PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Cain Insane (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thuyani Iopniu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Insane's entrance music is Hell Yeah. A fine choice. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Insane
vs
Iopniu

185 cm
22
181 lbs
7 - 7 - 0

168 cm
27
172 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Cain Insane!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Thuyani Iopniu!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Insane fails with the takedown
and Iopniu counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
No joy there for Insane, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A combination from Insane does no damage.
Iopniu keeps the fight on the outside.
Insane misses with a takedown
and Iopniu cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Iopniu shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Insane will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Insane 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.
Insane looking to control.
Iopniu is looking to work some ground and pound but Insane has wrist control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Iopniu 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.

Iopniu drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Iopniu jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Iopniu won't allow Insane to sweep him here.
Insane avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Iopniu throwing strikes but missing.
Insane keeping moving, preventing Iopniu from controlling successfully.
Insane looking to hit a scissor sweep but Iopniu is one step ahead there.
Iopniu wants to pass the guard but Insane is keeping the position.
Iopniu throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Iopniu keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Insane's head.

Insane had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Iopniu defends it easily.
Iopniu trying to control but Insane is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Iopniu throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Insane works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Iopniu chips away with some ground and pound.

Iopniu drops back looking for a leg! Insane is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Insane manages to kick Iopniu off! Iopniu jumps back into Insane's guard.
Iopniu has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Insane wants to sweep here but Iopniu controlling him for the moment.
Iopniu postures up in Insane's guard and throws a big left but Insane blocks it.
Insane not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Iopniu stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Insane swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Insane pulls Iopniu in close to prevent any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Insane is trying to keep Iopniu in close.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Insane trying to control the position here.

Cain Insane has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Insane misses with a takedown attempt

and Iopniu counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Insane's guard now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cain Insane. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Insane keeping moving, preventing Iopniu from controlling successfully.
Iopniu trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Insane is trying to keep Iopniu in close.
Iopniu works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Insane is breathing heavily.
Insane is refusing to be controlled, as Iopniu sits in half guard.

Iopniu is looking for a kimura here.
Insane is pressing down on Iopniu's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Iopniu drops back looking for a leg! Insane is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Insane manages to kick Iopniu off! Iopniu jumps back into Insane's guard.
Iopniu tries to free his leg and advance position but Insane is retaining full guard.
Iopniu trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Insane manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Iopniu keeping moving, preventing Insane from controlling successfully.
Insane's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Iopniu should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

Insane avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Iopniu avoids a punch combination nicely.
Iopniu avoids a punch combination nicely.

Iopniu shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Insane's guard.
Insane is trying to control the position but Iopniu postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Iopniu wants to control from the top but Insane keeps moving.
Iopniu stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Insane swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Insane keeping moving, preventing Iopniu from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Iopniu with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Insane trying to control the position.
Iopniu slips nicely into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Iopniu is trying to control. Insane wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Iopniu is looking for a kimura but Insane is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Iopniu to get the leverage.
Iopniu is breathing heavily.
Insane is trying to control but can't.
Insane is staying active underneath Iopniu, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Iopniu is looking for a kimura but Insane is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Iopniu to get the leverage.
Insane tries to roll over but Iopniu keeps him under control.

Iopniu is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Iopniu is thwarting Insane's attempts to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Insane gets full guard.
Insane is pulling down on Iopniu's head. It's preventing any offense from Iopniu, at least for the moment.
Insane trying to keep a closed guard but Iopniu is proving a slippery customer.
Iopniu wants to pass the guard but Insane is keeping the position.
Insane is trying to control the position but Iopniu postures up.
Insane 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.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Cain Insane wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Insane scores with a takedown into Iopniu's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Iopniu looking to hit a scissor sweep but Insane is one step ahead there.

Iopniu working for a triangle but Insane defends it easily.
Insane wants to control from the top but Iopniu keeps moving.
Iopniu avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Iopniu can't keep his opponent in guard - Insane advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Insane is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Insane cracks Iopniu with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Insane lands a big shot there that rocks Iopniu but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Insane tries to control but Iopniu wriggling away.
Insane takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Insane can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Iopniu is looking to escape.
Iopniu 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.

Cain Insane dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

The fighters circling - Iopniu throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Cain Insane is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Iopniu closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Insane quickly recovers to half guard.
Iopniu is pressing down on Insane's thigh, looking to free his foot. Insane is holding on for now.
Insane is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Thuyani Iopniu has got the better of the ground game so far.
Insane wants to control but Iopniu is keeping busy.
Iopniu throwing shots but Insane is blocking nicely.
The fighters are battling for position here. Insane manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Insane seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

Iopniu thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Insane trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Iopniu advances position into side control!

Iopniu wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Insane, who protects the arm well.

Iopniu looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
An elbow from Iopniu crashes against the mat.
Iopniu wants to control but Insane is keeping him busy.

Iopniu is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Insane has escaped the position, nice work there.
Insane wants to control but Iopniu postures up.

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.

Iopniu goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Insane has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Iopniu but great work by Insane.
Insane advances to mount.
Iopniu wants to get back to his feet.
Insane controlling his opponent.
Insane trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Iopniu working to try and regain half guard.
Iopniu throwing hammer fists to the chest of Insane. What's that going to do exactly?

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Insane working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Insane controlling from mount.
Iopniu is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Insane looking to control but Iopniu is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Iopniu regains half guard.
Insane is trying to control. Iopniu wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Iopniu has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Insane is working away from the top position though.
Iopniu tries to roll over but Insane keeps him under control.

Iopniu looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Insane stalling.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Iopniu tries to get to full guard but Insane has control of the leg.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Iopniu actively working from the bottom here.
Insane passes to full mount!

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Cain Insane.
I think Insane 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 29:29
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Cain Insane!