PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Manny Kanblo (ranked 4903 p4p, 2959 weight class) and Tom Hanks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Kanblo
vs
Hanks

181 cm
25
180
0 - 0 - 0

177 cm
23
180
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Inexperienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Manny Kanblo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Tom Hanks!
The judges for this bout are Ryoma Takatsuka, Micheangelo Fripello and Colin Fray.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kanblo keeps the fight on the outside.
It looked like Kanblo wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Kanblo lands a two punch combo.

It looks like Tom Hanks has been cut.
Hanks fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Hanks tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kanblo swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kanblo throwing a counter right hand but Hanks manages to avoid it.
A thudding body kick lands there by Kanblo!
Kanblo turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

Hanks darts in and clinches Kanblo up against the cage.
Kanblo wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Kanblo tries to break free but Hanks pushes him back against the cage.
Kanblo wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Kanblo wants to break the clinch but can't.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kanblo is trying to break the clinch but Hanks is controlling him.
Kanblo wants to get back to striking at distance but Hanks won't allow it.
Kanblo is looking to break free of the clinch but Hanks has double underhooks.
Kanblo working hard to break the clinch.
Hanks keeps control of Kanblo as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Kanblo has had enough of the clinch but Hanks keeps him there for the moment.

Kanblo breaks the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kanblo connects with an inside leg kick.
Nice body kick there by Kanblo.
Hanks shoots for a takedown but Kanblo saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Kanblo listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Kanblo scores with a spinning back kick!
Kanblo throws a series of punches but Hanks avoids them all with ease.
Hanks closes this distance looking for a takedown but Kanblo circles away.
Manny Kanblo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tom Hanks.
Kanblo moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Hanks slips a jab and a cross from Kanblo.
Kanblo lands a jab to the nose.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Hanks moves into range and clinches up with Kanblo.
Kanblo is trying to break free.
Hanks misses with a body punch.
Hanks tries to score a body lock takedown but Kanblo shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Kanblo is trying to break free.
Kanblo is trying to break the clinch but Hanks has him pressed against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hanks prevents Kanblo from breaking the clinch.
Kanblo is trying to break free.

Hanks manages to break the clinch.
Kanblo turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

Hanks shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Kanblo's guard.
Hanks prevents Kanblo from getting back to his feet.
Hanks controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Hanks's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Kanblo is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Hanks is controlling him.

Kanblo pushes Hanks off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Kanblo pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Hanks back to the cage. Kanblo follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kanblo throws a one two combo.
Kanblo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kanblo keeps Hanks at a distance using the push kick.
Kanblo throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Hanks fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Kanblo checks it well.
Hanks wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Hanks on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Kanblo. Kanblo obviously looking to wear him down.
A nice combination there by Kanblo.
Kanblo is breathing heavily.

Hanks gets a clinch.
Kanblo wants to get back to striking at distance but Hanks won't allow it.
Kanblo working hard to break the clinch.
Kanblo is trying to force a seperation but Hanks has the dominant position.
Hanks changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Kanblo fights it off and pushes away nicely.
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!
Hanks darts in looking for a takedown but Kanblo gets double underhooks and turns Hanks into the cage.
Kanblo lands a head shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Kanblo. Those never looked like landing.
Hanks with the counter takedown but Kanblo avoids it easily.
Hanks fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Kanblo avoids it really well and circles away.

Hanks clinches up against the cage.

Hanks breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kanblo pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Hanks back to the cage. Kanblo follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Hanks is looking to clinch.
It looked like Kanblo was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Kanblo is working the combinations to good effect here.
Hanks changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Kanblo tries to avoid it but Hanks manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Kanblo to the ground. Kanblo escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Nice body kick from Kanblo.
Kanblo lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Hanks circles away quickly and effectively.
Kanblo throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Hanks.
Hanks throws a sloppy head kick
and Kanblo counters with a series of strikes. Hanks will be more careful next time no doubt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manny Kanblo dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Tom Hanks's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Hanks tries to clinch up.
Kanblo tries to bum rush Hanks with a series of wild strikes but Hanks uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Hanks closes this distance looking for a takedown but Kanblo circles away.
Hanks shoots in looking for a takedown. Kanblo tries to sprawl out of it but Hanks keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Kanblo manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Hanks drives through and clinches with Kanblo against the cage.

Hanks pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hanks fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kanblo was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Horrible takedown attempt by Hanks or perhaps it was just good defense by Kanblo, which made it look bad.
Manny Kanblo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tom Hanks.

Hanks instigates a clinch.
Kanblo wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Hanks has him pressed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hanks is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Kanblo gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Kanblo wants to break the clinch but can't.
Kanblo wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Hanks has him pressed against the cage.

Hanks's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kanblo misses with the combination.
Manny Kanblo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A low kick lands for Kanblo.
Hanks darts in looking for a takedown but Kanblo gets double underhooks and turns Hanks into the cage.
Kanblo throws a head kick that half lands.
Kanblo explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Kanblo throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Hanks.
Manny Kanblo is winning the standup battle so far.
Kanblo throws a nice inside leg kick.
Danga de danga de dang - Kanblo scores with a four punch combination!
No joy there for Kanblo, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hanks lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Kanblo circles away quickly and effectively.
Kanblo throws a big counter combination but Hanks scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Kanblo throws a sloppy head kick

and Hanks counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Kanblo!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kanblo stops Hanks from passing to mount.
Hanks landing a few strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hanks creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Kanblo wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Hanks has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Hanks is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Kanblo has escaped the position, nice work there.
Hanks landing strikes.

Hanks is trying to get an arm triangle but Kanblo is defending well.
Kanblo on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Kanblo tries to get out of the position.
Kanblo tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hanks is working to isolate an arm here. It's a telegraphed submission attempt but he's gone for it anyway - and he's got it! Hanks extends the arm and Kanblo is forced to tap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:23 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Tom Hanks!