PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Thiago Cane (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bob Soszynski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cane comes to the cage accompanied by Ghost. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Cane
vs
Soszynski

200 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
22
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Thiago Cane!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Bob Soszynski!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Franklyn Lucas and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Soszynski looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Soszynski pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Cane is keeping the position for now.

Cane escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Soszynski gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Soszynski tries to free his leg and advance position but Cane is retaining full guard.
Cane will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Cane working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Soszynski.
Soszynski is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Soszynski trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Soszynski wants to control from the top but Cane keeps moving.

Cane is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Soszynski shoots in and bounces Cane off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cane wants to sweep but no luck.
Soszynski stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cane swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Cane wants to get back to his feet but Soszynski is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Soszynski looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Soszynski wanted to stand there but Cane had control of the position.

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.
Soszynski controlling from the top position.
I looks like Soszynski might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Cane manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Soszynski can do anything to dispel that myth.
Cane scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Cane throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Soszynski because Cane loaded up on that one.
Cane throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Soszynski because Cane loaded up on that one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Cane.

Cane working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Cane is breathing heavily.
Soszynski tries to hold on but Cane pushes him away.
Soszynski really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Soszynski wants to control but Cane is having none of it.
Cane unloads with some shots from mount but Soszynski bucks and avoids them well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Soszynski tries to hold on but Cane postures up.
Cane landing shots from mount.
Cane in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Soszynski keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Cane 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.

Cane has control of Soszynski's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Soszynski regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Soszynski is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Cane throwing strikes here but Soszynski is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
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 Thiago Cane will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Soszynski.
Soszynski trying to control the action but Cane is working from the bottom.

Soszynski tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Soszynski has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Soszynski taking a breather here.
Soszynski is breathing heavily.
Soszynski trying to control the action but Cane is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cane pushes Soszynski away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Soszynski gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Soszynski wants to lay and pray for a moment but Cane keeps working.
Cane is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Cane tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Soszynski uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Cane.
Cane misses with a takedown attempt
and Soszynski counters with a left and a right that stings Cane.
Soszynski tries to clinch up.

That's two 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.
Cane moves in looking to clinch but Soszynski pushes him off.

Soszynski shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Cane is trying to stand.
Soszynski content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

Soszynski decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Thiago Cane seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Soszynski looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Cane!
You get the feeling that Cane really doesn't like being in this position too much.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cane is looking to get to half guard.
Soszynski tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Cane is desperately trying to improve his position but Soszynski has a good base and remains in mount.
Soszynski with the ground and pound from mount.
Soszynski takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
The referee warns Cane that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Soszynski unloading with bombs!
Soszynski raining down shots from the mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Soszynski tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Cane's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Soszynski looking to control and managing it successfully.
Cane is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Soszynski controlling from the full mount.
Cane is working to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bob Soszynski showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Soszynski shoots in and bounces Cane off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Soszynski pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Cane is keeping the position for now.
Soszynski stops Cane from standing up.
Soszynski trying to control but Cane is working from the bottom.
Soszynski wants to pass the guard but Cane is keeping the position.
Cane looking for a sweep. Not yet Cane, not yet.
Cane lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Soszynski!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soszynski tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Cane throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Cane looking to ground and pound but Soszynski is blocking nicely.
Cane lands a nice shot to the head.
Cane thowing shots but they're missing.
Bob Soszynski has got the better of the ground game so far.
Soszynski working to try and regain half guard.
Cane misses with a head shot.
Soszynski tries to hold on but Cane pushes him away.

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.
Soszynski is working to get back to half guard.
Cane throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Soszynski is desperately trying to improve his position but Cane has a good base and remains in mount.
Soszynski is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Soszynski taking shots to the head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cane has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Soszynski's face.
Cane tries to control but Soszynski wriggling away.
Cane connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soszynski avoids a series of strikes thrown by Cane.
Soszynski working to try and regain half guard.
Soszynski is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Cane throws a wild left hand from mount and Soszynski manages to wriggle his way back to half guard.
Soszynski tries to get to full guard but Cane has control of the leg.
Soszynski is trying to stand up here but Cane is controlling him well.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Cane connects with a high kick.

Soszynski closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Soszynski lands in his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cane is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Soszynski wants to pass the guard but Cane is keeping the position.

Cane has his feet on Soszynski's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Soszynski slips a jab and a cross from Cane.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Soszynski looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Soszynski is looking to stand up but Cane won't let him.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bob Soszynski comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Soszynski has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Anthony Taglia scores the fight 28:29
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 26:30
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bob Soszynski!