PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Nick Falang (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mario Cardan (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.

Falang
vs
Cardan

180 cm
18
162 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
19
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Nick Falang!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Mario Cardan!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Ryoma Takatsuka and Chris Saunders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Falang throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Falang shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Falang was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Cardan is looking for a sweep.

Falang goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Cardan has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Falang but great work by Cardan.
Falang manages to get back to half guard.
Falang is controlling Cardan's trapped leg to prevent Cardan from advancing to side control.
Cardan is thwarting Falang's attempts to control the position.
Falang is refusing to be controlled, as Cardan sits in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Falang manages to get to full guard.
Cardan won't allow Falang to get back to his feet.
Cardan is looking to work some ground and pound but Falang has wrist control.
Falang striking off his back but it's not causing Cardan any problems.
Cardan won't allow Falang to sweep him here.
Cardan postures up.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Cardan throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Falang's waist but Falang gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Cardan off to one side.
Cardan defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Falang.
Falang fails with a takedown attempt.
Horrible takedown by Falang or perhaps it was just good defense by Cardan which made him look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nick Falang. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Falang throws a head kick but Cardan moves out of range.
Cardan looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Falang takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Cardan shoots in but Falang avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Falang shoots in looking for a takedown but Cardan manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Falang's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Falang doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Cardan counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cardan wants to pass to mount but Falang is defending the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cardan is trying to control the action in half guard but Falang is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Falang is looking to get back to is feet but Cardan passes into side control.
Falang sneaks back into half guard.
Falang wants to control but Cardan is keeping busy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Falang tries to get to full guard but Cardan has control of the leg.
Falang manages to get to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cardan wants to control from the top but Falang keeps moving.
Falang manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Falang unloads with some shots from mount but Cardan bucks and avoids them well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Falang fails to move to back control.
Cardan wants to control but Falang is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Falang 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.

Falang stuffs the takedown.

Falang shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Cardan manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Cardan bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Falang's guard.
Falang wants to stand up but Cardan is controlling him.
Cardan is fighting to break Falang's control of his arms but Falang is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Falang trying to keep a closed guard but Cardan is proving a slippery customer.
Falang can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Cardan controls the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Falang wants to get back to his feet but Cardan passes into half guard.
Falang wants to get back to his feet.
It looks like Cardan is going to stand back up.
Falang is looking to control Cardan's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Falang avoid being mounted?
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Falang wants to improve his position but Cardan is controlling well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Nick Falang wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Falang slips a jab and a cross from Cardan.
Falang shoots for a takedown but Cardan saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Cardan is looking to clinch but Falang is avoiding it.

Cardan looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Nick Falang overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The fighters are battling for position here. Falang manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Cardan controls from within his opponent's guard.
Falang wants to get back to his feet but Cardan is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cardan stands up and waves to Falang to follow him.
Falang wants to clinch

and Cardan counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Cardan is breathing heavily.
Falang wants to control but Cardan is keeping busy.
Cardan is trying to control. Falang wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Falang trying to hold on to Cardan's head to control him but Cardan postures up.
Falang makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Falang.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cardan trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Falang throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
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!
Falang trying to control the position.

Falang looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Cardan trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cardan looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Falang keeping full guard, as Cardan tries to pass.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mario Cardan showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Falang fails with the takedown

and Cardan counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Cardan seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Cardan is looking to take a break and control but Falang is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Falang keeping hold of Cardan's head, controlling as best he can.
Falang trying to control but Cardan postures up.
Falang wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cardan is thwarting Falang's attempts to control the position.

Cardan is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Falang doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Cardan.
Cardan is pressing down on Falang's thigh, looking to free his foot. Falang is holding on for now.
Falang trying to control here.
Falang is trying to stand up here but Cardan is controlling him well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Falang is looking to control Cardan's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Falang avoid being mounted?

We're going to have a standup here because Nick Falang wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Cardan fails with a takedown attempt.

Falang gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Cardan to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Cardan won't allow Falang to sweep him here.
Falang preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Falang keeping moving, preventing Cardan from controlling successfully.

Cardan drops back, looking for a kneebar! Falang looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Falang looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Falang!
Cardan takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Cardan defending against the ground and pound.
Cardan is being controlled here.
Falang tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Falang taking a breather here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cardan gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Falang controlling from the full mount.
Cardan sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Falang has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Mario Cardan.
I think Cardan has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Josh West scores the fight for Mario Cardan!
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight for Mario Cardan!
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight for Mario Cardan!

Mario Cardan wins by unanimous decision!