PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Oscar Cardozo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and DaeKwon Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Oscar Cardozo has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Cardozo
vs
Smith

193 cm
19
184 lbs
1 - 7 - 0

181 cm
19
190 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Oscar Cardozo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, DaeKwon Smith!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Tiny Johnson and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith throws a body kick that misses.
Smith shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Smith will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Smith doesn't manage to clinch there - Cardozo circles away.
Cardozo looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Smith is fending him off so far but Cardozo persists. Nope, Smith circles away and we're back to standing.
Smith fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Cardozo avoids it really well and circles away.
Oscar Cardozo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of DaeKwon Smith.
Cardozo shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
No joy there for Cardozo, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Cardozo has taken the fight to the clinch.
Smith is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Cardozo to keep the fight standing.
Cardozo is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Cardozo prevents a takedown attempt there.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cardozo's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Cardozo tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Smith swivels and escapes.
Smith is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Cardozo is looking to clinch but Smith is avoiding it.
Smith throws a leg kick
and Cardozo counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Smith is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Smith shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Cardozo misses with a double jab
and Smith counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Smith lands a body shot.
Smith dives in and grabs Cardozo's left leg, looking for a takedown. Cardozo pushes down on Smith's head and hops out.
Cardozo swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cardozo shoots in but no luck this time.
Cardozo is looking to clinch but Smith is avoiding it.
Cardozo misses with a takedown attempt - Smith sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Cardozo is breathing heavily.
Cardozo throws a quick inside leg kick.
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!
Smith tries to clinch there but Cardozo circles away.
Cardozo shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Smith as he jumps to the side.
Smith tries to clinch up but Cardozo circles away and keeps his distance.
Smith defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Cardozo.

Cardozo tries to keep at a distance but Smith has taken the fight into the clinch.
Cardozo tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Smith smiles and moves away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cardozo is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Smith tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Cardozo swivels and escapes.
Cardozo dives in and grabs Smith's left leg, looking for a takedown. Smith pushes down on Cardozo's head and hops out.

Smith instigates a clinch.

Cardozo has hold of one of Smith's legs. Smith is fighting the takedown attempt but Cardozo gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smith controls Cardozo momentarily but Cardozo frees himself.
Cardozo tries to free his leg and advance position but Smith is retaining full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Smith is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Cardozo is aware though and is defending well.
Cardozo is standing up over Smith. Smith looks to escape but Cardozo dives into side control.
An elbow from Cardozo crashes against the mat.
We've been hearing good reports from Cardozo's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Smith sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Cardozo thows a huge punch but Smith dodges it nicely.
Smith is doing well to control the position and prevent Cardozo from advancing to side control.
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!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Smith is looking for a sweep. Cardozo is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Smith is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
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 Oscar Cardozo will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Cardozo fails in his attempt to clinch.
Cardozo fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Smith is trying hard to land a takedown here. Cardozo sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Smith darts in and clinches Cardozo up against the cage.

Cardozo breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Smith misses with a takedown attempt - Cardozo sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Cardozo shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Smith sprawls well. Smith wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Cardozo gets slowly back to his feet.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Smith is trying to pull guard but Cardozo has him pressed against the cage.
Oscar Cardozo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of DaeKwon Smith.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith fails to pull guard.
Smith working hard to break the clinch.
Smith's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Smith wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Smith tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Cardozo just stands there and leans against the cage.
Cardozo has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Smith is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Smith looking to stall.

Cardozo's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Smith looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Cardozo is fending him off so far but Smith persists. Nope, Cardozo circles away and we're back to standing.
Smith misses with a takedown attempt - Cardozo sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Smith is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cardozo clinches with his opponent.
Smith is looking to control Cardozo's arms but Cardozo gets an underhook and turns him. Now Smith has his back to the cage.

Cardozo escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Cardozo shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Smith but Smith pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Smith clinches up against the cage.

Smith jumps guard.
Cardozo pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Smith is keeping the position for now.
Cardozo trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Cardozo accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Smith looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Cardozo gets to his feet. Smith looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Smith keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Cardozo shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Cardozo 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.
Smith is looking to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cardozo throwing shots but Smith is blocking nicely.
Smith is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Cardozo will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Cardozo wants to control but Smith is keeping him busy.
Cardozo looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Smith holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Oscar Cardozo dominated that second round.
That's time! Cardozo's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Smith shoots in for a takedown but Cardozo shows good takedown defense.
Cardozo darts in trying to clinch

and Smith counters by moving into the clinch.
Smith trying to control the position but instead, Cardozo has worked for underhooks and has pushed Smith into the cage.
Cardozo stalling in the clinch but Smith improves position.

Cardozo's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Cardozo throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Smith.
Cardozo tries to score a power double leg takedown but Smith sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Cardozo somewhat.
Smith rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Cardozo moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Oscar Cardozo is winning the standup battle so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cardozo shoots for a double leg takedown but Smith sprawls well. He's pushed Cardozo's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Smith fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Cardozo looks for a takedown but Smith sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Oscar Cardozo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Smith punishes Cardozo's body with a nice straight punch.
Cardozo shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Smith as he jumps to the side.
Smith throws a head kick but Cardozo moves out of range.

Smith has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cardozo wants to break the clinch but can't.
Smith jumps guard but Cardozo turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Cardozo is trying to pull guard but Smith has him pressed against the cage.
Cardozo wants a takedown.

Smith ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Smith no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Smith is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Cardozo is aware though and is defending well.
Cardozo is looking to advance position but Smith has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

Smith goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Cardozo turns into him and now he's in Smith's guard.
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!
Smith is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Oscar Cardozo overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Smith trying to control the position.
Cardozo wants to stand but Smith has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Smith avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cardozo wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.
Cardozo won't allow Smith to sweep him here.
Cardozo wants to get up but he can't break Smith's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Cardozo being controlled here momentarily.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Cardozo swats away the attempt to clinch by Smith.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cardozo keeps the fight on the outside.

And that's the end of the fight!
DaeKwon Smith comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Cardozo 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... DaeKwon Smith!