PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Max Gaylord (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yusuke Kanehara (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Yusuke Kanehara looks lathargic as he enters the arena. Wake up son, you're about to have a fight!

Gaylord
vs
Kanehara

170 cm
20
179 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

179 cm
22
189 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

WIN! Nutritional Co. - RJ

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Max Gaylord!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yusuke Kanehara!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Sosuke Kotani and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kanehara shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Gaylord pinned against the cage. Gaylord gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Kanehara avoids the head kick by Gaylord.
Kanehara shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Gaylord rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kanehara moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Gaylord throws a nice inside leg kick.
Kanehara looks gassed!
Kanehara takes a kick to the side of the head.
Gaylord lands a high kick!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kanehara dodges the punch combination from Gaylord.

Kanehara moves into range and clinches up with Gaylord.
Gaylord fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Kanehara blocks the elbow strike.
Gaylord could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Gaylord wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Gaylord is looking to break free of the clinch but Kanehara has double underhooks.
Gaylord is trying to break free.
Gaylord wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Kanehara has him pressed against the cage.
Kanehara tries for a takedown but Gaylord manages to get underhooks.
Max Gaylord has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yusuke Kanehara.
Gaylord has had enough of the clinch but Kanehara keeps him there for the moment.
Gaylord tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Kanehara's elbow.
Kanehara fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Gaylord misses with a knee to the head.
Kanehara keeps control of Gaylord as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Kanehara drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gaylord wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Kanehara has him pressed against the cage.
Gaylord is trying to break free.
Gaylord is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Kanehara pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Gaylord wants to get back to striking at distance but Kanehara won't allow it.
Kanehara drops down looking for an ankle pick but Gaylord pulls his leg out and moves away.
Gaylord works over Kanehara's head and body with a nice combination.
Kanehara keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Gaylord with a nice cross.
Gaylord scores with a one two! Kanehara had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Gaylord throws a head kick that Kanehara semi-blocks.
Gaylord throws a nice outside leg kick.
Gaylord misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Kanehara dodges the punch combination from Gaylord.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gaylord tries to bum rush Kanehara with a series of wild strikes but Kanehara uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A right-left combo lands from Kanehara.
An inside leg kick lands from Gaylord.
Kanehara takes one to the side of the head.
Kanehara moves out of range as Gaylord throws a body kick.
Some bone on bone action there as Kanehara checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Kanehara lands a head kick!
Kanehara scores with a leg kick.

Kanehara gets a clinch.

Kanehara breaks from the clinch.
A head kick by Gaylord misses

and Kanehara moves into the clinch.

Kanehara's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Kanehara closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gaylord tries to break the clinch but Kanehara is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kanehara manages to break the clinch.
Kanehara throws the kick towards the body but Gaylord avoids it.
Gaylord misses with an attempted mid kick.
No joy there for Gaylord, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Kanehara darts in and clinches Gaylord up against the cage.
Kanehara blocks an uppercut.
Kanehara stops a takedown attempt from Gaylord.
Gaylord tries to throw a body punch but Kanehara avoids it by throwing Gaylord back against the cage.
Still in the clinch, Kanehara scores with a nice short uppercut.

Kanehara is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Gaylord can't fight it off and eventually Kanehara manages to take the fight to the floor. Gaylord looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Gaylord keeping moving, preventing Kanehara from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kanehara advances to half guard.
Gaylord is in trouble now - Kanehara has advanced to mount!
Kanehara tries to control but Gaylord wriggling away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Max Gaylord dominated that round.
That's time! Gaylord's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Kanehara drops his hands momentarily and Gaylord takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
A left and a right from Gaylord both land. Nice combination.
Gaylord turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Kanehara keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Gaylord throws a push kick but Kanehara slaps the foot to one side.
A head kick misses from Gaylord.
Gaylord throws a head kick but Kanehara moves out of range.
Gaylord lands a nice looking kick to the body. Kanehara takes a step back to recover.
Gaylord throws a sloppy head kick

and Kanehara counters with a single leg into guard. Gaylord didn't expect that.
Kanehara tries to free his leg and advance position but Gaylord is retaining full guard.

Kanehara stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Kanehara moves out of range of the strikes.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kanehara shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Kanehara showed some decent athleticism there.
Kanehara works his foot free and advances to mount.
Kanehara lands a nice shot to the head.
Kanehara landing shots from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kanehara controlling from mount.
Kanehara trying to control but Gaylord is having none of it.
Kanehara is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kanehara working for a submission but Gaylord is keeping him at bay.
Kanehara controlling his opponent.
Poor strikes thrown by Kanehara there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!

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.
Kanehara lands a nice shot to the head.
Kanehara sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Gaylord knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Kanehara on the ground.
Kanehara unloads with some shots from mount but Gaylord bucks and avoids them well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yusuke Kanehara showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Gaylord misses with a double jab.
Gaylord tries for a takedown but Kanehara circles away easily

and Kanehara counters by moving into the clinch.

Kanehara gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Kanehara trying to control from half guard but Gaylord is working away.
Kanehara might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Gaylord kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

Kanehara trying to work for an americana but Gaylord has managed to regain full guard.
Kanehara stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gaylord swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kanehara drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Kanehara jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Kanehara throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Gaylord works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Gaylord is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Kanehara is controlling him.
Kanehara sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Kanehara throwing strikes but missing.

Kanehara decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Gaylord cracks the inside of Kanehara's front leg.

Kanehara closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Kanehara is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Gaylord doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Kanehara.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kanehara works his way into full mount!
Kanehara takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Kanehara scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Yusuke Kanehara has got the better of the ground game so far.

Kanehara stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Gaylord throws a sloppy head kick and Kanehara moves out of range easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Kanehara shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Kanehara seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Gaylord does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yusuke Kanehara comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Kanehara 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 Shigeki Sano scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 28:29
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yusuke Kanehara!