PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Pablo Denari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Damon Anathema (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Denari's entrance music is Judas Priest's Rapid Fire. A fine choice. Anathema comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Last Ninja theme kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Pablo Denari has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Denari
vs
Anathema

205 cm
24
202 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

182 cm
22
191 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Canadian Fighter Clothing

Superior Ki Supplements

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Pablo Denari!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Damon Anathema!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Alec Ball and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Anathema tries to land a front kick but Denari steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Anathema tries to clinch but Denari is having none of it.
The fight stays on the outside here - Anathema looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Anathema tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Anathema checks a leg kick nicely.
Denari swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Anathema tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Denari paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Damon Anathema seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Anathema throws a head kick that misses.
Denari listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Anathema tries to close the distance and clinch but Denari swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Denari swats away the attempt to clinch by Anathema.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Anathema tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Denari paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Denari gets a clinch.
Denari is struggling to control the position.
Anathema throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Denari blocks it with crossed arms.
Denari lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Anathema backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Denari breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Anathema clinches but Denari breaks the clinch

and Denari counters by clinching up.
Denari lands a body punch in the clinch.
A right hand to the body from Denari.
Denari is working Anathema over against the cage.
Denari working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Denari landing knees to the body.
Denari unloads a knee to the mid-section. Anathema lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Anathema looks gassed!
Anathema jumps guard but Denari stands there with Anathema around his waist. Anathema gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Anathema throws a knee to the head but misses.
Denari pushes Anathema back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Anathema misses with an elbow over the top.
Denari lands a hook to the side of the head.
Knees to the body from Denari.
Denari misses with a knee to the head.
Denari lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Denari lands a nice shot to the body.
Denari using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Denari lands an elbow inside that Anathema shrugs off.
A short right from Denari on the inside.
Denari lands a nice elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Denari manages to break the clinch.
Denari thows a body kick. Anathema tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Denari lands with a hook. Anathema tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

Anathema fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Denari sprawls well initially but Anathema persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Denari is controlling Anathema's trapped leg to prevent Anathema from advancing to side control.
Denari moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Denari has his hands on Anathema's head, controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Denari has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Anathema trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Anathema looking to sit in guard and control but Denari gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pablo Denari dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Denari ducks under a wild hook from Anathema.
Denari avoids the head kick by Anathema.

Anathema forces Denari back against the cage and clinches.
A short uppercut from Denari.
Anathema blocks an elbow strike from Denari.
Denari landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Knees to the body from Denari.
Denari scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Denari works on Anathema's body with a couple of short punches.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Denari lands a nice knee to the body.
Denari lands a nice knee to the body.
Denari lands a nice uppercut.
Anathema letting Denari take a breather here.
A nice right hand lands inside from Denari.
Denari slows down the pace here.
A nice left hand lands by Denari.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Denari throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.

Denari breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Denari lands a nice shot that snaps Anathema's head back.
Denari wants to clinch.
Denari with a jab.
Anathema shoots in for a takedown but Denari shows good takedown defense.
Denari is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Anathema walks forward, straight into a front kick from Denari.
Pablo Denari is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Denari instigates a clinch.
Anathema wants a takedown.
Denari tries to land knees in the clinch but Anathema avoids the damage to the body.
Denari scores with a shot to the side of Anathema's head.
Denari working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Denari leaning against his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Denari managing to block the knees to the body from Anathema.
Denari lands with a short shot to the head.
Denari lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Denari works on Anathema's body with a couple of short punches.
Denari really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Anathema on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Denari blocks an elbow strike.
A shot in the inside from Denari.

Denari breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Anathema clinches but Denari breaks the clinch

and Denari holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Anathema misses with a knee to the head.
Nice body punch from Denari - that landed with a thud.
Denari works on Anathema's body with a couple of short punches.
Anathema misses with an elbow strike.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Pablo Denari has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Denari pushes Anathema back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Denari throws an elbow but it misses.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Anathema just misses with a elbow thrown towards Denari's brow.
Denari stalling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Denari misses with a punch to the body.
Denari lands with a left to the head.
Denari dodges an elbow strike from Anathema.
Anathema jumps guard but Denari stands there with Anathema around his waist. Anathema gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Pablo Denari has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Damon Anathema.
Denari can't find room to land a body shot as Anathema controls the action.
Denari tries to land knees in the clinch but Anathema avoids the damage to the body.
Denari misses with a punch to the body.
Denari lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Denari digs a right hand underneath Anathema's ribcage. Anathema let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Denari tries to land knees in the clinch but Anathema avoids the damage to the body.
Denari looking to throw knees to the head but Anathema is blocking nicely.
Anathema fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Nice elbow from Anathema.
Anathema landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Denari takes an elbow to the temple.
Denari lands a body punch in the clinch.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Anathema just misses with a elbow thrown towards Denari's brow.
Anathema looking to throw knees to the head but Denari is blocking nicely.
Denari misses with a body punch.
Anathema throws an elbow but it's blocked.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Denari tries to land knees in the clinch but Anathema avoids the damage to the body.
Denari dodges an elbow strike from Anathema.
Anathema comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Anathema tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Anathema looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Anathema missing with knees to the body.
Anathema with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Anathema has Denari pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Denari manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Denari is working Anathema over against the cage.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Denari.
Denari is working Anathema over against the cage.

Anathema has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Denari uses from the top position.
Denari wants to get up but he can't break Anathema's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Denari has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Anathema escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Denari gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pablo Denari dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Anathema tries to land a front kick but Denari steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Anathema closes the distance but Denari moves to the side
and Denari cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Denari tries to clinch there but Anathema circles away.
Anathema misses with a double jab
and Denari counters with a low kick, right behind Anathema 's knee.
Anathema tries to clinch
and Denari counters with a straight right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Denari tries to clinch but Anathema moves out of range.
Anathema throws a lazy head kick
and Denari counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Anathema shoots in looking for a takedown. Denari tries to sprawl out of it but Anathema keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Denari manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Anathema throws a lazy head kick
and Denari makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Denari moves into range and clinches up with Anathema.
Denari misses with a knee to the head.
Denari lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Anathema backwards.
Anathema tries to land knees in the clinch but Denari avoids the damage to the body.

Denari escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Anathema throws a head kick that misses

and Denari counters by clinching up.
Denari lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Anathema or not.
Denari lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Anathema misses with an elbow over the top.
Denari lands a knee to the head.
Denari using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Denari lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Anathema backwards.
Denari scores with a knee to the head.
Anathema throws an elbow that misses.
Denari avoids a wild elbow strike from Anathema.
Anathema has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Denari is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Denari lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Anathema is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Denari gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Pablo Denari has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Damon Anathema.
Denari creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Anathema's defenses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Anathema tries a knee to the head but Denari blocks it.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Denari takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Denari blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Denari breaks from the clinch.
Denari with a hook.
Denari ducks under a wild hook from Anathema.
Anathema shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Anathema takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Anathema looks to clinch
and Denari connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Anathema closes the distance but Denari moves to the side

and Denari counters by moving into the clinch.

Denari escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Denari tries to land a front kick but Anathema steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Anathema clinches but Denari breaks the clinch
and Denari counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Pablo Denari is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Damon Anathema is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anathema scores with a jab.
Denari avoids the head kick by Anathema.
Anathema darts in trying to clinch
and Denari counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Anathema clinches but Denari breaks the clinch
and Denari counters with a stiff right hand.
Anathema tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Denari counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Anathema looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Denari moves into the clinch successfully.
Anathema fails to pull the fight into his guard.

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.
Anathema jumps guard but Denari stands there with Anathema around his waist. Anathema gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Denari avoiding damage.
Anathema misses with an elbow strike.
Damon Anathema has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Anathema tries to pull guard but Denari won't allow it.
Anathema comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Anathema throws a knee to the head but misses.
Denari tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Denari is struggling to control the position.
Denari working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pablo Denari showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Denari, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 30:27
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pablo Denari!