PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Kavanagh (ranked 4006 p4p, 2824 weight class) and John Knox (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.

Kavanagh
vs
Knox

165 cm
25
200
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
25
215
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, John Kavanagh!
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, John Knox!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Sosuke Kotani and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fight stays on the outside here - Kavanagh looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Left hook, right uppercut from Knox.
Knox connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Kavanagh misses with a head kick.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Knox! But no joy.
Knox sizes up Kavanagh with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Knox feints a jab promting Kavanagh to slip. Knox then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Kavanagh slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

It looks like John Kavanagh has been cut.
Knox keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Kavanagh slips a jab and a cross from Knox.
Kavanagh staying out of range there.
Knox walks into a straight right hand from Kavanagh.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Knox feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Kavanaghs jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kavanagh has his takedown stuffed
and Knox connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Knox gets tackled into the cage by Kavanagh. Kavanagh maintains the clinch.
Knox tries to break the clinch but Kavanagh is controlling the position.
Knox prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Kavanagh. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Knox lands with a right to the head.
Knox has had enough of the clinch but Kavanagh keeps him there for the moment.
Knox can't find room to land a body shot as Kavanagh controls the action.
Knox lands a right hand that snaps the head of Kavanagh backwards.

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

Kavanagh has Knox up against the cage in a clinch.
Kavanagh could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Kavanagh is trying to pull guard but Knox turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Kavanagh is working for takedown but Knox is calmly controlling the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knox scores with a shoulder strike.
Knox lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Kavanagh is trying to maintain a safe position but Knox gets an underhook and turns Kavanagh into the cage.
Knox lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Knox tries to break the clinch but Kavanagh is controlling the position.
A nice right hand lands inside from Knox.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Knox lands a hook that snaps the head of Kavanagh backwards.
Knox lands a left hand that snaps the head of Kavanagh backwards.
Kavanagh jumps guard but Knox stands there with Kavanagh around his waist. Kavanagh gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Knox lands with a short shot to the head.
Kavanagh letting Knox take a breather here.
Knox misses with a hook to the ribs.

Kavanagh manages to break the clinch.
No joy there for Knox, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Kavanagh is looking to counter the offense by Knox and move into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knox lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Kavanagh closes this distance looking for a takedown but Knox circles away.
Kavanagh on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Kavanagh looks for a takedown but Knox sprawls well.
Kavanagh listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Kavanagh shoots for a double leg takedown but Knox sprawls well. He's pushed Kavanagh's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Knox throws out a counter right but Kavanagh avoids it with no problem.
Kavanagh is breathing heavily.
Knox moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Nice cross by Knox.
Knox connects with a single shot there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Knox defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Kavanagh.
Knox misses with a wild combination.
Kavanagh has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Kavanagh misses with a head kick.
The fighters circle momentarily. Knox darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Knox misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Kavanagh throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Knox's waist but Knox gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Kavanagh off to one side.
Kavanagh tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Knox defends well and Kavanagh ends up having to push Knox into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Knox lands a right hand.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

John Knox dominated that round.
The cut man is working on John Kavanagh's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Knox throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Kavanagh stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Knox has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Kavanagh shoots in for a takedown but Knox shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Knox throws out a powerful jab.
Knox throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Knox lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Kavanagh tries to score a power double leg takedown but Knox sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Kavanagh somewhat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kavanagh takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Knox throws a series of punches but Kavanagh moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kavanagh fails in his attempt to clinch.
Knox has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Kavanagh looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Kavanagh. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Knox lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Knox displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Kavanagh.
A countering left hand to the body from Knox misses.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kavanagh with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Knox to score with a decent uppercut.
Knox misses the body punch
and Kavanagh counters with a three punch combo that has Knox backing up. Knox nods at Kavanagh to acknowledge the strikes.
Knox slips a jab and a cross from Kavanagh.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lazy left from Knox finds it's target.
Kavanagh takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Knox cracks Kavanagh with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Knox dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Kavanagh throws a head kick but Knox moves out of range.
Knox lands with a right hand.
Knox misses with a wild combination.
Knox connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A shot to the liver by Knox. Beautiful body shot.
Kavanagh shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Knox but Knox pushes him off and we're back to square one.
John Knox is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Knox forces Kavanagh back against the cage and clinches.
Knox blocking some punches.
Kavanagh takes a shot to the head.
Knox can't break the clinch.

Kavanagh pulls guard effortlessly.
Kavanagh trying to keep a closed guard but Knox is proving a slippery customer.
Kavanagh will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kavanagh controlling the position.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Kavanagh trying to keep a closed guard but Knox is proving a slippery customer.
Knox must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Kavanagh looking to hit a scissor sweep but Knox is one step ahead there.
Kavanagh trying to keep a closed guard but Knox is proving a slippery customer.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Knox is fighting to break Kavanagh's control of his arms but Kavanagh is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

John Knox showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on John Kavanagh's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Knox fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Knox stuffs the takedown attempt from Kavanagh. Kavanagh gets slowly back to his feet.
Knox swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Knox's corner calls for a 1-2. Knox obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Knox connects with a body shot that sends Kavanagh's belly button to the back.
Knox cracks a nice hook into Kavanagh's ribs.
A nice combination there by Knox.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kavanagh comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Knox swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Kavanagh tries to clinch but Knox is having none of it.
A punch combination from Knox misses.
As Knox looks to move away, Kavanagh throws a big counter combo but Knox just gets out of the way.
Knox takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knox misses with a two punch combination.
Kavanagh wants to clinch up but Knox keeps it at a distance.
Knox lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
John Kavanagh is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Knox misses with a double jab.
As Knox looks to move away, Kavanagh throws a big counter combo but Knox just gets out of the way.
Kavanagh bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Kavanagh shoots in for a takedown but Knox shows good takedown defense.
Kavanagh looks for a takedown but Knox sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Kavanagh. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Knox misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Kavanagh swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knox connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Kavanagh momentarily.
Knox with a nice cross.
Knox is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Kavanagh looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Knox is fending him off so far but Kavanagh persists. Nope, Knox circles away and we're back to standing.
Kavanagh lands a nice looking kick to the body. Knox takes a step back to recover.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Kavanagh is defended easily by Knox.
Kavanagh takes a shot right to the bread basket.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Kavanagh, as that shot connected.
Knox throws a right and a left that both miss.
John Kavanagh seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kavanagh shoots in looking for a takedown. Knox tries to sprawl out of it but Kavanagh keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Knox manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
John Knox seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Knox closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Knox lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Kavanagh circles away quickly and effectively.
Kavanagh with a lazy takedown attempt
and Knox counters with a two punch combo.
Kavanagh throws a jab when Knox was well out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knox looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Knox ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kavanagh moves away.
A looping hook to the body misses from Knox. Kavanagh does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kavanagh misses with a takedown attempt - Knox sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Kavanagh gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Knox counters with a stiff right hand.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Knox scores with a jab to the head.
Knox misses with a double jab.
John Kavanagh has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
John Knox is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Knox walks forward, straight into a front kick from Kavanagh.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Knox comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Knox winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Knox!
John Knox bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.