PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Max Dagani (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steve Kenny (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Dagani
vs
Kenny

190 cm
23
277 lbs
13 - 8 - 0

191 cm
28
267 lbs
15 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Good chin

Olympic wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 13 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Max Dagani!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Steve Kenny!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Shigeki Fujiwara and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kenny connects with a jab.

Kenny shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Dagani napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Dagani is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Kenny off and has taken his back!
Dagani tries to get the hooks in deep but Kenny pushed the leg off.

Dagani has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Kenny has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!

Dagani has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.

Dagani is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Dagani throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dagani trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Dagani controls the action.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kenny trying to control the hands but Dagani breaks the grip.
Dagani slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Kenny tries to break free.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Dagani's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.

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.
Kenny rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Dagani slips a nice elbow through Kenny's hands, connecting with Kenny's forehead.
Kenny tries to roll over but Dagani keeps him under control.

Dagani is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Kenny has managed to free his arm - good work.
Kenny tries to roll over but Dagani keeps him under control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dagani looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Kenny is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Dagani takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Kenny has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Dagani is working away from the top position though.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Max Dagani wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Kenny fails with a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Kenny closes the distance and clinches up with Dagani, looking for a takedown. Kenny pushes Dagani against the cage but Dagani circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Kenny with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Dagani to score with a decent uppercut.
Dagani misses with a double jab.
Max Dagani seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Kenny shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Kenny showed some decent athleticism there.
Dagani tries to get to full guard but Kenny has control of the leg.
Kenny wants to free his trapped foot but Dagani is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Kenny throwing shots but Dagani is blocking nicely.
Kenny lands with a punch from half guard.
Dagani is trying to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Max Dagani will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Kenny shoots in looking for a takedown but Dagani manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Kenny's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
No luck for Kenny with that takedown attempt.
Kenny slips under a jab from Dagani.
Dagani shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Kenny shoots for a takedown but Dagani saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Max Dagani has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Steve Kenny.
Dagani looks to land a left hand but Kenny moved out of range nicely.
Dagani throws an overhand right that lands on Kenny's shoulder, as Kenny tries to avoid the shot.
Dagani throws a shot from downtown. Kenny moves away and avoids it.
Dagani keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Dagani throws a jab when Kenny was well out of range.
A combination from Dagani does no damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dagani misses with a wild combination.
Dagani is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

It looks like Steve Kenny has been cut.
Dagani throws a big shot that misses.
Dagani keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Dagani throws a head kick but Kenny moves out of range.
Kenny fails with a takedown attempt.
Kenny keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Dagani.
Kenny tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Dagani was well out of range. Poor timing from Kenny.
Dagani misses with a jab to the body
and Dagani takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kenny shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Dagani but Dagani pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Dagani thows a leg kick but Kenny checks it

and Kenny counters with a shoot takedown. Dagani fights it but they end up in guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kenny lands a couple of elbows.
Kenny throws a strike but Dagani rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Kenny keeping moving, preventing Dagani from controlling successfully.
Dagani is really struggling to control Kenny but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Dagani looking to sit in guard and control but Kenny gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kenny trying to control but Dagani is working from the bottom.
Kenny throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Dagani works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Kenny working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Kenny trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Kenny is fighting to break Dagani's control of his arms but Dagani is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Kenny lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Dagani working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kenny.
Kenny preventing the sweep.
Kenny working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Kenny pushing down on Dagani's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Kenny thows a huge punch but Dagani dodges it nicely.
Dagani is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Dagani is staying active underneath Kenny, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Kenny landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Dagani is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Kenny's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Kenny's back!
A lull in the action here.
Dagani has the hooks in. Kenny is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Kenny trying to control the hands but Dagani breaks the grip.
Dagani lands with a big left hand that may well have hurt his opponent. Can Kenny hold on?!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Steve Kenny will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Steve Kenny's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Nice sprawl there from Dagani as Kenny shoots in.

Kenny gets the takedown into side control.
Kenny is chipping away with strikes.
Kenny misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Dagani is trying to control Kenny's posture but Kenny avoids it.

Kenny stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Dagani scores with a jab.
Dagani swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A telegraphed right hand from Dagani misses the target.
Dagani throws a combination that misses

and Kenny decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Dagani's guard.
Dagani controlling the position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kenny with a nice head shot there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kenny content to stall in guard here.
Dagani has momentary wrist control but Kenny slips an elbow through the middle.
Kenny stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Dagani swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Dagani 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.
Kenny working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Kenny is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Dagani holds on and takes a little breather.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Kenny jabs Dagani to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Dagani swings away with a body shot that misses

and Kenny counters with a single leg into guard. Dagani didn't expect that.
Kenny working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Kenny not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Kenny missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Kenny trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kenny scoring with punches to the head and body.
Steve Kenny has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kenny lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Dagani keeping moving, preventing Kenny from controlling successfully.
Kenny wants to stand but Dagani is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kenny has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Dagani 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.
Dagani controls Kenny momentarily but Kenny frees himself.
Kenny lands a couple of digs.
Kenny postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Kenny scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Dagani has momentary wrist control but Kenny slips an elbow through the middle.
Dagani preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kenny wants to control from the top but Dagani keeps moving.
Kenny with a flurry of punches that miss.
Dagani is trying to hold Kenny in close to prevent damage but Kenny has managed to pass into half guard.
Dagani is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Kenny's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Kenny's back!
Dagani trying to control momentarily.
Dagani is not going to allow Kenny to sit and survive in this position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Dagani tries to get the hooks in deep but Kenny pushed the leg off.

And that's the end of the fight!
Steve Kenny comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Kenny 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 Ren Mimura scores the fight 28:30
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 28:30
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Steve Kenny!