PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jose Cardenas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rip Hunter (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.

Cardenas
vs
Hunter

175 cm
20
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
163 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Tends to cut

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jose Cardenas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rip Hunter!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Don Winkell and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Cardenas.
Cardenas shoots in looking for a takedown. Hunter tries to sprawl out of it but Cardenas keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Hunter manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Hunter shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Hunter lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hunter wants to take a breather but Cardenas is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cardenas is looking to escape.
Hunter keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Hunter lands with a punch from half guard.
Cardenas is looking for a sweep. Hunter is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Nice strikes from Hunter there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hunter is pressing down on Cardenas's thigh, looking to free his foot. Cardenas is holding on for now.
Cardenas is not content to let Hunter control the position.
Cardenas is looking to improve his position.
Hunter keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hunter wants to take a breather but Cardenas is having none of it.
Cardenas trying to control from the bottom.
Cardenas is staying active underneath Hunter, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Hunter takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Hunter is looking to take a break and control but Cardenas is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Hunter scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Hunter looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Hunter scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Cardenas is pressing down on Hunter's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Hunter is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Hunter sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Cardenas's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Cardenas gets full guard.
Hunter is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Hunter throwing strikes from guard but Cardenas blocks nicely.
Hunter is in close to Cardenas's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Hunter scoring with punches to the head and body.
Hunter controls from within his opponent's guard.
Hunter passes Cardenas's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cardenas is trying to get back to full guard.
Hunter sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Cardenas is breathing heavily.
Hunter has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cardenas is controlling Hunter's position as best he can from this difficult position.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rip Hunter dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Hunter misses with a straight left.
Cardenas feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Cardenas fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hunter manages to avoid it.
Hunter feints the counter takedown.
Hunter dives in and grabs Cardenas's left leg, looking for a takedown. Cardenas pushes down on Hunter's head and hops out.
Hunter has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Cardenas with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Cardenas shoots for a double leg takedown but Hunter sprawls well. He's pushed Cardenas's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Hunter tests Cardenas's chin there with a solid looking shot.

It looks like Jose Cardenas has been cut.
A head kick from Cardenas lands but Hunter takes it in his stride.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hunter shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Cardenas as he jumps to the side.
Hunter stuffs the takedown.
Cardenas uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Hunter.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hunter lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Cardenas at a distance.

Hunter decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hunter is controlling the pace.
Hunter winds up and cracks Cardenas with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

Cardenas kicks off Hunter and gets to his feet.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Hunter.
Cardenas throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Hunter appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Cardenas dodges the punch combination from Hunter.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hunter swats away the attempt to clinch by Cardenas.
Jose Cardenas is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Cardenas will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jose Cardenas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hunter lands a head shot.
Cardenas misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Hunter closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Cardenas quickly recovers to half guard.
Hunter is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hunter working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Hunter moves into full mount! Cardenas won't be happy about that!
Cardenas really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Hunter with the ground and pound from mount.
Hunter content just to control the position here.
Hunter landing strikes from the mount and Cardenas is in trouble!

Cardenas is rocked!
Hunter controlling from mount.
Hunter in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Oh Cardenas is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hunter lands a big shot there that rocks Cardenas but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Hunter controlling from mount.
Hunter connects with a bit shot that sees Cardenas covering up! More strikes from Hunter and the referee jumps in to stop the fight! Hunter is our winner by TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:36 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Rip Hunter!