PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Gabriel Finalizador (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gustavo Cardoso (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Finalizador
vs
Cardoso

185 cm
21
196 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

188 cm
20
190 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Gabriel Finalizador!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Gustavo Cardoso!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Matheus Silva and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cardoso misses with a hook. Finalizador ducked under it nicely.
Finalizador wants to clinch up but Cardoso keeps it at a distance.

Finalizador closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Finalizador lands in his opponent's guard.
Finalizador trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Finalizador stops Cardoso from standing up.
Finalizador postures up in Cardoso's guard and throws a big left but Cardoso blocks it.
Cardoso is looking to stand up but Finalizador isn't so interested in that idea.
Finalizador working some strikes from top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Finalizador wants to control from the top but Cardoso keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Finalizador loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Cardoso wants to stand but Finalizador is controlling the position.
Finalizador is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Finalizador decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Cardoso, up you get!
Nice defenses there by Finalizador.
Finalizador misses with a series of wild punches.
Cardoso looks to land a left hand but Finalizador moved out of range nicely.
Cardoso showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Finalizador.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Cardoso lands a jab-cross combination.
Cardoso moves forwards but Finalizador connects with a nice, crisp jab.

Finalizador feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Finalizador scoring with some ground and pound.
Cardoso avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Cardoso wants to stand and escape but Finalizador is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cardoso looks gassed!
Finalizador trying to control but Cardoso is working from the bottom.
Finalizador advances position into side control!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cardoso seems a little lost for a moment, as Finalizador dominates the positioning.
Finalizador wants to lay and pray for a moment but Cardoso keeps working.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Cardoso wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Finalizador trying to control the position but Cardoso is working away.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Finalizador thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Cardoso is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Finalizador has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Cardoso dodges the ground and pound from Finalizador.
Finalizador is looking to take a break and control but Cardoso is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
An elbow from Finalizador crashes against the mat.
Finalizador grinds an elbow into Cardoso's temple.

Finalizador wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Cardoso, who protects the arm well.

Finalizador wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Cardoso, who protects the arm well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gabriel Finalizador dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Cardoso uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Finalizador.
Cardoso throws a combination that misses

and Finalizador counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Finalizador is keen to just control but Cardoso is a slippery customer.
Finalizador throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Finalizador decides to return to a standing position.
Cardoso throws a series of punches but Finalizador moves out of range.
Gabriel Finalizador is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Cardoso throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Finalizador lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Gustavo Cardoso seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Finalizador fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Cardoso avoids it really well and circles away.
Cardoso fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cardoso cracks Finalizador with an open hand slap.
Cardoso leaves Finalizador with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Cardoso thows a body shot but no joy.
Nice uppercut there from Finalizador.
Cardoso throws a nice looking combination but Finalizador bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Finalizador throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Cardoso misses with a body shot.
Nice shot lands for Cardoso.
Finalizador throws a head kick that misses.
Finalizador showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Cardoso.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cardoso keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gabriel Finalizador. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Finalizador instigates a clinch.
Cardoso is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Cardoso is trying to break the clinch but Finalizador has him pressed against the cage.
Cardoso gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Finalizador.

Finalizador turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Finalizador working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Cardoso is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Finalizador asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Finalizador has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Cardoso is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Finalizador is staying tight to Cardoso's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Finalizador misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Finalizador lands a nice forearm strike.
Finalizador controlling from side mount.

Finalizador stands up and beckons Cardoso to his feet.
Finalizador fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Finalizador fails with a takedown attempt.
Cardoso blocks a head kick by Finalizador.
Finalizador will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Cardoso misses with a double jab.
Cardoso misses with a combination

and Finalizador counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Finalizador trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Finalizador stands up from Cardoso's guard - Finalizador perhaps looking for a knockout.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gabriel Finalizador dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Finalizador clinches with his opponent.

Finalizador jumps guard.
Finalizador controls Cardoso momentarily but Cardoso frees himself.

Cardoso stands up and waves to Finalizador to follow him.

Cardoso tries to keep at a distance but Finalizador has taken the fight into the clinch.
Cardoso stops a takedown attempt from Finalizador.
Cardoso wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Finalizador slows down the pace here.
Finalizador scores with a hook to the body.
Finalizador wants a takedown but no success here.
Finalizador wants a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gabriel Finalizador. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cardoso is trying to break free.
Cardoso wants to get back to striking at distance but Finalizador won't allow it.

Finalizador gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Finalizador trying to control but Cardoso is working from the bottom.
Gabriel Finalizador overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Finalizador postures up in Cardoso's guard and throws a big left but Cardoso blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Finalizador trying to control but Cardoso is working from the bottom.
Finalizador throws a big right hand that misses.

Cardoso pushes Finalizador off and scrambles back to his feet.
Gustavo Cardoso is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Cardoso takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Cardoso falls off balance throwing a combination

and Finalizador counters with a nice double leg into side control. Cardoso won't be happy with that.

Finalizador tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Finalizador has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cardoso tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cardoso wants to get back to his feet.
Cardoso has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Finalizador.

Cardoso showing good submission defense here.
I would not like to be Cardoso right now.
Finalizador trying to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cardoso controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
Cardoso is keeping busy.

Finalizador is looking for the choke from the back position but Cardoso is controlling his hands well.
Finalizador struggling to land strikes to the head as Cardoso covers up.
Gustavo Cardoso has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cardoso is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Gabriel Finalizador is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Finalizador scores with punches to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gabriel Finalizador showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Finalizador, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gabriel Finalizador!