PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ken Casanez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jenzo Sukka (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.

Casanez
vs
Sukka

178 cm
23
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

172 cm
24
177 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Good in bed

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Inexperienced

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 Hilo, Ken Casanez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Jenzo Sukka!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sukka pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Sukka closes the distance and clinches.
Casanez keeps control of Sukka as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Casanez goes for a takedown in the clinch but Sukka prevents it.
Casanez is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Sukka pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Sukka wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Casanez has him pressed against the cage.
Sukka working hard to break the clinch.
Casanez drops down looking for an ankle pick but Sukka pulls his leg out and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ken Casanez. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Casanez closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Casanez throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Sukka is looking to improve his position.
Casanez wants to free his trapped foot but Sukka is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Casanez is working hard here to advance position.
Sukka tries to kick Casanez off but Casanez keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Casanez trying to mount his opponent but Sukka defends it.
Sukka should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Some wild striking there from Sukka.
Casanez shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Sukka sprawls well. Sukka wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Casanez gets slowly back to his feet.
Sukka throws a head kick but Casanez moves out of range.

Sukka closes the distance and pushes Casanez back into the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Sukka gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Casanez.
Casanez has Sukka pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Sukka manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Sukka is looking to break free of the clinch but Casanez has double underhooks.
Sukka gets underhooks to prevent Casanez's takedown attempt.
Sukka with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Sukka breaks the clinch.
Sukka tries to close the distance and clinch but Casanez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Sukka closes the distance and clinches.
Sukka looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Casanez looking for a takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Casanez can't get the takedown.
Casanez is breathing heavily.
Casanez wants a takedown.

Sukka pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Casanez fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Casanez closes this distance looking for a takedown but Sukka circles away.

Sukka takes the fight into the clinch.

Sukka pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Sukka clinches.
Casanez goes for a takedown in the clinch but Sukka prevents it.

Sukka breaks the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sukka rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Casanez moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Casanez circles away from the clinch attempt.
Sukka scores with a head kick.
Sukka throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Sukka's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Sukka duly obliges.
Sukka throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Casanez.
Casanez looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Sukka is fending him off so far but Casanez persists. Nope, Sukka circles away and we're back to standing.

Sukka gets a clinch.
Sukka gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Casanez.

Sukka's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jenzo Sukka dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Sukka swinging wildly here.
Sukka wants to clinch.
Sukka pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Casanez shoots in for a takedown but Sukka shows good takedown defense.
Left hook, right uppercut from Sukka.
Ken Casanez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The fight stays on the outside here - Casanez looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Casanez swats away the attempt to clinch by Sukka.
Sukka is breathing heavily.
A nice leg kick lands there from Sukka.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sukka throws a head kick but Casanez moves out of range.
Sukka looks to clinch

and Casanez counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Casanez looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Sukka gets back to full guard.
Casanez loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Casanez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sukka is keeping the position for now.
Sukka wants to stand and escape but Casanez is having none of it.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Sukka wants to clinch up but Casanez keeps it at a distance.
Casanez shoots in for a takedown but Sukka shows good takedown defense.
Sukka throws a left and a right that both miss

and Casanez counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Sukka's guard now.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Sukka has his feet on Casanez's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Casanez circles away from the clinch attempt.
Sukka connects with a high kick.
Sukka slaps away a takedown attempt from Casanez, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ken Casanez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice body kick there by Sukka.
Sukka swinging wildly here.
Casanez shoots for a takedown but Sukka saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Casanez will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Casanez looks for a takedown but Sukka sprawls well.
Sukka lands a high kick!

Sukka moves into the clinch.
Casanez drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Sukka gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Sukka's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Horrible takedown by Casanez or perhaps it was just good defense by Sukka which made him look bad.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sukka has managed to clinch.

Sukka's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Casanez shoots in for a double leg but Sukka sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Casanez takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Sukka tries to close the distance and clinch up but Casanez swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Jenzo Sukka is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Sukka has managed to clinch.
Casanez wants a takedown but no success here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Casanez is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Casanez is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Sukka breaks the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Ken Casanez will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Sukka lands with a kick to the temple. Casanez shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Sukka throws a nice looking combination but Casanez bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Casanez shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Sukka as he avoids it easily.
Sukka lands a two punch combo.
Sukka goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Casanez shoots in for a takedown but Sukka shows good takedown defense.
Sukka throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Casanez blocks a head kick by Sukka.
Casanez changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Sukka tries to avoid it but Casanez manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Sukka to the ground. Sukka escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ken Casanez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sukka tries to bum rush Casanez with a series of wild strikes but Casanez uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Sukka looks to land a right hand but Casanez moved out of range.
Casanez looks for a takedown but Sukka sprawls well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sukka works over Casanez's head and body with a nice combination.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sukka looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Casanez circles away from the clinch attempt.
Casanez fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Sukka lands with a kick to the temple. Casanez shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Sukka lands a head kick. Casanez smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Casanez will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
A head kick from Sukka lands but Casanez takes it in his stride.
Casanez is trying hard to land a takedown here. Sukka sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's two 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.
Sukka scores with a push kick.
Sukka misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sukka tries to close the distance and clinch up but Casanez swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Casanez shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Sukka as he jumps to the side.
Casanez takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Sukka is looking to land body kicks.
A head kick misses from Sukka.
Casanez tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Sukka counters with a straight right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sukka throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Jenzo Sukka seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Casanez tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Sukka pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Casanez shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Sukka wants to sweep but no luck.
Sukka is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Casanez sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Sukka's guard.
Sukka trying to control here.
Casanez is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Casanez thowing shots but they're missing.
Casanez throwing strikes here but Sukka is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Casanez unloads with some shots from mount but Sukka bucks and avoids them well.
Casanez throws some wild stikes that Sukka manages to avoid easily.
Casanez throwing strikes here but Sukka is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sukka is trying to escape the mount.
Sukka is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Sukka tries to reverse the position but Casanez maintains control.
Ken Casanez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sukka is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Sukka is bucking up trying to escape but Casanez cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Sukka is working to get back to half guard.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Casanez cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Casanez has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Sukka wants to control but Casanez is having none of it.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Jenzo Sukka.
I think Sukka has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jenzo Sukka!