PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Canton Caning (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Diego Sanchez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Canton Caning could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Diego Sanchez's chin.

Caning
vs
Sanchez

180 cm
22
160 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

178 cm
18
155 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Crocodile Steak and Ale House

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Canton Caning!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Diego Sanchez!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Luis Engracia and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Caning tries to clinch but Sanchez is having none of it.
Sanchez throws a hook but Caning blocks it.
Sanchez waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Caning.
Sanchez jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Sanchez tries to clinch there but Caning circles away.
Caning is looking to slow Sanchez down with leg kicks.
Caning is looking to clinch.
Caning displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Sanchez throws out the jab.
Caning ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Caning tries to clinch there but Sanchez circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sanchez looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Sanchez moves into the clinch.

Sanchez turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Sanchez manages to end up in side control.
Sanchez tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Sanchez creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Caning struggling a bit here.
Caning is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez wants to stand up but Caning manages to regain full guard.
Caning avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sanchez accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Sanchez forces his way into half guard.
Sanchez throwing shots but Caning is blocking nicely.
Sanchez sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Caning defending well though.
Caning avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sanchez.
Sanchez missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Sanchez throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Caning is looking to clinch but Sanchez is avoiding it.

That's two 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.
Sanchez wants to clinch.
Sanchez closes the distance looking to clinch
and Caning counters with a slapping leg kick.
Caning is looking to clinch but Sanchez is avoiding it.
Caning pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Caning tries to clinch but Sanchez is having none of it.
Caning throws a head kick that Sanchez semi-blocks.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sanchez looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Caning tries to close the distance and clinch but Sanchez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Sanchez tries to close the distance and clinch up but Caning swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sanchez tries to clinch but Caning is having none of it.
Caning doesn't manage to clinch there - Sanchez circles away.
Sanchez tries to clinch but Caning moves out of range.
Sanchez doesn't manage to clinch there - Caning circles away.
Caning tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Caning wants to clinch up but Sanchez keeps it at a distance.
Caning tries to clinch but Sanchez is having none of it.
Caning is looking to clinch but Sanchez is avoiding it.
Caning is looking to clinch.

Sanchez moves into range and clinches up with Caning.
Sanchez is trying to drag Caning to the mat but Caning just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Sanchez ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Sanchez no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Sanchez is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Sanchez doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Caning stopping the sweep attempt from Sanchez.

Caning thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Sanchez throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Caning trying to stand up but can't free himself from Sanchez's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Caning fails with an attempt to clinch.
Sanchez tries to clinch but Caning moves out of range.

Sanchez moves into the clinch successfully.
Caning using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Sanchez goes for a takedown in the clinch but Caning prevents it.
Caning is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Sanchez is keeping busy.
Sanchez fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Canton Caning has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Diego Sanchez.
Caning is trying to break free.
Sanchez tries to pull guard but Caning holds him up against the cage and eventually Sanchez drops back down to his feet.

Sanchez turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Sanchez has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Sanchez looks gassed!
Sanchez throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Sanchez in side control, throwing shots but Caning defends.
Caning is looking to reverse the position.
Sanchez sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Caning is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Sanchez tries to move into full mount but can't pass Caning's legs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Diego Sanchez dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Caning is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Caning thuds his shin into the meat of Sanchez's side.
Sanchez throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Caning wants to clinch up but Sanchez keeps it at a distance.
Caning throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Caning slips a jab and a cross from Sanchez.

Caning closes the distance and pushes Sanchez back into the cage.
Caning lands a good knee to the midsection. Sanchez won't want to take too many of those.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Sanchez in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Caning is looking to break free of the clinch but Sanchez has double underhooks.
Caning is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Sanchez tries to pull guard but Caning holds him up against the cage and eventually Sanchez drops back down to his feet.
A frustrated look appears on Caning's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Caning wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Caning working Sanchez over with knees to the body.
Sanchez drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Caning utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Sanchez is breathing heavily.
Caning looking to slow down the pace here.
Caning is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Sanchez tries to pull guard but Caning won't allow it.
Canton Caning has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Diego Sanchez.
Caning is trying to break free.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Caning pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Caning plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Caning fails with an attempt to clinch.
Sanchez throws a hook to the side of Caning's head but Caning sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Caning tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sanchez paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Sanchez keeps the fight on the outside.
Caning tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sanchez paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Caning tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sanchez paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Sanchez scores with a body shot.

Sanchez has taken the fight to the clinch.
Sanchez drops down looking for an ankle pick but Caning pulls his leg out and moves away.
Sanchez takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

Caning fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Sanchez, pushing him back against the cage.
Sanchez takes an elbow to the temple.
Caning is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Sanchez is keeping busy.

Caning breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Caning tries to clinch but Sanchez moves out of range.
Sanchez tries to clinch but Caning moves out of range.
Caning connects with a high kick.
Sanchez keeps the fight on the outside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez keeps the fight on the outside.
Sanchez loads up on a big right hand but Caning slips the punch.
Sanchez avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A slapping leg kick lands for Caning.
Sanchez tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Caning was well out of range. Poor timing from Sanchez.
Caning throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Sanchez.
Caning tries to close the distance and clinch but Sanchez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Caning keeps the fight on the outside.
Caning tries to clinch up but Sanchez circles away and keeps his distance.
Sanchez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Caning paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Caning lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Caning is looking to clinch but Sanchez is avoiding it.
Caning slips under a jab from Sanchez.
Caning is looking to clinch.
Caning wants to clinch up but Sanchez keeps it at a distance.
Caning swats away the attempt to clinch by Sanchez.
Sanchez is looking to clinch.
Sanchez misses the body punch
and Caning counters with a flying knee. Nice.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Caning lands a head kick!
Caning throws a head kick that Sanchez semi-blocks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Caning tries to clinch up but Sanchez circles away and keeps his distance.
Caning fails with an attempt to clinch.
Caning tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sanchez paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Caning bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Caning scores with a head kick.
Sanchez misses with a hook to the body
and Caning counters with a head kick. That will keep Sanchez thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Caning tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sanchez paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Sanchez has taken the fight to the clinch.
Sanchez drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Sanchez changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Caning fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Caning moves into range and lands a nice body kick.

Sanchez clinches with his opponent.
Caning lands a knee to the body.

Caning escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Caning clinches up with Sanchez and pushes him back against the cage.
Caning utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Caning using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Caning crunches a lovely knee into Sanchez's ribcage.
Caning lands a knee to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Caning working Sanchez over with knees to the body.
Sanchez jumps guard but Caning stands there with Sanchez around his waist. Sanchez gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Sanchez takes a knee right on the jaw!
Sanchez takes a knee to the side of the body.
Caning is looking to control Sanchez's arms but Sanchez gets an underhook and turns him. Now Caning has his back to the cage.
Caning utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Caning obliges.

Caning breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Sanchez throws a looping overhand right but Caning ducks down to avoid it.
Caning tries to clinch there but Sanchez circles away.
Caning tries to clinch there but Sanchez circles away.
Caning is looking to clinch but Sanchez is avoiding it.
Caning lands a nice leg kick that just misses Sanchez's sensitive parts.
Sanchez attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Caning moves in looking to clinch but Sanchez pushes him off.
Sanchez avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Caning tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Caning staying out of range there.
Caning wants to clinch up but Sanchez keeps it at a distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Canton Caning dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Caning displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Sanchez throws out the jab.

Sanchez closes the distance and pushes Caning back into the cage.
Caning prevents the takedown attempt.
Caning scores a nice knee to the body.
Caning scores with a knee to the head.
Sanchez tries to pull guard but Caning holds him up against the cage and eventually Sanchez drops back down to his feet.
Caning gets underhooks to prevent Sanchez's takedown attempt.
Canton Caning has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Diego Sanchez.
Sanchez has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Caning avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Sanchez has Caning pressed against the cage, preventing Caning from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Caning connects with a knee to the head.
Caning looking to slow down the pace here.

Caning breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Caning lands with a kick to the temple. Sanchez shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Caning lands a head kick. Sanchez smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Caning tries to clinch up but Sanchez circles away and keeps his distance.
A thudding body kick lands there by Caning!
The fight stays on the outside here - Sanchez looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Caning fails in his attempt to clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sanchez is looking to clinch but Caning is avoiding it.
Sanchez tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Caning tries to clinch up but Sanchez circles away and keeps his distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez keeps the fight on the outside.

Caning pushes Sanchez up against the cage in a clinch.
Caning lands a knee to the body.
Caning looking to stall.
Sanchez tries a knee to the head but Caning blocks it.
Caning is trying to break the clinch but Sanchez is controlling him.

Caning pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Caning landing knees to the body.
Sanchez takes a knee to the side of the body.
Canton Caning has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Caning scores a nice knee to the body.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Caning lands a good knee to the midsection. Sanchez won't want to take too many of those.
Caning looking to slow down the pace here.
Sanchez fails to pull guard.
Caning with a knee to the head.
Caning landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Sanchez takes a knee right on the jaw!
Caning tries to circle away but Sanchez has him pinned against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez wants to break the clinch but can't.
Caning putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Sanchez in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Caning is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Caning seems a little flustered. He's come in with the intention of controlling the clinch but Sanchez is preventing him from doing so, at least for the moment.
Sanchez is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Caning gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Caning working Sanchez over with knees to the body.
Nice elbow from Caning.
Caning with a knee to the head.
Caning trying to stall but Sanchez improves his position.
Sanchez fails to pull guard.
Caning with a knee to the head.
Sanchez has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Caning avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Knees in the clinch landing for Caning.

Sanchez has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Caning uses from the top position.
Sanchez looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Sanchez striking from his own guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Sanchez trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Caning wants to control from the top but Sanchez keeps moving.
Sanchez wants to sweep but no luck.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Sanchez swats away the attempt to clinch by Caning.
Sanchez tries to clinch there but Caning circles away.
Caning is looking to clinch but Sanchez is avoiding it.
Caning tries to clinch but Sanchez moves out of range.
Caning defending well as Sanchez loads up on a big left hand.
Caning fails in his attempt to clinch.
Caning throws a head kick but Sanchez moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Caning tries a head kick but it misses.
Canton Caning is winning the standup battle so far.
Caning uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Sanchez.
Caning scores with a kick to the body.
Sanchez keeps the fight on the outside.
Caning wants to clinch.
Caning tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sanchez paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Sanchez keeps the fight on the outside.
Sanchez is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Caning.
Sanchez tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Caning tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sanchez swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Caning throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Sanchez.
Sanchez throws the kick towards the body but Caning avoids it.
Caning pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Diego Sanchez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Caning is looking to clinch but Sanchez is avoiding it.
Sanchez takes a swing at Caning's ribcage but misses.
Caning tries to clinch but Sanchez is having none of it.
Sanchez scores with a jab to the head.
Caning keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Sanchez.

And that's the end of the fight!
Canton Caning showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Caning has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight 29:28
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 29:27
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Canton Caning!