PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ethan Cavanaugh (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Black Mamba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Cavanaugh
vs
Mamba

183 cm
22
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

186 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ethan Cavanaugh!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Black Mamba!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Franklyn Lucas and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cavanaugh misses with a takedown attempt - Mamba sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Cavanaugh doesn't manage to clinch there - Mamba circles away.
Cavanaugh fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Mamba closes the distance looking to clinch

and Cavanaugh counters with a single leg into guard. Mamba didn't expect that.
Mamba is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Mamba trying to control the position here.
Mamba is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Cavanaugh is controlling him.
Cavanaugh advances to half guard.
Cavanaugh is controlling the pace.
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.
Cavanaugh has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Mamba tries to roll over but Cavanaugh keeps him under control.
Cavanaugh looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Mamba is trying to get back to full guard.
Cavanaugh is tying to control. Mamba wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Mamba missing with punches from the bottom.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Mamba can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Cavanaugh wants to pass to mount but Mamba is defending the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Cavanaugh looks to land a right hand but Mamba moved out of range.

Cavanaugh drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Cavanaugh prevents Mamba from getting back to his feet.
Cavanaugh landing some decent shots from guard.
Mamba looking for a sweep. Not yet Mamba, not yet.
Mamba is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Mamba wants to stand but Cavanaugh is controlling the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cavanaugh is looking to advance position but Mamba has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cavanaugh flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Mamba wants to control the pace but Cavanaugh is squirming around nicely.
Mamba looks gassed!
Cavanaugh working to try and regain half guard.
Cavanaugh is trying to stand.
Mamba lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Mamba looking to control but Cavanaugh is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Mamba lands with some strikes.
Cavanaugh is squirming around, avoiding Mamba's attempts to control the action.
Cavanaugh tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Mamba has hold of Cavanaugh's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Cavanaugh manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Mamba controlling his opponent.
Cavanaugh can't escape the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ethan Cavanaugh dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Mamba misses with a takedown attempt

so Cavanaugh counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Mamba looking to hit a scissor sweep but Cavanaugh is one step ahead there.
Cavanaugh looking to pass the guard.
Mamba working a defensive guard here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Cavanaugh decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Mamba, up you get!

Mamba bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cavanaugh sneaks back into half guard.
Mamba slows the pace down in half guard.
Mamba wants to control but Cavanaugh is keeping him busy.
Mamba tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Cavanaugh missing with punches from the bottom.
Nice strikes from Mamba there.
Mamba controlling the action here.

Cavanaugh kicks off Mamba and gets to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mamba with a poor takedown

and Cavanaugh counters with a takedown into side control.
Cavanaugh taking a break here but Mamba is having none of it and regains half guard.
Mamba is refusing to be controlled, as Cavanaugh sits in half guard.
Mamba trying to control here.
Mamba is controlling Cavanaugh's trapped leg to prevent Cavanaugh from advancing to side control.
Cavanaugh missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cavanaugh with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Mamba wants to control but Cavanaugh is keeping busy.
Cavanaugh is just content to waste time from the top position. Mamba takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Cavanaugh is stalling in the full guard.
Cavanaugh wants to control from the top but Mamba keeps moving.

Mamba looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Cavanaugh has picked Mamba up and slammed him! Mamba can't keep hold of the triangle and Cavanaugh manages to pass to side control!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Cavanaugh in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Cavanaugh lands a decent elbow from side control.
Mamba tries to improve position but can't.

Cavanaugh wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Mamba, who protects the arm well.
Cavanaugh controlling the position.
Mamba sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Cavanaugh seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Mamba does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Mamba is trying to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ethan Cavanaugh dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Cavanaugh looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Mamba is fending him off so far but Cavanaugh persists. Nope, Mamba circles away and we're back to standing.
Mamba misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Cavanaugh rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Mamba moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Mamba keeps the fight on the outside.
Mamba connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Mamba moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

Cavanaugh is rocked!
Cavanaugh fails with the takedown

and Mamba shoots in, scooping Cavanaugh off his feet. Mamba is holding his opponent over his shoulder. He slams Cavanaugh to the mat and Cavanaugh is in big trouble! Mamba is landing strikes to his unconscious foe and the ref dives in to end the fight! Mamba is celebrating with his corner and rightfully so.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:31 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Slam). Black Mamba!