PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Flaubert Canto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aka Sutmasnabela (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Aka Sutmasnabela has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Canto
vs
Sutmasnabela

170 cm
30
165 lbs
11 - 5 - 1

160 cm
27
160 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Cardio machine

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 11 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Flaubert Canto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Aka Sutmasnabela!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Edson Gomes and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sutmasnabela tries for a takedown but Canto sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Sutmasnabela lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Canto at a distance.
Canto closes the distance and clinches up with Sutmasnabela, looking for a takedown. Canto pushes Sutmasnabela against the cage but Sutmasnabela circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Canto keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Sutmasnabela throws a wild body kick that Canto sees coming a mile off.

Sutmasnabela feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Sutmasnabela is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Sutmasnabela throws a big elbow that misses.
Sutmasnabela stands up out of Canto's guard for a moment - Canto manages to land a nice upkick.

Sutmasnabela drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Canto manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Sutmasnabela has Canto in his guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Canto trying to control but Sutmasnabela is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Canto stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sutmasnabela swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Canto passes Sutmasnabela's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Canto seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Sutmasnabela does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Canto drops an elbow to the side of Sutmasnabela's head.
Sutmasnabela avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Canto.
Canto throws a strike but Sutmasnabela avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Canto trying to control but Sutmasnabela is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sutmasnabela 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.
Sutmasnabela is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Canto throwing strikes but missing.
Canto is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Canto works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Canto sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sutmasnabela is looking to improve his position.
Canto is trying to control the action in half guard but Sutmasnabela is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Sutmasnabela wants to sweep but Canto has passed to side control!
Canto throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Canto wants to control but Sutmasnabela is keeping him busy.
The ground and pound from Canto seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here.
Sutmasnabela is not content to let Canto control the position.
Canto creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Sutmasnabela sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Canto in side control, throwing shots but Sutmasnabela defends.
Sutmasnabela tries to bench press Canto off him but Canto keeps the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Flaubert Canto dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Sutmasnabela getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Sutmasnabela throws a body kick that misses.
Flaubert Canto seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sutmasnabela wants to clinch up but Canto keeps it at a distance.
Canto dives in and grabs Sutmasnabela's left leg, looking for a takedown. Sutmasnabela pushes down on Canto's head and hops out.
Sutmasnabela scores with a punch to the head.

Canto drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Canto is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Sutmasnabela regains half guard there - taking advantage of Canto's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Canto looks to land a strike but Sutmasnabela avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sutmasnabela is trying to control the position but Canto postures up.
Canto passes Sutmasnabela's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Canto scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Canto trying to control the action but Sutmasnabela is working from the bottom.
Canto working over Sutmasnabela with some ground and pound. Sutmasnabela looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Canto trying to control the action but Sutmasnabela is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Canto sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Sutmasnabela defending well though.
Canto trying to control the pace.
Sutmasnabela keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Canto seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Flaubert Canto wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Canto looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Canto throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Sutmasnabela's waist but Sutmasnabela gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Canto off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Flaubert Canto. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sutmasnabela staying out of range there.

Canto moves into the clinch.
Sutmasnabela tries to work over Canto's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Canto as Sutmasnabela tries to tie him up.
Canto is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Sutmasnabela has Canto pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Canto manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Canto just leaning against Sutmasnabela, taking a breather.
Canto misses with a hook from the clinch.
Canto wants to stall.
Sutmasnabela has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Canto after a bit of a struggle.
Canto is trying to force a seperation but Sutmasnabela has the dominant position.
Canto looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Canto is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
The referee is keeping an eye on Canto - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Canto wants to break the clinch but can't.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Canto tries to circle away but Sutmasnabela has him pinned against the cage.
Sutmasnabela holding his opponent close, against the cage.

Sutmasnabela breaks from the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Flaubert Canto dominated that second round.
That's time! Canto's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Sutmasnabela misses with a body shot.

Canto drives through with a takedown into guard.
Sutmasnabela looking for a sweep. Not yet Sutmasnabela, not yet.
Canto trying to control but Sutmasnabela is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Canto wants to pass the guard but Sutmasnabela is keeping the position.
Canto 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.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Sutmasnabela lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Canto!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Canto sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Canto avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sutmasnabela.
Canto on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Canto tries to get out of the position.
Canto is trying to maintain the position but Sutmasnabela is very close to passing his half guard.
Canto gets full guard.
Canto bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Sutmasnabela's guard.
Canto is stalling in the full guard.
Canto throws an elbow that misses. Sutmasnabela uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Canto's guard. Nice move by Sutmasnabela!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sutmasnabela with a flurry of punches that miss.
Canto is looking to stand up but Sutmasnabela isn't so interested in that idea.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sutmasnabela accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Canto utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Canto looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sutmasnabela is one step ahead there.
Canto is pulling down on Sutmasnabela's head to control his posture.
Sutmasnabela trying to control the position from guard on top but Canto is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sutmasnabela throwing strikes but missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sutmasnabela wants to control from the top but Canto keeps moving.
Canto is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Sutmasnabela goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

Canto shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Sutmasnabela is trying to defend but Canto finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Sutmasnabela trying to control but Canto postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Canto trying to pass the guard but Sutmasnabela defending well.
Canto seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Sutmasnabela does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Canto is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Canto landing strikes, looking to finish!
Aka Sutmasnabela has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Canto throws some wild stikes that Sutmasnabela manages to avoid easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Flaubert Canto showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Canto, 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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight for Flaubert Canto!
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight for Flaubert Canto!
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight for Flaubert Canto!

Flaubert Canto wins by unanimous decision!
After winning the bout, Flaubert Canto thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.