PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Salem Kanno (ranked 4057 p4p, 4022 weight class) and Blake Guerrero (ranked 299 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Kanno
vs
Guerrero

173 cm
22
150
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
158
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Salem Kanno!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Blake Guerrero!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kanno keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Guerrero shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Kanno sprawls well. Kanno wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Guerrero gets slowly back to his feet.

Kanno closes the distance and clinches.

Kanno gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Kanno has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Guerrero is proving hard to escape from.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Guerrero had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Kanno defends it easily.
Kanno postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kanno trying to stand up but can't free himself from Guerrero's guard.

Kanno decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Guerrero, up you get!
Kanno chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Guerrero can pounce on him.

Kanno fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Guerrero, pushing him back against the cage.
Kanno is trying to break free.
Kanno tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Guerrero smiles and moves away.

Kanno clinches with his opponent.
A left hand lands to the body for Kanno.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Kanno lands a left hand.
Kanno is trying to break the clinch but Guerrero is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Guerrero takes a shot to the head.

Kanno escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Guerrero connects with a solid leg kick.
Kanno lands with a cross.
Kanno is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Kanno clinches with his opponent.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kanno is trying to pull guard but Guerrero turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Kanno dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Guerrero misses with a knee to the head.
Kanno has Guerrero pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Guerrero manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Salem Kanno. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kanno tries to circle away but Guerrero has him pinned against the cage.
Kanno is breathing heavily.
Kanno can't break the clinch.

Guerrero escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kanno scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kanno swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Kanno is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Guerrero is looking to clinch.
Guerrero shoots in for a takedown but Kanno shows good takedown defense.
Kanno displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Guerrero.
Guerrero shoots in and drives through. Kanno sprawls well.
Kanno keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Guerrero scores with a kick to the midsection.

Kanno moves into the clinch successfully.

Guerrero manages to break the clinch.

Kanno closes the distance and pushes Guerrero back into the cage.
Kanno tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Guerrero smiles and moves away.
Guerrero cracks Kanno with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Guerrero moves into the clinch.

Guerrero breaks the clinch.
Guerrero misses the jab.
Kanno takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
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!
Guerrero shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Guerrero looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Kanno is fending him off so far but Guerrero persists. Nope, Kanno circles away and we're back to standing.
Guerrero looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Salem Kanno is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Guerrero misses with a few strikes there.

Guerrero tries to keep at a distance but Kanno has taken the fight into the clinch.
Guerrero has Kanno pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Kanno manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Guerrero drags the fight down to the ground.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Salem Kanno dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Kanno moves in looking to clinch but Guerrero pushes him off.
Kanno fails to land with a series of punches.
Kanno fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kanno will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Guerrero is pressed up against the cage. Kanno has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Guerrero down to the mat. Guerrero avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Guerrero fails with the takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kanno moves in looking to clinch but Guerrero pushes him off.

Kanno instigates a clinch.
Kanno drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Guerrero gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Guerrero lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Guerrero has a couple of punches blocked by Kanno.
Guerrero tries to pull guard but Kanno holds him up against the cage and eventually Guerrero drops back down to his feet.
Guerrero has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Kanno after a bit of a struggle.
Salem Kanno has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Blake Guerrero.
Guerrero tries to pull guard but Kanno won't allow it.
Kanno can't break the clinch.
Guerrero is working for takedown but Kanno is calmly controlling the position for now.
Guerrero keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Kanno's efforts to push away.
Kanno wants to get back to striking at distance but Guerrero won't allow it.

Guerrero manages to break the clinch.
Guerrero swats away the attempt to clinch by Kanno.
Kanno is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Guerrero can do to turn this around?
Guerrero tries to clinch up but Kanno circles away and keeps his distance.
Salem Kanno seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Guerrero slips under a jab from Kanno.
Kanno displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Guerrero.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kanno looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kanno scores with a jab to the jaw.
Kanno wants to clinch but Guerrero slips to the side
and Guerrero counters with a nice low kick that buckles Kanno's knee momentarily.
Guerrero fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Kanno avoids it really well and circles away.
Guerrero misses the shot to the body.
Kanno swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Guerrero tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Kanno manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Guerrero shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Kanno sprawls well. Kanno wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Guerrero gets slowly back to his feet.
Guerrero avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Kanno moves into range and clinches up with Guerrero.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Guerrero tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Guerrero escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Guerrero swinging wildly here.
Guerrero throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Kanno stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Kanno connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Guerrero momentarily.
Guerrero tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kanno swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Kanno gets tackled into the cage by Guerrero. Guerrero maintains the clinch.
Kanno tries to pull guard but Guerrero forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Guerrero breaks from the clinch.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Guerrero.
Guerrero throws a head kick but Kanno moves out of range.
Guerrero doesn't manage to clinch there - Kanno circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Guerrero keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Guerrero wants to counter with a clinch but Kanno pushes him away.
Kanno stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Kanno wants it to stay on the feet.
Some wild striking there from Guerrero.
Kanno moves to clinch but Guerrero breaks away
and Guerrero counters with an outside leg kick.
Guerrero goes for a double leg but Kanno avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Kanno continues to drive forward.
Guerrero tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Kanno swivels and escapes.
Guerrero takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Guerrero looks for a takedown but Kanno sprawls well.
Kanno tries to close the distance and clinch but Guerrero swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kanno fails with an attempt to clinch.
Guerrero fails to land the takedown.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Salem Kanno dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Guerrero shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Kanno but Kanno pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Salem Kanno is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Kanno moves into range and clinches up with Guerrero.
Guerrero is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Kanno is defending well for now.
Kanno is trying to break the clinch but Guerrero has him pressed against the cage.
A short body shot lands from Kanno as the two fighters clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Kanno's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Guerrero tries to pull guard but Kanno won't allow it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kanno gets underhooks to prevent Guerrero's takedown attempt.
Salem Kanno has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Blake Guerrero.
Guerrero has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Kanno after a bit of a struggle.
Kanno working hard to break the clinch.
Guerrero takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Guerrero is trying to pull guard but Kanno turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kanno is trying to break free.
Kanno gets underhooks to prevent Guerrero's takedown attempt.
Guerrero keeps control of Kanno as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Kanno tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Guerrero just stands there and leans against the cage.
Guerrero gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Kanno.
Guerrero is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Kanno to keep the fight standing.
Guerrero misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Kanno.
Guerrero is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Kanno to keep the fight standing.
Kanno can't break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Kanno doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Salem Kanno has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Guerrero has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Kanno avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Guerrero goes for a takedown in the clinch but Kanno prevents it.
Kanno wants to break free but Guerrero has control.

Guerrero's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kanno with a nice cross.
Guerrero fails to land the takedown.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Guerrero.
Guerrero closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kanno lands a nice hook to Guerrero's body. Guerrero takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kanno looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kanno is looking to clinch.
Salem Kanno is winning the standup battle so far.
Kanno lands with a shot to the body.
Guerrero tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Kanno defends well and Guerrero ends up having to push Kanno into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Guerrero tries for a takedown but Kanno sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Kanno takes the fight into the clinch.
Guerrero stalls.
Kanno working hard to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kanno tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Guerrero tries to throw a body punch but Kanno avoids it by throwing Guerrero back against the cage.
Guerrero has Kanno pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Kanno manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Guerrero takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Guerrero is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Kanno to keep the fight standing.
Guerrero fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Guerrero wants to break the clinch but can't.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Guerrero can't break the clinch.
Guerrero is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Kanno to keep the fight standing.
Blake Guerrero has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kanno managing to block the knees to the body from Guerrero.

And that's the end of the fight!
Salem Kanno showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Kanno, 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Salem Kanno!