PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Hanibal Kane (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Max Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Kane
vs
Smith

185 cm
19
184 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

184 cm
18
184 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hanibal Kane!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Max Smith!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kane ducks under a wild hook from Smith.
Kane closes the distance and clinches up with Smith, looking for a takedown. Kane pushes Smith against the cage but Smith circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Kane shoots for a double leg takedown but Smith sprawls well. He's pushed Kane's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Smith shoots in and bounces Kane off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Smith wants to pass the guard but Kane is keeping the position.
Kane knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Smith on the ground.
Smith is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Smith stands up and waves to Kane to follow him.

Kane gets a takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smith kicks Kane off and gets back to his feet.

Kane fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Smith sprawls well initially but Kane persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Smith is trying to maintain the position but Kane is very close to passing his half guard.
Kane thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Smith is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Kane scores with a couple of nice shots.
Kane working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Smith's thigh. Smith counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Kane trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kane keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Smith's head.

Smith is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Kane defends well.
Kane trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Kane postures up.
Smith looks gassed!
Kane looking to pass the guard.

Kane drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Kane jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Kane postures up in Smith's guard and throws a big left but Smith blocks it.
Kane working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Smith's head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith has momentary wrist control but Kane slips an elbow through the middle.
Kane has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Smith wants to stand but Kane is controlling the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kane trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kane is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Smith is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Smith controlling the action here.
Kane wants to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Kane is not content to let Smith control the position.
Smith is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Kane is looking to control Smith's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Kane avoid being mounted?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Hanibal Kane will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Kane shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Kane was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Kane dominating with strikes here.
Smith tries to hold on but Kane postures up.

Kane goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Smith is on top in guard.
Smith wants to control from the top but Kane keeps moving.
Kane is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Smith is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kane wants to sweep but no luck.
Kane keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
Kane trying to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Smith preventing the sweep.

Smith decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Kane, up you get!
Kane throws a push kick but Smith slaps the foot to one side.
Kane slips a jab from Smith.
Smith swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Hanibal Kane is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Smith shoots and misses

and Kane decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Smith's guard.
Kane content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Kane throws a big right hand that misses.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Kane from controlling successfully.
Smith preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kane trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
Smith working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kane.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Smith is on top in guard.
Smith looking to pass the guard.
Kane wants to get back to his feet but Smith is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Kane is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Kane pulls Smith in to control the position.

Smith stands and steps away. Kane gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Kane scores a takedown into full mount!
Kane is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Smith can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Kane with shots to the head and body - Smith looks very uncomfortable down there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hanibal Kane dominated that second round.
That's time! Kane's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Smith has his takedown stuffed

and Kane counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Smith looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Smith is looking to stand up but Kane isn't so interested in that idea.
Smith will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Kane works over Smith with some ground and pound from guard.
Smith takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Kane is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Kane throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kane drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Kane jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Kane trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
Kane pushes down on Smith's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Kane is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Smith is just riding it out for now. Kane eventually gives up the hold.
Smith is not content to let Kane control the position.

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.
Smith regains full guard. Nicely done.
Smith is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Smith manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Smith looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Smith throwing strikes here but Kane is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kane keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

Smith with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Smith unloads with some shots from mount but Kane bucks and avoids them well.
Smith avoids the attempt from Kane to control.

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.
Kane can't escape the position.
The referee warns Kane that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Kane wants to try and get back to his feet.
Smith dominating with strikes here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Smith avoids the attempt from Kane to control.
Max Smith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hanibal Kane is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Smith cracks Kane with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hanibal Kane showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Kane, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hanibal Kane!