PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mario Rossi (ranked 633 p4p, 1214 weight class) and Steven Kennedy (ranked 101 p4p, 195 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Rossi might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Mr Rossi. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Rossi
vs
Kennedy

180 cm
29
186
16 - 9 - 0

183 cm
39
178
24 - 32 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Granite chin

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing
The Dirty Needle Project

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing
Vegan Gains

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 16 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mario Rossi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 32 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Steven Kennedy!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Kenichi Hosakawa and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rossi clinches up with Kennedy and pushes him back against the cage.
I was talking to Rossi's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Rossi blocks a punch to the side of the head.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Rossi creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Rossi misses with some punches.
Kennedy tries to pull guard but Rossi forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Rossi lands a shoulder strike.
Kennedy blocks a body shot from Rossi.

Kennedy pulls guard successfully.

Kennedy is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Rossi defends well.
Kennedy has Rossi pulled in close to control his posture.

Rossi gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Mario Rossi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kennedy fails with a takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kennedy uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rossi ducks under a wild hook from Kennedy.
Kennedy fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kennedy connects with an inside leg kick.

Rossi has managed to clinch.
Kennedy is trying to force a seperation but Rossi has the dominant position.
Kennedy fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Mario Rossi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Steven Kennedy.
Rossi lands with a left to the head.

Kennedy breaks from the clinch.
Kennedy throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.

Rossi clinches with his opponent.

Kennedy manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Kennedy tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Kennedy throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Rossi would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Kennedy is working an open guard so Rossi takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rossi scores with a jab to the body.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kennedy looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kennedy throws a leg kick but Rossi moved away.
Rossi throws a nice head kick!
Rossi throws a wild body kick that Kennedy sees coming a mile off.
We've been informed that Kennedy has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Rossi uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kennedy.
Rossi scores with a head kick. Kennedy tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Mario Rossi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kennedy throws a head kick but Rossi moves out of range.
A cross from Rossi lands.
Kennedy takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Rossi connects with a body shot.
Rossi avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kennedy rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Rossi moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Rossi moves out of range of the body kick.
Kennedy lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Rossi at a distance.
Nice shot by Kennedy.
Both fighters circling a little - Rossi finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
A head kick misses from Rossi.
Rossi scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Rossi lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Kennedy tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Rossi closes the distance and clinches.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A right hand to the body from Rossi.
Rossi gets through Kennedy's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Rossi has a couple of punches blocked by Kennedy.
Rossi misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Kennedy is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Rossi to keep the fight standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rossi misses with a punch on the inside.
A short uppercut from Rossi.
Kennedy has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Rossi after a bit of a struggle.
Rossi misses with a hook to the ribs.
Rossi working aggressively here.
Rossi lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

Kennedy breaks from the clinch.
Rossi scores with a shot to the body.
Kennedy keeps the fight on the outside.
Kennedy is looking to chop away at Rossi's legs.
A nice inside leg kick there by Kennedy. That's going to slow Rossi down.
Kennedy is looking to land body kicks.
Rossi swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Rossi is looking to land body kicks.
Rossi scores with a jab to the body.

Rossi pushes Kennedy up against the cage in a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mario Rossi 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.

Rossi jabbing away but nothing is landing.

Rossi has closed the distance and engaged Kennedy in a clinch.
Kennedy prevents a body shot from Rossi.
Mario Rossi has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Kennedy jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Rossi walks away with a smile on his face. Kennedy gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Mario Rossi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rossi rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kennedy moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Rossi avoids the head kick by Kennedy.
Rossi looks to land a combination but Kennedy avoids it well.
Kennedy throws a head kick that misses.
Rossi connects with a solid leg kick.
Rossi tries to clinch up.
Kennedy thinks about the counter body kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kennedy scores with a shot to the body.
Kennedy throws a body kick that misses.
Rossi seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Kennedy misses with a head kick.
Kennedy misses with a head kick.
Kennedy swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rossi throws a head kick that misses
and Kennedy counters with a nice uppercut.
Rossi lands with a nice combination. Kennedy backs away looking to recover.
Kennedy scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Rossi doesn't seem bothered though.
Rossi gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Kennedy throws a leg kick but Rossi moved away.
A little feinted left hand from Rossi on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Kennedy throws a head kick that misses.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Kennedy.
Kennedy looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Rossi seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Rossi connects with a single shot there.

Kennedy fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Rossi, pushing him back against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rossi lands with a left to the head.
Rossi scores with a nice hook to the head.
Rossi lands with a light punch inside.
Rossi lands with a short shot to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Rossi fails to land.
Rossi scores with a nice hook to the head.
Rossi tries to work over Kennedy's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Kennedy jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Rossi walks away with a smile on his face. Kennedy gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Rossi lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Rossi wants to clinch.
Rossi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kennedy moves away.
Rossi misses with a wild combination.
Kennedy on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rossi looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rossi throws a body shot but no joy.
Rossi keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rossi moves away from the strike by Kennedy.
Rossi dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Rossi cracks a nice hook into Kennedy's ribs.
Kennedy scores with a spinning back kick!
Rossi is looking to wear down Kennedy with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.

Rossi clinches up with Kennedy and pushes him back against the cage.
Rossi swings wildly with an uppercut but Kennedy uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rossi lands a hook to the side of the head.
Kennedy blocking some punches.
Rossi goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Kennedy is looking to break free of the clinch but Rossi has double underhooks.
A head punch on the inside from Rossi fails to land.
Rossi gets through Kennedy's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kennedy blocks a body shot from Rossi.
Rossi misses with some punches.
Kennedy tries to pull guard but Rossi holds him up against the cage and eventually Kennedy drops back down to his feet.
Mario Rossi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Steven Kennedy.
Kennedy lands a body punch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Rossi.
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!

Kennedy breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Rossi fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Kennedy, pushing him back against the cage.
Kennedy blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Rossi fails to land.
Rossi lands with a right to the head.
Rossi scores with a shot to the side of Kennedy's head.

Kennedy pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Rossi with a nice calf kick.
Kennedy misses with a body shot.
Rossi wants to clinch up but Kennedy keeps it at a distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mario Rossi dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Rossi misses the shot to the body.
Kennedy throws a series of punches but Rossi moves out of range.
Rossi cracks Kennedy with a good jab.

Rossi gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Kennedy to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Rossi manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Rossi lands a body punch in the clinch.
Kennedy looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Rossi lands on the inside with an uppercut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kennedy.
Rossi working aggressively here.
Rossi lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

Kennedy successfully pulls guard.

Kennedy throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Rossi is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kennedy can do to turn this around?

Rossi stands up from Kennedy's guard - Rossi perhaps looking for a knockout.
Mario Rossi is winning the standup battle so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rossi looks to land a combination but Kennedy avoids it well.
Kennedy finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Kennedy misses the shot to the body.
As Kennedy tries to get set, Rossi tries to push him back and clinch up but Kennedy manages to avoid the attempt.
Kennedy has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Kennedy shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A head kick from Rossi lands but Kennedy takes it in his stride.
Rossi connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Kennedy's hands.
Rossi pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Kennedy drops his hands momentarily and Rossi takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
An inside leg kick lands from Kennedy.
Kennedy misses with a wild body shot.
Rossi tries to counter by clinching up but Kennedy breaks away and moves out of range.
Rossi showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kennedy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rossi uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Rossi clinches.
Rossi scores with a shoulder strike.
Rossi tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kennedy blocks an uppercut.

Kennedy wants the takedown. Rossi is fighting it off but Kennedy persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Rossi's guard against the cage.
Rossi keeping moving, preventing Kennedy from controlling successfully.
Kennedy stops Rossi from standing up.
Kennedy works over Rossi with some ground and pound from guard.
Rossi keeping moving, preventing Kennedy from controlling successfully.
Rossi wants to get back to his feet but Kennedy is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kennedy in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Rossi wants to stand but Kennedy is controlling the position.
Kennedy postures up in Rossi's guard and throws a big left but Rossi blocks it.
Kennedy wants to pass the guard but Rossi is keeping the position.

Rossi manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Rossi can't find room to land a body shot as Kennedy controls the action.
Rossi scores with a hook to the body.
A head punch on the inside from Rossi fails to land.
Rossi makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Kennedy prevents a body shot from Rossi.
Rossi goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Mario Rossi is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rossi misses with some punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rossi struggles to land a body shot inside as Kennedy controls his hands.
Kennedy fails to pull guard.
Rossi lands a hook to the side of the head.
Kennedy swings wildly with an uppercut but Rossi uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kennedy tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kennedy trying to control the position but instead, Rossi has worked for underhooks and has pushed Kennedy into the cage.
A left hand lands to the body for Rossi.
Nice body punch from Rossi.
Rossi lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Kennedy.
Steven Kennedy has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kennedy trying to land knees to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mario Rossi showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Rossi, 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 Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 30:27
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 30:27
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mario Rossi!
After the fight, Mario Rossi 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.