PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ferele Athram (ranked 1948 p4p, 3458 weight class) and Douglas Cardozo (ranked 270 p4p, 443 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Athram might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Same Disease. Cardozo has chosen DMX - Lord Give Me A Sign as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Ferele Athram has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Athram
vs
Cardozo

185 cm
20
170
5 - 3 - 0

178 cm
20
173
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Good gas tank

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 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ferele Athram!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Douglas Cardozo!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Robert Twigg and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cardozo throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Athram tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Cardozo is in Athram's guard.

Athram is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Cardozo is aware though and is defending well.
Cardozo advances to half guard.
Athram is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at Oblivion Gate, so we'll see if he gets out of it.
Cardozo throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Athram is trying to maintain the position but Cardozo is very close to passing his half guard.
Cardozo has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Athram is defending against the submission attempts here by Cardozo.

Cardozo is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Athram sees it coming and defends easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cardozo is keen to just control but Athram is a slippery customer.
Athram wants to get back to full guard.
Athram trying to get back to full guard but Cardozo takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cardozo is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Athram to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Athram shrugs it off.
Athram wants to hold on but Cardozo pushes him away.
Athram is controlling an arm, preventing Cardozo from taking his back. Although keeping him in mount is no better to be honest.

Cardozo jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Athram is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Athram and Cardozo has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Cardozo wants to lay and pray for a moment but Athram keeps working.
Athram tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to 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.
Athram is not content to let Cardozo control the position.
Cardozo happy to just control the position for now.
My spies in Lakeside Jiu-Jitsu inform me that Cardozo has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Athram wants to control but Cardozo postures up.
Athram sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Cardozo wants to pass the guard but Athram is defending well.
Cardozo is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cardozo with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.
Athram has given up his back - I don’t know if this is a deliberate ploy to try and escape or if he is just struggling down there.
Cardozo trying to control momentarily.

Cardozo is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.

Athram defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Athram staying busy and making it hard for Cardozo to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cardozo looking for the RNC.
Athram looking very determined here, making life difficult for Cardozo.
Cardozo is hanging on to Athram's back as he tries to escape.
Cardozo tries to get the hooks in deep but Athram pushed the leg off.

Athram fending off the submission attempt from Cardozo.

Cardozo looking for the choke from the back.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cardozo trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Well, with Cardozo on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Athram is tapping out... Can he escape the position?
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Douglas Cardozo dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Cardozo connects with a good right hand that stumbles Athram. Athram circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Cardozo has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Cardozo misses with an uppercut.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Cardozo.
An attempted straight right counter from Athram misses the target.
Cardozo punishes Athram's body with a nice straight punch.
Cardozo connects with a jab.
Athram misses with a double jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cardozo tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Athram was well out of range. Poor timing from Cardozo.
Athram throwing a counter right hand but Cardozo manages to avoid it.
Cardozo changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Athram throws a hook to the side of Cardozo's head but Cardozo sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Athram blocks a jab.
As Cardozo looks to move away, Athram throws a big counter combo but Cardozo just gets out of the way.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Athram scores with a jab to the jaw.
Cardozo scores with a hook to the body. Athram takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Ferele Athram is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Cardozo misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Cardozo looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
A little feinted left hand from Athram on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Ferele Athram has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Douglas Cardozo.

Athram gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Athram creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
A short body shot lands from Athram as the two fighters clinch.
Cardozo is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Athram pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Athram lands a right hand that snaps the head of Cardozo backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cardozo blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Athram tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Athram tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Athram gets underhooks to prevent Cardozo's takedown attempt.
Athram has a couple of punches blocked by Cardozo.
Cardozo blocking some punches.
Athram lands a right hand that snaps the head of Cardozo backwards.
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!
Cardozo misses with a short punch on the inside.
Cardozo drops down looking for an ankle pick but Athram pulls his leg out and moves away.
Cardozo throws a right and a left that Athram avoids nicely.

Athram rushes Cardozo and presses him up against the cage.
Cardozo wants to take the fight to the mat but Athram manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Athram.
Cardozo is looking for a takedown.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Athram.
Cardozo prevents a body shot from Athram.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Athram throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Cardozos head.
Athram stops a takedown attempt from Cardozo.
Cardozo misses with the head strike.
Cardozo swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Ferele Athram has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Cardozo tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Cardozo goes for a takedown in the clinch but Athram prevents it.
Cardozo doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Cardozo fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Athram.
Athram throws a head punch that misses.
Athram swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Athram is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Athram lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Cardozo backwards.
Cardozo tries for a takedown but Athram manages to get underhooks.
Athram throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Cardozos head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Athram prevents a takedown attempt there.
Athram lands an uppercut.
Athram throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Cardozos head.
Cardozo missing with knees to the body.
Athram working aggressively here.
Athram lands with a short shot to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A short left from Athram.
Athram has a couple of punches blocked by Cardozo.
Cardozo is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Athram makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Athram lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Cardozo wants to take the fight to the mat but Athram manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Cardozo wants to stall.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ferele Athram dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Cardozo closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Cardozo lands in his opponent's guard.
Cardozo advances position into side control!
Cardozo tries to move to mount but Athram blocks the move with his legs.
Athram struggling a bit here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Athram is looking to regain half guard here but Cardozo keeps moving and retains side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Athram is trying to escape the position but Cardozo is controlling the position.
Athram prevents Cardozo from improving position.
Athram tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Athram can't do much from the bottom here.
Cardozo has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Athram is wriggling around trying to escape.
Cardozo moves to the back position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Athram is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Cardozo gets his way!

Cardozo has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Cardozo avoiding Athram 's attempts to control his hands.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Athram showing good submission defense here.
Athram can't escape the position.
Douglas Cardozo has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Athram trying to control the action but Cardozo just sinks the hooks in.
Cardozo tries to keep control of the position but Athram is staying busy.

Cardozo looking to break Athram's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Athram remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Cardozo will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Cardozo tries to keep control of the position but Athram is staying busy.
Cardozo doesn't have the hooks in and Athram manages to turn into his guard.

Athram drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Athram jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Athram preventing the sweep.

Cardozo looking for a guillotine here but Athram defends easily.
Athram's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cardozo looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Athram drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Athram jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Athram trying to control but Cardozo is working from the bottom.
Cardozo lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cardozo passes easily into side control. Nice work.

And that's the end of the fight!
Douglas Cardozo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Cardozo 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 28:29
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Douglas Cardozo!