PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nikita Koloff (ranked 4698 p4p, 4479 weight class) and Choto Kanabe (ranked 516 p4p, 495 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Koloff
vs
Kanabe

189 cm
27
275
3 - 3 - 0

200 cm
27
289
2 - 2 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Redemption ink, Hilo

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Nikita Koloff!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Choto Kanabe!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Gregory Folan and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Koloff throws a big shot that misses.
Koloff avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Koloff throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Kanabe gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Koloff blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Koloff escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Kanabe instigates a clinch.

Koloff escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kanabe moves in looking to clinch but Koloff pushes him off.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kanabe darts in and clinches Koloff up against the cage.
Kanabe misses with an elbow over the top.
Koloff has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kanabe.
Koloff swings wildly with an uppercut but Kanabe uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kanabe lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Kanabe has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Koloff is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Kanabe looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Kanabe tries to throw a body punch but Koloff avoids it by throwing Kanabe back against the cage.
Koloff avoids a wild elbow strike from Kanabe.
Koloff stalling in the clinch but Kanabe improves position.
Koloff tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Koloff can't break the clinch.
Koloff fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Koloff swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Koloff misses with a punch on the inside.
Kanabe tries a body shot but Koloff blocks it.
Koloff has a couple of punches blocked by Kanabe.
Kanabe blocking some punches.
Koloff misses with the head strike.
Kanabe wants a takedown.
Koloff blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Kanabe doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kanabe throws an elbow that misses.
Koloff lands with a light punch inside.
Koloff misses with some punches.
Koloff has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Koloff fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Kanabe is trying to maintain a safe position but Koloff gets an underhook and turns Kanabe into the cage.
Kanabe swings away with an uppercut that misses.
The referee calls for Kanabe to work.
A bit of stalling here from Kanabe.
Koloff fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Kanabe throws a punch but it's blocked by Koloff.
Koloff has a couple of punches blocked by Kanabe.
Kanabe swings wildly with an uppercut but Koloff uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kanabe has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Koloff is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Nikita Koloff has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Choto Kanabe.
Koloff throws a head punch that misses.
Kanabe blocks an uppercut.
Kanabe misses with a punch to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koloff is trying to break the clinch but Kanabe is controlling him.
Kanabe goes for a takedown in the clinch but Koloff prevents it.
A head punch on the inside from Koloff fails to land.
Koloff fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Kanabe scores with a hook to the body.
Koloff working aggressively here.
Kanabe stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Koloff misses with a punch on the inside.
Koloff gets through Kanabe's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Kanabe tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Koloff's elbow.
Kanabe is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Koloff gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Kanabe has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Koloff after a bit of a struggle.
Koloff is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Koloff.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kanabe stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Kanabe stalls.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Kanabe.
Kanabe receives a warning from the referee for stalling.
Kanabe leaning against his opponent.
Kanabe can't find room to land a body shot as Koloff controls the action.
Kanabe goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Kanabe struggles to land a body shot inside as Koloff controls his hands.
Koloff wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Come on Kanabe - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Koloff tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kanabe tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Koloff misses with some punches.
Kanabe is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Koloff is trying to break free.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Nikita Koloff will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Kanabe has Koloff up against the cage in a clinch.
Kanabe tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Koloff.
Kanabe wants to take the fight to the mat but Koloff manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Kanabe swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Koloff misses with a short punch on the inside.
Koloff prevents the takedown attempt.
Koloff is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Kanabe goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Koloff lands a hook that snaps the head of Kanabe backwards.
Koloff misses with the head strike.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Koloff manages to break the clinch.
Nice jab there from Koloff.
Kanabe looks to clinch
and Koloff counters with a straight right hand.

Koloff gets tackled into the cage by Kanabe. Kanabe maintains the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kanabe lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Koloff swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Koloff misses with a punch on the inside.
Kanabe struggles to land a body shot inside as Koloff controls his hands.
Kanabe lands an elbow inside that Koloff shrugs off.
Koloff letting Kanabe take a breather here.
Koloff takes an elbow to the temple.

It looks like Nikita Koloff has been cut.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Koloff.
Koloff throws a punch but it's blocked by Kanabe.
Kanabe wants a takedown.
Nikita Koloff has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Choto Kanabe.
Kanabe trying to control the position but instead, Koloff has worked for underhooks and has pushed Kanabe into the cage.
Koloff scores with a nice hook to the head.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Kanabe.
Koloff fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Koloff's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kanabe showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Koloff.
Kanabe closes the distance but Koloff moves to the side
and Koloff counters with a nice uppercut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kanabe tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Koloff manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Choto Kanabe seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Koloff lands with a good body shot.
Koloff throws a big shot that misses.
Kanabe uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Koloff.
Koloff scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Kanabe moves in looking to clinch but Koloff pushes him off.
Koloff circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koloff is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Kanabe takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Koloff bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Kanabe tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
An attempted straight right counter from Koloff misses the target.
Kanabe slips under a jab from Koloff.
Koloff lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Kanabe at a distance.

Koloff gets tackled into the cage by Kanabe. Kanabe maintains the clinch.
Koloff fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Kanabe taking a breather.
Koloff working hard to break the clinch.
Koloff working aggressively here.
Kanabe misses with a punch to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Koloff misses with a hook from the clinch.
A short left from Koloff.
Kanabe blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Koloff swings wildly with an uppercut but Kanabe uses good head movement to avoid it.

Koloff breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A jab from Koloff misses.
Kanabe is looking to clinch but Koloff is avoiding it.
Kanabe is looking to clinch.
Koloff circles away from the clinch attempt.
Koloff appears to be looking for a big counter.
Choto Kanabe is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kanabe closes the distance looking to clinch
and Koloff counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Nikita Koloff dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Nikita Koloff's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Koloff connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Kanabe tries to close the distance and clinch up but Koloff swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Koloff swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Koloff throws a good cross that connects.
Kanabe tries to close the distance and clinch up but Koloff swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Kanabe instigates a clinch.
Koloff misses with some punches.
Koloff working aggressively here.
A frustrated look appears on Koloff's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Kanabe doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kanabe blocks an uppercut.
Koloff blocks an elbow strike from Kanabe.
Koloff misses with the head strike.
A short left from Koloff.
Koloff swings wildly with an uppercut but Kanabe uses good head movement to avoid it.
Koloff lands a left hand that snaps the head of Kanabe backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kanabe cracks Koloff with a nice body shot.
Koloff lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Koloff misses with a hook from the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Koloff.
Kanabe swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Koloff has a couple of punches blocked by Kanabe.
Kanabe tries to work over Koloff's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Koloff misses with the head strike.
Koloff throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Kanabes head.
Kanabe has Koloff pressed against the cage, preventing Koloff from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kanabe.
Koloff tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Koloff working aggressively here.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Kanabe is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koloff is trying to push Kanabe away but Kanabe has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Koloff tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kanabe misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Koloff misses with a hook from the clinch.
Koloff throws a head punch that misses.
Kanabe looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Koloff swings wildly with an uppercut but Kanabe uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kanabe lands an elbow just above Koloff 's eye.
Koloff lands with a right to the head.
Kanabe blocks an uppercut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Koloff swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Koloff pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Koloff throws a hook but Kanabe avoids it easily.
Kanabe throws a counter combo.

Kanabe closes the distance and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koloff working aggressively here.
Kanabe lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Koloff or not.
Kanabe drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Koloff gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Koloff has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Koloff throws a head punch that misses.
Kanabe lands a damaging elbow.

Koloff breaks from the clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Koloff is looking to control Kanabe's arms but Kanabe gets an underhook and turns him. Now Koloff has his back to the cage.
Koloff lands with a short shot to the head.
Kanabe's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Kanabe has a couple of punches blocked by Koloff.
Koloff tries to break free but Kanabe pushes him back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Koloff lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Koloff has a couple of punches blocked by Kanabe.
Kanabe scores with a hook to the body.
Kanabe pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Koloff lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Kanabe backwards.
Koloff has had enough of the clinch but Kanabe keeps him there for the moment.
Kanabe dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Koloff stalling in the clinch but Kanabe improves position.
Koloff lands on the inside with an uppercut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Koloff tries to break the clinch but Kanabe is controlling the position.
Koloff misses with the head strike.
Kanabe has Koloff pushed against the cage.
Koloff fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nikita Koloff showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Koloff has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nikita Koloff!
Nikita Koloff gave a mention to Redemption ink, Hilo in his post fight interview. That will please them (and hopefully generate some sales).