PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between James Monroe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eric Cantona (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.

Monroe
vs
Cantona

190 cm
18
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
21
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Inexperienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Very confident

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, James Monroe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Eric Cantona!
The judges for this bout are Paul Gruel, Colin Fray and Josh West.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cantona walks into a straight right hand from Monroe.
Monroe takes a swing at Cantona's ribcage but misses.
Monroe misses with a looping right.
Monroe stuffs the takedown attempt from Cantona. Cantona gets slowly back to his feet.
Cantona avoids the body shot from Monroe.
Cantona uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Monroe.
Cantona tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Monroe swivels and escapes.
Monroe darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Cantona looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
James Monroe has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Eric Cantona.
Monroe scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Cantona staying out of range there.
Cantona shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Monroe sprawls well. Monroe wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Cantona gets slowly back to his feet.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Cantona is defended easily by Monroe.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Monroe. Cantona does a little dance to reset his feet.
Monroe misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A shot to the liver by Monroe. Beautiful body shot.
Monroe scores with a jab.
Cantona looks to land a body kick but Monroe moved away.
Cantona wants to clinch.
Monroe misses with a right hand
and Cantona connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Cantona doesn't manage to clinch there - Monroe circles away.
Cantona shoots in looking for a takedown but Monroe manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Cantona's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Monroe leaves Cantona with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Monroe slaps away a takedown attempt from Cantona, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Cantona looks winded!
Monroe lands the left hand.
Monroe circles away from the clinch attempt.
Cantona fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Cantona takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cantona shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Monroe counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Cantona thinking.
Cantona ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Monroe moves away.
Monroe takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Monroe throws out a loose jab but Cantona uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A left lands for Monroe.
Monroe misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Cantona.
Monroe scores with a shot to the body.
Cantona tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Monroe swivels and escapes.
Cantona keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Cantona tries to close the distance and clinch up but Monroe swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Cantona ducks right into an uppercut from Monroe.
Monroe blocks a head kick by Cantona.
Monroe lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
A shot to the body from Monroe misses
and Cantona counters with a nice uppercut.
Monroe is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Cantona fails with a takedown attempt.
Monroe lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Monroe scores with a crisp jab that stopped Cantona in his tracks.
Monroe swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Monroe throws a right hand that Cantona ducks under and follows up with a left that Cantona also avoids with ease.
Monroe cracks Cantona with an open hand slap.
Nice straight punches there by Monroe. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Monroe.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cantona gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Monroe.
Monroe showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Cantona.
Monroe throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sloppy strikes from Monroe. Those never looked like landing.
Monroe throws a jab when Cantona was well out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Cantona gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Monroe.
Monroe circles away from the clinch attempt.
Cantona takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Cantona darts in trying to clinch
and Monroe counters with a right hand to the body.
Monroe scores with a jab to the body.
Monroe jabs Cantona to the body, keeping him at a distance.
A left lands for Monroe.
Cantona's jab looks to have found its range, popping Monroe under the eye.
Monroe lands a nice hook to Cantona's body. Cantona takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Cantona takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Cantona on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Eric Cantona is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Monroe throws a predictable looking body shot
and Cantona connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Cantona is trying desperately to land a takedown but Monroe is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Cantona.
Cantona steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Monroe.
Cantona tries to close the distance and clinch up but Monroe swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Monroe misses with a wild body shot.
Monroe slaps away a takedown attempt from Cantona, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Cantona with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Monroe to score with a decent uppercut.

Cantona closes the distance and pushes Monroe back into the cage.
Monroe tries to break the clinch but Cantona is controlling the position.
Monroe wants a takedown.

Cantona jumps guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Monroe is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cantona is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Monroe defends well.
Monroe content to stall in guard here.

Cantona is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Cantona is breathing heavily.
Monroe trying to control the position from guard on top but Cantona is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Monroe slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

We're going to have a standup here because James Monroe wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Cantona takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Nice uppercut lands for Monroe. That snapped Cantona's head back.
Cantona uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Monroe.
James Monroe is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Cantona dives in and grabs Monroe's left leg, looking for a takedown. Monroe pushes down on Cantona's head and hops out.
Cantona bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Cantona shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Monroe as he jumps to the side.
James Monroe has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Eric Cantona.
Monroe throws a nice looking combination but Cantona bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Cantona shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Monroe sprawls well. Monroe wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Cantona gets slowly back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cantona needs to keep his hands up - Monroe had a free shot at his head there.
The fighters circle momentarily. Monroe darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
James Monroe is winning the standup battle so far.
Monroe just misses with a punch to the body.
Monroe throws a body punch but Cantona moves out of range.
Monroe works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Monroe defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Cantona.
Cantona takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cantona closes the distance and clinches up with Monroe, looking for a takedown. Cantona pushes Monroe against the cage but Monroe circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Monroe bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Cantona's head backwards.
Monroe with a jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Cantona is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Monroe fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Cantona manages to avoid it.
Cantona is looking to clinch.
Monroe throws a right and a left that both miss.
Monroe jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Cantona.
A shot to the liver by Monroe. Beautiful body shot.
Cantona tries to score a power double leg takedown but Monroe sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Cantona somewhat.
Cantona takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Cantona shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Monroe sprawls well. Monroe wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Cantona gets slowly back to his feet.
James Monroe has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Eric Cantona.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Monroe throws a series of punches but Cantona avoids them all with ease.
Monroe smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Cantona tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Monroe manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Cantona shoots in for a takedown but Monroe shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Monroe lands a jab.
Cantona shoots in looking for a takedown. Monroe tries to sprawl out of it but Cantona keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Monroe manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Monroe ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Cantona moves away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Monroe. Cantona does a little dance to reset his feet.
Cantona misses with a takedown attempt - Monroe sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
A combination from Monroe does no damage.
Monroe scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Monroe throws a series of punches but Cantona moves out of range.
Cantona tries to clinch but Monroe moves out of range.
Monroe scores with a body shot.
Monroe throws a shot to the body.
Monroe keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Cantona.
Cantona slips under a jab.
Monroe stuffs the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cantona tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Monroe swivels and escapes.
Cantona takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Cantona has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Monroe finds it's way round the side to connect with Cantona's head.
Monroe throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
James Monroe is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Monroe jabs at Cantona's body.
The fighters circle momentarily. Monroe darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Cantona uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Monroe.
Cantona misses with a two punch combination.
Jab from Monroe.
Cantona tries to move into range but Monroe moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Monroe misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jab, jab by Monroe - just one landing.
Monroe defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Cantona.
Monroe connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Monroe connects with a looping right hand.
Monroe comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Cantona gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Cantona shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Cantona slips a jab and a cross from Monroe.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cantona takes a shot right to the bread basket.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cantona misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Eric Cantona has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Monroe connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Monroe showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Monroe, 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 Paul Gruel scores the fight 30:27
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 30:27
Judge Josh West scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Monroe!