PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Mamed Khalidovic (ranked 1600 p4p, 1969 weight class) and Smashy Cartwright (ranked 219 p4p, 262 weight class). Khalidovic comes to the cage accompanied by Зима-мама 25/17. Cartwright comes into a darkened arena with his song building. The Hammer kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! The key to victory for Mamed Khalidovic has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Khalidovic
vs
Cartwright

183 cm
20
162
3 - 0 - 0

174 cm
27
160
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Mamed Khalidovic!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Smashy Cartwright!
The judges for this bout are Skip Squint, Ben Hemmingworth and Darius Henderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cartwright tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Khalidovic defends well and Cartwright ends up having to push Khalidovic into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Cartwright looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Khalidovic is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Cartwright scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Khalidovic is pressing down on Cartwright's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Cartwright landing some decent shots from guard.
Khalidovic is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Khalidovic wants to get back to his feet but Cartwright is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Cartwright trying to control the position from guard on top but Khalidovic is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khalidovic working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Cartwright.
Cartwright stands up over Khalidovic, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Cartwright throwing strikes from guard but Khalidovic blocks nicely.
Khalidovic wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Khalidovic wants to stand up but Cartwright is controlling him.
Cartwright trying to control the position from guard on top but Khalidovic is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cartwright looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Khalidovic loads up on a big right hand but Cartwright slips the punch.
Cartwright changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Khalidovic misses with a hook

and Cartwright counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Cartwright.
Cartwright throwing strikes but missing.

Khalidovic has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Cartwright can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Cartwright working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Cartwright keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Khalidovic's head.
Khalidovic preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Cartwright trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Cartwright prevents Khalidovic from getting back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cartwright loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Khalidovic looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Cartwright throws a big right hand that misses.
Cartwright works over Khalidovic with some ground and pound from guard.
Cartwright missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Cartwright stopping the sweep attempt from Khalidovic.
Cartwright tries to free his leg and advance position but Khalidovic is retaining full guard.
Khalidovic is looking to stand up but Cartwright isn't so interested in that idea.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

Cartwright closes the distance and pushes Khalidovic back into the cage.

Khalidovic breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Mamed Khalidovic seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Cartwright closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Cartwright creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Khalidovic struggling a bit here.
Cartwright tries to score with some ground and pound. Khalidovic controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Cartwright working the ground and pound but Khalidovic is defending the strikes.
Cartwright grinds an elbow into Khalidovic's temple.
Cartwright working away.
Khalidovic is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Cartwright trying to control the action but Khalidovic is working from the bottom.
Khalidovic tries to improve position but can't.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cartwright tries to move to mount but Khalidovic blocks the move with his legs.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Smashy Cartwright dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Cartwright bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Cartwright slips under a jab from Khalidovic.
Khalidovic misses with a hook
and Cartwright counters with a nice uppercut.
Khalidovic missing with a left hand there. Cartwright was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Cartwright tries to clinch there but Khalidovic circles away.
Khalidovic throws a shot to the body.
Khalidovic circles away from the clinch attempt.
Cartwright takes a body punch but keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Khalidovic lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Khalidovic tries to bum rush Cartwright with a series of wild strikes but Cartwright uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Cartwright feints the counter takedown.
Khalidovic missing with a left hand there. Cartwright was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Khalidovic lands a jab to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khalidovic comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Khalidovic pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

Cartwright closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Khalidovic on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Cartwright looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Cartwright working Khalidovic over with strikes.
Cartwright lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Cartwright not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Cartwright is thwarting Khalidovic's attempts to control the position.
Khalidovic is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at SYDNEY ELITE GYM, so we'll see if he gets out of it.
Cartwright missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Nice strikes from Cartwright there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khalidovic wants to control but Cartwright is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Khalidovic is refusing to be controlled, as Cartwright sits in half guard.
Cartwright is figuring out what he wants to do next.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Khalidovic tries to kick Cartwright off but Cartwright keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Cartwright lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Cartwright thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Cartwright misses with a head shot. Khalidovic uses the momentum to regain guard.
Cartwright has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Cartwright wants to control from the top but Khalidovic keeps moving.
Smashy Cartwright has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khalidovic wants to sweep here but Cartwright controlling him for the moment.
Cartwright wants to control from the top but Khalidovic keeps moving.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Cartwright tries for a takedown but Khalidovic sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Smashy Cartwright is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A slow jab from Khalidovic misses its intended target.

Cartwright clinches up against the cage.

Khalidovic breaks the clinch.
Khalidovic misses with an uppercut.
Cartwright displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Khalidovic throws out the jab.
Khalidovic keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Khalidovic swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
And Cartwright tries to counter it with a takedown but Khalidovic pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Khalidovic throws a jab but it's blocked by Cartwright.
Khalidovic scores with a three punch combo!
Cartwright displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Khalidovic throws out the jab.
Khalidovic misses with a wild body shot.
Khalidovic throws a shot from downtown. Cartwright moves away and avoids it.
Cartwright tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Khalidovic counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Khalidovic throws a good cross that connects.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Cartwright darts in trying to clinch
enabling Khalidovic to counter with a crisp jab.
A swing and a miss from Khalidovic.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Cartwright clinches up against the cage.

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

Khalidovic is trying to get back to his feet. He's worked up on to his knees and now he's on his feet with his head on the canvas, trying to shake Cartwright off. It looks like it's working - Cartwright slides off, much to his dismay, and we're back to standing! Khalidovic displaying calm under pressure there.
Khalidovic is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Khalidovic will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Khalidovic takes a swing at Cartwright's ribcage but misses.
Cartwright drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Khalidovic defends it well.
Cartwright takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Khalidovic misses with a hook

and Cartwright counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Khalidovic is trying to stand up here but Cartwright is controlling him well.
Cartwright controlling the pace.
Cartwright frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cartwright lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Cartwright cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Cartwright working his ground and pound in the gym.
Khalidovic wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Cartwright.
Cartwright with good strikes from the mount here!
Khalidovic is trying to escape the mount.
BOOM! Cartwright connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Cartwright lands with some strikes.
Cartwright controlling the position easily from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cartwright lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Cartwright putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Khalidovic regains half guard.
Cartwright sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Khalidovic defending well though.
Cartwright stops Khalidovic from getting back to his feet.
Cartwright missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Cartwright wants to control but Khalidovic is keeping him busy.
Cartwright is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Cartwright is nestled in close to Khalidovic, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cartwright thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Khalidovic's head.
Cartwright lands with a punch from half guard.
Cartwright perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Cartwright is looking to advance position but Khalidovic won't allow it.
Nice strikes from Cartwright there.
Khalidovic taking some punishment here, with Cartwright in his half guard.
Khalidovic is trying to stand back up but Cartwright is controlling him
Cartwright 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.
Cartwright wants to control but Khalidovic is keeping him busy.
Khalidovic avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Cartwright.
Khalidovic makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Khalidovic.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Khalidovic is trying to control the position but Cartwright postures up.
Cartwright trying to control but Khalidovic is working from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Cartwright tries to close the distance and clinch up but Khalidovic swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Khalidovic was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.

Cartwright is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Khalidovic's half guard.
Khalidovic is refusing to be controlled, as Cartwright sits in half guard.
Khalidovic moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Cartwright trying to control the position from guard on top but Khalidovic is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Smashy Cartwright really 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.

A big right from Khalidovic misses.
Cartwright uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Khalidovic.
Cartwright keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Khalidovic.
Cartwright steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Khalidovic.
Khalidovic connects with a body shot.
Khalidovic misses with a lunging right hand

and Cartwright counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Cartwright showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Cartwright with a nice head shot there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Khalidovic not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Cartwright loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Khalidovic controls Cartwright momentarily but Cartwright frees himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cartwright tries to free his leg and advance position but Khalidovic is retaining full guard.
Cartwright in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Cartwright working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Cartwright staying out of range there.
Cartwright keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Khalidovic misses with a straight left.
Khalidovic misses with a wild body shot.
Cartwright moves away from the strike by Khalidovic.
Cartwright is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Cartwright keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Cartwright displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Khalidovic throws out the jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cartwright tries to clinch but Khalidovic moves out of range.
Khalidovic lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Cartwright bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Cartwright keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Khalidovic.
A countering left hand to the body from Cartwright misses.
Khalidovic throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Khalidovic loads up on a big right hand but Cartwright slips the punch.
Cartwright fails in his attempt to clinch.

Cartwright clinches.
Khalidovic scores with a shot to the side of Cartwright's head.
Khalidovic is trying to break the clinch but Cartwright is controlling him.
Cartwright jumps guard but Khalidovic turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Still in the clinch, Khalidovic scores with a nice short uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khalidovic looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Khalidovic is trying to break free.
Khalidovic tries to circle away but Cartwright has him pinned against the cage.

Khalidovic manages to break the clinch.
Cartwright tries to clinch there but Khalidovic circles away.
Cartwright moves out of range of the strikes.
Cartwright takes one to the side of the head.

Cartwright rushes Khalidovic and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Khalidovic stops a takedown attempt from Cartwright.

Cartwright gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Cartwright content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cartwright thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Cartwright works his foot free and advances to mount.
Cartwright lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Cartwright lands a big elbow.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Cartwright landing shots from mount.
Khalidovic tries to buck Cartwright off but he can't manage it.
Cartwright is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Khalidovic can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Mamed Khalidovic will probably get the nod.
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. And we move into the final round!

Khalidovic misses with a jab to the body

and Cartwright counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Cartwright thows a huge punch but Khalidovic dodges it nicely.
Khalidovic keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Cartwright throws a strike but Khalidovic avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Cartwright advances position into side control!
Khalidovic managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Cartwright.
Cartwright throws an elbow but Khalidovic slips to the side and avoids it well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cartwright cracks Khalidovic with a big right hand but Khalidovic just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
An elbow from Cartwright crashes against the mat.
Cartwright is looking to take a break and control but Khalidovic is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Khalidovic is looking to reverse the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Cartwright creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Khalidovic sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Cartwright lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Khalidovic down.
Cartwright lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Khalidovic sneaks back into half guard.
Cartwright winds up and cracks Khalidovic with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Khalidovic trying to control from the bottom.
Cartwright is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cartwright content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Cartwright working the head and body with strikes.
Cartwright sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Cartwright looks to land a strike but Khalidovic avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Cartwright preventing the sweep.
Cartwright keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Khalidovic's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cartwright lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Cartwright is looking to work some ground and pound but Khalidovic has wrist control.
Khalidovic is looking to stand up but Cartwright isn't so interested in that idea.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Khalidovic throws a hook but Cartwright blocks it.
Cartwright tries to clinch up.
Khalidovic throws the left hand but Cartwright avoids the punch easily.
Cartwright looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Khalidovic misses with a straight right.
Cartwright slips under a jab.
Khalidovic throws a hook but Cartwright avoids it easily.

Cartwright moves into the clinch.

Cartwright is trying to trip Khalidovic. He has hold of a leg but Khalidovic is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Cartwright persists though and gets the takedown into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Khalidovic keeping moving, preventing Cartwright from controlling successfully.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Cartwright's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Cartwright working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Khalidovic looking for a sweep. Not yet Khalidovic, not yet.
Cartwright landing some decent shots from guard.
Khalidovic working a defensive guard here.
Cartwright postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cartwright 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 fight!
Smashy Cartwright comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Cartwright 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 47:48
Judge Ben Hemmingworth scores the fight 47:48
Judge Darius Henderson scores the fight 46:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Smashy Cartwright!
Smashy Cartwright is the new lightweight champion!
A victorious Smashy Cartwright thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.