PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Matthew Perez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brendan Cannon (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.

Perez
vs
Cannon

180 cm
18
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Matthew Perez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Brendan Cannon!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cannon tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Perez manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Cannon gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Perez not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Cannon managing to control the position.
Cannon manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Perez manages to get himself to full guard.
Cannon loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Cannon wanted to stand there but Perez had control of the position.

Cannon drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Cannon jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cannon throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Cannon decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Perez, up you get!
Perez has his takedown stuffed

so Cannon counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Cannon trying to control the position from guard on top but Perez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cannon is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Perez not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Perez looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Cannon passes into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Perez wants to get back to full guard but Cannon has mounted him!
Perez is just holding on here. Cannon manages to take his back.
Perez looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Perez is breathing heavily.
I really don't envy Perez right now.

Perez manages to escape to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Perez shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Perez was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Cannon sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Perez is thwarting Cannon's attempts to control the position.
Perez is looking to take a break and control but Cannon is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cannon is looking to control Perez's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Cannon avoid being mounted?

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Brendan Cannon.
Cannon is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Cannon fails with a takedown attempt.

Cannon forces Perez back against the cage and clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brendan Cannon dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Perez shoots in and gets a takedown into Cannon's guard.
Cannon avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Perez stops Cannon from standing up.
Cannon manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Cannon moves to take his opponent's back.
Cannon is hanging on to Perez's back as he tries to escape.
Brendan Cannon has got the better of the ground game so far.
Can Perez hold on?! Cannon is landing more strikes to his hapless foe.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Cannon biding his time, controlling Perez.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Perez tries to escape but Cannon has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cannon avoiding Perez 's attempts to control his hands.
Cannon doesn't have the hooks in and Perez manages to turn into his guard.
Perez wants to control from the top but Cannon keeps moving.

Cannon wriggles free and stands up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Cannon throws a leg kick

and Perez counters with a takedown into side control.
Perez controls the position from side control.
Perez working away.

Perez decides to stand back up.

Cannon is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Perez's half guard.
Perez is looking to improve his position.
Cannon is trying to control. Perez wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Perez keeping hold of Cannon's head, controlling as best he can.
Cannon controlling the pace.
Perez is staying active underneath Cannon, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Brendan Cannon.

Perez drives through with a takedown into guard.
Perez looking to pass the guard.
Perez wants to stand but Cannon is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Perez trying to control but Cannon is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Perez is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Cannon tries to land a sweep but no joy.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Matthew Perez wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Perez tries for a takedown but Cannon circles away easily

and Cannon moves into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matthew Perez dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Perez with a lazy takedown attempt

and Cannon counters with a shoot takedown. Perez fights it but they end up in guard.

Cannon gets to his feet - Perez follows without any prompting.
Cannon shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Perez counters with a single leg into guard. Cannon didn't expect that.
Perez has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cannon keeping moving, preventing Perez from controlling successfully.
Cannon has control of Perez's left arm, preventing Perez from doing any damage.
Cannon wants to stand but Perez is controlling the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cannon not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cannon keeping moving, preventing Perez from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Matthew Perez just wasn't active enough.
Perez avoids the head kick by Cannon.
Perez tries for a takedown but Cannon circles away easily
and Cannon counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Cannon tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Perez swivels and escapes.
Cannon shoots in looking for a takedown but Perez manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Cannon's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Matthew Perez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brendan Cannon.
Perez shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Cannon pinned against the cage. Cannon gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Perez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Cannon paws at him with a jab and circles away.

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.

Cannon takes the fight into the clinch.
Cannon scores with a shot to the side of Perez's head.
Cannon wants to break the clinch but can't.

Perez's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Perez doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Cannon holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Cannon has Perez pressed against the cage, preventing Perez from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Cannon gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Perez is staying active underneath Cannon, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Perez works his way to full guard. Good work.
Cannon wants to control from the top but Perez keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Perez not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Cannon wants to control from the top but Perez keeps moving.
Cannon postures up.

Brendan Cannon has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Cannon shoots in but no luck this time.
Cannon tries to clinch

and Perez decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Cannon's guard.
Perez throwing strikes from guard but Cannon blocks nicely.
Cannon is trying to control the position but Perez postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cannon preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Cannon looking to hit a scissor sweep but Perez is one step ahead there.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Perez controlling from the top position.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Brendan Cannon was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Cannon shoots in and gets a takedown into Perez's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Brendan Cannon.
I think Cannon has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 28:29
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Brendan Cannon!