PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Koji Kanegi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dan Maure (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Kanegi
vs
Maure

179 cm
22
215 lbs
5 - 7 - 1

185 cm
29
220 lbs
4 - 12 - 1

Dangerous GnP
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Kore Fight Nutrition [TG]

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Koji Kanegi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Dan Maure!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, William Peck and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maure tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Kanegi manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Kanegi fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Maure manages to avoid it.
Kanegi avoids a punch combination nicely.
Kanegi definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Maure wants to clinch.
Maure connects with a jab.
Kanegi has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Kanegi there as he acknowledges the shot.
Kanegi looks to land a combination but Maure avoids it well.
Kanegi stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Maure.
Maure takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kanegi fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Maure throws a right and a left that both miss.
Kanegi shoots in and drives through. Maure sprawls well.
Kanegi takes a swing at Maure's ribcage but misses.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Maure!

It looks like Koji Kanegi has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kanegi throws a jab when Maure was well out of range.
Maure takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Maure tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kanegi paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Maure connects with a single shot there.
Maure takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Kanegi with a hook.
Maure throws a series of punches but Kanegi moves out of range.
Kanegi throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Maure tries to clinch but Kanegi is having none of it.
Kanegi lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Maure backs up against the cage.

It looks like Dan Maure has been cut.
Maure slips under a jab.

Maure moves into the clinch successfully.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kanegi stalling.

Kanegi manages to break the clinch.
Kanegi throws a body shot but no joy.

Maure scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Kanegi is trying to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maure misses with the ground and pound.
Kanegi dodges the ground and pound from Maure.
Kanegi defending against the ground and pound.
Kanegi is trying to get back to half guard.
Maure in side control lands a decent elbow.

Maure wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Kanegi, who protects the arm well.
Maure is staying tight to Kanegi's torso, preventing him from escaping.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kanegi is trying to improve his position.
Sloppy strikes there by Maure.
Kanegi tries to buck Maure off but Maure is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Maure tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.

Maure is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Kanegi has escaped the position, nice work there.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Maure working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Kanegi tries to buck Maure off but Maure is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Kanegi is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

Maure is trying to work for a kimura but Kanegi is defending well.
Maure trying to control the action but Kanegi is working from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Kanegi throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Maure.
A little jabbing left from Maure on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Kanegi will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Maure throws a nice inside leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dan Maure dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Kanegi's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Kanegi tries a head kick but it misses.
Kanegi lands with a shot to the body.
Kanegi scores with a punch to the head.
Kanegi throws a nice looking combination but Maure bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Some wild striking there from Maure.

Maure feints and as Kanegi raises his hands in defense, Maure changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Maure connects with a couple of short punches.
Maure trying to control but Kanegi is working from the bottom.
Maure distracts Kanegi with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Maure trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Kanegi tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Kanegi thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Maure accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Maure forces his way into half guard.
Dan Maure has got the better of the ground game so far.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Maure connects with a nice short shot to Kanegi's temple.
Maure wants to free his trapped foot but Kanegi is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Maure wants to get back to his feet.
Kanegi throws a sloppy strike from the bottom. He's now off balance and Maure manages to pass to side control.
Maure tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kanegi regains half guard.
Maure not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Maure prevents Kanegi from improving his position.
Maure is trying to control. Kanegi wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Kanegi wants to improve his position but Maure is controlling well.
Kanegi misses with some strikes from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Kanegi is looking to land body kicks.
Maure pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Kanegi is looking to counter with a body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Maure scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Maure is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

Maure is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Kanegi defends it well.
Maure is keen to just control but Kanegi is a slippery customer.
Maure not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Maure is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Maure sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Kanegi defending well though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kanegi wants to control but Maure is keeping busy.
Kanegi gets back to full guard.
Maure trying to control but Kanegi is working from the bottom.
Kanegi wants to hit a switch here but Maure passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Kanegi there!
Kanegi tries to hold on but Maure pushes him away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Maure is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Kanegi is surviving well by controlling Maure's body position as best he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dan Maure showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Kanegi throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Maure.
Maure misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Kanegi moves away from the strike by Maure.

Maure drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Maure won't allow Kanegi to sweep him here.
Kanegi looking to control.
Maure stands up over Kanegi, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Maure stopping the sweep attempt from Kanegi.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kanegi looking to control.
Maure trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Kanegi scores with a short punch from the bottom.
Kanegi wants to sweep here but Maure controlling him for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
A combination from Kanegi does no damage.

Maure gets a takedown into half guard.
Kanegi is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Maure's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Maure's back!
Kanegi somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.
Maure covering up well under a barage of strikes.
Maure has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Kanegi is working the ground and pound. Can Maure escape?
Kanegi throwing sloppy strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kanegi is working the ground and pound. Can Maure escape?
Maure avoids the strikes from Kanegi.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kanegi lands strikes to the head.
Maure is trapped and Kanegi is scoring with shots to the head and body.
Maure covering up well under a barage of strikes.
Maure covering up well under a series of strikes from Kanegi.
Kanegi is throwing punches to the body, looking to soften Maure up.

Maure is rocked!
Maure is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Maure is still in real trouble! Can Kanegi finish him?
Maure wants to escape the position.
Maure is trying to remain composed but Kanegi is hammering down strikes to the side of his head.
Kanegi connects with a couple of big shots that have Maure covering up! Oh, this looks bad for Maure! Kanegi fires away with several more unanswered shots and the referee has no choice but to step in! This one is aaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Koji Kanegi!
Koji Kanegi really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that Kore Fight Nutrition [TG] logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.