PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Tokui Kano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryan Rooney (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rooney has chosen Belfast Boy as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Kano
vs
Rooney

177 cm
26
178 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

177 cm
19
170 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Tokui Kano!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Ryan Rooney!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, William Gold and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rooney tries a head kick but it misses.
Rooney slaps away a takedown attempt from Kano, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Rooney displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Kano.

Kano dives in and scores a takedown into Rooney's guard.
Rooney is looking to stand up but Kano isn't so interested in that idea.
Rooney is pulling down on Kano's head. It's preventing any offense from Kano, at least for the moment.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Rooney can do anything to dispel that myth.
Kano wants to pass the guard but Rooney is keeping the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kano won't allow Rooney to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kano pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rooney is keeping the position for now.

Kano postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Rooney is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Kano, into his guard.
Rooney must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Rooney trying to control but Kano is working from the bottom.
Kano has momentary wrist control but Rooney slips an elbow through the middle.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Rooney postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Kano is looking for a triangle but Rooney pushes his legs off easily.
Rooney scoring with punches to the head and body.

Kano is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Rooney defends well.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rooney wants to control from the top but Kano keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rooney missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Kano working a defensive guard here.
Kano wants to sweep but no luck.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rooney postures up.

Rooney avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Kano is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Rooney stopping the sweep attempt from Kano.
Rooney trying to control the position from guard on top but Kano is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Kano is on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kano pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rooney is keeping the position for now.
Rooney really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Kano. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Rooney has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Kano stays in close to Rooney's body and controls the position.
Rooney manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Kano manages to get himself to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rooney with a flurry of punches that miss.
Kano utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Rooney trying to control but Kano is working from the bottom.
Rooney throws an elbow that misses. Kano uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Rooney's guard. Nice move by Kano!
Kano looking to pass the guard.
Kano stops Rooney from standing up.
Kano wants to pass the guard but Rooney is keeping the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kano looking to sit in guard and control but Rooney gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Kano trying to control the position here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Rooney misses with a jab, cross combination.
Kano shoots in but no luck this time.
Kano shoots for a takedown but Rooney saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Kano shoots in for a takedown but Rooney shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tokui Kano. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kano dodges the punch combination from Rooney.
Kano shoots in but Rooney avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Kano with a poor takedown
and Rooney counters with a nice body kick.
Rooney stuffs the takedown.
Rooney scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Kano tries to score a power double leg takedown but Rooney sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Kano somewhat.
Kano looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Rooney is fending him off so far but Kano persists. Nope, Rooney circles away and we're back to standing.
Rooney throws a series of punches but Kano avoids them all with ease.
Kano checks the leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rooney stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Rooney wants it to stay on the feet.
Rooney fails to land with a series of punches.
Sloppy strikes from Rooney. Those never looked like landing.
Horrible takedown by Kano or perhaps it was just good defense by Rooney which made him look bad.
Kano circles away from the clinch attempt.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Kano.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rooney misses with a few strikes there.
Rooney scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Kano is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kano tries to score a power double leg takedown but Rooney sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Kano somewhat.
Kano takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Rooney tries to clinch but Kano is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A leg kick checked by Kano.
Kano fails to land the takedown.
Rooney misses with a low kick as Kano jumps back.
Rooney displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Kano.
Nice takedown defense from Rooney. No joy for Kano on that attempt.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rooney leaves Kano with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Horrible takedown by Kano or perhaps it was just good defense by Rooney which made him look bad.
Kano dodges the punch combination from Rooney.
Rooney misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Ryan Rooney seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Rooney feints and as Kano raises his hands in defense, Rooney changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Kano wants to sweep here but Rooney controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rooney tries to free his leg and advance position but Kano is retaining full guard.
Rooney is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Rooney stopping the sweep attempt from Kano.
Rooney controlling from the top position.
Kano looking for a sweep. Not yet Kano, not yet.
Kano is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Rooney wants to stand but Kano is controlling his posture from full guard.
Kano working a defensive guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
No luck for Kano with that takedown attempt.
Kano has a takedown stuffed.
Kano throws a hook to the side of Rooney's head but Rooney sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Kano fails with the takedown.
Rooney defending well as Kano loads up on a big left hand.
Rooney ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Rooney is looking to score with low kicks.
Kano shoots in but no luck this time.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rooney connects with a single shot there.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rooney swinging wildly here.
Tokui Kano seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rooney throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Rooney keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Rooney showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Kano closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Rooney did well to prevent Kano getting side control.
Kano missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Kano is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Rooney is trying to stand back up but Kano is controlling him
Kano is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Rooney!
Rooney is desperately trying to improve his position but Kano has a good base and remains in mount.

Kano is working for a guillotine from mount but Rooney frees his head quite easily.
Rooney can't escape the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rooney tries to hold on but Kano postures up.
Tokui Kano overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Kano swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Rooney is now in Kano's guard. A big mistake from Kano there, giving up the dominant position!
Rooney throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Kano is trying to keep Rooney in close.
Rooney trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Kano 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.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rooney accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Kano trying to keep a closed guard but Rooney is proving a slippery customer.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rooney accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rooney pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kano is keeping the position for now.
Kano looking for a sweep. Not yet Kano, not yet.
Rooney sitting in guard here, content to control.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Kano shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Kano wants to control the pace but Rooney is squirming around nicely.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kano throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Kano works his way to his opponent's back.

Kano is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Rooney is defending well though. Kano let's go of the attempt for now.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Kano is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Rooney is defending well though. Kano let's go of the attempt for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rooney rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Rooney is trying to control but can't.
Rooney is looking to improve his position.
Kano wants to take a breather but Rooney is having none of it.
Kano wants to free his trapped foot but Rooney is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Kano in half guard on the top. He's looking for a kimura... He's got it locked and he's managed to free his trapped foot. Rooney tries to escape but it's on too tight and he has to tap! Great BJJ skills there from Kano!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Tokui Kano!