PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Connor Booth (ranked 3981 p4p, 3985 weight class) and Malachi Cantrell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Booth
vs
Cantrell

190 cm
18
265
0 - 0 - 0

192 cm
18
265
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Connor Booth!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Malachi Cantrell!
The judges for this bout are Francis DeMontford, Topper Green and Winston Howard.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Booth feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Booth trying to control the position from guard on top but Cantrell is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cantrell looking to control.
Booth stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cantrell swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Booth looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Booth wants to pass the guard but Cantrell is keeping the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cantrell has control of Booth's left arm, preventing Booth from doing any damage.
Cantrell trying to control the position.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cantrell is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Booth could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Booth is looking to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Cantrell is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Booth doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Cantrell.
Booth has his hands clasped together around Cantrell's back. He's all about the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cantrell trying to control the pace.
Booth is looking to improve his position.
The fighters are battling for position here. Booth manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Cantrell is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cantrell stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Booth swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Booth has his foot on Cantrell's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Cantrell works his way back into a safe position though.
Booth keeping moving, preventing Cantrell from controlling successfully.
Cantrell passes Booth's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Booth wants to improve his position but Cantrell is controlling well.
Cantrell is keen to just control but Booth is a slippery customer.
Booth trying to hold on to Cantrell's head to control him but Cantrell postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Booth closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Cantrell to the mat! Cantrell manages to get full guard.
Cantrell pulls Booth in close to his closed guard and prevents Booth from doing any damage or advancing position.
Cantrell trying to keep a closed guard but Booth is proving a slippery customer.
Booth won't allow Cantrell to sweep him here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cantrell working a defensive guard here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Booth gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Booth wants to sweep but no luck.

Booth is looking for a triangle here but Cantrell uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

Cantrell tries for a kimura but Booth is defending well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cantrell tries to advance to mount but Booth denies him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Booth is trying to control Cantrell's posture but Cantrell avoids it.

Cantrell working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Booth is trying to control Cantrell's posture but Cantrell avoids it.
Booth sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Booth trying to control from the bottom.
Booth regains full guard. Nicely done.
Booth manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Cantrell manages to get himself to full guard.

Booth controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Booth trying to control but Cantrell is working from the bottom.
Cantrell looking to control.
Cantrell has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Booth wants to pass the guard but Cantrell is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Booth is looking to pass into half guard but Cantrell pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Cantrell is in guard.

Booth working a defensive guard but Cantrell passes into half guard.
Booth regains full guard. Nicely done.
Cantrell wants to control from the top but Booth keeps moving.
Booth controlling Cantrell's posture.

Booth isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Cantrell stacks Booth on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Cantrell!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Booth wants to control but Cantrell postures up.
Booth tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Booth gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Booth wants to hold on but Cantrell pushes him away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Booth is trying desperately to improve position.
Cantrell avoids the attempt from Booth to control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Malachi Cantrell showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Cantrell throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Booth tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Cantrell is in Booth's guard.
Booth keeping moving, preventing Cantrell from controlling successfully.
Cantrell slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Booth is looking to reverse the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Booth manages to get back to half guard.
Booth has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Cantrell is working away from the top position though.
Booth is trying is best to control the position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Booth trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Cantrell manages to pass to mount!
Booth stops Cantrell from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.
Booth is wriggling around trying to escape.
Booth regains half guard.
Booth is trying to maintain the position but Cantrell is very close to passing his half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Booth is looking to improve his position.
Cantrell is looking to pass Booth's guard but actually Booth recovers to full guard.
Cantrell looking to pass the guard.
Cantrell trying to control but Booth is working from the bottom.
Cantrell trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Booth looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Cantrell enables Booth to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Cantrell manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Cantrell is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Booth has gone for a leg lock! Cantrell slips out almost immediately though and dives into Booth's guard.

Cantrell preventing the sweep.

Booth working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Cantrell doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Cantrell manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Cantrell sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cantrell wants to pass the guard but Booth is keeping the position.
Cantrell is still trying to improve position.
Booth looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Booth has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Cantrell can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Booth is trying to control the position from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Malachi Cantrell.
Well Cantrell has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Francis DeMontford scores the fight 28:29
Judge Topper Green scores the fight 28:29
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Malachi Cantrell!