PBP Commentary

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

Wright
vs
Canto

185 cm
24
162 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

170 cm
27
165 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
KO power

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Powerful

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 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jasper Wright!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Flaubert Canto!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Edson Gomes and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wright throws a series of punches but Canto avoids them all with ease.
Some wild striking there from Wright.

Wright fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Canto sprawls well initially but Wright persists and gets the takedown into half 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.
Wright not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Canto can do anything to dispel that myth.
Wright misses with a head shot. Canto uses the momentum to regain guard.
Wright trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Wright postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Canto wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wright in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Wright missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Wright in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Wright throwing strikes from guard but Canto blocks nicely.
Canto is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Wright trying to control but Canto is working from the bottom.
Canto is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Wright postures up in Canto's guard and throws a big left but Canto blocks it.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Canto is on top in guard.
Canto tries to free his leg and advance position but Wright is retaining full guard.
Canto landing some decent shots from guard.

Wright is looking for a triangle but Canto pushes his legs off easily.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Wright had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Canto defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Wright throws his legs up looking for a submission but Canto uses it to pass to side control.
Wright pushes Canto away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Canto gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Wright sneaks back into half guard.
Wright moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Wright is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's four 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.

Wright is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Canto is aware though and is defending well.
Canto keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Wright's head.

Wright has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Canto is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Wright.

Canto stands up.
Wright fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Canto on the side of the head.
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 Jasper Wright will probably get the nod.
That's time! Wright's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Wright throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Jasper Wright is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Wright listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Canto dodges the punch combination from Wright.
A combination from Wright does no damage.
Canto moves out of range as Wright strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Canto has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Wright misses with a straight left.
Wright misses with a takedown

and Canto decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Wright's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Wright throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Canto throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Wright works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Wright throws his legs up looking for a submission but Canto uses it to pass to side control.
You can see the frustration on Wright's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Wright tries to buck Canto off but Canto is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Wright explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Wright misses with the combination.
Wright misses with a straight right.
Wright fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Jasper Wright seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Wright leaves Canto with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Wright throws a right hand that Canto ducks under and follows up with a left that Canto also avoids with ease.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Wright looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Wright misses with a two punch combination.
Wright catches Canto with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

Canto drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Wright is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Canto is aware though and is defending well.
Canto prevents Wright from getting back to his feet.

Canto got a little sloppy there for a moment and Wright has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Canto has managed to get both his arms back between Wright's legs - danger averted.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Wright throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Canto trying to control but Wright is working from the bottom.
Canto throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Wright works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Wright is trying to control the position but Canto postures up.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Canto's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Jasper Wright will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Wright throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Canto.
Wright misses with a jab, cross combination.
Canto on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Wright misses with a looping right.
Wright misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Wright swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Wright misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Canto with a poor takedown
and Wright counters with a straight right hand.
Wright throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Wright.
Wright throws a right and a left that both miss.
No joy there for Wright, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Wright fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Canto to the ground. Wright is now in Canto's guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Wright accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Canto keeping moving, preventing Wright from controlling successfully.
Canto utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Flaubert Canto has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wright thows a big elbow that misses.
Wright wants to control from the top but Canto keeps moving.
Wright thows a big elbow that misses.
Wright postures up in Canto's guard and throws a big left but Canto blocks it.
Wright with a flurry of punches that miss.
Wright throws and elbow that misses. Canto uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Wright's guard. Nice move by Canto!
Wright is looking to stand back up but Canto counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Wright.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wright keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Wright is trying to maintain the position but Canto is very close to passing his half guard.

Wright actively working from the bottom here.
Canto seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Wright regains full guard. Nicely done.
Jasper Wright is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

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.

Wright isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Canto stacks Wright on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Canto!
Wright tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Canto in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Wright taking a bit of punishment here - Canto scoring with strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Jasper Wright.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Wright, 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 Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 30:27
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 30:27
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Jasper Wright!