PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Edward Brannigan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rob Canses (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Brannigan kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Dropkick Murphys - The warriors code. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Brannigan
vs
Canses

200 cm
23
285 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

189 cm
24
270 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Good knees
Very strong

Good takedowns
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Edward Brannigan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Rob Canses!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Yves DeLean and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Brannigan has closed the distance and engaged Canses in a clinch.
Brannigan landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Canses looks gassed!
Brannigan is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Brannigan lands a knee to the head.

It looks like Rob Canses has been cut.
Brannigan with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Brannigan lands a knee to the body.
Brannigan landing knees to the body.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Brannigan putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Canses in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Brannigan with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Canses drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Brannigan crunches a lovely knee into Canses's ribcage.
Canses takes a knee right on the jaw!
Brannigan landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Brannigan connects with a knee to the head.

That has opened up Rob Canses's cut even more.
Brannigan connects with a knee to the head.
Canses wants to break the clinch but can't.
Canses takes a knee right on the jaw!
Brannigan landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Brannigan putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Canses in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Canses wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Brannigan with a knee to the head.
Brannigan gets underhooks to prevent Canses's takedown attempt.
Canses wants to break free but Brannigan has control.
Canses looking for a takedown.
Edward Brannigan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rob Canses.
Brannigan lands a good knee to the midsection. Canses won't want to take too many of those.
Brannigan prevents Canses from breaking the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brannigan working Canses over with knees to the body.
Brannigan landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Brannigan lands a knee to the head.
Brannigan scores a nice knee to the body.
Canses looking for a takedown.
Knees in the clinch landing for Brannigan.
Brannigan unloads a knee to the mid-section. Canses lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Brannigan obliges.
Canses is trying to break free.
Brannigan is pressed up against the cage. Canses has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Brannigan down to the mat. Brannigan avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Brannigan lands a head kick. Canses smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Brannigan bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Canses closes the distance looking to clinch
and Brannigan counters with a thumping low kick.
Brannigan lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Brannigan fails in his attempt to clinch.
Brannigan doesn't manage to clinch there - Canses circles away.

Brannigan fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Canses, pushing him back against the cage.
Brannigan is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Brannigan landing knees to the body.
Brannigan scores with a knee to the head.
Canses wants to break the clinch but can't.
Brannigan landing knees to the body.
Canses is trying to break the clinch but Brannigan is controlling him.
Brannigan connects with a knee to the head.
Canses tries for a takedown but Brannigan manages to get underhooks.
Brannigan scores with a knee to the head.
Brannigan connects with a knee to the head.
Canses drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Brannigan gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Brannigan wants to stall.
Brannigan crunches a lovely knee into Canses's ribcage.
Canses can't get the takedown.
Brannigan prevents the takedown attempt.
Brannigan unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Brannigan working Canses over with knees to the body.
Canses is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Brannigan pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Brannigan with a knee to the head.

Canses turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Canses tries to advance to mount but Brannigan denies him.
Canses in side control lands a decent elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Canses misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Canses creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Brannigan sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Canses throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Brannigan manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Canses wants to get back to full guard but Brannigan has passed into side control.
Canses is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Canses is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Brannigan throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Canses is trying desperately to improve position.
Brannigan takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Canses really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Canses has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Brannigan controlling his opponent.
Brannigan landing strikes, looking to finish!
Brannigan tries to control but Canses wriggling away.
Canses is in all sorts of trouble here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Brannigan controlling from the full mount.
Canses is looking to improve his position but Brannigan isn't that keen on the idea.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Edward Brannigan dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rob Canses's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Brannigan uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Canses.
Brannigan tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Canses paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Brannigan tries to clinch up but Canses circles away and keeps his distance.
Canses misses with a straight left.
Canses shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Brannigan sprawls well. Brannigan wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Canses gets slowly back to his feet.
Brannigan wants to clinch.

Canses changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Brannigan looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Canses postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Brannigan is not content to let Canses control the position.
Brannigan is pushing Canses's head away, looking to escape. Canses manages to hold on to the position though.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Canses throws a strike aimed at the side of Brannigan's head but Brannigan avoids it well.
Brannigan controls the position for a moment.
Canses tries to score with some ground and pound. Brannigan controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Canses is trying to ground and pound but Brannigan uses the momentary lack of control by Canses to regain half guard.
Brannigan on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Brannigan tries to get out of the position.
Canses is stalling here. Brannigan is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Canses seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Brannigan has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.

Brannigan working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's two 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.
Canses throws a few strikes from the bottom but Brannigan takes advantage and mounts!
Brannigan content just to control the position here.
Canses sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Canses misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Canses is looking for a sweep. Brannigan is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Brannigan not doing much here.
Brannigan prevents Canses from improving his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brannigan works his foot free and advances to mount.

Brannigan has hold of Canses's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Canses manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Brannigan blocks Canses's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Brannigan blocks Canses's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Canses throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Brannigan lands a big elbow.
Canses keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Brannigan controlling the position easily from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Brannigan throws some wild stikes that Canses manages to avoid easily.
Canses tries to reverse the position but Brannigan maintains control.
Brannigan with shots to the head and body - Canses looks very uncomfortable down there.
Brannigan content just to control the position here.
Canses is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Canses swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Canses is wriggling around trying to escape.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Brannigan sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Edward Brannigan will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Rob Canses's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Brannigan has closed the distance and engaged Canses in a clinch.
Brannigan taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Canses is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Brannigan gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Brannigan scores a nice knee to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Brannigan with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Brannigan lands a knee to the head.
Brannigan with a knee to the head.
Brannigan landing knees to the body.
Canses is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Canses has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Brannigan is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Edward Brannigan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rob Canses.
Brannigan connects with a nasty looking knee right to Canses's face.
Brannigan is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Canses can do to turn this around?
Brannigan with a knee to the head.
Brannigan scores a nice knee to the body.
Canses is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Brannigan gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Knees to the body from Brannigan.
Canses drops down looking for an ankle pick but Brannigan pulls his leg out and moves away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Brannigan tries to clinch but Canses is having none of it.
Brannigan tries to close the distance and clinch but Canses swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Brannigan wants to clinch up but Canses keeps it at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brannigan fails with an attempt to clinch.
Canses has a takedown stuffed.

Brannigan clinches.
Knees to the body from Brannigan.
Brannigan working Canses over with knees to the body.
Brannigan with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Brannigan stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Canses drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Brannigan unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Canses is trying to drag Brannigan to the mat but Brannigan just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Brannigan lands a good knee to the midsection. Canses won't want to take too many of those.
Canses wants to break free but Brannigan has control.
Canses is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Canses takes a knee to the side of the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Brannigan connects with a nasty looking knee right to Canses's face.
Brannigan landing knees to the head.
Canses wants a takedown but no success here.
Brannigan crunches a lovely knee into Canses's ribcage.
Canses has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Brannigan avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Brannigan obliges.
Canses is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Canses takes a knee to the side of the body.
Brannigan landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Brannigan putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Canses in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Brannigan taking a breather.
Brannigan prevents a takedown attempt there.
Knees to the body from Brannigan.
Brannigan is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Brannigan.
Brannigan gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Canses.
Canses wants a takedown but no success here.
Brannigan lands a nice knee to the body.
Canses has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Brannigan is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Brannigan lands a knee to the head.
Brannigan is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Canses is trying to break the clinch but Brannigan has him pressed against the cage.
Brannigan stalling in the clinch.
Canses has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Canses drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brannigan using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
A knee to the head by Brannigan.
Brannigan trying to land knees to the body.
Canses changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Brannigan fights it off and pushes away nicely.
A combination from Canses does no damage.
Brannigan looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Edward Brannigan is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Brannigan has managed to clinch.
Canses wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Canses is looking to break free of the clinch but Brannigan has double underhooks.
Canses tries to score a body lock takedown but Brannigan shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Brannigan is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Brannigan lands a knee to the head.
Canses is trying to drag Brannigan to the mat but Brannigan just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Brannigan landing some nice looking knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Canses tries to score a body lock takedown but Brannigan shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Brannigan lands a knee to the body.
Brannigan unloads a knee to the mid-section. Canses lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Canses tries to score a body lock takedown but Brannigan shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Brannigan lands a good knee to the midsection. Canses won't want to take too many of those.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Canses drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Brannigan gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Brannigan crunches a lovely knee into Canses's ribcage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Brannigan lands a good knee to the midsection. Canses won't want to take too many of those.
Rob Canses has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Brannigan connects with a knee to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Edward Brannigan showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Brannigan has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Elvis Blanc scores the fight 30:25
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 30:25
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 30:25

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Edward Brannigan!