PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Viking Alexander (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Darnell Cane (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.

Alexander
vs
Cane

182 cm
25
188 lbs
9 - 3 - 2

188 cm
23
202 lbs
10 - 2 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Conviction
Hellbent

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 9 - 3 - 2, fighting out of Helsinki, Viking Alexander!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Darnell Cane!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Marco Blurström and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cane avoids a kick to the body.
Cane missing with a left hand there. Alexander was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Alexander walks into a stiff left hand from Cane.
Cane jabs Alexander to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Alexander lands a nice leg kick that just misses Cane's sensitive parts.
Cane throws a jab when Alexander was well out of range.
Alexander slips under a jab.
Alexander appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Cane moves out of range of the strikes.
Cane uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Alexander has time to react.
Cane swings widly with a right hand
and Alexander counters with a straight right hand.
A clash of legs there as Cane blocks the low kick.
Alexander on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Alexander misses with a straight right.
Alexander misses with a low kick as Cane jumps back.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cane misses with a straight left.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cane takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Cane connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Alexander momentarily.
Alexander throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Cane throws a shot from downtown. Alexander moves away and avoids it.
Nice jab there from Cane.
Cane might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Cane swings for the body but Alexander moves out of range.
Cane throws out a loose jab but Alexander uses good head movement to avoid it.
Alexander uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Cane.
Cane misses with a wild body shot.
Alexander is looking to counter punch.
Alexander drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Cane rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Alexander counters with a thumping low kick.
Alexander definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Cane sizes up Alexander with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

Cane shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Cane showed some decent athleticism there.

Alexander kicks off Cane and gets to his feet.
Darnell Cane seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Alexander swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Cane scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Cane misses with an uppercut. Alexander saw that one coming.
Cane ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Alexander moves away.
Cane thows a left - swing and a miss!
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Alexander, right into the meat.
Cane misses with a body shot.
Cane dips to his left and cracks Alexander with an uppercut!
Cane ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Alexander throws a hook to the side of Cane's head but Cane sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Alexander dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Cane. That did some damage!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cane throws a lazy uppercut
and Alexander counters with a nice body kick.
Cane misses with an uppercut.
Cane throws out a loose jab but Alexander uses good head movement to avoid it.
Alexander tries to counter by clinching up but Cane breaks away and moves out of range.
Nice shot lands for Alexander.
Alexander moves forwards but Cane connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Alexander takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Alexander takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Alexander tries to clinch up but Cane circles away and keeps his distance.
Alexander misses with a wild combination.
Alexander throws a right and a left that both miss.
Alexander throws a shot from downtown. Cane moves away and avoids it.
Alexander takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cane misses the jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alexander takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Cane misses with an uppercut.
Alexander fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Cane looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Alexander avoids the body shot from Cane.

Alexander gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Alexander swings wildly with an uppercut but Cane uses good head movement to avoid it.
Cane stalling in the clinch but Alexander improves position.
Alexander blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Alexander leaning his opponent against the cage.
Cane wants to break the clinch but can't.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cane lands with a short head shot on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Alexander fails to land.
Alexander lands a nice uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Darnell Cane will probably get the nod.
That's time! Alexander's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Cane lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Cane just misses with a punch to the body.
Alexander throwing a counter right hand but Cane manages to avoid it.
Alexander digs a good body shot into Cane's ribs.

Cane feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Cane landing with the ground and pound.
Cane in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Cane postures up and lands a big shot to Alexander's brow.
Cane throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Cane is looking to work some ground and pound but Alexander has wrist control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alexander avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Cane has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Cane looking to pass the guard.
Cane has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Cane throws a big right hand that misses.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cane trying to control the position from guard on top but Alexander is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Alexander is pulling down on Cane's head. It's preventing any offense from Cane, at least for the moment.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Cane trying to control the position from guard on top but Alexander is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Cane swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Cane bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Alexander's head backwards.
Alexander swings for the body but Cane moves out of range.
Cane throws out a counter right but Alexander avoids it with no problem.
Cane connects with a good right hand that stumbles Alexander. Alexander circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Cane getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Alexander rushes Cane and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Alexander throws a punch but it's blocked by Cane.
Alexander fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Alexander softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Cane displaying some good clinch control by pressing Alexander up against the cage.
Cane lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Alexander stalling in the clinch but Cane improves position.
Cane misses with the head strike.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Cane.
A bit of stalling here from Cane.
Cane lands with a short shot to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cane blocking some punches.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Cane creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Cane trying to stall but Alexander improves his position.
Cane blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alexander lands a nice uppercut.
Alexander misses with a body punch.
Alexander tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Cane has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Alexander seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Cane can turn it around.
A head punch on the inside from Cane fails to land.
Cane lands an uppercut.
Alexander misses with a punch on the inside.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Alexander stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
The referee calls for Alexander to work.
Alexander misses with a hook from the clinch.
Cane working aggressively here.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Cane takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
A head punch on the inside from Cane fails to land.
Cane blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cane lands a nice uppercut.

It looks like Viking Alexander has been cut.

Cane breaks from the clinch.
The fighters circle momentarily. Alexander darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Cane lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Cane sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Alexander throws a leg kick
and Alexander takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Cane ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Cane throws a predictable looking body shot
and Alexander counters with a straight right hand.
Cane jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Alexander fires out a quick counter leg kick but Cane just manages to avoid it.
Cane takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Alexander looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Cane swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Cane ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Darnell Cane showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Viking Alexander's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Alexander connects with a single shot there.
Cane blocks a jab.
A looping hook to the body misses from Alexander. Cane does a little dance to reset his feet.
The fighters circle momentarily. Cane darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Alexander looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Cane throws a lazy right hand but Alexander sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Alexander walks into a straight right hand from Cane.
Cane takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Alexander scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Cane doesn't seem bothered though.
Alexander defending well as Cane loads up on a big left hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alexander tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Cane looks to score with a jab to the body but Alexander is just out of range.
Cane swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Alexander.
Cane looks to land a left hand but Alexander moved out of range nicely.
Alexander is looking to counter punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big right from Cane misses.
Good leg kick by Alexander there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Alexander tries to move into range but Cane moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Cane misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Alexander.
Alexander misses with a looping left.
Alexander takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Alexander misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Cane throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Cane blocks a head kick by Alexander.
Darnell Cane seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A telegraphed right hand from Cane misses the target.
Cane misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Alexander.
Cane rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Alexander counters with a nice body kick.
Cane throws a right hand that misses
enabling Alexander to counter with a crisp jab.
Darnell Cane is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Alexander moves into the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Alexander.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Alexander creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Alexander misses with the head strike.
Alexander tries to stall but Cane uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Viking Alexander has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Alexander working aggressively here.
Alexander swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Cane blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A short left from Cane.
Alexander blocks an uppercut.
A body shot lands from Alexander.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alexander throws a head punch that misses.
Alexander has a couple of punches blocked by Cane.
Alexander swings wildly with an uppercut but Cane uses good head movement to avoid it.
Alexander swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Cane blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Alexander swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Cane blocks an uppercut.
Alexander lands an uppercut.
Alexander misses with a punch on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alexander can't find room to land a body shot as Cane controls the action.
Cane blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Alexander throws a punch but it's blocked by Cane.
Stalling in the clinch from Cane.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Alexander.
Alexander misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Alexander throws a punch but it's blocked by Cane.
Alexander working aggressively here.
Alexander fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Alexander working aggressively here.
Viking Alexander has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cane working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Viking Alexander showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Cane 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Darnell Cane!
Darnell Cane decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.