PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rory Phillips (ranked 4782 p4p, 4642 weight class) and Justin Kennedy (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.

Phillips
vs
Kennedy

185 cm
22
180
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
19
170
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rory Phillips!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Justin Kennedy !
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Eddie Farnsworth and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Phillips scores with a one two! Kennedy had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Phillips misses with a kick to the body.
A head kick by Phillips misses
and Kennedy counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Phillips throws a left and a right that both miss
and Kennedy counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Kennedy tries to close the distance and clinch but Phillips swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kennedy is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Phillips is defended easily by Kennedy .
Phillips fails with an attempt to clinch.
Phillips gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Kennedy counters with a three punch combo that has Phillips backing up. Phillips nods at Kennedy to acknowledge the strikes.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Phillips misses with a right hand
and Kennedy counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Phillips is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Rory Phillips seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Phillips falls off balance throwing a combination
enabling Kennedy to counter with a crisp jab.
Phillips lands a jab to the nose.
Phillips is trying hard to land a takedown here. Kennedy sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
And Kennedy responds with a good body kick, but Phillips manages to step out the way in time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rory Phillips. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Phillips closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Kennedy did well to prevent Phillips getting side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phillips wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kennedy keeps working.
Kennedy blocking the ground and pound attempt from Phillips.

Phillips stands up from half guard.
Phillips attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Kennedy is looking for the big counter here.
A solid leg kick lands there for Phillips.
Kennedy blocks a head kick by Phillips.
Kennedy throws out a counter right but Phillips avoids it with no problem.
Kennedy fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Phillips avoids it really well and circles away.
Kennedy shoots in but no luck this time.
Phillips shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Kennedy as he avoids it easily.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Phillips.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Phillips is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Phillips takes a swing at Kennedy 's ribcage but misses.
Phillips throws a leg kick

and Kennedy counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Phillips!

Phillips explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
This has been an exciting period of action!

Kennedy throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Phillips tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Kennedy is in Phillips's guard.

Phillips manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Kennedy stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Kennedy wants it to stay on the feet.
Phillips is breathing heavily.
Kennedy closes the distance and lands a one-two.
A punch combination from Kennedy misses.

Phillips fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Kennedy to the ground. Phillips is now in Kennedy 's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Phillips scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Phillips content to stall in guard here.
Phillips trying to control the position from guard on top but Kennedy is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Phillips throws a big right hand that misses.
Phillips wants to control from the top but Kennedy keeps moving.
Phillips stays in close to Kennedy 's body and controls the position.

Phillips stands up from Kennedy 's guard - Phillips perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Phillips pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kennedy defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Phillips.
Kennedy shoots in and drives through. Phillips sprawls well.
Phillips throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Kennedy wants to clinch up but Phillips keeps it at a distance.

Phillips clinches.
Kennedy tries to pull guard but Phillips holds him up against the cage and eventually Kennedy drops back down to his feet.
Phillips drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Phillips is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Kennedy gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Phillips shoots in for a takedown but Kennedy shows good takedown defense.
Phillips fails with an attempt to clinch.
Phillips looks for a takedown but Kennedy sprawls well.
Kennedy is looking to clinch but Phillips is avoiding it.
Phillips is looking to counter with head kicks.
Phillips throws a leg kick that misses.
Phillips throws a right and a left that both miss.
Kennedy lands a head kick!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Phillips.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rory Phillips. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Phillips misses with a leg kick
and Kennedy counters with a two punch combo.

Phillips takes the fight into the clinch.
Phillips is looking for a takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kennedy tries to score a body lock takedown but Phillips shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Kennedy breaks the clinch.

Phillips takes the fight into the clinch.

Phillips pulls Kennedy into guard.
Kennedy slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Kennedy in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Kennedy 's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Phillips struggling a bit here.
Kennedy wants to control but Phillips is keeping him busy.
Kennedy staying calm.
Phillips gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kennedy is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Phillips defends it well.

Phillips kicks Kennedy off and gets back to his feet.

Phillips closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Phillips tries for a kimura but Kennedy is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Phillips cracks Kennedy with a big right hand but Kennedy just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Phillips connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Kennedy some visible discomfort.

Phillips is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Kennedy is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Phillips decides to stand up, so the ref orders Kennedy to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kennedy tries for a takedown but Phillips sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Kennedy is breathing heavily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Phillips pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Phillips shoots in but no luck this time.
Kennedy blocks the body kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rory Phillips dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Kennedy tries to close the distance and clinch up but Phillips swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kennedy scores with a one two! Phillips had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Phillips shoots in but Kennedy avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Phillips tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Jab, jab by Kennedy - just one landing.
Kennedy swats away the attempt to clinch by Phillips.
Kennedy is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Phillips is looking to slow Kennedy down with leg kicks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kennedy shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Phillips shoots for a double leg takedown but Kennedy sprawls well. He's pushed Phillips's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Kennedy misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Kennedy stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rory Phillips. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kennedy dives in for a single leg takedown but Phillips sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
It appears Phillips was looking to counter with a kick there.
Kennedy takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kennedy punishes Phillips's body with a nice straight punch.
Phillips shoots in looking for a takedown. Kennedy tries to sprawl out of it but Phillips keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Kennedy manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Phillips keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
A quick step to the side and Phillips tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.

Phillips forces Kennedy back against the cage and clinches.
Phillips tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Phillips jumps guard but Kennedy stands there with Phillips around his waist. Phillips gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Phillips breaks the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Phillips misses with an attempted mid kick.
Kennedy throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Kennedy walks forward, straight into a front kick from Phillips.
Kennedy blocks a leg kick.
A head kick misses from Phillips.
Rory Phillips is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nice sprawl there from Phillips as Kennedy shoots in.
Phillips misses with a takedown attempt
and Kennedy counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Kennedy tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Phillips was well out of range. Poor timing from Kennedy .
Kennedy stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Phillips.
Phillips looks for a takedown but Kennedy sprawls well.
Rory Phillips is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kennedy shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Phillips but Phillips pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Kennedy darts in looking for a takedown but Phillips gets double underhooks and turns Kennedy into the cage.
Phillips lands with a kick to the temple. Kennedy shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Phillips misses with a takedown attempt

and Kennedy holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Kennedy tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Phillips escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Phillips moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Phillips is trying hard to land a takedown here. Kennedy sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Phillips throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

Phillips changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Kennedy looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Phillips is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Phillips is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Kennedy knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Phillips stands up and beckons Kennedy to his feet.

Phillips gets the takedown into side control.

Phillips stands up.
Justin Kennedy has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kennedy misses with a combination
and Phillips counters with a lovely straight right hand!

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Rory Phillips.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Phillips, 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 Reed Andrews scores the fight 30:27
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rory Phillips!