PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Kolt Kannon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joel Caputo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Kannon
vs
Caputo

170 cm
23
155 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

180 cm
24
160 lbs
5 - 5 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Great low kicks
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kolt Kannon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 1, fighting out of New York, Joel Caputo!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Alyssa Summers and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Caputo throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kannon lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Kannon misses with a low kick.

Caputo scores with a takedown into Kannon's guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

Caputo drops back looking for a leg! Kannon is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Kannon manages to kick Caputo off! Caputo jumps back into Kannon's guard.

Caputo avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Kannon is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Caputo is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Caputo wants to pass the guard but Kannon is keeping the position.
Caputo thows a big elbow that misses.
Kannon working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Caputo.

Kannon is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kannon trying to control the position.
Caputo wants to control from the top but Kannon keeps moving.

Caputo avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Caputo thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Kannon utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Caputo wants to control from the top but Kannon keeps moving.

Kannon is looking for a triangle but Caputo pushes his legs off easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Kannon has his foot on Caputo's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Caputo works his way back into a safe position though.

Kannon is looking for a triangle but Caputo pushes his legs off easily.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Caputo trying to control but Kannon is working from the bottom.

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.
Caputo connects with a couple of short punches.
Kannon working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Caputo.

Kannon has his foot on Caputo's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Caputo works his way back into a safe position though.
Caputo looking to pass the guard.

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

Caputo drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Caputo jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Kannon will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kannon working for a triangle but Caputo defends it easily.

Kannon escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Caputo gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Caputo postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Kannon is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Caputo, into his guard.
Kannon postures up.
Kannon throwing strikes from guard but Caputo blocks nicely.
Kannon postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Kannon avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Kannon throwing strikes from guard but Caputo blocks nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kannon won't allow Caputo to sweep him here.
Kannon postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Kannon looking to pass the guard.
Caputo is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Caputo is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Kannon defends well.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kannon accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kannon is in close to Caputo's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Caputo is looking for a triangle but Kannon pushes his legs off easily.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kannon accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Kolt Kannon will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Kannon tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Kannon tries to keep at a distance but Caputo has taken the fight into the clinch.

Caputo breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Caputo looks for a takedown but Kannon sprawls well.

Caputo changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Kannon looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Caputo postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Kannon gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Kannon is trying to control but can't.

Caputo is working for a submission of some sort.
Kannon trying to control here.

Caputo is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Kannon is pressing down on Caputo's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kannon throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Caputo pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kannon is keeping the position for now.

Kannon has his foot on Caputo's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Caputo works his way back into a safe position though.
Caputo is pushing down on Kannon's leg trying to pass to half guard. Kannon is fighting to maintain full guard but Caputo has managed to sneak the leg through.

Kannon actively working from the bottom here.

Kannon is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Caputo pulls his head out easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kannon is refusing to be controlled, as Caputo sits in half guard.

Kannon looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Kannon is trying to control but Caputo passes into side control!
Kannon tries to buck Caputo off but Caputo is having none of it.

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.

Caputo tries for a kimura but Kannon is defending well.

Caputo swings around for an armbar but Kannon sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Caputo's guard.
Kannon throwing strikes but missing.
Caputo wants to sweep here but Kannon controlling him for the moment.
Kannon missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Caputo looking for a sweep. Not yet Caputo, not yet.

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

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kannon thows a big elbow that misses.

Caputo is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Kannon 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.
Kannon throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Kannon throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Caputo works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Kannon trying to control the position from guard on top but Caputo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kannon preventing the sweep.
Kannon postures up in Caputo's guard and throws a big left but Caputo blocks it.
Kannon throwing strikes but missing.
Caputo looking for a sweep. Not yet Caputo, not yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Caputo is looking for a triangle but Kannon pushes his legs off easily.
Kannon throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Kannon trying to control the position from guard on top but Caputo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kannon stopping the sweep attempt from Caputo.
Kannon missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Caputo utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Caputo manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Kannon manages to get himself to full guard.
Caputo passes Kannon's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joel Caputo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Kannon throws a body kick the misses

and Caputo counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Kannon!
Kannon is looking to get to half guard.
Caputo trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Kannon wants to hold on but Caputo pushes him away.
Caputo wants to control the pace but Kannon is squirming around nicely.
Caputo avoids the attempt from Kannon to control.

Caputo with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Kannon is in all sorts of trouble here.
Caputo unloads with some shots from mount but Kannon bucks and avoids them well.

Caputo looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Kannon wants to control but Caputo is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Caputo misses with a head shot.

Caputo goes for an armbar but Kannon turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Kannon.

Caputo escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Kannon gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Caputo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kannon trying to control the position from guard on top but Caputo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kannon postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Kannon's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Caputo utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Kannon stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Caputo tries for a takedown but Kannon sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Caputo shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Kannon sprawls well. Kannon wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Caputo gets slowly back to his feet.
Kannon throws a leg kick that is checked

and Caputo counters with a nice double leg into side control. Kannon won't be happy with that.
Kannon is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Caputo's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Kannon is trying to control but can't.

Caputo is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Kannon gets back to full guard.
Kannon controls Caputo momentarily but Caputo frees himself.
Caputo must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Caputo thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Kannon is looking for a triangle but Caputo pushes his legs off easily.
Caputo working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Kannon lands a couple of decent looking body shots there.
Kannon controls Caputo momentarily but Caputo frees himself.
Caputo sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Kannon has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Caputo can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

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

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.
Caputo working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Caputo trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Kannon not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Caputo avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Caputo throws a big right hand that misses.

Kannon is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Caputo postures up in Kannon's guard and throws a big left but Kannon blocks it.
Caputo missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Caputo seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joel Caputo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Caputo 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 Reed Andrews scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 28:29
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joel Caputo!