PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kabal Labak (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Obi Canuel (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.

Labak
vs
Canuel

180 cm
26
192 lbs
12 - 7 - 1

189 cm
24
198 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Conviction

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 12 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Kabal Labak!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Obi Canuel!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Alec Ball and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Canuel throws an overhand right that lands on Labak's shoulder, as Labak tries to avoid the shot.
Canuel tries a low kick but Labak avoids it.
Canuel tries a head kick but it misses.
Canuel tries to bum rush Labak with a series of wild strikes but Labak uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Labak avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Canuel lands a nice shot to the body.
Canuel keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Labak works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Canuel throws a body punch but Labak moves out of range.
A solid body kick from Canuel.
Canuel takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Canuel.
Canuel connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Labak's hands.
Labak misses the body punch
and Canuel counters with a stiff right hand.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The crowd cheers as Labak lands an impressive looking overhand right. Canuel doesn't seem phased though.
Labak connects with a single shot there.
Labak fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Canuel manages to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Labak throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Canuel throws a half hearted mid kick.
Canuel cracks Labak with an open hand slap.
Labak throws a body shot but no joy.
Labak scoring well with a low kick there.
Labak looks to land a left hand but Canuel moved out of range nicely.
Labak throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A looping hook to the body misses from Canuel. Labak does a little dance to reset his feet.
Labak swinging wildly here.
Labak takes one to the side of the head.
Nice uppercut there from Canuel.
Labak loads up on a big right hand but Canuel slips the punch.
Labak definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
A looping hook to the body misses from Labak. Canuel does a little dance to reset his feet.
Labak connects with a body shot that sends Canuel's belly button to the back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Labak throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Labak scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Canuel is looking to control Labak's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Canuel avoid being mounted?
Canuel wants to improve his position but Labak is controlling well.
Canuel moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Canuel wants to sweep but no luck.
Canuel looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Labak wanted to stand there but Canuel had control of the position.
Canuel wants to improve his position but instead Labak has moved into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Canuel is pressing down on Labak's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Labak has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Canuel is proving hard to escape from.
Canuel not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Labak wants to stand but Canuel is controlling his posture from full guard.
Labak won't allow Canuel to sweep him here.
Canuel has his hands on Labak's head, controlling the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's four 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.
Labak checks a low kick from Canuel.
Labak drops down looking for a counter takedown but Canuel sprawls and moves away.
Canuel tries to clinch up but Labak circles away and keeps his distance.
Labak throws a leg kick
and Canuel connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Labak lands with a shot to the body.
Canuel thows a left - swing and a miss!
Labak keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Labak half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Canuel has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Canuel throws a half hearted mid kick.
Canuel lands with a right hand.
Canuel does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Labak avoids the body shot from Canuel.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Canuel.
Canuel is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Labak had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Canuel misses with a hook. Labak ducked under it nicely.
Labak cracks Canuel with an open hand slap.
Labak steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Canuel.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Obi Canuel will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Labak ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Canuel moves away.
Canuel uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Labak has time to react.

It looks like Kabal Labak has been cut.
Labak misses with a body shot.
A little jabbing left from Canuel on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Canuel moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Labak throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Labak scores with a nice strike.
Canuel bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Labak's head backwards.
Canuel misses with a body kick.
Labak changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Canuel misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Labak.
Canuel throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Labak sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Obi Canuel seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Labak uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Canuel.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Canuel throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Canuel scoring well with a low kick there.
A left lands for Canuel.
Obi Canuel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Canuel looks to land a right hand but Labak moved out of range.
Labak wants to slow Canuel down by chopping away at his legs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Labak throws a jab but it's blocked by Canuel.
Labak throws a leg kick
and Canuel counters with a thumping low kick.
Labak keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Canuel.
Labak throws a leg kick but Canuel moved away.
Canuel misses with an uppercut.
Labak is looking to wear down Canuel with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Labak connects with a right hand. Canuel shakes it off.
Labak checks the leg kick nicely there.
Labak attempts a counter takedown but Canuel avoids it well and moves away.
Labak slips under a jab.
Labak tries to counter with a takedown but Canuel is quick to defend against it.
Labak throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Labak connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Canuel momentarily.
Labak lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Canuel circles away quickly and effectively.
Canuel takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Canuel clobbers Labak with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Labak tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Canuel was well out of range. Poor timing from Labak.
Canuel throws a series of punches but Labak avoids them all with ease.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Canuel takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
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!
Labak does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Canuel tries a low kick but Labak avoids it.
Labak with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Labak getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Labak lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Labak checks a low kick from Canuel.
Labak avoids a punch combination nicely.
Canuel connects with a leg kick. Labak looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Good standup being displayed there by Labak as he connects with a hook.
Labak ducks under a wild hook from Canuel.
Labak lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Canuel at a distance.
Canuel lands an overhand right.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Labak getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Labak motions for Canuel to come forward. Labak throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Canuel looks to throw a body kick

and Labak counters with a nice double leg into side control. Canuel won't be happy with that.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Labak tries to stand but Canuel is controlling his head.
Canuel tries to buck Labak off but Labak is having none of it.
Labak wants to stand but Canuel is controlling his arm.
Canuel tries to bench press Labak off him but Labak keeps the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Labak tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Labak working away.
Labak tries to stand but Canuel is controlling his head.
Canuel is looking to reverse the position.
Labak tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Labak swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Canuel connects with a solid leg kick.
Canuel looks to land a right hand but Labak moved out of range.
Labak buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kabal Labak dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Kabal Labak's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Labak avoids a kick to the body.
Labak fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Labak swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Labak takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Labak tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Canuel was well out of range. Poor timing from Labak.
The fight stays on the outside here - Canuel looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Labak fails with a takedown attempt.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Canuel! But no joy.
Labak connects with a nice looking jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice body punch from Labak.
Canuel does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Labak slips under a jab.
Canuel lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Labak at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Labak displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Canuel throws out the jab.
Labak just misses with a punch to the body.
Canuel jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Canuel misses with a straight left.
Labak walks into a straight right hand from Canuel.
Canuel avoids the body shot from Labak.
A looping hook to the body misses from Labak. Canuel does a little dance to reset his feet.
Labak misses with a low kick.
Labak lands a right hook to the body.
Canuel feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Labak's calf.
Canuel misses with a low kick.
Labak tries to counter with a takedown but Canuel is quick to defend against it.
Canuel swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Labak takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
A swing and a miss from Canuel.
A solid body kick from Canuel.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Labak throws a hook but Canuel blocks it.
Canuel scores with a push kick.
Labak lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Canuel at a distance.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Canuel tries a head kick but it misses.
Nice straight punches there by Labak. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Labak.
Nice body punch from Labak.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Canuel 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 Labak has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Labak and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Labak feinted with a counter takedown.
Labak slips under a jab.
Canuel lands a nice looking body kick.
Labak swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Labak tries a low kick but Canuel avoids it.
Labak avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Canuel throws a shot from downtown. Labak moves away and avoids it.
Canuel checks a leg kick nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Labak throws a body punch but Canuel moves out of range.
Labak connects with a nice looking jab.
Canuel connects with a crisp jab.
Canuel scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Canuel looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Canuel misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Labak walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Canuel checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Canuel dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Labak. That did some damage!
Canuel tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Canuel keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Good leg kick by Labak there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Obi Canuel is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
The crowd cheers as Canuel lands an impressive looking overhand right. Labak doesn't seem phased though.
Labak connects with a leg kick. Canuel looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Labak gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Canuel.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A kick lands to the mid section there for Canuel.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Canuel misses with a wild body shot.
Labak lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Canuel lands a jab.
An inside leg kick from Canuel misses.
Labak lands a slapping body shot.
Labak misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Labak misses with a body shot.
Good shot there by Canuel.
Canuel tries to work over Labak's front leg with a kick but Labak checks it.
Labak throws a half hearted mid kick.
Canuel slips a jab from Labak.
Labak looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Labak takes a swing at Canuel's ribcage but misses.
Labak is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Canuel misses with an uppercut. Labak saw that one coming.
A looping hook to the body misses from Canuel. Labak does a little dance to reset his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Obi Canuel.
I think Canuel 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 Elvis Blanc scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 28:29
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Obi Canuel!
After winning the bout, Obi Canuel thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.