PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Alexei Brovarnik (ranked 1878 p4p, 2320 weight class) and Mehdi Kanaani (ranked 244 p4p, 297 weight class). Kanaani has chosen Dr. Dre ft. Snoop Dogg - Nuthin' But A G Thang as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Brovarnik
vs
Kanaani

186 cm
24
182
10 - 8 - 0

170 cm
29
185
18 - 14 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class MT
Very strong

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Knockaround Guys Fight Gear

Brooklyn Apothecary
Brooklyn Threads

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 10 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Alexei Brovarnik!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 14 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mehdi Kanaani!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Gregory Folan and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Brovarnik is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Good work by Brovarnik as he checks the leg kick.
Kanaani connects with a solid leg kick.
Kanaani scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Kanaani lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Kanaani avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Brovarnik throws out a leg kick but Kanaani moves out of range and Brovarnik only half commits.

Kanaani gets tackled into the cage by Brovarnik. Brovarnik maintains the clinch.
Brovarnik creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Kanaani struggles to land a body shot inside as Brovarnik controls his hands.
Brovarnik lands a damaging elbow.
Kanaani on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Kanaani throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Brovarnik throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Brovarnik is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Kanaani managing to block the knees to the body from Brovarnik.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kanaani dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Brovarnik takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Come on Kanaani - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Brovarnik misses with an elbow over the top.
Brovarnik pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Brovarnik tries to land knees in the clinch but Kanaani avoids the damage to the body.
Brovarnik throws an elbow but it's blocked.
A right handed body shot lands from Kanaani.
Kanaani lands with a short shot to the head.

Kanaani has Brovarnik pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Kanaani pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Brovarnik tumbling to the mat - Kanaani dives into Brovarnik's guard.
Kanaani stands up over Brovarnik, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kanaani working some strikes from top position.
Kanaani cracks Brovarnik with a solid left hand.
Kanaani throwing strikes from guard but Brovarnik blocks nicely.

Brovarnik has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Kanaani can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Kanaani must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Brovarnik looking for a guillotine here but Kanaani defends easily.
Kanaani is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
We've been hearing good reports from Brovarnik's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Kanaani scoring with some ground and pound.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kanaani working some strikes from top position.

Brovarnik is rocked!

Brovarnik has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Kanaani can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Oh Brovarnik is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kanaani content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Brovarnik wants to sweep but no luck.
Brovarnik seems to have got his legs back now.
Kanaani is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Kanaani scoring with punches to the head and body.
Kanaani scoring with some ground and pound.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Kanaani's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Brovarnik is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Kanaani scoring with punches to the head and body.
Kanaani loads up on a big left hand. Brovarnik felt that one! He's just covering up now, not defending himself intelligently - Kanaani looks towards the ref and unloads with 3 more big shots and the ref has no choice but to stop the fight! Brovarnik can't hide his disappointment, as Kanaani celebrates the victory.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Mehdi Kanaani!
Mehdi Kanaani decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.