PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between jahai canty (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anderson Rua (ranked 0 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.

canty
vs
Rua

153 cm
19
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

168 cm
20
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
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, jahai canty!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Anderson Rua!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

canty shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than canty was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rua wants to control but canty is having none of it.
canty lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rua avoids a series of strikes thrown by canty.
canty controlling the pace for now.
canty raining down shots from the mount!
canty controlling the position easily from mount.
canty lands a big elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua is trying to reverse the position but instead canty has taken his back - oops!
canty controlling the position well here. Rua rolled but canty kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
canty is not going to allow Rua to sit and survive in this position.
Rua holding both canty 's hands and preventing any damage.
I really don't envy Rua right now.
canty could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
canty is not going to allow Rua to sit and survive in this position.

Rua showing good submission defense here.

canty tightening his grip on Rua, looking for the choke.
Rua wants to get back to his feet.
Rua is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A bit of a pause in the action here. canty controlling the positon.
canty tries to keep control of the position but Rua is staying busy.
canty not allowing Rua to control his hands.

canty has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Rua has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
canty is breathing heavily.
canty tries to keep control of the position but Rua is staying busy.

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.
canty not allowing Rua to control his hands.
canty is hanging on to Rua's back as he tries to escape.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
canty misses with an elbow to the head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rua trying to control but not successfully.
Rua wants to escape the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

canty keeps the fight on the outside.
canty throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

Rua takes the fight into the clinch.
Rua landing knees to the head.
canty wants to break free but Rua has control.
Rua wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Rua has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. canty avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
canty prevents the takedown attempt.
canty is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Rua gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Rua pulls guard.
canty slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Rua can't do much from the bottom here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
canty is looking to take a break and control but Rua is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
canty blocks the strikes from Rua.
canty connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Rua some visible discomfort.
canty trying to control the action but Rua is working from the bottom.
canty tries to score with some ground and pound. Rua controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Rua wants to get back to his feet.
canty in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.

That's two 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.
Rua tries to improve position but can't.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Rua clinches with his opponent.
Rua jumps guard but canty stands there with Rua around his waist. Rua gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
jahai canty has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anderson Rua.
Rua can't break the clinch.
canty drops down looking for an ankle pick but Rua pulls his leg out and moves away.
Rua connects with a high kick.
canty circles away from the clinch attempt.

Rua closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
canty manages to work his way to half guard, despite Rua's best efforts.
canty is not content to let Rua control the position.
Rua wants to stand but his hand is trapped. canty uses the opportunity to regain full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua trying to control the position from guard on top but canty is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rua stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. canty swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Rua forces his way into half guard.
Rua keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Rua wants to get back to his feet.
canty is trying to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

canty manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Rua - that will leave a mark!
Rua blocks the body kick.
canty looks for a takedown but Rua sprawls well.
Rua shoots and misses

and canty counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by canty.
canty has had enough of the clinch but Rua keeps him there for the moment.
Rua is trying to break free.
Rua wants to break free but canty has control.
canty tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Rua just stands there and leans against the cage.
canty fails to pull guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anderson Rua showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Rua closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
canty wants to control the action here but instead Rua manages to pass to full mount!

Rua moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, canty has worked his arm free - good work by canty!
canty tries to improve position but can't.
canty is trying to get back to his feet.

Rua stands up.

canty decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rua looks like he's trying to stand up.
Rua is trying to control but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
canty lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Rua pushes canty off looking to stand but canty dives back in and keeps control.
canty prevents Rua from improving his position.
Rua is looking to control canty's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Rua avoid being mounted?
Rua looks like he's trying to stand up.

Rua has one foot on canty's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

That's two 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.
Rua tries to clinch

and canty counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Rua working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. canty doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. canty manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

canty decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
canty lands with a kick to the temple. Rua shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
canty fails to land the takedown.
canty looks frusrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Rua feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua chips away with some ground and pound.
jahai canty overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

canty working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Rua doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Rua manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
canty throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Rua preventing the sweep.
Rua controls from within his opponent's guard.
canty keeping moving, preventing Rua from controlling successfully.
Rua controlling from the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Rua preventing the sweep.
canty has control of Rua's left arm, preventing Rua from doing any damage.

Rua stands and steps away. canty gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

canty drives through with a takedown into guard.
canty postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

And that's the end of the fight!
jahai canty showed his dominance in that final round.
I think canty has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... jahai canty!