PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Smashy Cartwright (ranked 616 p4p, 199 weight class) and Brett Shoenfeld (ranked 76 p4p, 25 weight class). Cartwright kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is The Hammer. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Cartwright
vs
Shoenfeld

174 cm
30
157
10 - 5 - 1

166 cm
31
150
19 - 13 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very quick

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Brooklyn Apothecary
Brooklyn Threads

Bondi MMA 🏝️
Voodoo Nutrition

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 10 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Smashy Cartwright!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 13 - 0, fighting out of New York, Brett Shoenfeld!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Daniel Bishop and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cartwright tries to close the distance and clinch up but Shoenfeld swats him away and circles back towards the center.
And Shoenfeld tries to counter it with a takedown but Cartwright pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Cartwright gets cracked there but stands up to it.
A low kick from Cartwright is predictable there

and Shoenfeld decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Cartwright's guard.
Shoenfeld stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cartwright swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Shoenfeld stops Cartwright from standing up.
Shoenfeld stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cartwright swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Cartwright wants to stand but Shoenfeld is controlling the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shoenfeld pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Cartwright is keeping the position for now.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Shoenfeld drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Cartwright fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Shoenfeld manages to avoid it.

Cartwright gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Shoenfeld being controlled against the cage.
Shoenfeld tries to pull guard but Cartwright won't allow it.

Cartwright pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Cartwright tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Shoenfeld paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Shoenfeld misses with a two punch combination.
Shoenfeld throws a big shot that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cartwright doesn't manage to clinch there - Shoenfeld circles away.

Cartwright fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Shoenfeld, pushing him back against the cage.
Shoenfeld is looking to take this one to the mat.

Cartwright breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Cartwright clinches up with Shoenfeld and pushes him back against the cage.

Shoenfeld gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cartwright is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Shoenfeld stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cartwright swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Shoenfeld passes Cartwright's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Shoenfeld tries to pass the half guard into mount. Cartwright knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shoenfeld is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Cartwright tries to kick Shoenfeld off but Shoenfeld keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Shoenfeld trying to pass the guard but Cartwright defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Cartwright looks like he's trying to stand up.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Shoenfeld trying to pass the guard but Cartwright defending well.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Shoenfeld avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Cartwright takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

Cartwright clinches up against the cage.

Cartwright escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Shoenfeld changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Cartwright looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Cartwright is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at Irish Collar & Elbow Academy (ICE), so we'll see if he gets out of it.
Shoenfeld trying to control the position but Cartwright is working away.
Shoenfeld might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Cartwright haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Shoenfeld tries to advance to mount but can't.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Brett Shoenfeld 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.

Cartwright instigates a clinch.

Cartwright breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Cartwright smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Shoenfeld throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Cartwright tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Cartwright tries to clinch but Shoenfeld moves out of range.
Shoenfeld is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Cartwright moves in looking to clinch but Shoenfeld pushes him off.
The fight stays on the outside here - Cartwright looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Cartwright tries to close the distance and clinch up but Shoenfeld swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Shoenfeld misses with a wild body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shoenfeld is trying hard to land a takedown here. Cartwright sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Smashy Cartwright seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Cartwright clinches with his opponent.

Shoenfeld manages to pull guard.
Cartwright tries to stand but Shoenfeld is controlling from the bottom.

Shoenfeld 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cartwright has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Shoenfeld is proving hard to escape from.
Cartwright working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Shoenfeld's head.
Shoenfeld looking for a sweep. Not yet Shoenfeld, not yet.
Cartwright trying to control but Shoenfeld is working from the bottom.
Cartwright is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Shoenfeld is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shoenfeld has a closed guard, preventing Cartwright from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Shoenfeld looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Shoenfeld is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Shoenfeld walks into a straight right hand from Cartwright.
Shoenfeld needs to keep his hands up - Cartwright had a free shot at his head there.

Shoenfeld closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Shoenfeld lands in his opponent's guard.
Shoenfeld pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Cartwright is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shoenfeld not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Shoenfeld pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Cartwright is keeping the position for now.
Shoenfeld is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Shoenfeld is still trying to improve position.
Shoenfeld looking to sit in guard and control but Cartwright gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Cartwright is looking to stand up but Shoenfeld won't let him.
Cartwright in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Shoenfeld throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Shoenfeld wants to sweep but no luck.
Cartwright is in close to Shoenfeld's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Shoenfeld is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Cartwright is not content to let Shoenfeld control the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cartwright is looking to escape.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Smashy Cartwright will probably get the nod.
That's time! Cartwright's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Cartwright throws a looping overhand right but Shoenfeld ducks down to avoid it.
Shoenfeld feints the counter takedown.
Nice takedown defense from Cartwright. No joy for Shoenfeld on that attempt.
Cartwright tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Shoenfeld manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Cartwright fails with an attempt to clinch.
And Shoenfeld tries to counter it with a takedown but Cartwright pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Shoenfeld throws a jab when Cartwright was well out of range.
Shoenfeld keeps the fight on the outside.

Shoenfeld is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Cartwright's half guard.
Cartwright is trying to stand up here but Shoenfeld is controlling him well.
Shoenfeld trying to advance position but Cartwright counters by regaining guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cartwright is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shoenfeld stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cartwright swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Brett Shoenfeld has got the better of the ground game so far.
Cartwright wants to stand but Shoenfeld is controlling the position.
Shoenfeld trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Cartwright manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Cartwright throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Shoenfeld bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Cartwright's guard.

Cartwright wants to stand but Shoenfeld is controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shoenfeld wants to control from the top but Cartwright keeps moving.
Cartwright wants to get back to his feet but Shoenfeld is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Shoenfeld tries to free his leg and advance position but Cartwright is retaining full guard.
Shoenfeld is pushing down on Cartwright's leg trying to pass to half guard. Cartwright is fighting to maintain full guard but Shoenfeld has managed to sneak the leg through.
Shoenfeld wants to pass to mount but Cartwright is defending the position.
Cartwright is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shoenfeld wants to lay and pray for a moment but Cartwright keeps working.
Shoenfeld passes to side control.
Cartwright prevents Shoenfeld from improving position.
Shoenfeld wants to control but Cartwright is keeping him busy.
Shoenfeld tries to advance to mount but Cartwright denies him.
Cartwright is not content to let Shoenfeld control the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Cartwright leaves Shoenfeld with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Shoenfeld swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Cartwright tries to close the distance and clinch up but Shoenfeld swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Cartwright jabs Shoenfeld right on the nose. Shoenfeld blinks but takes it well.
Cartwright swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Shoenfeld counters with a nice uppercut.
Cartwright tries to clinch but Shoenfeld moves out of range.
Cartwright with a poor takedown
and Shoenfeld counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Cartwright is looking to clinch.
Shoenfeld drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Cartwright defends it well.
Brett Shoenfeld seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cartwright tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Shoenfeld paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Shoenfeld with the counter takedown but Cartwright avoids it easily.

Shoenfeld closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Cartwright to the mat! Cartwright manages to get full guard.
Cartwright keeping moving, preventing Shoenfeld from controlling successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
Brett Shoenfeld comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Shoenfeld 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brett Shoenfeld!
Brett Shoenfeld very nearly forgot to thank Pound Town INC amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.