PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Zeke Rage (ranked 1865 p4p, 187 weight class) and Tom Can (ranked 4745 p4p, 359 weight class). Tom Can acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Rage
vs
Can

170 cm
20
145 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

170 cm
19
150 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Cuts easily

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Can Moonwalk

Aspire Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Zeke Rage!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Tom Can!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Sergei Dronov and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A clash of legs there as Can blocks the low kick.
Can replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Rage blocks it well.
Rage misses with an attempted mid kick.
A countering left hand to the body from Can misses.
Rage throws a leg kick
and Can counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Rage scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
A swing and a miss from Can.
Can shoots in looking for a takedown. Rage tries to sprawl out of it but Can keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Rage manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Can sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Rage lands with a kick to the temple. Can shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Zeke Rage seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Can fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rage manages to avoid it.
Rage lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Can fails with a takedown attempt.
Can has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Zeke Rage is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
An inside leg kick lands from Rage.
Rage definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Rage is looking to chop away at Can's legs.
Can shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Rage but Rage pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Zeke Rage has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tom Can.
Rage lands with a kick to the temple. Can shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rage fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Can is out of range.
A head kick misses from Rage.
Can checks the leg kick nicely there.
Rage throws out a leg kick but Can moves out of range and Rage only half commits.
Rage throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
A clash of legs there as Can blocks the low kick.
A nice side step and Can releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Rage cracks the inside of Can's front leg.
Can stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Rage.
Can tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Can checks a leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Can attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Can avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Can motions for Rage to come forward. Can throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Rage throws a half hearted mid kick.
Can fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Rage lands a nice looking kick to the body. Can takes a step back to recover.
Rage lands a head kick!
Good leg kick by Rage there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
No joy there for Can, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rage throws a nice head kick!
Rage misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Rage looks for the body kick but Can saw that one coming.
Can misses with a jab to the body
and Rage counters with a nice body kick.
Can avoids the head kick by Rage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rage misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Rage delivers a nice body kick.
Rage is looking to slow Can down with leg kicks.

Can drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Rage tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Rage has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Can can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Rage knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Can on the ground.
Can throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zeke Rage dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Can has a takedown stuffed.
As Can backs away, Rage returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Can wants to land a leg kick but Rage is out of range.
Zeke Rage is winning the standup battle so far.
Can throws a combination that misses
and Rage counters with a big head kick but Can shrugs it off.

Can manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Rage on his heels. He'll look to pass Rage's guard now, I'm sure.

Rage working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Can doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Can manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Rage has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Can can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Can tries to free his leg and advance position but Rage is retaining full guard.
Rage avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Rage tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rage avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Can postures up.
Rage preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Can stands up over Rage, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Rage utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Rage is looking for a triangle but Can pushes his legs off easily.
Can throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Rage is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Can is aware though and is defending well.
Rage avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Can postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Rage working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Can.

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

Rage is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Can postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Can slips nicely into half guard.

Can is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Rage defends it well.
Can prevents Rage from standing back up.

Can is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Rage sees it coming and defends easily.
Can sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Rage defending well though.
Can passes the guard and advances to mount!
Can has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rage tries to reverse the position but Can maintains control.

Can goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Rage is on top in guard.

Can has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Rage can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Rage engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Rage postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Can is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Rage, into his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Can passes Rage's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Rage looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

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

Can wants to work for an arm triangle but Rage is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Rage with the active half guard here but Can passes nicely into side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Can working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Can showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Rage walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Can checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Can shoots for a double leg takedown but Rage sprawls well. He's pushed Can's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Rage is looking to slow Can down with leg kicks.
An inside leg kick from Rage misses.
Rage scores with a head kick. Can tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Rage is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Can can do to turn this around?
A slapping leg kick lands for Rage.
Can's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Rage finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
And Can responds with a good body kick, but Rage manages to step out the way in time.
Can throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Rage's waist but Rage gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Can off to one side.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Can looks to land a body kick but Rage moved away.
Can stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Rage.
A clash of legs there as Can blocks the low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rage cracks the inside of Can's front leg.
Rage throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Rage throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Rage lands a front kick.
Rage scores with a leg kick.
Can moves out of range of the body kick from Rage.
Can tries for a takedown but Rage circles away easily
and Rage counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Zeke Rage has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tom Can.
Rage throws a body kick that misses.
Can is looking for the big counter here.
Can shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Rage pinned against the cage. Rage gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rage takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Rage scores with a leg kick.
A solid leg kick lands there for Rage.
Rage throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
A chopping leg kick lands by Rage.
Nice takedown defense from Rage. No joy for Can on that attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rage misses with a low kick.
Rage throws a body kick that misses.
Rage throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Rage throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
An inside leg kick lands from Rage.
Rage scores with a leg kick.
Rage fakes the leg kick and cracks Can in the body.
Rage displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Can.
Rage pivots, looking for a leg kick but Can is out of range and Rage settles back down.
Can has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Rage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Can misses with a takedown
and Rage counters with a thumping low kick.
Rage lands a front kick.
Rage lands with a nice body kick.
Can swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Rage tried to counter with a leg kick but Can avoided it.
Rage feints and then cracks Can's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Can down.
A nice inside leg kick there by Rage. That's going to slow Can down.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rage keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Rage looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zeke Rage showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Rage has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 29:27
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 29:27
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 29:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zeke Rage!
After the fight, Zeke Rage was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.