PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Anton Viper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joey Cardinal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cardinal is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: In Mourning - In The Failing Hour. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Viper
vs
Cardinal

178 cm
25
166 lbs
10 - 7 - 0

175 cm
28
155 lbs
11 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Anton Viper!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Joey Cardinal!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Paulsen Ambrosius and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cardinal shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Viper is trying to defend but Cardinal finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Cardinal thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Viper to regain full guard.
Cardinal tries to free his leg and advance position but Viper is retaining full guard.
Viper is pulling down on Cardinal's head to control his posture.
Cardinal throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Viper works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Cardinal accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Cardinal throwing strikes from guard but Viper blocks nicely.
Viper is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Cardinal throws a strike but Viper rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Viper won't allow Cardinal to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Viper showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Viper pushing down on Cardinal's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Viper is trying to control the action in half guard but Cardinal is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Viper is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Cardinal has hold of Viper's hands but Viper slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Viper seems content to control.
Cardinal tries to kick Viper off but Viper keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Viper throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Viper thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Cardinal's head.
Cardinal looks like he's trying to stand up.
Viper trying to control the action but Cardinal is working from the bottom.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Viper stalling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cardinal makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Cardinal.
Cardinal has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Cardinal looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Viper wants to pass the guard but Cardinal is keeping the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cardinal preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Cardinal has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Viper can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Cardinal keeping full guard, as Viper tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Viper is stalling in the full guard.
Cardinal wants to sweep but no luck.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Viper slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anton Viper dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Viper slips a jab and a cross from Cardinal.

Cardinal bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Viper is looking for a sweep.

Cardinal working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Viper tries to bench press Cardinal off him but Cardinal keeps the position.
Viper stops Cardinal from passing to mount.

Cardinal working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Cardinal tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Viper dodges the ground and pound from Cardinal.
Viper tries to improve position but can't.
An elbow from Cardinal crashes against the mat.

Cardinal stands up.
Viper rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Cardinal counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Viper is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Viper utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Cardinal has gone for a leg lock! Viper slips out almost immediately though and dives into Cardinal's guard.
Viper is looking to work some ground and pound but Cardinal has wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Viper in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Viper is looking to work some ground and pound but Cardinal has wrist control.
Viper tries to free his leg and advance position but Cardinal is retaining full guard.
Viper content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Viper trying to control the position from guard on top but Cardinal is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Cardinal looking for a guillotine here but Viper defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cardinal wants to get back to his feet but Viper passes into half guard.
Viper perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Viper is working for a kimura but Cardinal is defending it quite comfortably.
Cardinal is trying to maintain the position but Viper is very close to passing his half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Viper stops Cardinal from getting back to his feet.
Viper looks to land a strike but Cardinal avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

Cardinal kicks Viper off and gets to his feet.
Cardinal moves in looking to clinch but Viper pushes him off.
Joey Cardinal is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Cardinal shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Viper is pressing down on Cardinal's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Cardinal is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joey Cardinal showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Cardinal drives through with a takedown into guard.
Viper is trying to control the position but Cardinal postures up.
Viper looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Cardinal looking to pass the guard.
Joey Cardinal has got the better of the ground game so far.
Cardinal is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Viper lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Cardinal!
Cardinal working to try and regain half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Viper postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Cardinal looks a forlorn figure.
Viper misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Cardinal wants to control but Viper is having none of it.
Viper misses with a head shot.
Viper misses with a head shot.

That's two 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.
Cardinal throwing hammer fists to the chest of Viper. What's that going to do exactly?
Cardinal sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Viper missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Viper thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Cardinal's head.
Viper prevents Cardinal from standing back up.
Cardinal makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Cardinal.
Viper working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Viper is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cardinal looking to hit a scissor sweep but Viper is one step ahead there.
Viper controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Viper stopping the sweep attempt from Cardinal.
Viper slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

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.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Anton Viper wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Viper keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
A head kick by Viper misses

and Cardinal counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Viper's guard now.
Cardinal missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Cardinal wants to pass the guard but Viper is keeping the position.
Viper bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Cardinal's guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Viper in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Viper forces his way into half guard.
Viper thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Cardinal to regain full guard.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Joey Cardinal.
I think Cardinal 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 Daniel Blasius scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 28:29
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joey Cardinal!