PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Oberyn Martell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nicola Cardinale (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cardinale has chosen No Easy Way Out as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Martell
vs
Cardinale

184 cm
35
183 lbs
22 - 19 - 0

182 cm
29
180 lbs
10 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Very quick

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Granite chin

KAISER Nutrition - Q160/$250

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 22 - 19 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Oberyn Martell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nicola Cardinale!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Chris Downing and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Martell avoids the body shot from Cardinale.
Cardinale throws a push kick but Martell slaps the foot to one side.
Martell throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Cardinale ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Cardinale looks to land a combination but Martell avoids it well.
Cardinale avoids the body shot from Martell.
Martell tries to land a front kick but Cardinale steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Cardinale tries to counter with a clinch but Martell shakes him off and moves away.
Cardinale ducks under a wild hook from Martell.
Martell gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Cardinale.
Martell tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Cardinale was well out of range. Poor timing from Martell.
Cardinale fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Martell.
Martell looks for the body kick but Cardinale saw that one coming.
Martell takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Martell looks to throw the jab but Cardinale is out of range.
Martell looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Cardinale tries a head kick but it misses.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cardinale tries a head kick but it misses.
Cardinale misses with a body kick.
Cardinale throws a sloppy head kick and Martell moves out of range easily.
Martell throws a lazy right hand but Cardinale sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martell takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Cardinale has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Cardinale takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Cardinale lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

Martell closes the distance and clinches.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Cardinale.

Cardinale breaks the clinch.
Cardinale lands a head kick. Martell smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Cardinale lands a nice looking kick to the body. Martell takes a step back to recover.
Martell pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Cardinale throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Cardinale with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Martell to score with a decent uppercut.
Cardinale tries to bum rush Martell with a series of wild strikes but Martell uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Cardinale looking to land some kicks to the body here.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Martell gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Cardinale managing to block the knees to the body from Martell.
Cardinale is trying to pull guard but Martell turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Cardinale managing to block the knees to the body from Martell.
Cardinale takes a knee to the side of the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cardinale dodges an elbow strike from Martell.
Martell with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Cardinale's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Cardinale throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A head kick misses from Cardinale.
Cardinale throws a head kick but Martell moves out of range.
Martell was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Martell throws a front kick that sends Cardinale stumbling back into the cage.
Cardinale fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Martell is out of range.
Cardinale goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Martell appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Martell avoids the head kick by Cardinale.
Martell takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Martell moves in looking to clinch but Cardinale pushes him off.
Cardinale scores with a jab. Martell acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Cardinale lands a nice hook to Martell's body. Martell takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Cardinale feints and then cracks Martell's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Martell down.
Martell scores with the left hand. Cardinale knows he should have avoided that one.
Martell looks to land a body kick but Cardinale moved away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Cardinale.
Martell tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Cardinale was well out of range. Poor timing from Martell.
Martell scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Cardinale connects with a solid leg kick.
Martell throws a push kick but Cardinale slaps the foot to one side.
Martell looking to land some kicks to the body here.
The crowd cheers as Martell lands an impressive looking overhand right. Cardinale doesn't seem phased though.
Martell throws a nice looking combination but Cardinale bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Martell drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Martell misses with a straight right.
Martell blocks a head kick by Cardinale.
Martell takes a swing at Cardinale's ribcage but misses.
Cardinale lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Martell tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Martell misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Cardinale.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cardinale lands with a slapping head kick.
Martell lands a nice shot to the body.
Cardinale moves out of range of the leg kick from Martell.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cardinale throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Cardinale is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Martell rather than just go for the knockout.
Martell just misses with a punch to the body.
Cardinale throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Martell.
Martell swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Martell misses with an attempted mid kick.
Cardinale misses with a head kick.
Cardinale scores with a spinning back kick!
Cardinale misses with an attempted mid kick.

Martell moves into the clinch.
Martell has a couple of punches blocked by Cardinale.
Martell trying to land knees to the body.
Martell fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Cardinale is trying to break free.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Cardinale breaks the clinch.
A bone on bone clash there as Cardinale blocks the leg kick.
Cardinale ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Martell blocks the body kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nicola Cardinale dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Martell doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Good leg kick by Cardinale there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Jab from Cardinale.
Martell looks to score with a jab to the body but Cardinale is just out of range.
Cardinale tries to counter with a clinch but Martell shakes him off and moves away.
Martell misses with an uppercut.
Cardinale throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Martell counters with a body kick that stops Cardinale in his tracks momentarily.
Martell getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Martell takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Martell moves out of range of the body kick from Cardinale.
Martell bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Cardinale lands a nice looking kick to the body. Martell takes a step back to recover.
Martell looks to throw the jab but Cardinale is out of range.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cardinale looks for the body kick but Martell saw that one coming.
Martell takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Cardinale thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Martell if he has to take too many more of those.
Nicola Cardinale is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Martell tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Cardinale lands a nice looking kick to the body. Martell takes a step back to recover.
Cardinale lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Martell at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good leg kick by Cardinale there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Cardinale moves out of range of the body kick from Martell.
Martell has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Martell there as he acknowledges the shot.
Some bone on bone action there as Cardinale checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Cardinale looks for the body kick but Martell saw that one coming.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Cardinale, right into the meat.
Nicola Cardinale seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Cardinale throws a sloppy head kick and Martell moves out of range easily.
Cardinale shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Martell appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Cardinale checks a leg kick.
Martell sets himself, and Cardinale steps forward looking for the clinch! Martell avoids it this time.
Cardinale connects with a crisp jab.
Cardinale takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Cardinale scores with a head kick.

Martell drives through and clinches with Cardinale against the cage.
Martell misses with a punch on the inside.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Martell escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Martell avoids a kick to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Martell looks to score with a jab to the body but Cardinale is just out of range.
Martell throws a right and a left that both miss.
Martell connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Cardinale's hands.
Cardinale misses with a low kick.
Cardinale has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Martell pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Cardinale plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

Martell fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Cardinale, pushing him back against the cage.

Cardinale manages to break the clinch.
Cardinale lands a nice looking kick to the body. Martell takes a step back to recover.
Cardinale misses with a low kick as Martell jumps back.
Martell tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Cardinale was well out of range. Poor timing from Martell.
Cardinale wants to counter with a clinch but Martell pushes him away.
Martell misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Cardinale.
Cardinale fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Cardinale throws a shot from downtown. Martell moves away and avoids it.
Martell takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Martell.
Cardinale motions for Martell to come forward. Cardinale throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cardinale throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Cardinale, right into the meat.
Cardinale tries a head kick but it misses.
Cardinale tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Martell misses with a straight left.
Cardinale throws a low kick, looking for Martell's leg but Martell calmly moves out of range.
Cardinale throws a series of punches but Martell avoids them all with ease.
Cardinale drops his hands momentarily and Martell takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Martell takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Martell tries to clinch up but Cardinale circles away and keeps his distance.
Martell tries to clinch but Cardinale is having none of it.
Martell throws a right and a left that both miss.
Cardinale cracks the inside of Martell's front leg.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cardinale throws a half hearted mid kick.
Cardinale misses with a body shot.
Cardinale drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Martell with a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cardinale misses with a body kick.
Martell moves out of range of the body kick from Cardinale.
Martell is looking to counter punch.
Martell misses with a body kick.
Cardinale is looking to land body kicks.
A quick step to the side and Martell tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Cardinale is looking to chop away at Martell's legs.
A little feinted left hand from Martell on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Cardinale takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Martell misses with a looping right.
A head kick misses from Cardinale.
Martell looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Martell throws the kick towards the body but Cardinale avoids it.
Cardinale misses with a kick to the body.
Martell with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Cardinale to score with a decent uppercut.
Martell checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Martell moves out of range as Cardinale throws a body kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Martell misses with a double jab.
Cardinale uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Martell.
The fighters circling - Martell throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Cardinale wants to counter with a clinch but Martell pushes him away.
Cardinale moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nicola Cardinale showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Cardinale scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Martell doesn't seem bothered though.
Martell will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Cardinale throws a sloppy head kick and Martell moves out of range easily.
Martell lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Martell scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Martell looks to land a combination but Cardinale avoids it well.
Martell checks a leg kick nicely.
Martell lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Martell misses with a straight left.
Cardinale tries to land a front kick but Martell steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Martell has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Cardinale.
Cardinale scores with a push kick.
Martell is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Cardinale misses with a hook. Martell ducked under it nicely.
The fighters circling - Martell throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Martell has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Cardinale.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Martell blocks a low kick nicely.
Martell throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Cardinale lands a slapping body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martell sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Cardinale misses with a body kick.
Martell will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Martell moves out of range as Cardinale throws a body kick.
Cardinale lands with a slapping head kick.
Cardinale throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Martell checks the leg kick nicely there.
Martell was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
A chopping leg kick lands by Cardinale.
Cardinale sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Martell is looking to clinch but Cardinale is avoiding it.
Martell lands a nice looking kick to the body. Cardinale takes a step back to recover.
Martell avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Martell walks forward, straight into a front kick from Cardinale.
Martell throws a nice looking combination but Cardinale bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nice defenses there by Cardinale.

Martell moves into range and clinches up with Cardinale.
Nicola Cardinale is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Martell can't find room to land a body shot as Cardinale controls the action.
Cardinale is looking to break free of the clinch but Martell has double underhooks.
Cardinale blocks the elbow strike.

Cardinale jumps guard and drags Martell to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Cardinale is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Cardinale had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Martell defends it easily.

Cardinale had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Martell defends it easily.
Martell has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Martell is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Cardinale not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Martell wants to pass the guard but Cardinale is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cardinale is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Cardinale working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Martell has passed into half guard!

Cardinale looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Cardinale looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Cardinale wants to get back to full guard.
Martell lands strikes from half guard.
Oberyn Martell has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Cardinale is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Martell content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

Cardinale looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Martell scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Cardinale looking for submissions off his back.

Cardinale is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Martell pulls his head out easily.
Cardinale works his way to full guard. Good work.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Nicola Cardinale.
I've got Cardinale winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30
Judge George Francis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nicola Cardinale!
After the fight, Nicola Cardinale was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.
Oberyn Martell was interviewed post fight and said 'Through adversity we triumph. Can't know the glory of Success without failure.'.