PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Mike Fanning (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sweeney Todd (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Todd is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Never Forget, Never Forgive... These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Fanning
vs
Todd

178 cm
23
153 lbs
10 - 4 - 0

169 cm
24
145 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Mike Fanning!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Sweeney Todd!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Trevor Gratis and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Todd tries for a takedown but Fanning circles away easily
and Fanning counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Fanning stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Fanning wants it to stay on the feet.
Fanning misses the shot to the body.
Todd uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Fanning.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Fanning lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Todd has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Todd and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Todd walks into a straight right hand from Fanning.
Fanning tries to score with a low kick but Todd moves his leg out of the way.
Fanning just misses with a punch to the body.

Fanning closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Fanning lands in his opponent's guard.
Todd is pulling down on Fanning's head. It's preventing any offense from Fanning, at least for the moment.
Fanning trying to control the position from guard on top but Todd is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Todd can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Todd pulls Fanning in close to prevent any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Todd is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Sweeney Todd.
Todd throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Todd has his takedown stuffed
and Fanning counters with a right hand to the body.
Mike Fanning has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sweeney Todd.
Fanning bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Todd's head.
Todd with a poor takedown
and Fanning connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Fanning fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Todd checks it well.
Fanning throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Todd takes a swing at Fanning's ribcage but misses.
Fanning connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Todd shoots in looking for a takedown but Fanning manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Todd's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fanning digs a good body shot into Todd's ribs.
Todd takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Fanning throws a looping overhand right but Todd ducks down to avoid it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Todd fails to land the takedown.
Todd moves away from the strike by Fanning.
A punch combination from Fanning misses.

Todd feints and as Fanning raises his hands in defense, Todd changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Fanning had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Todd defends it easily.

Fanning working for a triangle but Todd defends it easily.
Todd preventing the sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Todd looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Fanning not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Fanning is pulling down on Todd's head. It's preventing any offense from Todd, at least for the moment.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Sweeney Todd hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Fanning throws a right hand that misses

and Todd counters with a nice double leg into side control. Fanning won't be happy with that.
Fanning prevents Todd from moving into mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Todd gets to mount! Fanning was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Todd avoids the attempt from Fanning to control.
Todd prevents Fanning from getting the reversal.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The referee warns Fanning that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Todd controlling from mount.
Todd trying to control but he's not successful this time.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Todd avoids the attempt from Fanning to control.
Todd looking to ground and pound but Fanning is blocking nicely.
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 Mike Fanning will probably get the nod.
That's time! Fanning's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Todd shoots for a double leg takedown but Fanning sprawls well. He's pushed Todd's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Todd takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Todd has a takedown stuffed.
Fanning looks to score with a jab to the body but Todd is just out of range.
Todd shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Fanning makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Mike Fanning has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sweeney Todd.
Todd fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Fanning tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Todd was well out of range. Poor timing from Fanning.
Nice defenses there by Todd.
Fanning jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Fanning swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Mike Fanning is winning the standup battle so far.
A swing and a miss from Fanning.
Todd throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fanning misses with a body shot.

Fanning shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Todd napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Fanning trying to control the action but Todd is working from the bottom.
Todd can't do much from the bottom here.
Fanning is chipping away with strikes.
Fanning fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Fanning is looking to take a break and control but Todd is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
You can see the frustration on Todd's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Fanning throws an elbow but Todd slips to the side and avoids it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Todd is not content to let Fanning control the position.
Check out the look on Fanning's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Fanning throws a strike aimed at the side of Todd's head but Todd avoids it well.
Fanning scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Todd to see if he's OK.
Mike Fanning overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Fanning misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Todd struggling a bit here.
Fanning scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Todd to see if he's OK.
Fanning is chipping away with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Todd is trying to get back to half guard.
Fanning taking a breather here.
Fanning has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Todd defending against the ground and pound.
The ground and pound from Fanning seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Fanning cracks Todd with a big right hand but Todd just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Todd parries the strikes from Fanning easily there. Fanning is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Todd to escape.
Todd regains half guard.
Fanning moves nicely into side control.
Fanning misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Todd can't do much from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Todd is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Fanning wants to lay and pray for a moment but Todd keeps working.
Fanning thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Todd's head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Fanning passes to full mount!
Fanning landing shots from mount.
Fanning tries to control but Todd wriggling away.
Fanning dominating with strikes here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Todd wants to hold on but Fanning pushes him away.
Todd in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Fanning lands a big elbow.

Todd is rocked!

It looks like Sweeney Todd has been cut.
Todd tries to lock up and control but Fanning gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Fanning dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Sweeney Todd's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Fanning throws a shot from downtown. Todd moves away and avoids it.
Fanning throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Fanning misses with a straight left.
Fanning misses with an uppercut. Todd saw that one coming.
Todd shoots in and drives through. Fanning sprawls well.
Sweeney Todd is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A punch lands to the side of Todd 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Fanning scores with a one two! Todd had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Fanning works Todd's body with a nice hook.
Fanning looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Fanning avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Fanning tried to score with a low kick but Todd checks it.
Fanning takes a swing at Todd's ribcage but misses.
Fanning is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fanning thows a body shot but no joy.
Todd takes one to the side of the head.
Fanning throws a body punch but Todd moves out of range.
Fanning scores with a hook to the body. Todd takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Fanning scores with a punch to the head.
Todd fails with a takedown attempt.
Jab by Fanning.
Todd avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Horrible takedown by Todd or perhaps it was just good defense by Fanning which made him look bad.
Mike Fanning has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sweeney Todd.
Fanning looks to land a left hand but Todd moved out of range nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Todd misses with a takedown attempt - Fanning sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Todd uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Fanning.
A big left from Fanning misses.
Todd will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Fanning closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Todd's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Fanning wants to control from the top but Todd keeps moving.
Sweeney Todd has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Todd controls Fanning momentarily but Fanning frees himself.
Fanning postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Fanning is stalling in the full guard.

Todd escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Fanning gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Todd takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fanning with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Todd keeping moving, preventing Fanning from controlling successfully.
Todd utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Fanning stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Todd swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Fanning loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Fanning stands up over Todd, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Fanning trying to control the position from guard on top but Todd is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Fanning missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fanning wants to pass the guard but Todd is keeping the position.

Todd has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Fanning can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Todd is trying to keep Fanning in close.
Fanning working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Todd working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Fanning.
Fanning works a leg free and moves into half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Fanning working over Todd with some ground and pound. Todd looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Fanning missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Fanning lands a nice short elbow.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mike Fanning showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Fanning 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 Gregory Folan scores the fight 30:27
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 30:28
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mike Fanning!