PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Masa Sanada (ranked 405 p4p, 3191 weight class) and Darnell Cane (ranked 64 p4p, 445 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Sanada
vs
Cane

180 cm
35
174
31 - 13 - 3

188 cm
39
182
27 - 19 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

HELLBENT
Urban Fighter

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 31 - 13 - 3, fighting out of London, Masa Sanada!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 27 - 19 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Darnell Cane!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Alexandre Firmino and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sanada loads up on a big right hand but Cane slips the punch.
Sanada scores with a jab. Cane acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

It looks like Darnell Cane has been cut.
Cane connects with an inside leg kick.
Sanada connects with a crisp jab.
Sanada looks to throw the jab but Cane is out of range.
Cane was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Cane takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Sanada looks to score with a jab to the body but Cane is just out of range.
Cane paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Cane takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Cane takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sanada takes a jab right on the kisser.
Sanada looks to throw the jab but Cane is out of range.
Sanada misses with an uppercut.
Cane moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

Cane closes the distance and clinches.
Sanada wants to get back to striking at distance but Cane won't allow it.
Sanada is trying to break the clinch but Cane has him pressed against the cage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Sanada wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Cane has him pressed against the cage.
Cane can't find room to land a body shot as Sanada controls the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cane is trying to maintain a safe position but Sanada gets an underhook and turns Cane into the cage.
Sanada is trying to break the clinch but Cane has him pressed against the cage.

Sanada escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A big left from Sanada misses.
Sanada takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Sanada throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Good shot there by Sanada.
Sanada throws a lazy right hand but Cane sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Sanada misses with a wild body shot.
Cane misses with a straight right.
A shot to the liver by Cane. Beautiful body shot.
Sanada misses with a wild body shot.
Cane lands a head shot.
Sanada throws a jab but it's blocked by Cane.
Sanada throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Cane counters with a straight right hand.
Cane listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Sanada checks a leg kick.
Darnell Cane seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sanada throws an overhand right that lands on Cane's shoulder, as Cane tries to avoid the shot.
Sanada getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cane moves out of range of the strikes.
A decent looking cross lands there for Sanada.
Sanada misses the jab.
Sanada misses with a hook.
Cane throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Sanada is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Sanada misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Cane.
Sanada throws a looping overhand right but Cane ducks down to avoid it.
Sanada takes a swing at Cane's ribcage but misses.
Sanada steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Cane.
Cane throws an overhand right that lands on Sanada's shoulder, as Sanada tries to avoid the shot.
Sanada checks a leg kick nicely.
Sanada throws a jab but it's blocked by Cane.
Sanada throws an overhand right that lands on Cane's shoulder, as Cane tries to avoid the shot.
Despite the aggression on Cane's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Sanada misses with an uppercut.
Donk. Sanada catches Cane right on the button with a cross.
Cane uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Sanada.
Cane lands a nice looking body kick.
Cane throws a wild body kick that Sanada sees coming a mile off.

Cane rushes Sanada and presses him up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cane lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Sanada wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Cane has him pressed against the cage.

Sanada manages to break the clinch.
Cane uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Sanada.
Sanada looks to land a right hand but Cane moved out of range.
Sanada is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Cane lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Cane changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Cane throws a body punch but Sanada moves out of range.
Sanada throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Cane gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Cane looking to slow down the pace here.
Sanada wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Sanada prevents a body shot from Cane.
Cane is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Sanada is trying to break the clinch but Cane is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanada wants to break the clinch but can't.
Cane tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A right hand to the body from Cane.
Sanada wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Sanada is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Sanada as Cane tries to tie him up.

Sanada pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Sanada ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Cane scores with a leg kick.
Sanada is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sanada throws a big shot that misses.
Cane ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Cane is looking to land body kicks.
It looked like Sanada wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Sanada tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sanada waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Cane.
Sanada looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Sanada misses with an uppercut. Cane saw that one coming.
Sanada uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Cane.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Darnell Cane will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Darnell Cane's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Sanada lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Sanada.
Cane connects with a good right hand that stumbles Sanada. Sanada circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Cane throws a poor cross that misses
and Sanada counters with a stiff right hand.
Cane takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Cane works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Nice shot lands for Cane.
Cane jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cane lands with a shot to the body.
Cane getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Cane keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Cane throws a body punch but Sanada moves out of range.
Cane throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Sanada throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Cane bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Cane thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Sanada if he has to take too many more of those.
Sanada scores with a crisp jab that stopped Cane in his tracks.
Sanada on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Cane throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cane throws a chopping leg kick but Sanada manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Cane lands with a hook. Sanada tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Sanada throws a looping overhand right but Cane ducks down to avoid it.
A solid body kick from Cane.
Sanada thuds his right hand into Cane's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Cane throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Sanada throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Cane sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Cane cracks Sanada with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Sanada jabs Cane right on the nose. Cane blinks but takes it well.
Sanada uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Cane.
Sanada throws a looping overhand right but Cane ducks down to avoid it.
Cane keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Cane has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Cane takes one to the side of the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sanada misses with a looping left.
Sanada works Cane's body with a nice hook.
Cane is looking to clinch.
Cane throws a body shot but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cane staying out of range there.
Nice body kick there by Cane.
Sanada jabs Cane to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Cane throws out a loose jab but Sanada uses good head movement to avoid it.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Sanada.
Sanada misses with a hook. Cane ducked under it nicely.
Sanada takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Cane staying out of range there.
Cane fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Sanada misses with a few strikes there.
Cane looking to land some kicks to the body here.
A big left from Sanada misses.
Cane throws out a counter right but Sanada avoids it with no problem.
Cane tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sanada was well out of range. Poor timing from Cane.
Cane takes a swing at Sanada's ribcage but misses.
Cane displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Sanada throws out the jab.
No joy there for Sanada, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Cane scores with a push kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanada misses with a wild body shot.
Cane scores with a leg kick.
Sanada stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Cane.
Sanada throws a hook but Cane avoids it easily.

Cane clinches.

Sanada breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Nice shot by Sanada.
Cane misses with a body kick.
Sanada was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Cane slips a straight right by Sanada.
Cane lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Sanada scores with a jab.
Sanada uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Cane.
Sanada pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Sanada throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Sanada uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cane throws a good cross that connects.
Cane comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Sanada will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cane tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Sanada is able to avoid easily.
Sanada is looking to counter punch.
Cane avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Sanada looks to land a right hand but Cane moved out of range.
Cane with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Cane 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 Sanada has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Sanada and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Cane bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Sanada's head backwards.
Sanada blocks a low kick nicely.
Both fighters circling a little - Cane finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Cane throws a hook but Sanada blocks it.
Sanada takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
The fighters circling - Sanada throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
It seemed like Cane was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Cane bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Sanada misses with a wild body shot.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cane takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Cane looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Cane tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sanada was well out of range. Poor timing from Cane.
Sanada just misses with a punch to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Darnell Cane will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Darnell Cane's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Cane uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Sanada.
Sanada misses with a hook. Cane ducked under it nicely.
Sanada swats away the attempt to clinch by Cane.
Cane on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Masa Sanada is winning the standup battle so far.
Cane slips under a jab.
Cane with a jab.
Sanada waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Cane.
Cane is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Sanada.
A big left from Sanada misses.
Nice uppercut lands for Sanada. That snapped Cane's head back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sanada takes one on the button.
Cane takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Sanada smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Cane displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Sanada throws out the jab.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A swing and a miss from Cane.
Cane has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Cane throws a leg kick but Sanada sees it coming and moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanada lands a really nice looking cross but Cane seems unphased.
Cane throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
An attempted straight right counter from Sanada misses the target.
A cross from Sanada lands.
Cane misses the shot to the body.
Cane dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Sanada. That did some damage!
Cane works Sanada's body with a nice hook.
Sanada loads up on a big right hand but Cane slips the punch.
Cane scores with a sloppy right hand. Sanada should have avoided that one.
Cane is looking to land body kicks.
Cane takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Sanada waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Cane.
Sanada lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

Cane is rocked!
A good leg kick by Cane.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sanada throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Cane.
Sanada waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Cane.
Cane misses with a body shot.
Darnell Cane 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.
Sanada slips a jab from Cane.
Sanada was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Sanada throws a looping overhand right but Cane ducks down to avoid it.
Cane looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Cane throws a front kick aimed at Sanada's knee but Sanada avoids it well.
Sanada fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Cane manages to avoid it.
Cane looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Sanada clobbers Cane with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

Cane gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Sanada tries to break free but Cane pushes him back against the cage.
Cane prevents Sanada from breaking the clinch.

Sanada escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Cane throws a leg kick which misses Sanada's front leg but catches the back leg as Sanada tries to avoid it.
A combination from Sanada does no damage.
Cane uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Sanada.
A looping hook to the body misses from Cane. Sanada does a little dance to reset his feet.
Sanada is looking to counter punch.
Sanada shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Cane blocks a jab.
And Cane responds with a good body kick, but Sanada manages to step out the way in time.
Cane throws a series of strikes that have Sanada backpedaling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cane rushes Sanada and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Masa Sanada has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cane misses with a hook from the clinch.

Sanada breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Cane looks to throw a body kick
and Sanada counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Cane uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Sanada.

Cane closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Sanada wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Cane has him pressed against the cage.
Sanada is looking to break free of the clinch but Cane has double underhooks.
Sanada wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Cane will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Sanada up against the cage.
Sanada scores with an uppercut up the middle.
A shot in the inside from Cane.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Sanada as Cane tries to tie him up.
Sanada wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sanada escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Sanada throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
A nice side step and Cane releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Sanada takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Cane fails in his attempt to clinch.
Cane moves out of range of the strikes.
A swing and a miss from Sanada.
A jab lands there for Cane.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Good leg kick by Cane.
Cane wants to clinch up but Sanada keeps it at a distance.
A cross from Cane lands.
Sanada lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Cane slips a straight right by Sanada.
Sanada jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Cane ducks under a wild hook from Sanada.
Sanada steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Cane. That one must have hurt.
Cane ducks under a wild hook from Sanada.
Cane slips a straight right by Sanada.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Masa Sanada.
I think Cane 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 29:29
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 29:28

The fight is ruled a draw!