PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Conan Kennedy (ranked 2109 p4p, 2821 weight class) and Sam Drnold (ranked 275 p4p, 351 weight class). Conan Kennedy could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Sam Drnold's chin.

Kennedy
vs
Drnold

177 cm
23
160
6 - 1 - 0

172 cm
31
156
5 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Brooklyn Threads

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Conan Kennedy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sam Drnold!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Franklyn Lucas and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kennedy takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Kennedy defending well as Drnold loads up on a big left hand.
Drnold avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Nice defenses there by Drnold.
A little jabbing left from Drnold on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Drnold takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

It looks like Sam Drnold has been cut.
Drnold scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Drnold throws a body punch but Kennedy moves out of range.
Kennedy throwing a counter right hand but Drnold manages to avoid it.
Drnold throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Kennedy tries to clinch up.
Drnold looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Drnold scores with a nice strike.
Kennedy looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Kennedy tries to close the distance and clinch but Drnold swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kennedy throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Drnold's waist but Drnold gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Kennedy off to one side.
Drnold fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kennedy manages to avoid it.
Kennedy uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Drnold.
Kennedy uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Drnold.
Drnold keeps the fight on the outside.

Kennedy gets a clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nice body punch from Kennedy.
Drnold makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Kennedy tries to throw a body punch but Drnold avoids it by throwing Kennedy back against the cage.
Drnold blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kennedy throws a head punch that misses.
Drnold prevents a body shot from Kennedy.
Kennedy doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Drnold misses with a hook from the clinch.
Kennedy fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Drnold tries to break free but Kennedy pushes him back against the cage.
Kennedy stalling.

Drnold breaks the clinch.
Kennedy thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Drnold if he has to take too many more of those.
Drnold throws a body punch but Kennedy moves out of range.
Kennedy displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Drnold throws out the jab.
It looked like Kennedy wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Kennedy throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Drnold fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Kennedy looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Kennedy with a nice calf kick.
Drnold tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kennedy was well out of range. Poor timing from Drnold.
Drnold takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Drnold misses with a wild body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kennedy cracks a nice hook into Drnold's ribs.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Drnold walks into a stiff left hand from Kennedy.
Drnold throws a jab but it's blocked by Kennedy.
Kennedy throws a front kick aimed at Drnold's knee but Drnold avoids it well.

Kennedy clinches with his opponent.
A head punch on the inside from Kennedy fails to land.
Kennedy swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Drnold blocks a body shot from Kennedy.
Kennedy prevents Drnold from breaking the clinch.
Kennedy tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Kennedy lands a nice shot to the body.

Kennedy manages to break the clinch.
Drnold tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kennedy was well out of range. Poor timing from Drnold.
Kennedy takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Kennedy plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Drnold dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Drnold misses with a wild body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drnold throws a jab when Kennedy was well out of range.
Kennedy swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Kennedy scores with a crisp jab that stopped Drnold in his tracks.
A telegraphed right hand from Drnold misses the target.
Drnold throws a jab when Kennedy was well out of range.
Kennedy throws a sloppy head kick and Drnold moves out of range easily.
Drnold connects with a body shot.
Drnold is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Kennedy rather than just go for the knockout.
Kennedy throws a lazy right hand but Drnold sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Drnold misses the jab.
Kennedy doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Kennedy tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Drnold misses with a hook.
Drnold swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Kennedy.
Drnold tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kennedy was well out of range. Poor timing from Drnold.
A little feinted left hand from Kennedy on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Drnold takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Kennedy keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Drnold throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Kennedy stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Drnold lands a nice hook to Kennedy's body. Kennedy takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Kennedy takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Kennedy takes a jab right on the kisser.
Kennedy fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Drnold.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Drnold looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Kennedy fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kennedy tests Drnold's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Drnold takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Drnold swings away with a body shot that misses
and Kennedy counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Sam Drnold is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kennedy is looking to clinch.
A slow jab from Drnold misses its intended target.
Nice body punch from Kennedy.
Some bone on bone action there as Drnold checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Drnold misses with a left hand
and Kennedy connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Kennedy tries to clinch but Drnold is having none of it.
Drnold throws a body shot but no joy.
An attempted straight right counter from Kennedy misses the target.
Drnold cracks a nice hook into Kennedy's ribs.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kennedy takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Kennedy comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Kennedy throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Kennedy throws a quick inside leg kick.
Drnold misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kennedy.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Conan Kennedy will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Sam Drnold's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Drnold misses with a body shot.
Kennedy gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Drnold ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Drnold throws a body punch but Kennedy moves out of range.
Kennedy looks to throw the jab but Drnold is out of range.
Drnold lands a nice looking body shot.
Drnold throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kennedy keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Good leg kick by Kennedy.
Drnold throws a body punch but Kennedy moves out of range.
Kennedy moves away from the strike by Drnold.
Kennedy tries to clinch but Drnold moves out of range.

Kennedy clinches with his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Kennedy.
Kennedy gets through Drnold's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Kennedy content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Kennedy misses with a hook to the ribs.
A left hand lands to the body for Kennedy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kennedy tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Drnold's elbow.
Kennedy controlling the action here for a moment.
Drnold is looking to break free of the clinch but Kennedy has double underhooks.
Kennedy misses with a hook from the clinch.
Kennedy goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Come on Kennedy - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Kennedy tries to throw a body punch but Drnold avoids it by throwing Kennedy back against the cage.
Kennedy misses with a punch to the body.
Kennedy misses with a punch to the body.
Drnold blocks an uppercut.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Drnold in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Kennedy has Drnold pressed against the cage, preventing Drnold from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Kennedy has a couple of punches blocked by Drnold.
Kennedy missing with knees to the body.
Kennedy tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Drnold's elbow.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Kennedy lands a hook that snaps the head of Drnold backwards.
Drnold wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Kennedy tries a body shot but Drnold blocks it.
Kennedy swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Kennedy working aggressively here.
Kennedy stalling the fight.
Kennedy fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Drnold makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Kennedy misses with a punch to the body.
A nice left hand lands by Kennedy.
Kennedy is looking to control Drnold's arms but Drnold gets an underhook and turns him. Now Kennedy has his back to the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kennedy misses with a short punch on the inside.
Kennedy scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Drnold is looking to break free of the clinch but Kennedy has double underhooks.
Kennedy lands a hook to the side of the head.
Kennedy works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Kennedy misses with a short punch on the inside.
Kennedy stalling the fight.

Drnold manages to break the clinch.
Kennedy steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Drnold.
Drnold throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Drnold missing with a left hand there. Kennedy was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Kennedy takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Kennedy scores with a head kick.
Drnold throws a body shot but no joy.

Kennedy gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Kennedy misses with some punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kennedy presses Drnold against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Kennedy doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Kennedy breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Drnold ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kennedy moves away.
A punch combination from Drnold misses.
Sam Drnold seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Kennedy fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Drnold, pushing him back against the cage.
Kennedy lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Kennedy misses with the head strike.
Kennedy struggles to land a body shot inside as Drnold controls his hands.
A hook to the body from Kennedy.
Kennedy can't find room to land a body shot as Drnold controls the action.
Kennedy lands a body shot in the clinch.
Kennedy goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Drnold is trying to break the clinch but Kennedy has him pressed against the cage.
Drnold blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Conan Kennedy dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Sam Drnold's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Drnold jabs Kennedy to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Kennedy rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Drnold counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Drnold scores with a punch to the head.
Drnold avoids the head kick by Kennedy.
Kennedy throws a sloppy head kick and Drnold moves out of range easily.
Kennedy is looking to clinch but Drnold is avoiding it.
Drnold throws a good cross that connects.
Kennedy throws a series of punches but Drnold avoids them all with ease.
Drnold throws a jab when Kennedy was well out of range.
A jab from Drnold misses.
Drnold jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Drnold fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kennedy manages to avoid it.
A big left from Drnold misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Drnold misses the shot to the body.
Drnold keeps the fight on the outside.
Drnold keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kennedy scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kennedy doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Drnold tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kennedy steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Drnold.
Kennedy misses with a wild body shot.
A little jabbing left from Drnold on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
A swing and a miss from Drnold.
A solid body kick from Kennedy.
Drnold moves out of range as Kennedy throws a body kick.
Drnold throws a hook to the side of Kennedy's head but Kennedy sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Kennedy slips under a jab.
Drnold misses with a lunging right hand
and Drnold takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Drnold wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Kennedy slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Drnold gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Kennedy.
Kennedy moves in looking to clinch but Drnold pushes him off.
Drnold misses with a body shot.
Kennedy is looking to clinch.
Drnold throws a jab when Kennedy was well out of range.
Drnold misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kennedy.
Kennedy moves out of range as Drnold strikes.
Drnold misses with a straight right.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Drnold throws a body shot but no joy.
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 clinches with his opponent.
A frustrated look appears on Drnold's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Conan Kennedy has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Kennedy misses with a hook from the clinch.
Drnold misses with some punches.
Kennedy misses with a body punch.
A head punch on the inside from Kennedy fails to land.
A hook to the body from Kennedy.
Kennedy swings wildly with an uppercut but Drnold uses good head movement to avoid it.
Nice body punch from Kennedy - that landed with a thud.
Drnold takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kennedy tries to work over Drnold's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Kennedy misses with a hook to the ribs.
Kennedy misses with a body punch.
Kennedy is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Drnold can do to turn this around?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kennedy blocking some punches.

Kennedy pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Drnold changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Kennedy takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Kennedy throws a head kick that half lands.
Drnold throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Drnold throws a hook to the side of Kennedy's head but Kennedy sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Kennedy misses with a jab, cross combination.
Drnold doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Kennedy tries to clinch up but Drnold circles away and keeps his distance.
Kennedy tries to clinch up.
Kennedy lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Kennedy looks to score with a jab to the body but Drnold is just out of range.
Drnold misses with a body shot.
Nice defenses there by Kennedy.
Kennedy tries for a takedown but Drnold sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Drnold throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Jab, jab by Drnold - just one landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kennedy takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Sam Drnold has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Drnold lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Kennedy at a distance.
Drnold takes one on the chin but seems OK.
A looping hook to the body misses from Drnold. Kennedy does a little dance to reset his feet.
A little feinted left hand from Kennedy on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kennedy looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Drnold takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Conan Kennedy is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Kennedy clinches up against the cage.
Drnold throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Kennedys head.
Drnold is trying to break free.
Kennedy lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Drnold backwards.
Drnold prevents a body shot from Kennedy.
Drnold tries to circle away but Kennedy has him pinned against the cage.
Drnold working hard to break the clinch.

Drnold pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Kennedy thuds his right hand into Drnold's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.

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 Conan Kennedy.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Kennedy, 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 Jorge Garcia scores the fight 28:29
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 28:29
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Sam Drnold!