PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Goku san (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jay Kernes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kernes is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Reign Supreme - Persevere And Overcome. Goku san had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

san
vs
Kernes

200 cm
23
230 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

193 cm
22
275 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Goku san!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jay Kernes!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Chris Downing and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck for san with that takedown attempt.
Kernes fails with the takedown

and san counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Kernes's guard now.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
san trying to control the position from guard on top but Kernes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kernes wants to sweep but no luck.
Kernes controls san momentarily but san frees himself.
Kernes is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
san trying to control but Kernes is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
san trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
san's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
san pushing down on Kernes's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Kernes won't allow san to pass to mount.
san moves nicely into side control.
san fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Kernes is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
san is looking to take a break and control but Kernes is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Kernes is looking to reverse the position.
san moves into full mount!
san lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by san.
san avoids the attempt from Kernes to control.
san wants to control the pace but Kernes is squirming around nicely.
san looking to control and managing it successfully.
san can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Kernes is looking to escape.

san goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Kernes is on top in guard.
san is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
san avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
san looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kernes is one step ahead there.

san looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Kernes postures up in san's guard and throws a big left but san blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Kernes sitting in guard, not really doing much.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
san looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
san wants to hit a switch here but Kernes passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for san there!
san is wriggling around trying to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Goku san dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Kernes misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
No luck for san with that takedown attempt.
Kernes with a poor takedown

and san counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
san tries to pass to full mount but Kernes defends it.
Kernes on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
san is stalling here. Kernes is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! san seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Kernes has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Kernes scoring with punches and elbows.
Kernes tries to stand but san is controlling his head.
san is in a bad spot here and he knows it... just holding on for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kernes tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Goku san overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
san tries to improve position but can't.

Kernes thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
san tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Kernes wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Kernes is looking to take a break and control but san is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Kernes has his takedown stuffed

and san counters with a nice double leg into guard.
san trying to control but Kernes is working from the bottom.
san stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kernes swivels though and keeps the full guard.
san slips nicely into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
san seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Kernes does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
san works his foot free and advances to mount.

san goes for an armbar but Kernes turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Kernes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kernes wants to control from the top but san keeps moving.
Kernes scoring with some ground and pound.

Kernes has gone for a leg lock! san slips out almost immediately though and dives into Kernes's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Goku san dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

san misses with a takedown attempt
and Kernes counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. san is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Kernes fails with the takedown

and san counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Kernes's guard now.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kernes is trying to keep san in close.
san throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kernes works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting san here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
san won't allow Kernes to sweep him here.
san pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kernes is keeping the position for now.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kernes keeping moving, preventing san from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kernes preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Kernes is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Kernes throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Kernes thows an elbow strike that misses. san gets hold of full guard and has managed to get a loose guillotine attempt. Kernes doesn't seem too bothered but san quickly shifts his position and has tightened the hold! Kernes is in big trouble now - he's going a funny colour - he's tapping out! Nice finish there! Kernes really should have spotted the danger earlier though... either incompetence or over-confidence has resulted in a big L on his record.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Goku san!