PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ze Povinho (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Victor Cradle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Povinho
vs
Cradle

183 cm
27
190 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

182 cm
25
190 lbs
0 - 1 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Ze Povinho!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Victor Cradle!
The judges for this bout are Roger Salmon, Ryoma Takatsuka and Josh West.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cradle fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Povinho has Cradle up against the cage in a clinch.
Povinho with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Povinho has Cradle pressed against the cage, preventing Cradle from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Povinho tries to work over Cradle's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Cradle has Povinho pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Povinho manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Cradle lands with a light punch inside.
Cradle wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Povinho can't find room to land a body shot as Cradle controls the action.
Cradle drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ze Povinho has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Victor Cradle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Povinho lands a good knee to the midsection. Cradle won't want to take too many of those.
Povinho tries to work over Cradle's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Cradle blocking some punches.
Povinho lands a left hand that snaps the head of Cradle backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cradle tries to break free but Povinho pushes him back against the cage.
Povinho with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Cradle tries to pull guard but Povinho forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Povinho fails to land.
Cradle is trying to pull guard but Povinho has him pressed against the cage.
Povinho misses with a hook to the ribs.
Povinho misses with a knee strike.
A knee to the head by Povinho.

It looks like Victor Cradle has been cut.
Cradle jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Povinho walks away with a smile on his face. Cradle gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Cradle cracks a nice hook into Povinho's ribs.
A combination from Cradle does no damage.

Cradle tries to keep at a distance but Povinho has taken the fight into the clinch.
Cradle drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Povinho gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Povinho lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Cradle backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cradle jumps guard but Povinho turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Cradle is trying to break free.
Povinho struggles to land a body shot inside as Cradle controls his hands.
Povinho with a knee to the head.
Povinho misses with a knee strike.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cradle is trying to push Povinho away but Povinho has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Povinho lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Cradle.
Cradle looks winded!
Cradle has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Povinho misses with the head strike.
Povinho lands a nice shot to the body.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Povinho.
Povinho lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Cradle missing with knees to the body.
Cradle fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Povinho has a couple of punches blocked by Cradle.
Povinho working Cradle over with knees to the body.
A knee to the head by Povinho.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Povinho tries to land a knee to the head but Cradle blocks with his arms.
Povinho connects with a nasty looking knee right to Cradle's face.
Povinho holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Povinho with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Cradle tries a knee to the head but Povinho blocks it.
Cradle letting Povinho take a breather here.
Povinho misses with a knee to the head.
Povinho scores with a shot to the side of Cradle's head.
Povinho is stalling here.
Povinho lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Cradle drops down looking for an ankle pick but Povinho pulls his leg out and moves away.

Povinho takes the fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Povinho lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Cradle.
Povinho working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Povinho struggles to land a body shot inside as Cradle controls his hands.
Povinho misses with a hook to the ribs.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cradle wants to get back to striking at distance but Povinho won't allow it.
Cradle letting Povinho take a breather here.
Povinho using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Cradle has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Povinho lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Povinho scores a nice knee to the body.
Povinho stalling in the clinch.
Povinho landing knees to the head.
Cradle takes a knee right on the jaw!

Cradle is rocked!
Cradle managing to block the knees to the body from Povinho.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ze Povinho dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Victor Cradle's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Povinho instigates a clinch.
Povinho tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Cradle is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Cradle looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Povinho fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Povinho lands an elbow inside that Cradle shrugs off.
Povinho is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Povinho swings wildly with an uppercut but Cradle uses good head movement to avoid it.
Cradle tries to break the clinch but Povinho is controlling the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cradle letting Povinho take a breather here.
Cradle is trying to pull guard but Povinho turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Povinho tries to land knees in the clinch but Cradle avoids the damage to the body.
Povinho lands a body punch in the clinch.
Cradle is breathing heavily.
With the fighters up against the cage, Povinho throws an elbow but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Povinho managing to block the knees to the body from Cradle.
Povinho effectively controlling the action here.
A knee to the head by Povinho.
Ze Povinho has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Povinho tries to work over Cradle's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Povinho tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Povinho is defending well against a takedown attempt.
A body shot lands from Povinho.
Cradle blocks a body shot from Povinho.
Cradle on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Povinho lands a damaging elbow.
Povinho lands a shot to the body.
Povinho pushes Cradle back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Povinho fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Povinho is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Cradle can do to turn this around?
Povinho scores with a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A knee to the head by Povinho.

That has opened up Victor Cradle's cut even more.
Povinho lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Cradle backwards.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Povinho with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Povinho fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Povinho with a knee to the head.
Cradle is still on wobbly legs! Can Povinho finish him?
Povinho connects with a knee to the head.
Povinho throws a head punch that misses.
Povinho misses with a hook from the clinch.
Povinho looking to throw knees to the head but Cradle is blocking nicely.
Cradle seems to have recovered his senses.
Cradle tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Ze Povinho has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Victor Cradle.
Povinho is stalling here.
Cradle is trying to pull guard but Povinho has him pressed against the cage.
Cradle wants to break free but Povinho has control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Povinho unloads a knee to the mid-section. Cradle lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Povinho lands a right hand.
Povinho is stalling here.
Povinho connects with a nasty looking knee right to Cradle's face.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Povinho creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Cradle managing to block the knees to the body from Povinho.
Povinho lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Cradle or not.
Cradle blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Povinho lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Povinho lands a body shot.
Povinho misses with a punch to the body.
Cradle is trying to push Povinho away but Povinho has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Povinho misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Povinho landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Povinho with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Povinho has a couple of punches blocked by Cradle.
Povinho connects with a nasty looking knee right to Cradle's face.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A right hook to the body lands for Povinho.
Povinho fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Povinho lands a body punch in the clinch.
Povinho landing knees to the body.
Povinho is leaning against Cradle and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Povinho stalling the fight.
A short right from Povinho.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Povinho obliges.
A short uppercut from Povinho.
Povinho lands a hook to the side of the head.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Povinho takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ze Povinho dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Victor Cradle's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Povinho darts in and clinches Cradle up against the cage.
Cradle can't break the clinch.
Povinho can't find room to land a body shot as Cradle controls the action.
Povinho misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Povinho pressing his opponent against the cage.
Povinho tries a body shot but Cradle blocks it.
Povinho swings wildly with an uppercut but Cradle uses good head movement to avoid it.
Povinho on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cradle wants a takedown but no success here.
Cradle is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Povinho is keeping busy.
Cradle has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Povinho after a bit of a struggle.
Cradle takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Povinho.
Povinho misses with a knee strike.
Povinho lands a hook to the side of the head.
Povinho misses with a punch to the body.
Povinho controlling the action here for a moment.
Povinho lands a nice elbow.
Povinho scores with a shoulder strike.
Povinho tries a body shot but Cradle blocks it.
Povinho tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Povinho lands with a right to the head.
A short uppercut from Povinho.
Povinho leaning against his opponent.
A head punch on the inside from Povinho fails to land.
Povinho content to slow the pace in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cradle tries to pull guard but Povinho won't allow it.
Ze Povinho has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Victor Cradle.
Cradle fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Povinho tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Povinho is struggling to control the position.
Cradle is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Povinho pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Povinho tries to work over Cradle's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Povinho.
Povinho is struggling to control the position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Povinho just leaning against Cradle, taking a breather.
Cradle takes a shot to the head.
Povinho looking to throw knees to the head but Cradle is blocking nicely.
Povinho tries a body shot but Cradle blocks it.
Povinho tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Cradle blocks an uppercut.
Povinho throws a knee to the head but misses.
Stalling in the clinch from Povinho.
Cradle tries to break the clinch but Povinho is controlling the position.
Povinho swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Cradle works on Povinho's body with a couple of short punches.
Povinho leaning his opponent against the cage.
A hook to the body from Cradle.
Povinho with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Povinho slowing the pace effectively.
Povinho throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Cradles head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cradle throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Povinhos head.
Povinho landing knees to the body.
Povinho dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Cradle managing to block the knees to the body from Povinho.
Povinho throws a punch but it's blocked by Cradle.
Cradle is trying to break the clinch but Povinho has him pressed against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Povinho.
Povinho with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Cradle misses with an elbow over the top.
Cradle tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Povinho just stands there and leans against the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Still in the clinch, Povinho scores with a nice short uppercut.
Povinho tries a body shot but Cradle blocks it.
Victor Cradle has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ze Povinho is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Cradle looking to stall.
Cradle tries to pull guard but Povinho forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ze Povinho showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Povinho, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Roger Salmon scores the fight 30:26
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 30:26
Judge Josh West scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ze Povinho!
A very excited looking Ze Povinho made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.