PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Joao Pequeno (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kassidy Cullen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Pequeno's entrance music is Cão da Morte by Mão Morta. A fine choice. Joao Pequeno could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Kassidy Cullen's chin.

Pequeno
vs
Cullen

177 cm
30
156 lbs
28 - 9 - 1

180 cm
26
165 lbs
15 - 3 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

ADCC Champion
Great elbows
Good gas tank

Milwaukee's Best 160 SALE $150
Brute

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 28 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Joao Pequeno!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kassidy Cullen!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Gregory Folan and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pequeno ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Cullen moves away.
Pequeno throws a head kick that misses
and Cullen counters with an outside leg kick.
Pequeno lands a nice shot that snaps Cullen's head back.
Cullen misses with a low kick.
Cullen throws a leg kick but Pequeno moved away.
Cullen tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Pequeno is able to avoid easily.
Pequeno staying out of range there.
Good shot there by Pequeno.
Pequeno blocks a head kick by Cullen.
Pequeno misses with a right hand
letting Cullen counter with a right hand.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Pequeno enables Cullen to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Pequeno manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Pequeno avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Cullen with a flurry of punches that miss.
Cullen scoring with some ground and pound.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cullen wants to pass the guard but Pequeno is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cullen is looking to work some ground and pound but Pequeno has wrist control.
Cullen wants to pass the guard but Pequeno is keeping the position.
Cullen with a flurry of punches that miss.
Pequeno is trying to control the position but Cullen postures up.
Cullen loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Cullen slips nicely into half guard.
Cullen looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cullen winds up and cracks Pequeno with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Cullen is looking to advance position but Pequeno won't allow it.
Cullen moves nicely into side control.
Pequeno struggling a bit here.
Cullen in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Pequeno struggling a bit here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Pequeno managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Cullen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pequeno is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Cullen's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Pequeno controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Cullen lands a nice short elbow.
Pequeno regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Cullen.
Cullen prevents Pequeno from getting back to his feet.
Pequeno avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pequeno utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Cullen works over Pequeno with some ground and pound from guard.
Cullen throwing strikes but missing.
Pequeno manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Pequeno controlling from mount.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kassidy Cullen dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Cullen throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Cullen closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Cullen lands in his opponent's guard.
Pequeno working a defensive guard but Cullen passes into half guard.
Cullen thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cullen wants to advance to full mount but Pequeno doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Cullen throwing strikes from guard but Pequeno blocks nicely.
Pequeno 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pequeno trying to control the position.
Cullen scoring with some ground and pound.
Cullen working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Cullen is fighting to break Pequeno's control of his arms but Pequeno is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Pequeno is trying to control the position but Cullen postures up.
Pequeno looking to hit a scissor sweep but Cullen is one step ahead there.
Pequeno preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pequeno avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Cullen working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Cullen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Pequeno working a defensive guard here.
Cullen throwing strikes but missing.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Cullen accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Cullen wants to pass the guard but Pequeno is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pequeno working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Cullen.
Pequeno looking to control.
Cullen distracts Pequeno with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Cullen is looking to work some ground and pound but Pequeno has wrist control.
Cullen has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Cullen postures up in Pequeno's guard and throws a big left but Pequeno blocks it.
Pequeno avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Pequeno looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Cullen with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cullen tries to free his leg and advance position but Pequeno is retaining full guard.
Cullen connects with a couple of short punches.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Cullen accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Pequeno controls Cullen momentarily but Cullen frees himself.
Cullen landing some decent shots from guard.
Cullen in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cullen throws an elbow that misses. Pequeno uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Cullen's guard. Nice move by Pequeno!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cullen wants to sweep here but Pequeno controlling him for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kassidy Cullen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Cullen steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Pequeno. That one must have hurt.
A telegraphed right hand from Pequeno misses the target.
Pequeno is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Cullen takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Cullen moves out of range of the body kick.
Pequeno wants to clinch but Cullen slips to the side
and Cullen cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Pequeno throws a nice outside leg kick.
An inside leg kick lands from Cullen.
Pequeno chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Pequeno attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Cullen uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Pequeno.
Pequeno ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Cullen avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pequeno uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Cullen.
Cullen throws a sloppy head kick and Pequeno moves out of range easily.
Cullen scoring well with a low kick there.
Cullen cracks the inside of Pequeno's front leg.
Cullen lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Cullen does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Pequeno lands with a nice body kick.

Cullen scores with a takedown into Pequeno's guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Pequeno holds on and takes a little breather.
Cullen won't allow Pequeno to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pequeno is controlling Cullen's posture.
Kassidy Cullen has got the better of the ground game so far.
Pequeno utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Cullen content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
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!
Cullen throws a strike but Pequeno rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Pequeno sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Cullen's guard.
Cullen makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Cullen.

Cullen is looking for a triangle but Pequeno pushes his legs off easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cullen looking to hit a scissor sweep but Pequeno is one step ahead there.
Pequeno trying to control the position from guard on top but Cullen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pequeno throws a strike but Cullen rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Pequeno is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Pequeno content to control rather than advance.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pequeno wants to stand but Cullen has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Joao Pequeno did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Pequeno looks to throw the jab but Cullen is out of range.
Joao Pequeno is winning the standup battle so far.
Pequeno misses with a straight right.
Pequeno thuds his shin into the meat of Cullen's side.
Pequeno fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Cullen checks it well.
Pequeno swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Pequeno jabs at Cullen's body.
Cullen throws a leg kick which misses Pequeno's front leg but catches the back leg as Pequeno tries to avoid it.
Cullen throws a leg kick
and Pequeno counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Pequeno crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Cullen - the referee stops the clock and Pequeno gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Cullen. Pequeno manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Pequeno is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Cullen.
A clash of legs there as Pequeno blocks the low kick.

Pequeno gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Pequeno working hard to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pequeno lands with a short shot to the head.
Cullen's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Pequeno lands with a short punch from the clinch.
A body shot lands from Pequeno.
Cullen blocks a body shot from Pequeno.
Pequeno misses with some punches.
Pequeno doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Pequeno scores with a shot to the side of Cullen's head.
Cullen looking to throw knees to the head but Pequeno is blocking nicely.
Cullen blocks an uppercut.
Cullen tries a body shot but Pequeno blocks it.
A short left from Pequeno.
Pequeno is trying to maintain a safe position but Cullen gets an underhook and turns Pequeno into the cage.
Cullen tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pequeno lands with a right to the head.
Still in the clinch, Pequeno scores with a nice short uppercut.

Pequeno breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Cullen will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Pequeno swings for the body but Cullen moves out of range.
Cullen shoots for a takedown but Pequeno saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
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!
Pequeno moves out of range of the leg kick from Cullen.
Cullen throws a quick inside leg kick.
Pequeno ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
A clash of legs there as Cullen blocks the low kick.
Pequeno doesn't manage to clinch there - Cullen circles away.
Cullen shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Joao Pequeno has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kassidy Cullen.
Pequeno lands with an overhand left.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pequeno takes a kick to the side of the head.
Cullen throws a head kick that misses.
Cullen misses with a wild body shot.
Cullen moves away from the strike by Pequeno.
Pequeno's corner calls for a 1-2. Pequeno obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Pequeno turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Pequeno cracks the inside of Cullen's front leg.
Cullen cracks the inside of Pequeno's front leg.
A jab from Pequeno does it's job there.
Cullen shoots in looking for a takedown. Pequeno tries to sprawl out of it but Cullen keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Pequeno manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Cullen misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Pequeno counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Cullen thinking.
Cullen is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Pequeno slips under a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cullen stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Pequeno.
Pequeno throws a head kick that misses.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Pequeno tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Cullen was well out of range. Poor timing from Pequeno.
Pequeno blocks a jab.
Pequeno with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Pequeno tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Cullen looks to score with a jab to the body but Pequeno is just out of range.
Cullen will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Joao Pequeno seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cullen throws a low kick but it's checked well by Pequeno.
Pequeno closes the distance but Cullen moves to the side

so Cullen counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Cullen tries to free his leg and advance position but Pequeno is retaining full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joao Pequeno had his way with Kassidy Cullen in that round.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Pequeno walks into a jab.
Pequeno is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Cullen thows a body shot but no joy.
Pequeno misses with a body shot.
Pequeno with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Cullen shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Pequeno but Pequeno pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Pequeno misses with a body shot.
Cullen throws a head kick but Pequeno moves out of range.
Some wild striking there from Cullen.
Cullen has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Pequeno finds it's way round the side to connect with Cullen's head.
Cullen misses with a shot to the body
and Pequeno counters with a right hand to the body.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Pequeno lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Cullen has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Cullen and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cullen misses with a leg kick.
Cullen throws a sloppy head kick
and Cullen takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Cullen checks the leg kick.
Joao Pequeno is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Cullen shoots in and drives through. Pequeno sprawls well.
Cullen is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Pequeno lands an overhand right.

Cullen shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Pequeno napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Cullen looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Pequeno is avoiding damage well.
Cullen throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Pequeno works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Cullen looks to land a strike but Pequeno avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cullen postures up.
Cullen slips nicely into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cullen working the head and body with strikes.
Cullen not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Pequeno looks like he's trying to stand up.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Cullen lands a nice short elbow.
Cullen throwing shots but Pequeno is blocking nicely.
Pequeno works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cullen passes Pequeno's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Cullen is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Cullen misses with a head shot. Pequeno uses the momentum to regain guard.
Pequeno tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Cullen throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pequeno wants to get back to his feet but Cullen is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Pequeno working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Cullen.
Cullen postures up in Pequeno's guard and throws a big left but Pequeno blocks it.
Cullen stands and throws Pequeno's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Pequeno struggling a bit here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pequeno tries to improve position but can't.

Cullen tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Cullen has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

And that's the end of the fight!
Kassidy Cullen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Cullen 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 Yves DeLean scores the fight 47:48
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 47:48
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 47:48

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kassidy Cullen! Kassidy Cullen retains his lightweight title!
Jumping up and down and very excited, Kassidy Cullen waved his t-shirt featuring Hell's Balls Recovery (160)'s logo in front of the cameras.