PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Thad Thayer (ranked 1600 p4p, 2999 weight class) and Mehdi Kanaani (ranked 43 p4p, 93 weight class). Kanaani is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Dr. Dre ft. Snoop Dogg - Nuthin' But A G Thang. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Thayer
vs
Kanaani

165 cm
36
134
6 - 5 - 0

170 cm
27
170
15 - 11 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Powerful

Vegan Gains

Brooklyn Apothecary
Brooklyn Threads

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Thad Thayer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 11 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mehdi Kanaani!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, James Atkins and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thayer shoots in for a double leg but Kanaani sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Kanaani pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kanaani lands with a nice body punch.
Thayer takes a jab right on the kisser.
Kanaani tries to clinch but Thayer is having none of it.

Kanaani forces Thayer back against the cage and clinches.
Thayer is trying to pull guard but Kanaani has him pressed against the cage.
Thayer drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thad Thayer. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kanaani pressing his opponent against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kanaani misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kanaani breaks the clinch.
Thayer misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kanaani.
Kanaani tries to counter by closing the distance.
Thayer fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Kanaani avoids it really well and circles away.
Thayer goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Thayer is looking to clinch.
Kanaani closes the distance but Thayer moves to the side

and Thayer counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Kanaani!
Kanaani is looking for a sweep.
Kanaani wants to control but Thayer postures up.
Thayer throws an elbow but Kanaani slips to the side and avoids it well.
Kanaani prevents Thayer from moving into mount.

Kanaani bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kanaani fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Thayer sprawls well initially but Kanaani persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kanaani winds up and cracks Thayer with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Kanaani landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Kanaani lands strikes from half guard.
Thayer slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Thayer throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Thayer 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.

Thayer has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Kanaani can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Thayer has momentary wrist control but Kanaani slips an elbow through the middle.

Thayer has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Kanaani can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kanaani throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Thayer works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Kanaani in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Thayer uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Kanaani stuffs the takedown attempt from Thayer. Thayer gets slowly back to his feet.
Kanaani looks like he wants to counter punch here.

Kanaani shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Kanaani showed some decent athleticism there.
Thayer avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Kanaani.
Kanaani wants to control but Thayer is keeping him busy.
Kanaani drops an elbow to the side of Thayer's head.
Thayer avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Kanaani.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thayer is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Kanaani's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Kanaani's back!
Kanaani just trying to survive but Thayer is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Will Thayer go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Thayer avoiding Kanaani 's attempts to control his hands.

Thayer is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Thayer struggling to land strikes to the head as Kanaani covers up.
Kanaani is trying to stand back up.
Kanaani tries to break free.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mehdi Kanaani will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Kanaani throws a sloppy head kick and Thayer moves out of range easily.
Thayer wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Kanaani lands a head kick!

It looks like Thad Thayer has been cut.
Thayer moves out of range of the strikes.
Kanaani stuffs the takedown attempt from Thayer. Thayer gets slowly back to his feet.

Thayer gets tackled into the cage by Kanaani. Kanaani maintains the clinch.
Kanaani tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Thayer jumps guard but Kanaani turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Thayer tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thad Thayer. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Thayer manages to break the clinch.

Kanaani decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Thad Thayer overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Thayer trying to control here.
Kanaani lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Kanaani lands a nice short elbow.
Kanaani missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Kanaani with the ground and pound but Thayer uses the opportunity to regain guard.

Thayer is looking for a triangle but Kanaani pushes his legs off easily.
Kanaani scoring with punches to the head and body.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kanaani accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Kanaani lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Thayer wants to sweep but no luck.
Kanaani cracks Thayer with a solid left hand.
Kanaani must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Kanaani lands a couple of elbows.
Kanaani landing with the ground and pound.
Kanaani working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kanaani postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Thayer utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Kanaani stands up over Thayer, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Kanaani postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Kanaani with a flurry of punches that miss.
Thayer keeping moving, preventing Kanaani from controlling successfully.
Thayer lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Thayer wants to get up but he can't break Kanaani's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thayer trying to control but Kanaani is working from the bottom.
Kanaani utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kanaani is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Thayer presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Kanaani is working Thayer over against the cage.
Thayer jumps guard but Kanaani stands there with Thayer around his waist. Thayer gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Thayer has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Thayer misses with an elbow over the top.
Kanaani taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Kanaani misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kanaani has Thayer pressed against the cage, preventing Thayer from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Kanaani lands an uppercut.

Thayer manages to break the clinch.
Thayer's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Thayer duly obliges.

It looks like Mehdi Kanaani has been cut.
Kanaani swats away the attempt to clinch by Thayer.
Thayer misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Thayer wants to clinch up but Kanaani keeps it at a distance.

Kanaani looking to score a takedown here. Thayer is defending well but Kanaani drives through and ends up in Thayer's guard.

Thayer pushes Kanaani off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Kanaani is working for takedown but Thayer is calmly controlling the position for now.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mehdi Kanaani showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - 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.

Kanaani closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Thayer looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Thayer working aggressively here.
Kanaani is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Thayer pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Kanaani escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Thayer shoots in and drives through. Kanaani sprawls well.
Thayer tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kanaani paws at him with a jab and circles away.
It seemed like Kanaani was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Kanaani scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Thayer is looking to clinch but Kanaani is avoiding it.
A solid leg kick lands there for Thayer.
Kanaani has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A head kick by Thayer misses

and Kanaani decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Thayer's guard.

Thayer has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Kanaani is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kanaani prevents a takedown attempt there.
A nice left hand lands by Kanaani.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kanaani is looking to take this one to the mat.
Thayer is trying to force a seperation but Kanaani has the dominant position.
Thayer is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Thayer drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thad Thayer. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kanaani softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Kanaani is pressed up against the cage. Thayer has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Kanaani down to the mat. Kanaani avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Thayer tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kanaani swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kanaani bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Thayer's head.

Kanaani closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Thayer to the mat! Thayer manages to get full guard.
Kanaani works over Thayer with some ground and pound from guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Kanaani's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Thayer is looking for a triangle but Kanaani pushes his legs off easily.
Kanaani working some strikes from top position.
Kanaani trying to control the position from guard on top but Thayer is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Thayer manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Kanaani manages to get himself to full guard.

Kanaani has control of Thayer's left arm, preventing Thayer from doing any damage.
Kanaani keeping moving, preventing Thayer from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thayer pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kanaani is keeping the position for now.
Kanaani is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Thayer is controlling him.
Thayer stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kanaani swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Thayer stops Kanaani from standing up.
Thayer is looking to stand up but Kanaani won't let him.
Kanaani wants to get back to his feet but Thayer is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Kanaani wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Thayer tries to clinch up
letting Kanaani counter with a right hand.
Thad Thayer is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kanaani throws a sloppy head kick and Thayer moves out of range easily.
Kanaani pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Thayer fails with the takedown.
Mehdi Kanaani is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Kanaani instigates a clinch.

Kanaani escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Thad Thayer has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mehdi Kanaani seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kanaani lands a high kick!

And that's the end of the fight!
Mehdi Kanaani comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Kanaani winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 28:30
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mehdi Kanaani!
A relieved looking Mehdi Kanaani thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.