PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Osvaldo Cardenas (ranked 4199 p4p, 5015 weight class) and Joash Ng (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Cardenas
vs
Ng

169 cm
24
130
0 - 0 - 0

179 cm
18
135
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Osvaldo Cardenas !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Joash Ng!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Chris Downing and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cardenas swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Ng.
Ng avoids the head kick by Cardenas .
Ng slaps away a takedown attempt from Cardenas , before circling back to the center of the mat.
Cardenas tries to score a power double leg takedown but Ng sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Cardenas somewhat.
Ng pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Ng looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Ng tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Cardenas drops down looking for a counter takedown but Ng sprawls and moves away.
Cardenas will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Ng is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Horrible takedown attempt by Cardenas or perhaps it was just good defense by Ng, which made it look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Osvaldo Cardenas . That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cardenas is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Ng.
Cardenas moves out of range of the body kick from Ng.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ng rushes Cardenas and presses him up against the cage.
Cardenas prevents a takedown attempt there.
Ng doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Ng breaks the clinch.
Ng throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Cardenas feinted with a counter takedown.
Cardenas rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Ng moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Ng keeps the fight on the outside.
Cardenas lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Ng is looking to clinch but Cardenas is avoiding it.
Ng is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Cardenas throws a push kick but Ng slaps the foot to one side.
Cardenas shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Ng pinned against the cage. Ng gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Ng gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ng throws a knee to the head but misses.
Ng goes for a takedown attempt but Cardenas pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Cardenas looks for a takedown but Ng sprawls well.
Ng throws the kick towards the body but Cardenas avoids it.
Cardenas tries to counter with a takedown but Ng is quick to defend against it.
Ng scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Ng closes the distance and clinches.
Cardenas gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Ng.
Cardenas gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Ng.
Ng has Cardenas pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Cardenas manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ng tries to pull guard but Cardenas forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Cardenas is trying to break the clinch but Ng has him pressed against the cage.
Cardenas is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Ng gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Ng breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Nice takedown defense from Ng. No joy for Cardenas on that attempt.

Cardenas rushes Ng and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Ng breaks the clinch.
Cardenas tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Cardenas has managed to clinch.
Cardenas blocks an uppercut.
Ng missing with knees to the body.
Ng is looking to take this one to the mat.
Ng has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Cardenas is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Ng can't get the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cardenas is looking to take this one to the mat.
Cardenas is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Cardenas ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Cardenas no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
We've been informed that Ng has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Cardenas avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ng wants to control from the top but Cardenas keeps moving.

Cardenas looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Cardenas is breathing heavily.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Ng's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Ng missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Cardenas keeping moving, preventing Ng from controlling successfully.
Ng working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Joash Ng will probably get the nod.
That's time! Cardenas 's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Ng fails in his attempt to clinch.
Cardenas avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Cardenas changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Ng shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Cardenas pinned against the cage. Cardenas gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Cardenas seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.

Ng shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Cardenas 's guard.
Ng is looking to stand up but Cardenas won't let him.
Ng trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ng loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Cardenas working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ng.
Ng postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Ng throws a big elbow that misses.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ng loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Ng is fighting to break Cardenas 's control of his arms but Cardenas is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Cardenas lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Ng tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Cardenas stands and steps away. Ng gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Cardenas has taken the fight to the clinch.
Ng avoiding damage as Cardenas throws knees to the body.

Ng decides to pull guard.
Cardenas slips nicely into half guard, despite the strikes coming from Ng.
Cardenas stalling.
Cardenas seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Ng for as long as he can get away with.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cardenas stops Ng from getting back to his feet.
Ng wants to get back to full guard but Cardenas has mounted him!
Ng is desperately trying to improve his position but Cardenas has a good base and remains in mount.
Osvaldo Cardenas overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Cardenas looking to ground and pound but Ng is blocking nicely.
Ng tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Cardenas content just to control the position here.

Cardenas looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Cardenas unloads with some shots from mount but Ng bucks and avoids them well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cardenas sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Ng is flailing around like a fish out of water, trying to land strikes.
Ng really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Cardenas tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Ng squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Ng is trying to reverse the position but instead Cardenas has taken his back - oops!
Ng is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Ng is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cardenas working for the choke.
Cardenas struggling to keep hold of the position.

Cardenas looking to break Ng's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Ng remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Cardenas will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Ng wants to escape the position.
Ng manages to reverse the position and now he's in Cardenas 's guard. Nice work there by Ng.
Ng working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Ng with a flurry of punches that miss.
Ng must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Ng working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ng works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Ng seems to be working for a kimura but Cardenas defends the submission attempt.

Ng is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Cardenas sees it coming and defends easily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Osvaldo Cardenas dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Ng tries to clinch up.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Cardenas .
Ng has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Cardenas finds it's way round the side to connect with Ng's head.
Cardenas is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Ng misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Cardenas tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Ng manages to circle out of the way.
Cardenas looks to land a body kick but Ng moved away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cardenas misses with a low kick.
Ng looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Cardenas is fending him off so far but Ng persists. Nope, Cardenas circles away and we're back to standing.
Ng shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Cardenas defends it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ng moves out of range of the body kick.

Cardenas rushes Ng and presses him up against the cage.
Cardenas tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Ng just stands there and leans against the cage.
Cardenas wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Ng has him pressed against the cage.
Cardenas just leaning against Ng, taking a breather.
Cardenas gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Ng.
Osvaldo Cardenas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joash Ng.
Ng has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Cardenas avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Ng looking for a takedown.
Ng takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ng 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.
Cardenas is defending well against a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cardenas manages to pull guard.
Cardenas bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Ng's guard.

Cardenas looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Cardenas stands and throws Ng's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Cardenas throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Ng tries to buck Cardenas off but Cardenas is having none of it.
Cardenas wants to control but Ng is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cardenas is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Ng has escaped the position, nice work there.
Cardenas avoids the strikes from the bottom by Ng.
Ng is looking to reverse the position.
Ng dodges the ground and pound from Cardenas .
Cardenas taking a breather here.
Ng is not content to let Cardenas control the position.
Ng wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.

That's four 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.
Cardenas tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Cardenas creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Ng sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Ng manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Ng trying to control from the bottom.
Ng tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Ng landing rabbit punches to the side of Cardenas 's head. Not doing much damage but still scoring a few points.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Cardenas tries to score a power double leg takedown but Ng sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Cardenas somewhat.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Ng decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Cardenas has one foot on Ng's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Osvaldo Cardenas showed his dominance in that final round.
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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Osvaldo Cardenas !