PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Russel Kane (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tommy Keonhothy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kane comes to the cage accompanied by Song 2- Blur. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Kane
vs
Keonhothy

180 cm
25
164 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

175 cm
23
160 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Determined

Balco Boys - Hilo

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Russel Kane!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Tommy Keonhothy!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Patrick Alders and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Keonhothy avoids a punch combination nicely.
Keonhothy lands with a slapping head kick.
Keonhothy dodges the punch combination from Kane.
Kane lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Keonhothy circles away quickly and effectively.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kane fails with a takedown attempt.
The fighters circling - Kane throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice shot by Kane.
Jab, jab by Keonhothy - just one landing.
Keonhothy scores with a leg kick.
Keonhothy lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Kane circles away quickly and effectively.
Keonhothy throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Keonhothy lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Kane circles away quickly and effectively.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Keonhothy throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Kane throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Kane swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Keonhothy counters with a nice low kick that buckles Kane's knee momentarily.
Kane misses with a few strikes there.
Kane swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Keonhothy counters with a nice body shot.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Kane.
Sloppy strikes from Kane. Those never looked like landing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kane blocks a head kick by Keonhothy.
Keonhothy throws a head kick that Kane semi-blocks.
Keonhothy scores with a head kick.
Keonhothy defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Kane.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Russel Kane. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Keonhothy lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Keonhothy throws out a powerful jab.
A nice inside leg kick there by Keonhothy. That's going to slow Kane down.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Keonhothy throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Kane counters with a nice double leg into side control. Keonhothy won't be happy with that.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kane prevents Keonhothy from escaping the position.
Keonhothy is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

Kane tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Kane has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Kane is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Keonhothy has escaped the position, nice work there.
Kane trying to control the position but Keonhothy is working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Kane throws the left hand but Keonhothy avoids the punch easily.
Keonhothy slaps away a takedown attempt from Kane, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Keonhothy explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Keonhothy delivers a nice body kick.
Keonhothy misses with the combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Keonhothy connects with a leg kick. Kane looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Kane falls off balance throwing a combination
and Keonhothy makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Kane defending well as Keonhothy loads up on a big left hand.
Kane throws a big shot that misses.
An inside leg kick lands from Keonhothy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kane shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Keonhothy as he jumps to the side.
Kane misses with a wild combination.
Keonhothy fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kane manages to avoid it.
Kane throws a left and a right that both miss
and Keonhothy cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Kane looks to land a combination but Keonhothy avoids it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kane fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Russel Kane. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Decent striking displayed by Kane there.
Kane misses with a double jab.
Tommy Keonhothy is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kane chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Keonhothy can pounce on him.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Kane is defended easily by Keonhothy.
Kane fails with a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Keonhothy moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Kane misses with a takedown
and Keonhothy connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Keonhothy moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kane closes the distance and clinches up with Keonhothy, looking for a takedown. Kane pushes Keonhothy against the cage but Keonhothy circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Tommy Keonhothy seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Keonhothy throws a sloppy head kick and Kane moves out of range easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tommy Keonhothy showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Kane showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Keonhothy.
Kane shoots for a double leg takedown but Keonhothy sprawls well. He's pushed Kane's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Kane blocks a head kick by Keonhothy.
Keonhothy lands a head kick. Kane smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Keonhothy lands a nice leg kick that just misses Kane's sensitive parts.
Kane misses with a takedown attempt
and Keonhothy counters with an outside leg kick.
Kane throws a shot from downtown. Keonhothy moves away and avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kane fails to land with a series of punches.
Kane shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Keonhothy defends it nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Russel Kane. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Kane drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Keonhothy is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Kane has just dragged him back down to the mat.

Kane wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Keonhothy, who protects the arm well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kane is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Keonhothy knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Keonhothy really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Kane. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Keonhothy tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
Kane thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Keonhothy defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Keonhothy trying to get back to his feet but Kane is in full control for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kane looking for the choke from the back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Kane is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Keonhothy defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.

Keonhothy defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Will Kane go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?

Kane has got his arm under Keonhothy's chin working for the choke… has he got it? It looks pretty tight! Oh! Keonhothy has spun round into Kane's guard beautifully! Well done that man!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Keonhothy tries to stand but Kane is controlling from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Keonhothy accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Kane utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Keonhothy missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Keonhothy avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Keonhothy throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kane works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Kane is working for submissions here. He's thrown up his legs looking for a tringle but Keonhothy frees his head nicely. Oh but Kane has switched to an armbar! Keonhothy is tapping furiously! Lovely submission there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Armbar). Russel Kane!
Russel Kane is the new lightweight champion!