PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Terry Bricard (ranked 3808 p4p, 3358 weight class) and Choto Kanabe (ranked 445 p4p, 403 weight class). Choto Kanabe will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Bricard
vs
Kanabe

216 cm
21
278
3 - 2 - 0

200 cm
28
285
3 - 3 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Terry Bricard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Choto Kanabe!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, John Kavanagh and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bricard misses with a wild combination.
Bricard throws a nice looking combination but Kanabe bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Kanabe has closed the distance and engaged Bricard in a clinch.
Bricard is trying to force a seperation but Kanabe has the dominant position.
Bricard is trying to force a seperation but Kanabe has the dominant position.
Bricard looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Kanabe goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Bricard is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Kanabe is defending well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bricard is looking to break free of the clinch but Kanabe has double underhooks.
Bricard drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Kanabe gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Bricard tries to break free but Kanabe pushes him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kanabe letting Bricard take a breather here.
Kanabe keeps control of Bricard as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Kanabe tries a body shot but Bricard blocks it.
Kanabe misses with a body punch.
Kanabe has Bricard pressed against the cage, preventing Bricard from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Bricard blocks an uppercut.
Kanabe wants to take the fight to the mat but Bricard manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Bricard breaks the clinch.

Kanabe pushes Bricard up against the cage in a clinch.
Kanabe throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Kanabe prevents Bricard from breaking the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kanabe lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Bricard.
Kanabe keeps control of Bricard as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Bricard working hard to break the clinch.
Kanabe tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Bricard's elbow.
Kanabe lands a body shot.
Kanabe lands a body punch.
Kanabe looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Kanabe misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Kanabe lands an elbow inside that Bricard shrugs off.

It looks like Terry Bricard has been cut.
A bit of stalling here from Kanabe.
Bricard is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Kanabe to keep the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Terry Bricard. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Bricard wants the takedown. Kanabe is fighting it off but Bricard persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Kanabe's guard against the cage.
Kanabe tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Bricard wants to control from the top but Kanabe keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kanabe controlling the position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Kanabe can do anything to dispel that myth.
Bricard throwing strikes but missing.
Bricard content to stall in guard here.
Bricard won't allow Kanabe to sweep him here.
Bricard passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Bricard misses with the ground and pound.
A lull in the action here as Bricard stalls from top position.
Bricard trying to control the action but Kanabe is working from the bottom.
Kanabe defending against the ground and pound.

Bricard working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kanabe is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Bricard is controlling him well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kanabe is trying to get back to half guard.
Bricard content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Kanabe is not content to let Bricard control the position.
Bricard staying calm.
Kanabe prevents Bricard from improving position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kanabe is looking to reverse the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Terry Bricard will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Terry Bricard's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Kanabe clinches up against the cage.
Kanabe is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Kanabe struggles to land a body shot inside as Bricard controls his hands.
Bricard has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Kanabe is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Bricard is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Kanabe pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Bricard tries to break free but Kanabe pushes him back against the cage.
Bricard fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Terry Bricard. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kanabe is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Bricard gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Bricard wants to break free but Kanabe has control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kanabe is trying to stall.
Kanabe makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Bricard is trying to break free.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kanabe stalls.
Bricard blocking some punches.
Kanabe stalling in the clinch but Bricard improves position.
Bricard with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Kanabe works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Bricard is looking for a takedown.
Bricard jumps guard but Kanabe turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Bricard is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Kanabe misses with a hook to the ribs.
Kanabe comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Kanabe tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Bricard's elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kanabe lands an elbow just above Bricard 's eye.
Bricard avoids a wild elbow strike from Kanabe.
Kanabe drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Bricard gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Kanabe has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Bricard clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
You can see the frustration on Bricard's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Bricard trying to control the action but Kanabe just sinks the hooks in.
Kanabe really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Bricard. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Bricard manages to reverse the position and now he's in Kanabe's guard. Nice work there by Bricard.
Bricard with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kanabe trying to keep a closed guard but Bricard is proving a slippery customer.
Bricard controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Bricard stands and throws Kanabe's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Kanabe tries to improve position but can't.
Bricard tries to advance to mount but Kanabe denies him.
Bricard fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Bricard trying to control the position but Kanabe is working away.
Bricard lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.

Bricard looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Kanabe is being controlled here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bricard postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Bricard throws an elbow but Kanabe slips to the side and avoids it well.
Bricard landing a few strikes.

Bricard wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Kanabe, who protects the arm well.

Bricard is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Kanabe has escaped the position, nice work there.
Bricard trying to control the position but Kanabe is working away.
Terry Bricard overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kanabe can't do much from the bottom here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Terry Bricard will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Terry Bricard's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Bricard closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Kanabe lands an elbow that stopped Bricard in his tracks for a moment.
Kanabe gets underhooks to prevent Bricard's takedown attempt.
Kanabe controlling the action here for a moment.
Choto Kanabe seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Kanabe gets underhooks to prevent Bricard's takedown attempt.
Bricard takes an elbow to the forehead.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bricard tries to pull guard but Kanabe won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Terry Bricard. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kanabe holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Bricard is pushing Kanabe up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bricard wants to get back to striking at distance but Kanabe won't allow it.
Kanabe lands a damaging elbow.
Kanabe misses with a punch to the body.

Kanabe turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Bricard gets back to half guard.
Bricard is trying to maintain the position but Kanabe is very close to passing his half guard.

Bricard looking for submissions off his back.
The fighters are battling for position here. Bricard manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bricard is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Bricard is really struggling to control Kanabe but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Kanabe must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Kanabe trying to control but Bricard is working from the bottom.
Bricard is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Bricard looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Kanabe with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Kanabe tries to get to full guard but Bricard has control of the leg.

Bricard is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Kanabe defends it well.
Bricard has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bricard is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Kanabe sees it coming and defends easily.
Bricard tries to pass to full mount but Kanabe defends it.
Bricard will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Bricard thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Kanabe on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Bricard thows a huge punch but Kanabe dodges it nicely.
Bricard wants to pass to mount but Kanabe is defending the position.
Bricard takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Bricard trying to pass the guard but Kanabe defending well.
Bricard is working hard here to advance position.
Kanabe is looking to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bricard trying to control the action but Kanabe is working from the bottom.

Bricard is looking for a kimura here.
Kanabe wants to get back to full guard.
Bricard working Kanabe over with strikes.
Kanabe wants to get back to full guard.
Terry Bricard is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Bricard stalling.
Kanabe is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bricard with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Choto Kanabe has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

And that's the end of the fight!
Terry Bricard showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Bricard, 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 Steve Montenegro scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 30:28
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Terry Bricard!
Terry Bricard took to the mic in his post fight interview and said 'I Plan on winning this thing.'.