PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Reggie Cardinal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Terry Donaire (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Reggie Cardinal has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Cardinal
vs
Donaire

179 cm
25
180 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

181 cm
25
184 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Reggie Cardinal!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Terry Donaire!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Russell Pearce and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Donaire takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Cardinal lands with an overhand left.
Donaire fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Donaire tries to close the distance and clinch but Cardinal swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Cardinal has Donaire up against the cage in a clinch.
Cardinal tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Cardinal is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Donaire can't fight it off and eventually Cardinal manages to take the fight to the floor. Donaire looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Cardinal looking to pass the guard.
Cardinal has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Cardinal trying to control the position from guard on top but Donaire is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Cardinal drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Donaire dives on top into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cardinal is looking for a triangle but Donaire pushes his legs off easily.
Donaire trying to control but Cardinal is working from the bottom.
Donaire throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Cardinal works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Donaire advances to half guard.
Cardinal trying to control from the bottom.
Cardinal is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Donaire is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Donaire missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Donaire prevents Cardinal from improving his position.

Cardinal actively working from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Donaire looks to score with a jab to the body but Cardinal is just out of range.
Cardinal lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Cardinal.
Donaire is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Cardinal walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Cardinal lands a two punch combo.

Donaire has managed to clinch.

Cardinal gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Cardinal knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Donaire on the ground.
Donaire is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Donaire moves into full guard.
Donaire not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cardinal avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Cardinal is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Donaire is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Cardinal drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Donaire dives on top into guard.

Donaire stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cardinal rushes Donaire and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Cardinal comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Cardinal blocks the elbow strike.
Donaire can't break the clinch.
Donaire being controlled against the cage.
Donaire blocks the elbow strike.
Cardinal lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Donaire blocking some punches.
Cardinal struggles to land a body shot inside as Donaire controls his hands.
Donaire tries to pull guard but Cardinal won't allow it.
Cardinal drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Donaire gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Cardinal lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

Donaire works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Cardinal isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Donaire stacks Cardinal on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Donaire!
Donaire looks gassed!
Cardinal is looking to reverse the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Reggie Cardinal will probably get the nod.
That's time! Cardinal's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Cardinal misses with the combination.
Donaire closes this distance looking for a takedown but Cardinal circles away.
Donaire closes the distance and clinches up with Cardinal, looking for a takedown. Donaire pushes Cardinal against the cage but Cardinal circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Donaire dodges the punch combination from Cardinal.
Donaire keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Donk. Cardinal catches Donaire right on the button with a cross.
Cardinal scores with a jab to the body.
Cardinal closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Donaire has his takedown stuffed
and Cardinal counters with a three punch combo that has Donaire backing up. Donaire nods at Cardinal to acknowledge the strikes.
Reggie Cardinal has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Terry Donaire.
Donaire is breathing heavily.
Cardinal misses with the combination.
Cardinal connects with a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Donaire misses with a takedown
and Cardinal counters with a series of strikes. Donaire will be more careful next time no doubt.
Donaire circles away from the clinch attempt

and Donaire counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Cardinal!
Cardinal prevents any damage by holding on tight.
Cardinal is looking to get to half guard.
Donaire avoids the attempt from Cardinal to control.
Donaire trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cardinal is desperately trying to improve his position but Donaire has a good base and remains in mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cardinal is working hard here to advance position.
Cardinal is squirming around, avoiding Donaire's attempts to control the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cardinal regains half guard.
Cardinal is controlling Donaire's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Donaire throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Cardinal actively working from the bottom here.

Cardinal looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Donaire wants to control but Cardinal is keeping him busy.
Donaire tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Cardinal.

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.
Cardinal is staying active underneath Donaire, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Cardinal looking for submissions off his back.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Donaire shoots and misses
and Donaire takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Cardinal shoots in for a takedown but Donaire shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Cardinal with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Cardinal throws a combination that misses

and Donaire counters with a shoot takedown. Cardinal fights it but they end up in guard.
Donaire won't allow Cardinal to sweep him here.
Donaire passes into half guard.
Donaire passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Cardinal!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Donaire cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Terry Donaire showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Cardinal scores with a three punch combo!
Donaire wants to clinch
and Cardinal counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Cardinal goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Donaire gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Donaire takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Cardinal gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Donaire is looking to control Cardinal's arms but Cardinal gets an underhook and turns him. Now Donaire has his back to the cage.
Cardinal lands with a right to the head.
Cardinal with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Cardinal slowing the pace effectively.
Donaire tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Cardinal just stands there and leans against the cage.
Donaire takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Donaire content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Cardinal wants a takedown.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Cardinal is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Donaire pulls him back up using the underhooks.
A nice left hand lands by Cardinal.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cardinal stalling.
Donaire looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Cardinal misses with an elbow over the top.

Donaire pulls guard effortlessly.
Cardinal tries to free his leg and advance position but Donaire is retaining full guard.
Donaire wants to sweep but no luck.
Cardinal stops Donaire from standing up.
Cardinal trying to control but Donaire is working from the bottom.

Cardinal thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Cardinal has gone for a leg lock! Donaire slips out almost immediately though and dives into Cardinal's guard.
Donaire wants to get up but he can't break Cardinal's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Cardinal isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Donaire stacks Cardinal on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Donaire!
Cardinal trying his best to control but Donaire has mounted him.
Cardinal is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Cardinal is looking to get to half guard.
Donaire lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Donaire lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Donaire scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Cardinal has given up his back here.
Cardinal can't escape the position.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Donaire's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Cardinal is in bad spot here.
Cardinal trying to control the hands but Donaire breaks the grip.
Cardinal covering up well under a barage of strikes.
A lull in the action here.
Cardinal can't escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Even with his hooks in, Donaire manages to miss with strikes from the back.
Cardinal trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Cardinal covering up well under a barage of strikes.
Donaire wants to control the position but Cardinal frees himself and scrambles - Donaire manages to regain control in side control.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Cardinal scores with a one two! Donaire had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Cardinal misses with a double jab

and Donaire counters with a single leg into guard. Cardinal didn't expect that.
Cardinal thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

Cardinal has his foot on Donaire's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Donaire works his way back into a safe position though.

Cardinal is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Donaire defends well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Terry Donaire comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Donaire 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 Jorge Garcia scores the fight 28:30
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 28:30
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Terry Donaire!