PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Smashy Cartwright (ranked 1240 p4p, 1321 weight class) and Sum Yung Gai (ranked 179 p4p, 188 weight class). Cartwright's entrance music is The Hammer. A fine choice. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Cartwright
vs
Yung Gai

174 cm
27
160
5 - 1 - 0

169 cm
21
156
11 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very quick

Good wrestler
Solid Muay Thai
Good gas tank

Conquer

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 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Smashy Cartwright!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sum Yung Gai!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, Darius Henderson and Francis DeMontford.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yung Gai throws a body punch but Cartwright moves out of range.
Cartwright misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Yung Gai doesn't manage to clinch there - Cartwright circles away.
Yung Gai swings widly with a right hand
and Cartwright counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Yung Gai avoids a punch combination nicely.
Yung Gai tries to clinch up but Cartwright circles away and keeps his distance.
Cartwright uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Yung Gai.
The fight stays on the outside here - Yung Gai looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yung Gai connects with a right hand. Cartwright shakes it off.
Cartwright throws a lazy uppercut
and Yung Gai counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
A jab from Yung Gai finds it's way through Cartwright's defenses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cartwright shoots in looking for a takedown but Yung Gai manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Cartwright's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Yung Gai looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Yung Gai scores with a hook to the body. Cartwright takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Cartwright fails to land the takedown.
A swing and a miss from Yung Gai.
Cartwright bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Cartwright scores with the left hand. Yung Gai knows he should have avoided that one.
Sum Yung Gai seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Yung Gai fails in his attempt to clinch.
Cartwright half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Cartwright on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yung Gai tries to clinch but Cartwright moves out of range.

Yung Gai moves into the clinch.
Yung Gai working aggressively here.
Yung Gai working aggressively here.
Cartwright is trying to drag Yung Gai to the mat but Yung Gai just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Smashy Cartwright. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cartwright blocks a punch to the side of the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Yung Gai.
Yung Gai misses with a hook to the ribs.
Yung Gai lands a shoulder strike.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cartwright blocking some punches.
Yung Gai lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A bit of stalling here from Yung Gai.
Yung Gai misses with the head strike.
Yung Gai struggles to land a body shot inside as Cartwright controls his hands.
Cartwright is trying to break the clinch but Yung Gai is controlling him.
Cartwright tries to pull guard but Yung Gai won't allow it.
Yung Gai tries a body shot but Cartwright blocks it.
Cartwright has had enough of the clinch but Yung Gai keeps him there for the moment.
Cartwright is trying to force a seperation but Yung Gai has the dominant position.
A short right from Yung Gai.
Yung Gai pushes Cartwright back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Yung Gai lands a body punch.
Yung Gai controlling the action here for a moment.
A short right from Yung Gai on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yung Gai leaning against his opponent.
Yung Gai misses with some punches.
A head punch on the inside from Yung Gai fails to land.

Cartwright decides to pull guard.
Cartwright has control of Yung Gai's left arm, preventing Yung Gai from doing any damage.
Yung Gai is looking to stand up but Cartwright won't let him.
Cartwright wants to sweep but no luck.
Cartwright has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Cartwright pulls Yung Gai in close to his closed guard and prevents Yung Gai from doing any damage or advancing position.
Yung Gai is looking to stand up but Cartwright won't let him.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Sum Yung Gai dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Yung Gai tries to close the distance and clinch but Cartwright swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Cartwright attempts a counter takedown but Yung Gai avoids it well and moves away.
Cartwright circles away from the clinch attempt

and Cartwright counters with a shoot takedown. Yung Gai fights it but they end up in guard.
Cartwright looking to pass the guard.
Yung Gai really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Cartwright. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Cartwright postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Cartwright throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Yung Gai works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Cartwright is looking to work some ground and pound but Yung Gai has wrist control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yung Gai working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Cartwright.
Cartwright postures up and lands a big shot to Yung Gai's brow.
Cartwright wants to control from the top but Yung Gai keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cartwright throwing strikes but missing.
Cartwright postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Yung Gai avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cartwright with a flurry of punches that miss.
Cartwright missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Cartwright won't allow Yung Gai to sweep him here.
Cartwright wants to control from the top but Yung Gai keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Cartwright swats away the attempt to clinch by Yung Gai.
Yung Gai throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Cartwright counters with a single leg into guard. Yung Gai didn't expect that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yung Gai not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Cartwright postures up in Yung Gai's guard and throws a big left but Yung Gai blocks it.
Cartwright looking to sit in guard and control but Yung Gai gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Yung Gai is fighting to break Cartwright's control of his arms but Cartwright is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Yung Gai tries to stand but Cartwright is controlling from the bottom.
Cartwright seems keen to control Yung Gai's posture.
Yung Gai wanted to stand there but Cartwright had control of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yung Gai wants to stand and escape but instead Cartwright has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Yung Gai tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Cartwright trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Cartwright showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Cartwright wants to control from the top but Yung Gai keeps moving.
Cartwright engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Cartwright loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Cartwright wants to pass the guard but Yung Gai is keeping the position.
Yung Gai has his hands on Cartwright's head, controlling the position.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Cartwright throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Yung Gai works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Yung Gai tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Cartwright manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Cartwright half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Cartwright shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Yung Gai eats them both and turns towards Cartwright to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Yung Gai darts in trying to clinch
and Cartwright counters with a stiff right hand.

Yung Gai closes the distance and pushes Cartwright back into the cage.
Cartwright changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Yung Gai fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Yung Gai tries to clinch but Cartwright is having none of it.
Cartwright circles away from the clinch attempt.
Yung Gai fails in his attempt to clinch.
Cartwright lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Cartwright.
Cartwright looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Smashy Cartwright. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cartwright takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Cartwright jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Yung Gai enables Cartwright to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Yung Gai manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Yung Gai utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Cartwright throws a big elbow that misses.
Yung Gai working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Cartwright.
Cartwright postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Cartwright postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Yung Gai keeping moving, preventing Cartwright from controlling successfully.
Cartwright throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cartwright won't allow Yung Gai to sweep him here.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Yung Gai misses with a looping left.

Yung Gai clinches with his opponent.
Yung Gai presses Cartwright against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Yung Gai tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Cartwright wants to break free but Yung Gai has control.
Cartwright tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Yung Gai fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Yung Gai misses with a hook from the clinch.
Cartwright is working for takedown but Yung Gai is calmly controlling the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yung Gai misses with some punches.
A nice left hand lands by Yung Gai.
Yung Gai is pushing Cartwright up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Yung Gai tries to work over Cartwright's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Cartwright tries for a takedown. No joy.
Yung Gai misses with a short punch on the inside.
Yung Gai tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Cartwright's elbow.
Sum Yung Gai seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Yung Gai lands a left hand.
Cartwright blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A nice left hand lands by Yung Gai.
Yung Gai goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cartwright jumps guard but Yung Gai stands there with Cartwright around his waist. Cartwright gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Yung Gai scores with a nice hook to the head.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Cartwright wants a takedown but no success here.
Yung Gai misses with the head strike.
Yung Gai misses with a hook from the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Yung Gai lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Cartwright letting Yung Gai take a breather here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Sum Yung Gai really dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Cartwright gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Yung Gai is looking to clinch but Cartwright is avoiding it.
Yung Gai fails in his attempt to clinch.
Yung Gai swings for the body but Cartwright moves out of range.
Smashy Cartwright is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Cartwright digs a good body shot into Yung Gai's ribs.
Cartwright fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Yung Gai avoids it really well and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cartwright tries for a takedown but Yung Gai sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Cartwright takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Cartwright fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Smashy Cartwright. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cartwright takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Yung Gai tries to close the distance and clinch but Cartwright swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Yung Gai wants to clinch.
Cartwright misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Yung Gai tries to clinch

so Cartwright counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Cartwright with a flurry of punches that miss.
Yung Gai preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yung Gai preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Cartwright postures up and lands a big shot to Yung Gai's brow.
Cartwright trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Cartwright wants to control from the top but Yung Gai keeps moving.
Cartwright throws a big elbow that misses.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Yung Gai can do anything to dispel that myth.
Cartwright throwing strikes but missing.
Cartwright with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Cartwright looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cartwright passes into half guard.
Yung Gai keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Cartwright has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Cartwright is controlling the pace.
Cartwright has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Cartwright lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Cartwright thows a huge punch but Yung Gai dodges it nicely.
Yung Gai is staying active underneath Cartwright, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Cartwright throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Yung Gai with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Cartwright lands a really nice looking cross but Yung Gai seems unphased.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Yung Gai has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Cartwright finds it's way round the side to connect with Yung Gai's head.
Cartwright tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Yung Gai is able to avoid easily.
Sum Yung Gai seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Yung Gai works Cartwright's body with a nice hook.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Smashy Cartwright had his way with Sum Yung Gai in that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Yung Gai scores with a jab to the head.
Yung Gai tries to clinch up.
Cartwright moves forwards but Yung Gai connects with a nice, crisp jab.
An inside leg kick from Cartwright misses.
Yung Gai tries to clinch up but Cartwright circles away and keeps his distance.
Yung Gai wants to clinch up but Cartwright keeps it at a distance.
Yung Gai tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Cartwright manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Cartwright shoots in for a takedown but Yung Gai shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yung Gai scores with a hook.
Yung Gai throws a lazy right hand but Cartwright sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Yung Gai connects with a body shot.
Cartwright avoids the body shot from Yung Gai.
It looked like Cartwright wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yung Gai misses with a lunging right hand

and Cartwright counters with a nice double leg into side control. Yung Gai won't be happy with that.
Yung Gai tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
Yung Gai is trying to remain composed but Cartwright is hammering down strikes to the side of his head.
Cartwright misses with punches from the back.
Cartwright throwing sloppy strikes.
Cartwright somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.
Cartwright scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. Yung Gai is looking for a way out.
Cartwright misses with punches from the back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cartwright controls the action.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cartwright is landing with strikes. Yung Gai can't take much more of this.
Cartwright loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Yung Gai hold on?
Cartwright throwing wild punches that miss their target.
Cartwright is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Cartwright gets a warning from the referee. He throws another strike to the back of the head straight away though and the referee has seen enough. He breaks up the two fighters and stands them back up. Cartwright gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Cartwright apologises and we restart here on the feet.
Cartwright is trying hard to land a takedown here. Yung Gai sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Yung Gai misses.
Cartwright appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Cartwright shoots in but Yung Gai avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Smashy Cartwright. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Yung Gai lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Yung Gai scores with a punch to the head.
Cartwright misses with a body shot.
Cartwright pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Yung Gai scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Yung Gai tries to clinch but Cartwright is having none of it.
Cartwright appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Yung Gai throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Cartwright feinted with a counter takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yung Gai slaps away a takedown attempt from Cartwright, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Yung Gai has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Yung Gai with a jab.
Cartwright misses with an attempted mid kick.
Yung Gai swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Cartwright thinks about countering with a body kick.
Yung Gai throws an off balance right hand
and Cartwright connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Yung Gai misses with a body shot.
Sum Yung Gai is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Yung Gai throws a shot from downtown. Cartwright moves away and avoids it.
Cartwright looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Yung Gai is fending him off so far but Cartwright persists. Nope, Yung Gai circles away and we're back to standing.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Yung Gai wants to clinch.
As Yung Gai tries to get set, Cartwright tries to push him back and clinch up but Yung Gai manages to avoid the attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Sum Yung Gai.
I think Yung Gai 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 Bruno Hogan scores the fight 48:48
Judge Darius Henderson scores the fight 47:48
Judge Francis DeMontford scores the fight 48:48

The fight is ruled a majority draw!
Smashy Cartwright retains his title. It's always disappointing when a championship fight ends as a draw but that's what happens when you leave the fight in the judges hands!