PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jack Cango (ranked 1242 p4p, 2040 weight class) and Hjalmar Raak (ranked 152 p4p, 233 weight class). Cango comes into the arena with Into Action by Tim Armstrong blaring out of the sound system. Hjalmar Raak has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Cango
vs
Raak

185 cm
25
194
9 - 6 - 0

191 cm
28
197
9 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Solid chin

Conviction
© Trap House

Black Lab Clothing

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 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jack Cango!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Hjalmar Raak!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, Columbo Gatti and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jab, jab by Cango - just one landing.
Raak blocks a low kick nicely.
A head kick misses from Cango.
Cango misses with an attempted mid kick.
Raak swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Cango definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Cango with the inside leg kick.
A shot to the liver by Cango. Beautiful body shot.
Cango's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Cango duly obliges.
Cango tests Raak's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Raak throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Cango counters with a nice body shot.
Cango throws a right and a left that both miss.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A slow jab from Cango misses its intended target.
Raak let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Cango throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Cango tries a head kick but it misses.
Raak counters with a body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cango scores with a hook to the body. Raak takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Cango cracks Raak with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Cango sizes up Raak with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Cango throws a low kick, looking for Raak's leg but Raak calmly moves out of range.
Cango fails to land with a series of punches.
It seemed like Raak was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Cango pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A little jabbing left from Raak on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Cango throws a body kick that misses.
Cango throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
A good leg kick by Cango.
Raak throws a head kick that misses
and Cango counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Cango bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Cango steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Raak.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cango throws a leg kick which misses Raak's front leg but catches the back leg as Raak tries to avoid it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cango throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Raak lands a jab to the head.
Cango takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Cango tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Raak was well out of range. Poor timing from Cango.
Raak looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Cango looks to throw a body kick
and Raak counters with a right hand to the body.
Raak scores with a jab.
Cango connects with a high kick.
Cango throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Cango throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Raak ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Cango moves away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A combination from Cango does no damage.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Cango.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Cango - that will leave a mark!
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Cango!
Some wild striking there from Cango.
Raak let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Raak takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Cango connects with a nice looking jab.
Good exchange - Cango coming out on top.
Cango looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jab by Cango.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cango throws a leg kick but Raak sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Cango misses with a body kick.

Cango gets tackled into the cage by Raak. Raak maintains the clinch.
Raak slows down the pace here.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Cango.
Cango missing with knees to the body.
Cango tries to break free but Raak pushes him back against the cage.
Raak misses with a body punch.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Raak.

Cango breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Raak throws the kick towards the body but Cango avoids it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jack Cango dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Cango lands a jab to the head.
Raak lands a right hook to the body.
Raak misses with a leg kick
and Cango counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
A head kick misses from Raak.
Cango connects with a body shot that sends Raak's belly button to the back.
Cango lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Cango swats away the attempt to clinch by Raak.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cango throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
A nice leg kick from Cango, right into the meat of the thigh.
Raak takes one on the chin but keeps coming.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raak avoids the head kick by Cango.
Raak raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
A punch lands to the side of Raak 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Cango scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Cango throws a right and a left that Raak avoids nicely.
A little jabbing left from Raak on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Raak swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Nice body punch from Cango.
Cango misses with a combination
enabling Raak to counter with a crisp jab.
Raak throws a looping overhand right but Cango ducks down to avoid it.
Jack Cango is winning the standup battle so far.
Cango lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Cango will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A little jabbing left from Raak on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Jack Cango seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Cango.
Raak dodges the punch combination from Cango.
The fighters circling - Cango throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cango throws a lazy uppercut
and Raak counters with a nice uppercut.
Cango lands a lovely overhand right.
Cango swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Raak now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Raak swings for the body but Cango moves out of range.
Cango is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Raak can do to turn this around?
Cango throws a jab but it's blocked by Raak.
Raak tests Cango's chin there with a solid looking shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cango lands a really nice looking cross but Raak seems unphased.
Cango dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Raak. That did some damage!
Cango with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Raak looks for a takedown but Cango sprawls well.
Cango misses with a double jab.
Cango misses the body punch
enabling Raak to counter with a crisp jab.
Raak misses with a kick to the body.
Raak misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Cango tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Raak manages to circle out of the way.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cango looks to land a combination but Raak avoids it well.
A combination from Cango does no damage.
Cango connects with a good right hand that stumbles Raak. Raak circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Raak throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Raak scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cango lands with a shot to the body.
The fighters circle momentarily. Cango darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Cango lands a jab to the head.
Cango connects with the punch.
Cango throws a right hand that misses
and Raak counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
A looping hook to the body misses from Raak. Cango does a little dance to reset his feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jack Cango dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Jab from Cango.
Raak takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Raak avoids a punch combination nicely.
Raak keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Raak motions for Cango to come forward. Raak throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Raak showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Cango.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Raak throws a low kick, looking for Cango's leg but Cango calmly moves out of range.
Cango jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Cango looks to land a combination. Raak sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Cango pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cango works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Cango scores with a leg kick.
Cango misses with a series of wild punches.
Raak now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Jack Cango is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Cango looks to land a left hand but Raak moved out of range nicely.
A little jabbing left from Raak on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Cango tries a head kick but it misses.
Raak let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Nice defenses there by Cango.
Cango is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Raak.
Raak raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
A jab from Raak misses.
A low kick lands for Cango.
Cango shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Raak eats them both and turns towards Cango to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cango takes a swing at Raak's ribcage but misses.
Raak fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Cango looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

Raak closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Cango pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Cango tries to work over Raak's front leg with a kick but Raak checks it.
Raak was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Cango moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Cango scores with a nice strike.
Cango throws a combination that misses
and Raak counters with a leg kick.
Raak tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Raak tries to clinch there but Cango circles away.
Cango throws a quick counter head kick but Raak was just out of range.
Cango throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cango fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Raak has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Cango looks to score with a jab to the body but Raak is just out of range.
Cango lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Cango fails to land with a series of punches.
Cango ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

Raak closes the distance and pushes Cango back into the cage.
Raak blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Raak blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Raak can't find room to land a body shot as Cango controls the action.
Cango wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Raak has him pressed against the cage.
Raak's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Raak prevents Cango from breaking the clinch.
Raak managing to block the knees to the body from Cango.

Cango breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Cango looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Hjalmar Raak has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cango catches Raak with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
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!
Cango moves out of range of the body kick.
Raak wants to clinch.
Raak ducks under a wild hook from Cango.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Raak! But no joy.
Cango connects with an inside leg kick.
No joy there for Cango, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Raak has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Raak throws a body kick that misses.
Cango swinging wildly here.
Raak is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Cango with a body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jack Cango showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Cango, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Jonathan Paton scores the fight 30:27
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 30:27
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 30:27

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