PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Neil Hendricks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jeremias Cardoso (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Hendricks
vs
Cardoso

172 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

176 cm
19
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Neil Hendricks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jeremias Cardoso!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Mauricio Rocha and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hendricks doesn't manage to clinch there - Cardoso circles away.
Donk. Cardoso catches Hendricks right on the button with a cross.

Hendricks drives through and clinches with Cardoso against the cage.

Cardoso is trying to trip Hendricks. He has hold of a leg but Hendricks is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Cardoso persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Hendricks is trying to control the position but Cardoso postures up.
Cardoso trying to control the position from guard on top but Hendricks is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Cardoso got a little sloppy there for a moment and Hendricks has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Cardoso has managed to get both his arms back between Hendricks's legs - danger averted.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hendricks seems keen to control Cardoso's posture.
Hendricks keeping moving, preventing Cardoso from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cardoso preventing the sweep.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Hendricks thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Cardoso shoots in and bounces Hendricks off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Cardoso looking to sit in guard and control but Hendricks gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Hendricks scoring with some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hendricks working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Hendricks with a flurry of punches that miss.
Hendricks throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Cardoso works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Hendricks with a flurry of punches that miss.

Cardoso manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Hendricks misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Hendricks wants to get back to striking at distance but Cardoso won't allow it.

Cardoso has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Hendricks clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!

Hendricks manages to stand up with Cardoso still on his back. Eventually Cardoso drops to his feet and we're back in the standing position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cardoso shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Hendricks's guard.
Hendricks is trying to control the position but Cardoso postures up.
Cardoso is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Cardoso with a flurry of punches that miss.

Cardoso has gone for a leg lock! Hendricks slips out almost immediately though and dives into Cardoso's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hendricks tries to free his leg and advance position but Cardoso is retaining full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Hendricks stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Cardoso moves into the clinch successfully.

Cardoso manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Cardoso working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hendricks.

Cardoso has his foot on Hendricks's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Hendricks works his way back into a safe position though.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cardoso trying to keep a closed guard but Hendricks is proving a slippery customer.
Cardoso looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jeremias Cardoso will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Cardoso circles away from the clinch attempt.
A decent looking cross lands there for Cardoso.

Cardoso shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Cardoso showed some decent athleticism there.
Cardoso prevents Hendricks from improving his position.
Hendricks is controlling Cardoso's trapped leg to prevent Cardoso from advancing to side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cardoso has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cardoso prevents Hendricks from getting the reversal.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cardoso throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Hendricks in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Cardoso thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Cardoso avoids the attempt from Hendricks to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cardoso jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Hendricks manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Hendricks manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Well, if Cardoso is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

Cardoso is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Cardoso there.
Hendricks regains full guard. Nicely done.
Cardoso postures up.
Cardoso throws a strike but Hendricks rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Hendricks avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Hendricks got a little sloppy there for a moment and Cardoso has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Hendricks has managed to get both his arms back between Cardoso's legs - danger averted.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

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

Cardoso has Hendricks up against the cage in a clinch.

Cardoso drags the fight down to the ground.

Hendricks gets to his feet - Cardoso follows without any prompting.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Cardoso lands a nice uppercut.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Cardoso has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Hendricks uses from the top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jeremias Cardoso showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Hendricks ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Cardoso moves away.

Cardoso rushes Hendricks and presses him up against the cage.

Cardoso tightens his grip and picks Hendricks up, before dumping him to the ground. Hendricks manages to land in guard.
Hendricks is looking to stand back up but Cardoso counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Hendricks.

Hendricks trying to control but Cardoso postures up.
Cardoso blocks the strikes from Hendricks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hendricks is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Cardoso's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Cardoso's back!
Hendricks lands an elbow to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hendricks is working for the choke. It looks like he might have got it... has he...? Yes! Cardoso is tapping out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:20 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Neil Hendricks!