PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Calixto Cardona (ranked 1515 p4p, 2407 weight class) and Rikiya Goromaru (ranked 174 p4p, 257 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Cardona
vs
Goromaru

170 cm
28
149
15 - 10 - 0

170 cm
22
145
3 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Hot Spunk
Fenrir Fightgear - Anno 2013

Concrete Clothing (Laundry Re Stock Coming Soon)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Calixto Cardona!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rikiya Goromaru!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Yuuki Gou and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cardona falls off balance throwing a combination

so Goromaru counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Cardona keeping moving, preventing Goromaru from controlling successfully.
Cardona has his hands on Goromaru's head, controlling the position.
Goromaru trying to control the position from guard on top but Cardona is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Goromaru advances to half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Goromaru wants to control but Cardona is keeping him busy.

Goromaru is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Goromaru is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Goromaru wants to work for an arm triangle but Cardona is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Cardona tries to get to full guard but Goromaru has control of the leg.

Goromaru is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Cardona pushes Goromaru off looking to stand but Goromaru dives back in and keeps control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Goromaru is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Cardona has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's two 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.

Goromaru is looking for a kimura but Cardona is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Goromaru to get the leverage.
Cardona looks like he's trying to stand up.
Goromaru is looking to stall here but Cardona recovers full guard.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Cardona keeping moving, preventing Goromaru from controlling successfully.
Cardona keeping full guard, as Goromaru tries to pass.
Goromaru passes Cardona's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Goromaru is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Cardona has managed to free his arm - good work.
Cardona wants to get back to his feet.
Cardona has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Goromaru is working away from the top position though.
Cardona is not content to let Goromaru control the position.

Cardona is defending against the submission attempts here by Goromaru.
Cardona is looking to escape.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Cardona swats away the attempt to clinch by Goromaru.
Goromaru tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Cardona misses with a low kick as Goromaru jumps back.
A chopping leg kick lands by Cardona.

Cardona rushes Goromaru and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Goromaru is trying to maintain a safe position but Cardona gets an underhook and turns Goromaru into the cage.
Goromaru tries to throw a body punch but Cardona avoids it by throwing Goromaru back against the cage.
Cardona pushes Goromaru back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Goromaru can't find room to land a body shot as Cardona controls the action.

Goromaru manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cardona wants to stand but Goromaru is controlling his posture from full guard.

Goromaru looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rikiya Goromaru dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

A jab from Cardona finds it's way through Goromaru's defenses.
An inside leg kick lands from Cardona.
Goromaru dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Cardona looks to land a left hand but Goromaru moved out of range nicely.
Goromaru tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Cardona manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Goromaru avoids the head kick by Cardona.
Goromaru tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Goromaru has taken the fight to the clinch.
Goromaru goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Goromaru drags the fight down to the ground.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cardona wants to get up but he can't break Goromaru's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Cardona has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Goromaru is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Cardona defends well.
Cardona pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Goromaru is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Goromaru keeping moving, preventing Cardona from controlling successfully.
Our spies down at at LA Vale Tudo inform us that Goromaru has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?

Goromaru has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Cardona can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Cardona has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Goromaru is proving hard to escape from.
Cardona sitting in guard here, content to control.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Cardona wants to pass the guard but Goromaru is keeping the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Cardona throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Goromaru is looking to clinch.
Goromaru fails in his attempt to clinch.
A low kick from Cardona misses

so Goromaru counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Goromaru is pushing down on Cardona's leg trying to pass to half guard. Cardona is fighting to maintain full guard but Goromaru has managed to sneak the leg through.

Goromaru is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Cardona doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Goromaru.
Cardona is pressing down on Goromaru's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Cardona looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Goromaru trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Cardona is looking to stand up but Goromaru isn't so interested in that idea.
Goromaru trying to control the position from guard on top but Cardona is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cardona wants to stand but Goromaru is controlling the position.
Goromaru stands and throws Cardona's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Goromaru is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Cardona knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Goromaru is trying to get an arm triangle but Cardona is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Cardona is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Cardona tries to improve position but can't.
Goromaru has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Goromaru tries for a kimura but Cardona is defending well.

Goromaru working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cardona is trying to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rikiya Goromaru showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Cardona misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Goromaru slips a jab and a cross from Cardona.
Cardona throws a sloppy head kick and Goromaru moves out of range easily.
Cardona throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Goromaru tries to move into range but Cardona moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Calixto Cardona seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Goromaru takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Goromaru slips under a jab from Cardona.
Goromaru shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Cardona as he jumps to the side.
Cardona tests Goromaru's chin there with a solid looking shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cardona scores with a kick to the body.
Goromaru ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Cardona moves away.
Cardona lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cardona fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Goromaru.
Goromaru drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
The fight stays on the outside here - Goromaru looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Cardona swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Goromaru.

Goromaru is rocked!
Goromaru gets caught by a big overhand right and goes down! Cardona gets on top of him and starts throwing some serious punches until the ref intervenes and stops the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:31 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Calixto Cardona!
During a confident post fight interview, Calixto Cardona thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.