PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Vybz Kartel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Euclides Cunhha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cunhha comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Raimundus - Eu quero ver o oco kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Vybz Kartel had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Kartel
vs
Cunhha

190 cm
22
205 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

184 cm
22
204 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Intelligent

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Vybz Kartel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Euclides Cunhha!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Emerson Jorge and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cunhha closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Kartel did well to prevent Cunhha getting side control.
Kartel is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Cunhha scores with a couple of nice shots.
Cunhha working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Cunhha not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Kartel is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Cunhha pulls his head out easily.
Ground and pound from Cunhha.
Kartel blocking the ground and pound attempt from Cunhha.

Cunhha is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Kartel has managed to free his arm - good work.
Cunhha lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Kartel slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Kartel is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Cunhha trying to control but Kartel is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cunhha landing with the ground and pound.

Kartel is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Cunhha is aware though and is defending well.
Kartel is breathing heavily.
Cunhha passes Kartel's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Cunhha working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cunhha is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Kartel taking some punishment here, with Cunhha in his half guard.
Cunhha slips a nice elbow through Kartel's hands, connecting with Kartel's forehead.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Cunhha working Kartel over with strikes.
Cunhha works his foot free and advances to mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cunhha lands with some strikes.
Cunhha lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Kartel hang on?
Kartel really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
BOOM! Cunhha connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Cunhha scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Cunhha cracks Kartel with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Cunhha pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Cunhha lands a heavy elbow.
A nice elbow there by Cunhha.
Cunhha has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cunhha thowing shots but they're missing.

Cunhha is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Kartel is surviving well by controlling Cunhha's body position as best he can.
Cunhha throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Kartel because Cunhha loaded up on that one.
Kartel is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cunhha has hold of Kartel's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Kartel manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Cunhha prevents Kartel from getting the reversal.
Kartel takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Cunhha lands a heavy elbow.
Kartel is working to get back to half guard.
Cunhha with shots to the head and body - Kartel looks very uncomfortable down there.
Cunhha looking to control but Kartel is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Kartel really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Cunhha scoring with strikes but Kartel is staying in there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Cunhha is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Kartel can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Kartel is looking to get to half guard.
Cunhha lands a heavy elbow.
Cunhha with the ground and pound from mount.
A nice elbow there by Cunhha.
Kartel is looking to improve his position but Cunhha isn't that keen on the idea.
Cunhha looking to finish Kartel with some ground and pound. This is bad for Kartel!

Cunhha working from mount. He moves in close and looks like he might be going for an arm triangle... He's hopped off to the side and he's transitioned into an Anaconda choke. Kartel turning a nasty shade of purple. He's refusing to tap but he's gone! He's out! The ref rips Cunhha off and cradles Kartel's limp body as Cunhha celebrates with his corner.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Anaconda Choke). Euclides Cunhha!