PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Cactus Kid (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nic Caswell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Kid
vs
Caswell

170 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

163 cm
18
147 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Cactus Kid!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nic Caswell!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Robert Twigg and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Caswell misses with a jab, cross combination.
Kid lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Caswell backs up against the cage.
Cactus Kid seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Caswell gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Caswell keeping full guard, as Kid tries to pass.
Caswell is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Caswell keeping full guard, as Kid tries to pass.

Caswell is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Caswell has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Kid can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Kid postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Caswell is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Kid has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Caswell looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.

Kid shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Caswell regains full guard. Nicely done.
Kid lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Kid working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Kid is in close to Caswell's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Kid lands a couple of digs.
Caswell wants to sweep but no luck.
Caswell wants to stand but Kid is controlling the position.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Kid's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Kid moves in looking to clinch but Caswell pushes him off.
A jab from Caswell misses.

Kid gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Kid is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Caswell gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Kid is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kid trying to land knees to the body.
Kid looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Caswell managing to block the knees to the body from Kid.
Kid is breathing heavily.
Caswell has had enough of the clinch but Kid keeps him there for the moment.
Kid missing with knees to the body.
Caswell letting Kid take a breather here.
Caswell dodges an elbow strike from Kid.
Caswell can't break the clinch.
Kid looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cactus Kid. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kid misses with an elbow strike.
Kid lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Caswell gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Kid.
Kid looking for a takedown.
Caswell avoids the elbow strike from Kid, against the cage.
Kid throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

Caswell pulls guard.

Caswell looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Caswell looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Caswell throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kid tries to free his leg and advance position but Caswell is retaining full guard.

Caswell escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Kid gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Kid is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Caswell manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Kid is looking to improve his position but Caswell isn't that keen on the idea.
Kid avoids a series of strikes thrown by Caswell.

Caswell moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Kid has worked his arm free - good work by Kid!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kid sneaks back into half guard.
Kid tries to get to full guard but Caswell has control of the leg.
Kid moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Kid wants to sweep here but Caswell controlling him for the moment.
Caswell wants to pass the guard but Kid is keeping the position.

Kid looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Caswell stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Some wild striking there from Caswell.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Caswell tries to bum rush Kid with a series of wild strikes but Kid uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Cactus Kid is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Caswell looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Caswell shoots in for a double leg but Kid sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Kid moves in looking to clinch but Caswell pushes him off.
Kid lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Kid misses with a wild combination.
Kid fails to land with a series of punches.

Kid takes the fight into the clinch.
Caswell avoiding damage as Kid throws knees to the body.
Kid unloads a knee to the mid-section. Caswell lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Caswell is trying to break free.
Kid tries to stall but Caswell uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
With the fighters up against the cage, Kid throws an elbow but misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kid has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Caswell is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Kid throws an elbow that misses.
Kid stops a takedown attempt from Caswell.
Caswell wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Kid has him pressed against the cage.
Kid misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Caswell.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Caswell prevents a takedown attempt there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Caswell is trying to break the clinch but Kid has him pressed against the cage.
Caswell managing to block the knees to the body from Kid.
Caswell wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Caswell escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Caswell misses with a jab, cross combination.
Caswell looks to land a combination but Kid avoids it well.
Caswell slips a jab from Kid.
Caswell shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Kid pinned against the cage. Kid gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Cactus Kid has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nic Caswell.
Caswell misses with a few strikes there.
Kid tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Kid uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Caswell.
Caswell misses with a jab, cross combination.
Kid throws a combination that misses
and Caswell counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kid looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Caswell misses with a series of wild punches.

Kid gets a takedown into half guard.
Kid is thwarting Caswell's attempts to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Caswell pushes Kid off looking to stand but Kid dives back in and keeps control.
Caswell is trying to get back to full guard.
Kid frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Kid dominating with strikes here.
Kid lands a big shot there that rocks Caswell but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Kid with shots to the head and body - Caswell looks very uncomfortable down there.
Kid landing shots from mount.
Caswell tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Kid lands a heavy elbow.
Caswell is trying to escape the mount.

Kid is working for a guillotine from mount but Caswell frees his head quite easily.
Caswell really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Caswell is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Kid landing punches.
Kid scoring with strikes but Caswell is staying in there.
Caswell tries to reverse the position but Kid maintains control.
Kid lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Caswell regains half guard.
Kid winds up and cracks Caswell with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Kid seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Caswell does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Kid keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Caswell avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Kid.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Caswell is trying to maintain the position but Kid is very close to passing his half guard.
Caswell manages to get to full guard.

Kid avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Caswell looking for a guillotine here but Kid defends easily.
Kid chips away with some ground and pound.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Caswell is on top in guard.
Caswell wants to stand but Kid is controlling his posture from full guard.
Kid keeping moving, preventing Caswell from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cactus Kid 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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Caswell circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kid tries to close the distance and clinch but Caswell swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kid looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Caswell keeps the fight on the outside.
Caswell has a takedown stuffed.
Kid tries to clinch there but Caswell circles away.
Kid tries to clinch but Caswell is having none of it.
Caswell throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Kid tries to close the distance and clinch up but Caswell swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Caswell throws a right and a left that Kid avoids nicely.

Kid scores a takedown into full mount!
Caswell really wants to buck Kid off and get back to his feet.
Kid landing punches.
Caswell regains half guard.
Kid wants to lay and pray for a moment but Caswell keeps working.
Kid thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Caswell is looking to improve his position.
Kid scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Kid lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Kid passes to side control.
Caswell is pushing Kid's head away, looking to escape. Kid manages to hold on to the position though.
Kid lands an elbow.
A lull in the action here as Kid stalls from top position.
Kid works to advance to full mount. Caswell defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Kid lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Caswell is desperately trying to improve his position but Kid has a good base and remains in mount.

Kid is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Caswell can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Caswell is trying to escape the mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kid with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Caswell is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Kid connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
A nice elbow there by Kid.
Caswell is desperately trying to improve his position but Kid has a good base and remains in mount.
Kid looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Kid cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Caswell taking shots to the head.
Kid unloading with bombs!
Kid with shots to the head and body - Caswell looks very uncomfortable down there.

Caswell is rocked!
Kid raining down shots from the mount!
Caswell is still in real trouble! Can Kid finish him?
Kid blocks Caswell's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
BOOM! Kid connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Caswell takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Kid looking to finish Caswell with some ground and pound. This is bad for Caswell!
Caswell is looking to get to half guard.
Kid scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Caswell?
Kid controlling from the full mount.
Caswell tries to reverse the position but Kid maintains control.
Caswell seems to have recovered his senses.
The referee warns Caswell that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Caswell tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Kid lands a big elbow.
Kid cracks Caswell with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Kid with the ground and pound from mount.
Kid with good strikes from the mount here!
Caswell manages to regain half guard. Good work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Caswell is looking to escape.
Kid keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Kid connects with a nice short shot to Caswell's temple.
Caswell gets full guard.

Caswell had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Kid is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Caswell Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Kid's back instead.

Caswell is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Caswell is looking to control Kid but Kid is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Kid tries to escape the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kid manages to reverse the position and now he's in Caswell's guard. Nice work there by Kid.
Caswell looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kid is one step ahead there.
Nic Caswell has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kid advances to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cactus Kid showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Kid has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 George Francis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cactus Kid!