PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kim Sweet (ranked 7473 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eric Cantona (ranked 3919 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Sweet
vs
Cantona

189 cm
18
278 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

187 cm
25
220 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Kim Sweet!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Eric Cantona!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fray, Ryoma Takatsuka and Micheangelo Fripello.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sweet stuffs the takedown.
Cantona is trying hard to land a takedown here. Sweet sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Cantona has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Sweet is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Sweet fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Cantona.
Cantona dodges the punch combination from Sweet.

Cantona fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Sweet, pushing him back against the cage.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Cantona.

Cantona has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Sweet uses from the top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cantona looking to control.
Sweet postures up and lands a big shot to Cantona's brow.
Sweet could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Cantona looks winded!
Sweet throws a big elbow that misses.
Sweet controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sweet trying to control the position from guard on top but Cantona is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sweet wants to stand but Cantona is controlling his posture from full guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Sweet throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Sweet closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Cantona did well to prevent Sweet getting side control.
Sweet seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Cantona has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Sweet is working away from the top position though.

Sweet is looking for a kimura but Cantona is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Sweet to get the leverage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cantona is looking for a sweep. Sweet is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Sweet wants to take a breather but Cantona is having none of it.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Nice takedown defense from Cantona. No joy for Sweet on that attempt.
Sweet has a takedown stuffed.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sweet tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Cantona closes the distance and clinches up with Sweet, looking for a takedown. Cantona pushes Sweet against the cage but Sweet circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Kim Sweet has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Eric Cantona.
Cantona throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

Cantona closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Sweet is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Cantona gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Sweet pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Cantona misses with a head kick.
Sweet tries to counter with a takedown but Cantona is quick to defend against it.

Cantona takes the fight into the clinch.
Cantona is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Sweet to keep the fight standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sweet can't get the takedown.
Sweet wants to take the fight to the mat but Cantona manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Cantona drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Sweet gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Sweet can't break the clinch.
Cantona is looking to control Sweet's arms but Sweet gets an underhook and turns him. Now Cantona has his back to the cage.
Sweet misses with an elbow over the top.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Sweet tightens his grip and picks Cantona up, before dumping him to the ground. Cantona manages to land in guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sweet wants to stand and escape but instead Cantona has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

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

A close round but Eric Cantona will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Sweet darts in looking for a takedown but Cantona gets double underhooks and turns Sweet into the cage.

Cantona clinches with his opponent.
Sweet wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Sweet drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Sweet has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Cantona is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kim Sweet. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Cantona tries for a takedown but Sweet manages to get underhooks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Cantona pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Cantona is breathing heavily.

Cantona clinches with his opponent.
Sweet tries to score a body lock takedown but Cantona shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cantona tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Sweet is looking for a takedown.
Sweet fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Sweet looking to slow down the pace here.

Sweet has hold of one of Cantona's legs. Cantona is fighting the takedown attempt but Sweet gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.

Cantona is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Cantona works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.

Cantona manages to break the clinch.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Sweet is defended easily by Cantona.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cantona gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Cantona breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cantona looks for a takedown but Sweet sprawls well.
Cantona misses with a takedown attempt - Sweet sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cantona moves into the clinch.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Sweet can't break the clinch.
Cantona leaning his opponent against the cage.

Cantona pulls guard effortlessly.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sweet trying to stand up but can't free himself from Cantona's guard.
Eric Cantona has got the better of the ground game so far.
Sweet loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Sweet stands and throws Cantona's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Sweet scoring with punches and elbows.

Sweet decides to take the fight back to the feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sweet will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eric Cantona 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!

Sweet shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Sweet is looking for a kimura but Cantona is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Sweet to get the leverage.
Sweet wants to free his trapped foot but Cantona is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Cantona blocking the ground and pound attempt from Sweet.
Cantona takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sweet blocks the strikes from Cantona.
Nice strikes from Sweet there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cantona is looking to improve his position.
Sweet tries to stand and escape but Cantona is controlling the position.
Sweet is controlling the pace.
The fighters are battling for position here. Cantona manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

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.
Sweet trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Sweet controlling from the top position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Cantona blocks a jab.
Sweet tries for a takedown but Cantona circles away easily

and Cantona holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Cantona tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Sweet just stands there and leans against the cage.
Cantona throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Sweet blocks it with crossed arms.

Sweet's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Cantona shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Sweet pinned against the cage. Sweet gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sweet shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Sweet throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Cantona's waist but Cantona gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Sweet off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kim Sweet. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cantona changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Sweet tries to avoid it but Cantona manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Sweet to the ground. Sweet escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Cantona circles away from the clinch attempt.
Cantona tries to counter by closing the distance.

Sweet fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Cantona to the ground. Sweet is now in Cantona's guard.
Cantona is trying to hold Sweet in close to prevent damage but Sweet has managed to pass into half guard.
Sweet drops an elbow to the side of Cantona's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sweet is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Sweet sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Cantona defending well though.
Sweet is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Cantona wants to get back to full guard but Sweet has mounted him!
Cantona is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

Sweet is working for a guillotine from mount but Cantona frees his head quite easily.
Cantona squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kim Sweet showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Cantona has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Colin Fray scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 29:28
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Kim Sweet!