PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Mike Fanning (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Genki Dama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mike Fanning has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Fanning
vs
Dama

178 cm
23
153 lbs
11 - 4 - 0

157 cm
22
156 lbs
10 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Good kicks
Granite chin

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 11 - 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 10 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Genki Dama!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Robert Douchet and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dama moves out of range as Fanning strikes.

Dama fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Fanning sprawls well initially but Dama persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Fanning is looking for a sweep. Dama is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Fanning is working hard here to advance position.

Dama is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Fanning still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Fanning has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
Fanning is looking to take a break and control but Dama is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Fanning working the ground and pound but Dama is defending the strikes.
Fanning trying to control the position but Dama is working away.
Dama can't do much from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fanning throws a strike aimed at the side of Dama's head but Dama avoids it well.
Dama is looking to reverse the position.
Fanning working the head with strikes.
Dama is not content to let Fanning control the position.
Dama wants to control but Fanning postures up.
Fanning is looking to take a break and control but Dama is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Fanning will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Dama's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Fanning wants to lay and pray for a moment but Dama keeps working.
Dama struggling a bit here.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Dama taking a bit of punishment here - Fanning scoring with strikes.
Fanning is looking to take a break and control but Dama is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
You can see the frustration on Dama's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Dama is not content to let Fanning control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fanning is working Dama over with some ground and pound from side control.
Dama dodges the ground and pound from Fanning.
Fanning is looking to take a break and control but Dama is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Dama is working to avoid the ground and pound but Fanning connects with a decent elbow.
Fanning sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Dama is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Fanning trying to control the position but Dama is working away.
Dama dodges the ground and pound from Fanning.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fanning trying to control the position but Dama is working away.
Dama is trying to control Fanning's posture but Fanning avoids it.
Fanning trying to control the position but Dama is working away.
Fanning cracks Dama with a big right hand but Dama just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Dama sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Dama is trying is best to control the position here.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Fanning looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Fanning is thwarting Dama's attempts to control the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Fanning trying to control the action but Dama is working from the bottom.
Dama is looking to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Fanning dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Dama looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Fanning misses with a wild combination.
Dama tries to move into range but Fanning moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Dama throws a chopping leg kick but Fanning manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Dama misses with a head kick.
Dama misses with a looping left.
Fanning fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Dama takes one to the chin there.
A left lands for Dama.
Dama throws a half hearted mid kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dama shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Fanning as he avoids it easily.
A looping hook to the body misses from Dama. Fanning does a little dance to reset his feet.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Fanning.
Fanning lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Dama at a distance.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Dama.
Dama on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Dama shoots in looking for a takedown. Fanning tries to sprawl out of it but Dama keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Fanning manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Fanning takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Some wild striking there from Dama.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A shot to the body from Dama misses
and Fanning counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Dama fails with a takedown attempt.
Mike Fanning has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Genki Dama.
Fanning blocks the body kick.
No joy there for Dama, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Fanning lands with a cross.
Fanning misses with a looping right.
Fanning loads up on a big right hand but Dama slips the punch.
Fanning jabbing away but nothing is landing.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Dama shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Fanning's guard.
Dama trying to control but Fanning is working from the bottom.
Fanning avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dama trying to control but Fanning is working from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Dama accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fanning keeping moving, preventing Dama from controlling successfully.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Genki Dama hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Fanning comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Fanning catches Dama with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Fanning lands with an uppercut that bounces Dama off the cage and back into rage.
Dama throws a shot from downtown. Fanning moves away and avoids it.
Fanning is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dama swings widly with a right hand
and Fanning counters with a one-two to the body.
Dama doesn't manage to clinch there - Fanning circles away.
Dama looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Fanning is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Dama looks to score with a jab to the body but Fanning is just out of range.
Dama shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Fanning is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Fanning throws a jab but it's blocked by Dama.
Fanning shoots in and drives through. Dama sprawls well.
Genki Dama is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Dama swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Fanning lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Dama throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Dama misses with a few strikes there.
Dama misses with a low kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Genki Dama will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Fanning looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Dama throws a leg kick which misses Fanning's front leg but catches the back leg as Fanning tries to avoid it.
Fanning shoots in looking for a takedown. Dama tries to sprawl out of it but Fanning keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Dama manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
A nice inside leg kick there by Dama. That's going to slow Fanning down.
A bone on bone clash there as Dama blocks the leg kick.
Mike Fanning is winning the standup battle so far.
Dama tried to score with a low kick but Fanning checks it.
Fanning avoids a kick to the body.
Fanning misses with a hook.
Dama cracks Fanning with a right hand to the side of the head.
Fanning looks to land a right hand but Dama moved out of range.
Genki Dama seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dama misses with a double jab
and Fanning counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Fanning tries a low kick but Dama avoids it.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Dama.
Dama misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Fanning.
Dama throws a leg kick which misses Fanning's front leg but catches the back leg as Fanning tries to avoid it.
Fanning lands with an overhand left.
Fanning scores with a punch to the head.
A looping hook to the body misses from Fanning. Dama does a little dance to reset his feet.
Dama drops his hands momentarily and Fanning takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Dama tries to score with a low kick but Fanning moves his leg out of the way.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dama throws a head kick that misses.
Dama chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Fanning walks forward, straight into a front kick from Dama.
Fanning throws out a loose jab but Dama uses good head movement to avoid it.
Dama keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Fanning avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Fanning is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Fanning throws a lazy right hand but Dama sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Dama throws a body kick that misses.
A left lands for Fanning.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Dama scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Dama tries to clinch up.
A telegraphed right hand from Fanning misses the target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dama ducks under a wild hook from Fanning.
Fanning with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Dama to score with a decent uppercut.
Fanning scores with a jab.
Fanning moves out of range of the body kick from Dama.
Fanning closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Dama doesn't manage to clinch there - Fanning circles away.
Dama throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Fanning scores with a nice strike.
Fanning shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Dama defends it nicely.
A cross from Fanning lands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dama pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Dama looks to throw a body kick
enabling Fanning to counter with a crisp jab.
Fanning misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Fanning. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dama looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Fanning will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
A looping hook to the body misses from Dama. Fanning does a little dance to reset his feet.
Dama swings for the body but Fanning moves out of range.
Dama throws the left hand but Fanning avoids the punch easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Dama pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Dama misses with a double jab
and Fanning counters with a lovely shot to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Genki Dama.
I think Dama has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Dillan Fox scores the fight 28:29
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Genki Dama!