Felix Cardosa is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Levchenko wants to get back to his feet but Cardosa is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Levchenko can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Cardosa controls the pace.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Cardosa is pushing down on Levchenko's leg trying to pass to half guard. Levchenko is fighting to maintain full guard but Cardosa has managed to sneak the leg through.
Cardosa content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Cardosa has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Roman Levchenko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Felix Cardosa wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Cardosa throws a hook to the side of Levchenko's head but Levchenko sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Cardosa throws a lazy right hand but Levchenko sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Cardosa misses with a straight right.
Levchenko throws a shot from downtown. Cardosa moves away and avoids it.
Cardosa misses with a head kick.
Cardosa rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Levchenko moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Levchenko doesn't manage to clinch there - Cardosa circles away.
Cardosa waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Levchenko.
Cardosa works the jab nicely.
Levchenko lands a lovely overhand right.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Levchenko takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Levchenko tries to clinch there but Cardosa circles away.
Cardosa misses with a lunging right hand
and Levchenko makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Levchenko scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Cardosa shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Felix Cardosa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Levchenko lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
A big left from Cardosa misses.
Cardosa looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
A swing and a miss from Levchenko.
Levchenko has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Levchenko scoring well with a low kick there.
Cardosa ducks under a wild hook from Levchenko.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Levchenko tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Cardosa manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Cardosa looks to score with a jab to the body but Levchenko is just out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Felix Cardosa.
Well Cardosa 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 Steve Montenegro scores the fight 30:27
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 28:29
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Felix Cardosa!
After winning the bout, Felix Cardosa thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.