PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rodef Canmelianenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Junior Cigano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Canmelianenko comes to the cage accompanied by Emperor - The Loss And Curse Of Reverence. Cigano has chosen Rocky Balboa Theme as his entrance music. Rodef Canmelianenko looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

Canmelianenko
vs
Cigano

189 cm
23
226 lbs
14 - 9 - 0

191 cm
22
252 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Resistance (Now also gifs!)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rodef Canmelianenko!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Junior Cigano!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Alexandre Firmino and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cigano throws a series of punches but Canmelianenko moves out of range.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Canmelianenko.
Cigano tries for a takedown but Canmelianenko circles away easily
and Canmelianenko counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Cigano throws a nice looking combination but Canmelianenko bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Cigano misses with a two punch combination.

Cigano closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Cigano trying to pass the guard but Canmelianenko defending well.

Cigano is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Canmelianenko is just riding it out for now. Cigano eventually gives up the hold.
Cigano slows the pace down in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cigano is looking to take a break and control but Canmelianenko is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Cigano is working for a submission of some sort.
Cigano looks to land a strike but Canmelianenko avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

That's two 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.
Cigano looking to pass the guard.
Canmelianenko trying to control the position.
Cigano wants to control from the top but Canmelianenko keeps moving.
Cigano throwing strikes but missing.
Cigano trying to control the position from guard on top but Canmelianenko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cigano preventing the sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Canmelianenko is on top in guard.
Canmelianenko trying to stand up but can't free himself from Cigano's guard.
Cigano 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.
Canmelianenko wants to control from the top but Cigano keeps moving.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Canmelianenko passes easily into side control. Nice work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Canmelianenko throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Cigano tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Canmelianenko wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Cigano gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Nice strikes from Canmelianenko there.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Canmelianenko trying to control the action but Cigano is working from the bottom.
Canmelianenko is breathing heavily.
Canmelianenko tries to stand and escape but Cigano is controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cigano looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Canmelianenko seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Canmelianenko is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Cigano wants to control but Canmelianenko is keeping busy.
Canmelianenko throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Canmelianenko tries to stand but can't do so whilst Cigano controls his leg.
Cigano is concentrating on defense, preventing Canmelianenko from advancing position.
Cigano makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Cigano.
Canmelianenko wants to stand but Cigano is controlling his posture from full guard.
Cigano not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Canmelianenko stopping the sweep attempt from Cigano.

Cigano has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Canmelianenko can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Cigano is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Cigano wants to sweep here but Canmelianenko controlling him for the moment.
Canmelianenko looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Canmelianenko trying to control but Cigano is working from the bottom.

That's six 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.
Cigano looking to hit a scissor sweep but Canmelianenko is one step ahead there.
Cigano is trying to control the position but Canmelianenko postures up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Rodef Canmelianenko.
Canmelianenko fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Cigano fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Canmelianenko sprawls well initially but Cigano persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Cigano is pressing down on Canmelianenko's thigh, looking to free his foot. Canmelianenko is holding on for now.
Canmelianenko is staying active underneath Cigano, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Cigano thows a huge punch but Canmelianenko dodges it nicely.
Cigano passes into side control, despite Canmelianenko's attempt to control the position.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Cigano happy to just control the position for now.
Cigano tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Cigano looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Canmelianenko is avoiding damage well.
Canmelianenko tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Cigano wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Canmelianenko can't do much from the bottom here.
The ground and pound from Cigano seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

That's eight 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.

Cigano looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Cigano working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Canmelianenko sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Canmelianenko gets back to full guard.
Canmelianenko preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Canmelianenko controls Cigano momentarily but Cigano frees himself.
Cigano working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Cigano scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Cigano trying to control but Canmelianenko is working from the bottom.
Cigano's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Cigano trying to control the position from guard on top but Canmelianenko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Canmelianenko has momentary wrist control but Cigano slips an elbow through the middle.
Canmelianenko keeping moving, preventing Cigano from controlling successfully.
Cigano won't allow Canmelianenko to sweep him here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Junior Cigano will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Canmelianenko takes one on the button.

It looks like Rodef Canmelianenko has been cut.
Cigano just misses with a punch to the body.
Canmelianenko showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Cigano.
Canmelianenko fails with the takedown.

Cigano decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Cigano not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Cigano looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Cigano scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cigano is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Canmelianenko is just riding it out for now. Cigano eventually gives up the hold.
Canmelianenko is refusing to be controlled, as Cigano sits in half guard.
Cigano sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Canmelianenko defending well though.

That's two 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.
Canmelianenko is looking to improve his position.
Cigano seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Canmelianenko does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Cigano thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Cigano throwing shots but Canmelianenko is blocking nicely.

Cigano is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Canmelianenko keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cigano throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Cigano is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Canmelianenko defends it well.
Cigano thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Canmelianenko won't allow Cigano to pass to mount.
Canmelianenko trying to control but Cigano postures up.
Cigano trying to control from half guard but Canmelianenko is working away.

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.
Cigano is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

Cigano is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Canmelianenko doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Cigano.
Canmelianenko is trying to get back to full guard.
Cigano trying to control from half guard but Canmelianenko is working away.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Canmelianenko works his way to full guard. Good work.
Cigano trying to control but Canmelianenko is working from the bottom.

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

Canmelianenko decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Cigano, up you get!
A looping hook to the body misses from Cigano. Canmelianenko does a little dance to reset his feet.
Cigano looks to land a left hand but Canmelianenko moved out of range nicely.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Canmelianenko shoots in and drives through. Cigano sprawls well.
Cigano misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Cigano moves out of range as Canmelianenko strikes.
Canmelianenko staying out of range there.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Cigano is defended easily by Canmelianenko.
Canmelianenko tries to bum rush Cigano with a series of wild strikes but Cigano uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Cigano looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Canmelianenko!
A nice elbow there by Cigano.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Cigano working Canmelianenko over with strikes here.
BOOM! Cigano connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Canmelianenko tries to hold on but Cigano postures up.
Cigano punishing his opponent with strikes.
Cigano looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Cigano content just to control the position here.

Cigano looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Cigano prevents Canmelianenko from getting the reversal.
BOOM! Cigano connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Cigano unloads with some shots from mount but Canmelianenko bucks and avoids them well.
Cigano throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Canmelianenko because Cigano loaded up on that one.
Canmelianenko holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Cigano tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Canmelianenko sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.

Canmelianenko is defending against the submission attempts here by Cigano.
Canmelianenko trying to control from the bottom.
Cigano tries to pass the half guard into mount. Canmelianenko knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Cigano seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Canmelianenko does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Cigano looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Canmelianenko with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Junior Cigano showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Rodef Canmelianenko's cut.
That's time! Canmelianenko's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Canmelianenko has a takedown stuffed.
Cigano with a lazy takedown attempt

and Canmelianenko counters with a shoot takedown. Cigano fights it but they end up in guard.
Cigano wants to sweep here but Canmelianenko controlling him for the moment.
Canmelianenko wants to stand but Cigano has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Canmelianenko postures up in Cigano's guard and throws a big left but Cigano blocks it.
Cigano wants to sweep but no luck.
Cigano manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Canmelianenko manages to get himself to full guard.
Cigano trying to control the position from guard on top but Canmelianenko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Canmelianenko is pulling down on Cigano's head. It's preventing any offense from Cigano, at least for the moment.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cigano is pushing down on Canmelianenko's leg trying to pass to half guard. Canmelianenko is fighting to maintain full guard but Cigano has managed to sneak the leg through.
Canmelianenko has a hand on Cigano's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Cigano takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Cigano seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but Canmelianenko is holding on tight.
Junior Cigano has got the better of the ground game so far.

Cigano is controlling this nicely and is looking to make no mistakes. Canmelianenko is trying to wiggle out of this horrible position. Canmelianenko flips to his side and attempts to get a leg in for half guard. Cigano anticipates the leg and manages to get behind Canmelianenko and secures both hooks! This could be bad! Cigano slips an arm under Canmelianenko chin and tries to position for a rear naked choke. Cigano has worked the choke in now and it looks tight. Cigano is squeezing on Canmelianenko like an anaconda would it's prey. Canmelianenko fails to tap and has fallen unconscious! We've got ourselves a winner by way of a rear naked choke!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:02 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Junior Cigano!
Junior Cigano is the new heavyweight champion!