PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mike Dean (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Oscar Cardozo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dean comes to the cage accompanied by Will Smith-Geting Jiggy with it. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Dean
vs
Cardozo

189 cm
18
189 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

193 cm
20
184 lbs
1 - 8 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 Las Vegas, Mike Dean!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Oscar Cardozo!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Cecil Peabody and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Dean looking to score a takedown here. Cardozo is defending well but Dean drives through and ends up in Cardozo's guard.
Dean's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Cardozo tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Cardozo can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Dean controls the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Mike Dean just wasn't active enough.
Cardozo fails with the takedown

and Dean counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Dean slows the pace down in half guard.
Cardozo is trying to get back to full guard.
Dean not doing much here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Mike Dean wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Dean stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Dean wants it to stay on the feet.

Cardozo gets a double leg takedown into Dean's guard.
Dean wants to get back to his feet but Cardozo is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Dean has control of Cardozo's left arm, preventing Cardozo from doing any damage.
Dean on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Dean tries to get out of the position.
Cardozo looking to sit in guard and control but Dean gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dean slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Dean works over Cardozo with some ground and pound from guard.
Dean is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Dean connects with a couple of short punches.
Cardozo controls Dean momentarily but Dean frees himself.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Dean is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cardozo working a defensive guard here.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Cardozo plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Cardozo with a poor takedown

and Dean counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Cardozo's guard now.
Mike Dean has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Oscar Cardozo.
Dean controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Cardozo has momentary wrist control but Dean slips an elbow through the middle.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Dean is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Mike Dean just wasn't active enough.
Dean shoots in for a takedown but Cardozo shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Cardozo shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Dean looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Cardozo!

Dean is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Cardozo has escaped the position, nice work there.
Cardozo is looking for a sweep.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Dean moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cardozo can't do much from the bottom here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Dean dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Dean looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Dean lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Our spies down at at Cozad MMA Las Vegas inform us that Cardozo has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Dean seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Mike Dean overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Cardozo utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Dean stands and steps away. Cardozo gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Cardozo darts in looking for a takedown but Dean gets double underhooks and turns Cardozo into the cage.
Dean fails to pull guard.

Cardozo escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cardozo avoids a kick to the body.
Dean scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Dean seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Horrible takedown by Cardozo or perhaps it was just good defense by Dean which made him look bad.

Dean shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Cardozo napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Dean trying to control the action but Cardozo is working from the bottom.

Dean decides to stand up, so the ref orders Cardozo to his feet.
Cardozo shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Dean pinned against the cage. Dean gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Mike Dean has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Oscar Cardozo.
Cardozo tries to bum rush Dean with a series of wild strikes but Dean uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cardozo defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Dean.
Cardozo tries to clinch up

and Dean counters by moving into the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cardozo is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Dean is defending well.
Cardozo is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Cardozo is trying to pull guard but Dean turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Dean's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dean is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Dean is trying to break the clinch but Cardozo has him pressed against the cage.

Cardozo lands a takedown into guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Dean holds on and takes a little breather.
Dean looking to hit a scissor sweep but Cardozo is one step ahead there.
Cardozo stops Dean from standing up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Dean has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Cardozo has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.

Cardozo breaks from the clinch.

Dean decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Dean is nestled in close to Cardozo, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cardozo is pressing down on Dean's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Cardozo avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Dean is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cardozo throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

Cardozo is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Dean is aware though and is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Dean dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Dean shoots in but Cardozo avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Dean shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Cardozo pinned against the cage. Cardozo gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Dean shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Cardozo as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Dean. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cardozo stuffs the takedown.
Cardozo tries to close the distance and clinch up but Dean swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Oscar Cardozo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
No luck for Cardozo with that takedown attempt.
Cardozo closes this distance looking for a takedown but Dean circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cardozo drives through with a takedown into Dean's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Dean scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Horrible takedown by Cardozo or perhaps it was just good defense by Dean which made him look bad.
Cardozo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Dean scores with a takedown into Cardozo's guard.
Cardozo can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Dean controls the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cardozo looking to hit a scissor sweep but Dean is one step ahead there.
Cardozo is trying to control the position from the bottom.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Cardozo looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Dean stays in close to Cardozo's body and controls the position.

We're going to have a standup here because Mike Dean wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Cardozo displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Dean.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dean looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Dean closes this distance looking for a takedown but Cardozo circles away.
Dean shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Cardozo as he jumps to the side.
Cardozo lands with a kick to the ribs.

Cardozo tries to sprawl but Dean drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Cardozo moves into full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cardozo wants to get back to his feet but Dean is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Cardozo working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Dean doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Dean manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Dean slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Dean seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Cardozo for as long as he can get away with.
Mike Dean is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Dean is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Cardozo is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Cardozo has escaped and now he's on top!

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 Mike Dean.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Dean, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:27
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mike Dean!