PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Bruno Canuto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Ghandi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Canuto
vs
Ghandi

175 cm
25
142 lbs
11 - 7 - 0

180 cm
20
135 lbs
7 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Bruno Canuto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Matt Ghandi!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Alexandre Firmino and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ghandi gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Canuto to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Canuto drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Ghandi manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Canuto has Ghandi in his guard.

Canuto is looking for a triangle but Ghandi pushes his legs off easily.
Ghandi throws a big right hand that misses.
Ghandi wants to control from the top but Canuto keeps moving.
Ghandi is looking to stand up but Canuto won't let him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Canuto has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Ghandi can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Canuto is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Ghandi is aware though and is defending well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Ghandi got a little sloppy there for a moment and Canuto has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Ghandi has managed to get both his arms back between Canuto's legs - danger averted.

Canuto escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Ghandi gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Canuto is breathing heavily.
Ghandi slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

Ghandi stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ghandi forces Canuto back against the cage and clinches.
Ghandi unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Ghandi lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Canuto tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Ghandi smiles and moves away.
Canuto dives in and grabs Ghandi's left leg, looking for a takedown. Ghandi pushes down on Canuto's head and hops out.

Ghandi scores with a takedown into Canuto's guard.
Canuto wants to improve his position but instead Ghandi has moved into half guard.
Ghandi tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Ghandi is taking a breather. Canuto says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ghandi passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Canuto!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Ghandi prevents Canuto from getting the reversal.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ghandi lands a big elbow.
Canuto keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Ghandi is landing with some decent strikes but Canuto is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Canuto is looking to get to half guard.
Ghandi dominating with strikes here.
Canuto tries to get back to half guard but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Ghandi dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Canuto misses with a takedown attempt

and Ghandi counters with a shoot takedown. Canuto fights it but they end up in guard.
Ghandi wants to control from the top but Canuto keeps moving.

Canuto isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Ghandi stacks Canuto on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Ghandi!
Ghandi creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Ghandi trying to control the position but Canuto is working away.
Ghandi in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ghandi is looking to take a break and control but Canuto is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Canuto is trying to improve his position.
Canuto is working hard here to advance position.
Canuto avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Ghandi.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Canuto closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Ghandi to the mat! Ghandi manages to get full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Ghandi controlling Canuto's posture.
Ghandi throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

Canuto is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Ghandi is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Ghandi has escaped and now he's on top!
Ghandi seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Canuto is looking for a triangle but Ghandi pushes his legs off easily.
Ghandi seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Ghandi gets to his feet. Canuto looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Ghandi throws a head kick but Canuto moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Ghandi throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Canuto gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Ghandi holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Ghandi connects with a knee to the head.
Nice elbow from Ghandi.
Nice elbow from Ghandi.
Ghandi lands an elbow that stopped Canuto in his tracks for a moment.
Ghandi utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Ghandi unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Ghandi throws a knee to the head but misses.
Ghandi comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Ghandi is stalling here.
Canuto takes an elbow to the temple.
Ghandi working Canuto over with knees to the body.
Canuto jumps guard but Ghandi stands there with Canuto around his waist. Canuto gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bruno Canuto. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ghandi lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Ghandi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Canuto avoids the head kick by Ghandi.
Canuto with a lazy takedown attempt
and Ghandi counters with an inside leg kick.
Canuto shoots and misses

and Ghandi moves into the clinch.
Canuto takes an elbow to the forehead.
Ghandi slows down the pace here.
Canuto jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Ghandi walks away with a smile on his face. Canuto gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bruno Canuto. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Canuto doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Ghandi counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Canuto's guard now.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ghandi sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Canuto is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Ghandi is aware though and is defending well.
Canuto can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Ghandi controls the pace.
Ghandi wants to get up but he can't break Canuto's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Canuto working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Ghandi has passed into half guard!
Ghandi works his way into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Ghandi trying to control the action but Canuto is working from the bottom.
Ghandi is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Canuto is trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ghandi trying to control the position but Canuto is working away.
Ghandi is staying tight to Canuto's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Canuto gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Ghandi tries to stand and escape but Canuto is controlling the position.

Canuto actively working from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Canuto actively working from the bottom here.

Canuto looking for a kimura from the bottom but Ghandi passes into side control!
Canuto tries to improve position but can't.
Bruno Canuto has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Ghandi decides to stand up, so the ref orders Canuto to his feet.
Canuto shoots and misses

and Ghandi counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Matt Ghandi is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Canuto tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matt Ghandi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Ghandi has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 27:30
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matt Ghandi!