PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Martin Cardenas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mish Mash Mambo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mish Mash Mambo has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Martin Cardenas's chin.

Cardenas
vs
Mash Mambo

173 cm
24
178 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

185 cm
20
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Heavy handed

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Martin Cardenas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mish Mash Mambo!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Marco Blurström and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cardenas tries to clinch there but Mambo circles away.

Mambo closes the distance and clinches.

Cardenas breaks the clinch.
Left hook, right uppercut from Mambo.

It looks like Martin Cardenas has been cut.
Mambo tries for a takedown but Cardenas sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Cardenas misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Mambo is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Mambo fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Cardenas avoids it really well and circles away.
It looked like Cardenas wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mambo misses with a takedown
and Cardenas counters with a series of strikes. Mambo will be more careful next time no doubt.
Martin Cardenas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mish Mash Mambo.
Cardenas misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
It seemed like Mambo was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mambo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Mambo looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Cardenas.
Cardenas shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Mambo pinned against the cage. Mambo gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Mambo instigates a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mambo tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Mambo is trying to drag Cardenas to the mat but Cardenas just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Mambo pulls guard effortlessly.
Cardenas 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.
Mambo wants to get back to his feet but Cardenas is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Mambo is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cardenas not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Cardenas wants to control from the top but Mambo keeps moving.
Cardenas slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Mambo seems keen to control Cardenas's posture.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Mambo looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Mambo misses with a takedown attempt - Cardenas sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Cardenas has Mambo up against the cage in a clinch.
Mambo fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Cardenas tries to pull guard but Mambo won't allow it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Cardenas.
Cardenas has had enough of the clinch but Mambo keeps him there for the moment.

Cardenas breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
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 Martin Cardenas will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Martin Cardenas's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Mambo shoots for a double leg takedown but Cardenas sprawls well. He's pushed Mambo's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Cardenas lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Mambo with a poor takedown

and Cardenas counters by moving into the clinch.
Mambo has had enough of the clinch but Cardenas keeps him there for the moment.
Mambo is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Cardenas is defending well.
Martin Cardenas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mish Mash Mambo.
Cardenas is trying to push Mambo away but Mambo has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Cardenas pulls guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Cardenas is on top in guard.

Mambo utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Cardenas's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Mambo is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mambo being controlled here, momentarily.
Cardenas is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Mambo can do to turn this around?
Mambo wants to hit a switch here but Cardenas passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Mambo there!
Cardenas postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Mambo looks a forlorn figure.
Mambo is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mambo is still trying to improve position.
Cardenas thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Cardenas throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Mambo manages to regain half guard. Good work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cardenas tries to stand but can't do so whilst Mambo controls his leg.
Cardenas 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.
Cardenas prevents Mambo from improving his position.

Mambo is defending against the submission attempts here by Cardenas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mambo wants to sweep but Cardenas has passed to side control!
Mambo wants to control but Cardenas postures up.
Cardenas trying to control the position but Mambo is working away.
Mambo is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Cardenas stands up.

Cardenas gets tackled into the cage by Mambo. Mambo maintains the clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mambo jumps guard but Cardenas stands there with Mambo around his waist. Mambo gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Mambo wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Martin Cardenas dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Martin Cardenas's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Cardenas tries a head kick but it misses.
Mambo changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

Mambo closes the distance and clinches.
Mambo tries for a takedown. No joy.
Mambo stalling in the clinch.
Cardenas tries to pull guard but Mambo holds him up against the cage and eventually Cardenas drops back down to his feet.

Cardenas breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Cardenas takes one to the chin there.
Martin Cardenas is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mambo pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Cardenas tries to counter by clinching up but Mambo breaks away and moves out of range.
Mambo shoots in but no luck this time.

Mambo lands a big head kick that sends Cardenas tumbling to the mat! Mambo takes a step backwards and waves Cardenas back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Cardenas is rocked!
Mish Mash Mambo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mambo throws a sloppy head kick and Cardenas moves out of range easily.
Oh Cardenas is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

Mambo closes the distance and pushes Cardenas back into the cage.
Cardenas blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Cardenas prevents Mambo from breaking the clinch.
Cardenas seems to have got his legs back now.
Cardenas looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Cardenas has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Mambo uses from the top position.
Cardenas thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Mambo postures up.
Cardenas trying to strike off his back.
Cardenas wants to sweep but no luck.

Cardenas looking for a guillotine here but Mambo defends easily.
Martin Cardenas overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Cardenas keeping moving, preventing Mambo from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cardenas trying to control the position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Cardenas is on top in guard.

Cardenas wants to control from the top but Mambo keeps moving.
Cardenas trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mambo throws his legs up looking for a submission but Cardenas uses it to pass to side control.
Mambo tries to control but Cardenas manages to take his back.
I really don't envy Mambo right now.
Mambo keeps trying to improve his position.
I would not like to be Mambo right now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mambo trying to control but not successfully.
You can see the frustration on Mambo's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mambo is covering up but some of the strikes from Cardenas are getting through and doing damage.
Mambo is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Mambo is keeping busy.
Cardenas is working the ground and pound. Can Mambo escape?
Cardenas is looking to control Mambo but Mambo is wriggling around and keeping busy.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mambo just trying to survive but Cardenas is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Mish Mash Mambo.
I think Cardenas 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:28
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Martin Cardenas!