PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ray Charles (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Max Cavalera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Charles's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Muddy Waters- Hoochie Coochie Man. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Charles
vs
Cavalera

190 cm
31
215 lbs
27 - 14 - 0

187 cm
29
215 lbs
16 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

ADCC Champion
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Popeye’s Spinach - 159 + 158 Proof Supps

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 27 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ray Charles!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 10 - 0, fighting out of New York, Max Cavalera!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Trevor Gratis and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cavalera misses with a right hand
and Charles counters with a straight right hand.
Cavalera throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Charles ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Cavalera moves away.
Cavalera uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Charles.
Charles bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Charles misses with a lunging right hand

and Cavalera counters by moving into the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Charles as Cavalera tries to tie him up.
Charles swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A nice left hand lands by Charles.
Cavalera is trying to maintain a safe position but Charles gets an underhook and turns Cavalera into the cage.
Charles lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Charles lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Cavalera.
A left hand lands to the body for Cavalera.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Charles lands a nice shot to the body.
Cavalera misses with a body punch.
Charles trying to control the position but instead, Cavalera has worked for underhooks and has pushed Charles into the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Charles fails to land.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Cavalera tries to pull guard but Charles won't allow it.
Cavalera tries a body shot but Charles blocks it.
Charles stalling in the clinch but Cavalera improves position.
Charles swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Cavalera misses with a punch to the body.
Charles is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Cavalera is keeping busy.
Charles lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Charles is stalling here.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Cavalera.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Charles swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Cavalera can't find room to land a body shot as Charles controls the action.
Cavalera jumps guard but Charles stands there with Cavalera around his waist. Cavalera gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Charles throws a punch but it's blocked by Cavalera.
Cavalera tries to throw a body punch but Charles avoids it by throwing Cavalera back against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Charles lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Cavalera backwards.
Charles misses with a punch on the inside.
Charles throws a punch but it's blocked by Cavalera.
Cavalera misses with a punch on the inside.
Charles slows down the pace here.
Charles working aggressively here.
Cavalera lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A short right from Charles.
Cavalera tries to break the clinch but Charles is controlling the position.
Charles tries a body shot but Cavalera blocks it.
Charles misses with the head strike.
A short uppercut from Charles.
Cavalera lands a left hand.
Cavalera leaning his opponent against the cage.
Cavalera is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Cavalera fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Ray Charles has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Max Cavalera.
Cavalera doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Charles swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Charles misses with a punch on the inside.
Cavalera trying to land knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Charles gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Cavalera.
Charles tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Cavalera lands with a light punch inside.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cavalera blocks a body shot from Charles.
Cavalera misses with a body punch.
Charles prevents a body shot from Cavalera.
Cavalera throws a punch but it's blocked by Charles.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Charles.

Cavalera breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Cavalera thows a left - swing and a miss!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Charles moves out of range of the strikes.

Charles takes the fight into the clinch.
Charles lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Cavalera backwards.
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 Ray Charles will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Cavalera throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Cavalera keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Charles.
Cavalera misses with a looping left.
Charles tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Cavalera paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Charles comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
A lazy left from Charles finds it's target.
Charles scores with a decent looking hook.

Charles closes the distance and clinches.

Charles breaks from the clinch.
Cavalera listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Charles misses with a hook. Cavalera ducked under it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Charles takes a swing at Cavalera's ribcage but misses.
Donk. Charles catches Cavalera right on the button with a cross.
Cavalera shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Charles as he avoids it easily.
Charles dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Cavalera scores with a jab to the body.
Charles throws an off balance right hand

and Cavalera counters by moving into the clinch.
Cavalera is trying to break the clinch but Charles is controlling him.
Charles slowing the pace effectively.
Cavalera jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Charles walks away with a smile on his face. Cavalera gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Charles fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Charles scores with a decent looking hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cavalera throws a body punch but Charles moves out of range.
Charles misses with a hook.
Charles throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Charles slips a jab and a cross from Cavalera.
Charles uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Cavalera.
Ray Charles is winning the standup battle so far.
Cavalera looks to land a left hand but Charles moved out of range nicely.
Cavalera showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Charles.
Charles lands a right hook to the body.
Cavalera ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Charles ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Cavalera moves away.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Cavalera slips under a jab from Charles.
Cavalera ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Charles moves away.
Charles doesn't manage to clinch there - Cavalera circles away.
Cavalera takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
A big left from Charles misses.
Charles throws a hook but Cavalera avoids it easily.
Charles looks to clinch
and Cavalera makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Charles misses with a wild combination.
Cavalera throws a quick inside leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Charles moves out of range as Cavalera strikes.
Charles dodges the punch combination from Cavalera.
Charles tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Cavalera was well out of range. Poor timing from Charles.
Cavalera lands with a right hand.
Ray Charles is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Charles tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Cavalera was well out of range. Poor timing from Charles.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Charles scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
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!
Charles keeps the fight on the outside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ray Charles dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Cavalera closes the distance but Charles moves to the side

and Charles counters by clinching up.

Cavalera's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Cavalera thows a body shot but no joy.
Cavalera misses with a body shot.
Nice body punch from Charles.
Cavalera on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Charles is looking to clinch but Cavalera is avoiding it.
Cavalera slips a straight right by Charles.
Cavalera swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Charles misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Cavalera.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Charles swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A leg kick checked by Charles.
Cavalera throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A swing and a miss from Charles.
Cavalera is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Charles lands a nice hook to Cavalera's body. Cavalera takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Cavalera, as that shot connected.

Cavalera is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Charles's half guard.
Ray Charles is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Cavalera is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Charles is just riding it out for now. Cavalera eventually gives up the hold.
Cavalera is thwarting Charles's attempts to control the position.
Cavalera missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Charles has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Cavalera is working away from the top position though.
Charles avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Cavalera.
Charles trying to control here.
Charles is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Charles looks like he's trying to stand up.
Cavalera is looking to advance position but Charles won't allow it.
Charles keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Cavalera trying to mount his opponent but Charles defends it.
Cavalera prevents Charles from improving his position.

Cavalera is trying to work for a kimura but Charles is defending well.
Charles trying to control but Cavalera postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cavalera seems to be looking for submissions.
Cavalera has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Charles makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Charles.
Charles is controlling Cavalera's posture.
Max Cavalera has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cavalera stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Charles swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Charles looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Charles utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Max Cavalera.
I think Charles has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Yves DeLean scores the fight 29:28
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 29:28
Judge William Peck scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Ray Charles!
After the big win, Ray Charles made sure to do all the important stuff like thanking his sponsors Popeye’s Spinach - 159 + 158 Proof Supps and telling the interviewer how much he loves him.