PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Helio Cardozo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ignacio Villar (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.

Cardozo
vs
Villar

180 cm
18
176 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

191 cm
18
179 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Helio Cardozo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ignacio Villar!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Aafke Stam and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cardozo shoots in and bounces Villar off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Villar wants to stand and escape but Cardozo is having none of it.
Cardozo forces his way into half guard.

Cardozo is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cardozo throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Cardozo stops Villar from getting back to his feet.
Villar wants to control but Cardozo is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Cardozo seems to be working for a kimura but Villar defends the submission attempt.
Villar is trying to stand up here but Cardozo is controlling him well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cardozo seems to be working for a kimura but Villar defends the submission attempt.

Villar is defending against the submission attempts here by Cardozo.

Cardozo is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Cardozo wants to pass the guard but Villar is defending well.

Cardozo is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Villar sees it coming and defends easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Villar keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Villar is trying to stand.
Villar is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Cardozo is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Villar defends it well.

Villar is defending against the submission attempts here by Cardozo.
Cardozo passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Villar!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Villar is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Cardozo misses with a head shot.

Cardozo jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Villar is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Villar and Cardozo has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

Cardozo is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Villar knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Cardozo is breathing heavily.

Cardozo tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cardozo is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Villar has escaped the position, nice work there.
Villar regains half guard.
Villar is looking to improve his position.
Villar is pressing down on Cardozo's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cardozo throwing strikes from guard but Villar blocks nicely.
Villar is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Helio Cardozo dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Cardozo dodges the punch combination from Villar.
Villar swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Cardozo.
Nice jab there from Villar.
A jab from Villar does it's job there.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Villar enables Cardozo to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Villar manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Cardozo passes into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Cardozo is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Villar doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Cardozo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Villar wants to get back to full guard.
Villar trying to control but Cardozo postures up.
Cardozo wants to pass the guard but Villar is defending well.
Villar is trying to stand.

Cardozo is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Cardozo is looking to pass Villar's guard but actually Villar recovers to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Villar wants to stand and escape but Cardozo is having none of it.
Cardozo pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Villar is keeping the position for now.

Cardozo has gone for a leg lock! Villar slips out almost immediately though and dives into Cardozo's guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Cardozo is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Villar defends well.

Cardozo is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Villar defends well.
Cardozo wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Villar trying to control the position from guard on top but Cardozo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Villar tries to stand but Cardozo is controlling from the bottom.
Villar trying to control but Cardozo is working from the bottom.
Villar trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Cardozo working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Villar doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Villar manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Villar would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Cardozo keeping moving, preventing Villar from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cardozo escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Villar gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Villar wants to stand but Cardozo has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Villar stands up and waves to Cardozo to follow him.
Villar throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ignacio Villar showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

A right-left combo lands from Villar.
Cardozo shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Villar but Villar pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Cardozo changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Villar tries to avoid it but Cardozo manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Villar to the ground. Villar escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Cardozo tries to close the distance and clinch but Villar swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Villar loads up on a big right hand but Cardozo slips the punch.
Villar takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Villar is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Villar cracks Cardozo with a big right hand that sees him stumbling back against the cage! Cardozo falls to his knees and Villar doesn't need a second invitatation - he rushes in and fires off several unanswered shots that force the referee to stop the fight! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Ignacio Villar!