PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Deshaun Williams (ranked 1979 p4p, 242 weight class) and Darnell Cane (ranked 5023 p4p, 515 weight class). Williams comes to the cage accompanied by Dr. Octagon - Earth People. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Darnell Cane was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Williams
vs
Cane

188 cm
27
198 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

188 cm
28
203 lbs
12 - 5 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Deshaun Williams!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 5 - 1, fighting out of New York, Darnell Cane!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Wesley Smith and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cane misses with a hook.
Williams seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Williams throws a hook to the side of Cane's head but Cane sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Cane has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Williams.
Cane takes a swing at Williams's ribcage but misses.
Cane throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Williams swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Williams tries to close the distance and clinch but Cane swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Cane comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Williams scores with a body shot.
Williams misses with a hook. Cane ducked under it nicely.
Williams looks to land a combination but Cane avoids it well.
Cane flicks out a counter leg kick but Williams steps away.
Cane misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Williams.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cane doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Cane staying out of range there.
Deshaun Williams is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Williams misses with a looping left.
Williams scores with the left hand. Cane knows he should have avoided that one.
Cane's corner calls for a 1-2. Cane obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Cane ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Williams moves away.
Williams misses with a double jab

and Cane counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Williams!
Williams is trying to get back to his feet.
Cane creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cane in side control, throwing shots but Williams defends.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The ground and pound from Cane seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Williams gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Williams is not content to let Cane control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cane thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Williams is looking for a sweep. Cane is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Cane is trying to work for a kimura but Williams is defending well.
Williams wants to improve his position but Cane is controlling well.
Cane throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Cane has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cane not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Cane is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Cane slips a nice elbow through Williams's hands, connecting with Williams's forehead.
Cane looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Cane is nestled in close to Williams, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Cane prevents Williams from standing back up.

Cane is looking for a kimura here.
Cane missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Cane takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Williams wants to control but Cane is keeping busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cane seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Cane missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Cane is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Williams avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Cane.
Williams avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Cane.
Cane thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Williams's head.
Cane winds up and cracks Williams with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Cane throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Cane thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Williams avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Cane.
Cane throws a strike but Williams avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Darnell Cane dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Williams uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Cane throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Williams moves out of range as Cane strikes.
Cane jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Cane throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Cane ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Cane changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Williams misses with a wild body shot.
Cane has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Williams doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Williams misses with a kick to the body.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Cane! But no joy.
Williams ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Cane moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Williams throws a lazy right hand but Cane sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Cane cracks Williams with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Deshaun Williams is winning the standup battle so far.
Cane ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A shot to the liver by Cane. Beautiful body shot.
Williams throws a hook but Cane avoids it easily.
Cane throws a body punch but Williams moves out of range.
Cane pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Williams getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Williams closes the distance looking to clinch
and Cane counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Williams thinking.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cane fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Williams manages to avoid it.
Williams lands a jab to Cane's midsection.
Cane shoots in but no luck this time.
Williams was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Cane avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Cane! But no joy.
Williams keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A lazy body kick from Williams
and Cane makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cane throws a body punch but Williams moves out of range.

Cane shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Williams manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Cane working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cane is in close to Williams's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Williams wants to get back to his feet but Cane is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Cane pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Williams is keeping the position for now.
Cane working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Cane throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Williams works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Cane is looking to work some ground and pound but Williams has wrist control.
Cane is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Cane throwing strikes from guard but Williams blocks nicely.
Cane landing with the ground and pound.

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.
Cane postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Cane content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Williams working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Cane.
Williams utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Cane postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Cane won't allow Williams to sweep him here.
Cane throws a strike but Williams rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Cane pulls Williams in close to prevent any damage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Williams wants to stand and escape but instead Cane has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

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 minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Williams throws a big shot that misses.
Williams throws the kick towards the body but Cane avoids it.
Cane doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Cane swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Williams throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Cane tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Williams was well out of range. Poor timing from Cane.
Cane waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Williams.
Williams feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Cane scores with a crisp jab that stopped Williams in his tracks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Williams fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Cane is out of range.
Cane punishes Williams's body with a nice straight punch.
Cane throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Williams sees it coming and avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big left from Williams misses.
Williams just misses with a punch to the body.
Williams gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Williams throws a leg kick but Cane moved away.
Williams throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Cane tries to move into range but Williams moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Cane avoids the body shot from Williams.
Cane throws a body shot but no joy.
Cane swings for the body but Williams moves out of range.
Deshaun Williams has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
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.
Williams staying out of range there.
A chopping leg kick lands by Cane.
Williams throws an overhand right that lands on Cane's shoulder, as Cane tries to avoid the shot.
Williams misses with a low kick as Cane jumps back.
Cane scores with a jab.
Cane cracks a nice hook into Williams's ribs.
A big right from Williams misses.
And Cane tries to counter it with a takedown but Williams pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Cane scores with a shot to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Williams throws a body shot but no joy.
Cane tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cane fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Williams is out of range.
Cane moves out of range as Williams throws a body kick.
Williams bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Cane lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Williams at a distance.
Williams misses the shot to the body.
Williams doesn't manage to clinch there - Cane circles away.
Cane unleashes a big counter combination but Williams bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Williams throws a right hand that Cane ducks under and follows up with a left that Cane also avoids with ease.
Williams takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Cane takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cane takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Williams avoids the body shot from Cane.
Williams appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Williams slips under a jab.
Williams throws a big shot that misses.
Williams swings away with a body shot that misses
letting Cane counter with a right hand.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Williams.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Williams throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Cane uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Williams.
Cane is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Cane bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Williams's head.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Darnell Cane.
Well Cane 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Darnell Cane!
Darnell Cane bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.
In defeat, Deshaun Williams stepped up to the mic, saying 'https://soundcloud.com/spinmanfinn'.