PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Vadim Golovkin (ranked 100 p4p, 16 weight class) and Calixto Cardona (ranked 446 p4p, 56 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Golovkin
vs
Cardona

172 cm
23
155 lbs
10 - 1 - 0

170 cm
22
150 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Groove Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Vadim Golovkin!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Calixto Cardona!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Shigeki Fujiwara and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cardona throws a lazy right hand but Golovkin sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Cardona misses the shot to the body.
Cardona moves away from the strike by Golovkin.
It seemed like Cardona was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Golovkin misses the jab.
Vadim Golovkin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cardona avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Cardona now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Golovkin punishes Cardona's body with a nice straight punch.
Cardona scores with a jab.
Golovkin misses with a body shot.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Cardona! But no joy.
Cardona with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Golovkin to score with a decent uppercut.
Golovkin throws an overhand right that lands on Cardona's shoulder, as Cardona tries to avoid the shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cardona throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Golovkin sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A looping hook to the body misses from Golovkin. Cardona does a little dance to reset his feet.
Golovkin just misses with a punch to the body.
Cardona fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Golovkin manages to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Golovkin looks to throw the jab but Cardona is out of range.
Golovkin swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Despite the aggression on Cardona's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
A combination from Golovkin does no damage.
Golovkin digs a good body shot into Cardona's ribs.
Golovkin staying out of range there.
Cardona misses with a double jab.
Golovkin keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Cardona.
Cardona misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Cardona keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Golovkin.
Cardona misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Golovkin.
Cardona ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Golovkin sets himself, and Cardona steps forward looking for the clinch! Golovkin avoids it this time.
A lazy left from Cardona finds it's target.
Golovkin misses the jab.
Golovkin just misses with a punch to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cardona throws a looping overhand right but Golovkin ducks down to avoid it.
A little feinted left hand from Golovkin on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Cardona tries a low kick but Golovkin avoids it.
Golovkin was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Golovkin throws out a loose jab but Cardona uses good head movement to avoid it.
Golovkin lunges at Cardona with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Cardona's hand.
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!
A slow jab from Golovkin misses its intended target.
Golovkin lunges at Cardona with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Cardona's hand.
Golovkin lands a nice shot to the body.
Golovkin shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Golovkin connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Cardona momentarily.
Golovkin blocks a jab.
Cardona pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Golovkin thows a left - swing and a miss!
Cardona misses with a hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cardona slips a jab from Golovkin.
Cardona throws out a loose jab but Golovkin uses good head movement to avoid it.
Golovkin throws a jab but it's blocked by Cardona.
Golovkin cracks Cardona with a good jab.
Golovkin misses with a hook
and Cardona cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Cardona scores with a punch to the head.
Golovkin throws a good cross that connects.
Golovkin lands a really nice looking cross but Cardona seems unphased.
Golovkin throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Golovkin takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Golovkin lands a nice shot to the body.
Golovkin with a body punch. A glancing blow.
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!
Golovkin swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Golovkin misses with a wild body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Golovkin jabs Cardona to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Golovkin moves away from the strike by Cardona.
Golovkin comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Golovkin loads up on a big right hand but Cardona slips the punch.
A big left from Cardona misses.
Cardona takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Nice shot lands for Golovkin.
Golovkin comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Cardona looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Cardona takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Cardona misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A swing and a miss from Golovkin.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Golovkin throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Sloppy strikes from Golovkin. Those never looked like landing.
Golovkin scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Cardona doesn't seem bothered though.
Cardona slips under a jab from Golovkin.
Golovkin stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Cardona moves out of range of the strikes.
Golovkin just misses with a punch to the body.
Golovkin works over Cardona's head and body with a nice combination.
Golovkin rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Cardona counters with a three punch combo that has Golovkin backing up. Golovkin nods at Cardona to acknowledge the strikes.
A left lands for Cardona.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Golovkin shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Cardona eats them both and turns towards Golovkin to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Golovkin connects with a body shot.
Golovkin scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Golovkin misses with a straight left.
Cardona staying out of range there.
Golovkin lands a right hook to the body.
Cardona lands an overhand right.
The fighters circle momentarily. Golovkin darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Golovkin throws a right hand that misses
and Golovkin takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Golovkin misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Cardona.
Cardona looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Golovkin is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Cardona slips under a jab.
Cardona staying out of range there.
Cardona throws out a counter right but Golovkin avoids it with no problem.
A big right from Golovkin misses.
Cardona throws out a counter right but Golovkin avoids it with no problem.
A shot to the liver by Golovkin. Beautiful body shot.
Golovkin throws a body shot but no joy.
Cardona walks into a stiff left hand from Golovkin.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Cardona cracks Golovkin with an open hand slap.
Cardona misses with an uppercut.
Cardona lands a jab to the nose.
Golovkin throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Cardona counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Golovkin digs a good hook to Cardona's body.
Cardona lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Cardona throws a hook to the side of Golovkin's head but Golovkin sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Golovkin throws a shot from downtown. Cardona moves away and avoids it.
Nice cross by Golovkin.
Cardona ducks under a wild hook from Golovkin.
Golovkin swinging wildly here.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Golovkin misses with a hook. Cardona ducked under it nicely.
Cardona throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Cardona. Golovkin does a little dance to reset his feet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cardona tries to land a front kick but Golovkin steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Golovkin is looking to counter punch.
Cardona looks to throw the jab but Golovkin is out of range.
Cardona ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Golovkin feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Cardonas jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Golovkin lands a glancing blow to the side of Cardona's head.
Golovkin thuds his right hand into Cardona's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Cardona dodges the punch combination from Golovkin.
Golovkin throws a hook to the side of Cardona's head but Cardona sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Cardona unleashes a big counter combination but Golovkin bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Golovkin lands a jab to the nose.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Golovkin misses with a few strikes there.
Cardona ducks under a wild hook from Golovkin.
Cardona tries to counter with a clinch but Golovkin shakes him off and moves away.
Cardona blocks a jab.
Golovkin sets himself, and Cardona steps forward looking for the clinch! Golovkin avoids it this time.
Golovkin misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Cardona.
Cardona throws a big counter head kick but Golovkin avoids it with no problem.
Cardona waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Golovkin.
Cardona gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Cardona fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Golovkin with a jab.
Golovkin throws a right and a left that Cardona avoids nicely.
Golovkin misses with a straight left.
Cardona tries a quick counter leg kick but Golovkin is wise to it.
Cardona slips a straight right by Golovkin.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vadim Golovkin dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Golovkin, as that shot connected.
Cardona drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Cardona tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Cardona throws the left hand but Golovkin avoids the punch easily.
Cardona looks to land a combination but Golovkin avoids it well.
Cardona misses with an uppercut.
Golovkin tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Cardona was well out of range. Poor timing from Golovkin.
Cardona is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Golovkin slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Cardona avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cardona thuds a left hand into Golovkin's body.
Cardona misses with a jab, cross combination.
A big right from Golovkin misses.
A little jabbing left from Cardona on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Cardona has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Golovkin swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cardona misses with a low kick.
Golovkin digs a good hook to Cardona's body.
Golovkin throws a right and a left that Cardona avoids nicely.
Golovkin throws an overhand right that lands on Cardona's shoulder, as Cardona tries to avoid the shot.
Cardona rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Golovkin counters with a nice uppercut.
A solid body kick from Cardona.
Cardona looks for the body kick but Golovkin saw that one coming.
Golovkin misses with a straight left.
Cardona looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Golovkin lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Cardona at a distance.
Golovkin missing with a left hand there. Cardona was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Cardona wants to counter the offense by Golovkin and move into the clinch position.
Golovkin swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A big left from Cardona misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Golovkin misses with a series of wild punches.
Cardona wants to counter with a clinch but Golovkin pushes him away.
Cardona uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Cardona tries a head kick but it misses.
Cardona slips under a jab.
Cardona swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cardona on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Golovkin blocks a jab.
Cardona gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Golovkin.
Cardona slips a jab from Golovkin.
Cardona avoids the body shot from Golovkin.
Cardona tries to counter with a clinch but Golovkin shakes him off and moves away.
Cardona misses with a few strikes there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cardona thows a left - swing and a miss!
Vadim Golovkin is winning the standup battle so far.
Cardona throws the left hand but Golovkin avoids the punch easily.
Golovkin tests Cardona's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Golovkin has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Golovkin swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Cardona counters with a good low kick that Golovkin was not able to check.
Both these guys seem content to just stand up and trade with eachother but Cardona might want to think about changing up his gameplan a bit because over the course of the fight, Golovkin has got the better of the exchanges.
Cardona throws a leg kick but Golovkin moved away.
A little feinted left hand from Golovkin on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Golovkin misses with a hook
and Cardona counters with a nice uppercut.
Cardona's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Golovkin connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Cardona scrambles back to his feet.
Cardona misses with a looping right.
Golovkin misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Cardona.
Cardona looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Cardona is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Cardona misses with a hook. Golovkin ducked under it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big right from Golovkin misses.
Golovkin uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Cardona.
Golovkin scores with a decent looking hook.
Cardona is looking to clinch.
Golovkin misses the jab.
Cardona takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Golovkin is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Cardona can do to turn this around?
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Golovkin scores with the left hand. Cardona knows he should have avoided that one.
Nice shot by Golovkin.
Golovkin throws a nice looking combination but Cardona bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Golovkin throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Cardona sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Cardona avoids the body shot from Golovkin.
Cardona connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Cardona takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Some wild striking there from Golovkin.
Golovkin listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Cardona closes the distance but Golovkin moves to the side
and Golovkin counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Cardona uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Golovkin.
A little jabbing left from Cardona on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Golovkin throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Golovkin slips a jab and a cross from Cardona.
Golovkin stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
A jab from Golovkin misses.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Cardona throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Golovkin counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Golovkin throws a lazy uppercut
and Cardona counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Golovkin throws a body punch but Cardona moves out of range.
Golovkin swings away with a body shot that misses

and Cardona counters by clinching up.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A nice right hand lands inside from Golovkin.
Cardona throws a head punch that misses.
Cardona tries a body shot but Golovkin blocks it.

Cardona jumps guard.
Golovkin wants to control from the top but Cardona keeps moving.
Cardona looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Golovkin puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Cardona moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.

Cardona had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Golovkin defends it easily.

Cardona escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Golovkin gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Golovkin wants to stand but Cardona has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Cardona is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Golovkin stays in close to Cardona's body and controls the position.
Cardona is trying to hold Golovkin in close to prevent damage but Golovkin has managed to pass into half guard.
Cardona tries to get to full guard but Golovkin has control of the leg.

Golovkin moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Cardona.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Cardona regains half guard.
Golovkin wants to lay and pray for a moment but Cardona keeps working.
Golovkin seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Cardona is trying to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vadim Golovkin dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Cardona misses with a right hand
and Golovkin counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Cardona tests Golovkin's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Cardona bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Golovkin avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Cardona misses with a shot to the body
and Cardona takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Golovkin with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Cardona misses the shot to the body.
Golovkin lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cardona ducks under a wild hook from Golovkin.
Golovkin connects with a nice looking jab.
Cardona tries a head kick but it misses.
Cardona moves in looking to clinch but Golovkin pushes him off.
Golovkin is looking to counter punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cardona bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Golovkin's head.
Golovkin moves out of range as Cardona strikes.
Golovkin throws a hook but Cardona avoids it easily.
Golovkin punishes Cardona's body with a nice straight punch.
Cardona tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Golovkin paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Golovkin lands a lovely overhand right.
Cardona throws a looping overhand right but Golovkin ducks down to avoid it.
Cardona lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Golovkin moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Golovkin misses the shot to the body.
The fighters circle momentarily. Golovkin darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Cardona lands a nice looking body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Cardona. Golovkin does a little dance to reset his feet.
Golovkin throws a right hand that misses
and Cardona counters with a lovely straight right hand!
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!
A decent looking cross lands there for Golovkin.
Golovkin throws a hook but Cardona avoids it easily.
Cardona bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Golovkin moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Golovkin throws an overhand right that lands on Cardona's shoulder, as Cardona tries to avoid the shot.
Golovkin misses with a straight right.
Jab, jab by Golovkin - just one landing.
Cardona on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Cardona scores with a hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Golovkin lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Golovkin keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Golovkin tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Cardona was well out of range. Poor timing from Golovkin.
Cardona misses with a shot to the body
and Golovkin counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Golovkin throws a series of punches but Cardona avoids them all with ease.
Cardona throws a body shot but no joy.
Golovkin misses with a looping right.
Cardona swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Golovkin missing with a left hand there. Cardona was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Decent striking displayed by Cardona there.
Golovkin looks to throw the jab but Cardona is out of range.
Cardona throws a hook but Golovkin avoids it easily.
Golovkin swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cardona walks into a left hand.
Cardona drops his hands momentarily and Golovkin takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Golovkin tests Cardona's chin there with a solid looking shot.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cardona shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Cardona misses with the combination.
Golovkin misses with a wild body shot.
Cardona uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Golovkin.
It seemed like Cardona was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Cardona misses with a right hand
and Golovkin counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Golovkin throws an overhand right that lands on Cardona's shoulder, as Cardona tries to avoid the shot.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Cardona pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Cardona closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.
Golovkin takes a shot to the head.
A nice right hand lands inside from Golovkin.
Cardona has a couple of punches blocked by Golovkin.
Golovkin scores with a shoulder strike.
Golovkin misses with a hook from the clinch.
Golovkin throws a head punch that misses.
Cardona tries to throw a body punch but Golovkin avoids it by throwing Cardona back against the ropes.
Cardona swings wildly with an uppercut but Golovkin uses good head movement to avoid it.
Golovkin tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Cardona's elbow.
Golovkin lands on the inside with an uppercut.
I was talking to Golovkin's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Golovkin working aggressively here.
A nice right hand lands inside from Golovkin.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Golovkin.
Cardona lands with a right to the head.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Cardona fails to land.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Golovkin digs a right hand underneath Cardona's ribcage. Cardona let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Cardona takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Golovkin scores with a shot to the side of Cardona's head.
Golovkin throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Cardonas head.
A head punch on the inside from Cardona fails to land.
Cardona tries to pull guard but Golovkin holds him up against the ropes and eventually Cardona drops back down to his feet.
Cardona jumps guard but Golovkin stands there with Cardona around his waist. Cardona gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
A short uppercut from Golovkin.
Cardona tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Golovkin's elbow.
Cardona tries to work over Golovkin's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Golovkin lands a right hand.
Golovkin misses with some punches.
A nice right hand lands inside from Golovkin.
A nice right hand lands inside from Cardona.
Golovkin struggles to land a body shot inside as Cardona controls his hands.
Cardona tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A head punch on the inside from Cardona fails to land.
Cardona misses with a punch on the inside.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Golovkin blocks an uppercut.
Cardona lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Golovkin backwards.
Vadim Golovkin has scored more points in the clinch so far.
A short right from Golovkin on the inside.
Cardona working aggressively here.
Cardona tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Golovkin just stands there and leans against the ropes.
Vadim Golovkin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Calixto Cardona.
Cardona misses with a body punch.
Cardona blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Cardona lands a nice uppercut.
Golovkin lands a right hand.

Cardona is rocked!
Golovkin misses with some punches.
Cardona misses with a punch on the inside.
Cardona blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Cardona goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Golovkin misses with the head strike.
Golovkin working aggressively here.
Cardona is trying to pull guard but Golovkin has him pressed against the ropes.
A shot in the inside from Cardona.

Golovkin breaks from the clinch.
A jab from Cardona misses.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Golovkin lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cardona slips under a jab from Golovkin.
Cardona swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Golovkin bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Golovkin jabs Cardona to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Golovkin scores with a punch to the head.
Golovkin slips under a jab.
Vadim Golovkin is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Cardona connects with the punch.
Golovkin takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
A shot to the liver by Cardona. Beautiful body shot.
Golovkin throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Cardona throws a shot to the body.
Golovkin works the jab nicely.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Golovkin lands a lovely overhand right.
The fighters circling - Golovkin throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Cardona on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Golovkin waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Cardona.
Golovkin uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Cardona.
Golovkin was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Golovkin throws a hook but Cardona avoids it easily.
Cardona takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Golovkin works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Cardona throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Golovkin misses with a body shot.
Calixto Cardona has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The fighters circling - Golovkin throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vadim Golovkin showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Golovkin has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight for Vadim Golovkin!
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight for Vadim Golovkin!
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight for Vadim Golovkin!

Vadim Golovkin wins by unanimous decision!
Vadim Golovkin retains his featherweight title!
After winning the bout, Vadim Golovkin thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.