PBP Commentary

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

Canto
vs
Filcic

170 cm
33
165 lbs
15 - 7 - 1

178 cm
33
157 lbs
20 - 25 - 0

Great wrestler
Counter striker
Insanely flexible

Good takedowns
Dangerous knees
Heavy handed

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 15 - 7 - 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 20 - 25 - 0, fighting out of London, Sandro Filcic!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Luis Engracia and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Canto dodges the punch combination from Filcic.

Canto changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Filcic looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Canto is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Canto seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Filcic for as long as he can get away with.
Canto lands some shots froms side control.
Canto fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Filcic tries to bench press Canto off him but Canto keeps the position.

Canto working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Canto wants to control but Filcic is keeping him busy.
Canto working the head and body with strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Filcic being controlled for a moment.
Filcic on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Filcic is trying to control Canto's posture but Canto avoids it.
Filcic is looking to reverse the position.
Filcic is not content to let Canto control the position.
Canto working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.

Canto is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Filcic is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
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.
Filcic seems a little lost for a moment, as Canto dominates the positioning.
Canto trying to control the action but Filcic is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Canto remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Canto trying to control the action but Filcic is working from the bottom.
Canto in side control lands a decent elbow.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Canto moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Canto trying to control the action but Filcic is working from the bottom.
Canto is chipping away with strikes.
Filcic regains half guard.

Canto is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Filcic has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Filcic is defending against the submission attempts here by Canto.
Filcic is not content to let Canto control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Filcic is holding on to half guard well.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Canto lands a nice short elbow.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Canto lands a nice short elbow.
Canto passes to full mount!
Canto punishing his opponent with strikes.
Canto lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Filcic is desperately trying to improve his position but Canto has a good base and remains in mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Filcic taking shots to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Canto unloading with bombs!
Filcic taking shots to the head.
Canto scores with a couple of good head shots there.

Filcic is rocked!
Filcic regains half guard.
Filcic is still in real trouble! Can Canto finish him?
Filcic on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Filcic is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Filcic on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Filcic tries to get to full guard but Canto has control of the leg.
Filcic is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Canto jumps into side control!
Filcic seems to have recovered his senses.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Canto in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Filcic taking punishment in the form of punches.
Canto in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Filcic is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Flaubert Canto dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Canto misses with a body shot.
Filcic ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Canto scores with a jab to the head.
Canto looks to score with a jab to the body but Filcic is just out of range.
Canto moves into range and connects with a jab.

Canto darts in and clinches Filcic up against the cage.
Canto drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Filcic gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Filcic tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Canto avoids it.
Canto is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Filcic can do to turn this around?
Filcic goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Filcic misses with a punch to the body.

Canto turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Canto manages to end up in side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Canto scores with a couple of short elbows.
Canto is looking to take a break and control but Filcic is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Filcic takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Canto tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Canto moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Filcic manages to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Filcic is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Canto scores with a couple of nice shots.
Canto trying to control the action but Filcic is working from the bottom.
Canto looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Canto throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Canto is pressing down on Filcic's thigh, looking to free his foot. Filcic is holding on for now.
Filcic is controlling Canto's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Canto wants to take a breather but Filcic is having none of it.
Filcic tries to get to full guard but Canto has control of the leg.
Canto is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Flaubert Canto overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Canto trying to mount his opponent but Filcic defends it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Canto working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Filcic on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Canto looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Canto tries to pass to full mount but Filcic defends it.
Canto content to control rather than advance.
Canto thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Canto keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Canto tries to pass the half guard into mount. Filcic knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Filcic is trying to maintain the position but Canto is very close to passing his half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Canto not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Canto stalling.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Filcic fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Canto slips a jab and a cross from Filcic.
Sandro Filcic is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Canto throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Filcic was covering up waiting for the punch and Canto finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Canto pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Filcic is keeping the position for now.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Filcic escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Canto gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Canto pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Filcic is keeping the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Flaubert Canto dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Canto swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Filcic scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
A jab from Filcic misses.
Canto tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Filcic swivels and escapes.
Canto looks for a takedown but Filcic sprawls well.
Canto fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Flaubert Canto. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Canto misses the shot to the body.
Canto throws a leg kick that misses.
Filcic fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Filcic tries to close the distance and clinch up but Canto swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Canto looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Filcic looks to land a combination but Canto avoids it well.
Canto shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Filcic as he jumps to the side.
Filcic looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
A jab from Canto misses.

Filcic darts in and clinches Canto up against the cage.
Filcic misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Canto.
Canto is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Filcic is defending well.
Canto is looking for a takedown.
Filcic is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Canto is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Filcic pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A head punch on the inside from Filcic fails to land.

Canto is trying to trip Filcic. He has hold of a leg but Filcic is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Canto persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Flaubert Canto is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Filcic trying to control the position.
Filcic is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Canto wants to pass the guard but Filcic is keeping the position.
Sandro Filcic has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Canto stopping the sweep attempt from Filcic.
Canto is stalling in the full guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Filcic throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Canto.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Canto with a body punch. A glancing blow.

Canto shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Filcic napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Canto is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Filcic's shoulder. That is not cool.
Filcic is looking to regain half guard here but Canto keeps moving and retains side control.
Canto is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Filcic will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Filcic is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee asks Canto politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Canto prefers to stall for the moment though.
Canto has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

Flaubert Canto has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Canto throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Filcic tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Canto is in Filcic's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Canto stopping the sweep attempt from Filcic.
Filcic is trying to keep Canto in close.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Canto looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 30:27
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 30:27
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Flaubert Canto!
Flaubert Canto decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.