PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Keith Ronald Kernspecht (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Olubowale Folarin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Keith Ronald Kernspecht had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Ronald Kernspecht
vs
Folarin

178 cm
26
172 lbs
7 - 14 - 0

183 cm
24
180 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

Good takedowns
Decent boxing
Determined

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 7 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Keith Ronald Kernspecht!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Olubowale Folarin!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Shirou Masuda and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kernspecht is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kernspecht wants to clinch.
Kernspecht tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Folarin paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Folarin shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Folarin showed some decent athleticism there.
Folarin prevents Kernspecht from improving his position.

Kernspecht manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Kernspecht doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Folarin counters with a shoot takedown. Kernspecht fights it but they end up in guard.
Folarin advances to half guard.
Kernspecht is looking for a sweep. Folarin is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Folarin lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Kernspecht looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Folarin looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Folarin scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Folarin trying to control the pace.
Kernspecht works his way to full guard. Good work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Folarin prevents Kernspecht from getting back to his feet.
Folarin slips nicely into half guard.
Still in half guard, Folarin seems content to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Folarin lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Folarin prevents Kernspecht from standing back up.
Kernspecht tries to roll over but Folarin keeps him under control.
Folarin looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Kernspecht is trying to control but can't.
Folarin has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Kernspecht falls off balance throwing a combination
and Folarin counters with a left to the body.
Kernspecht is breathing heavily.
Kernspecht takes one on the button.
Folarin misses with a body shot.
Folarin scores with a nice strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Folarin dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Folarin digs a good hook to Kernspecht's body.
Kernspecht takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Folarin throws a shot to the body.
Folarin ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Keith Ronald Kernspecht seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kernspecht needs to keep his hands up - Folarin had a free shot at his head there.
Folarin lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Kernspecht at a distance.
Folarin connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Folarin connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Kernspecht's hands.
A shot to the liver by Folarin. Beautiful body shot.
Folarin lands with a shot to the body.
Folarin is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Kernspecht rather than just go for the knockout.
Folarin changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Folarin jabs at Kernspecht's body.
Kernspecht pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Folarin throws a shot to the body.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Kernspecht enables Folarin to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Kernspecht manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Folarin is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Folarin's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Olubowale Folarin.
Folarin lands with an overhand left.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Olubowale Folarin dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Folarin scores with a hook to the body. Kernspecht takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Folarin's jab looks to have found its range, popping Kernspecht under the eye.

Folarin moves into the clinch successfully.
Kernspecht tries to break the clinch but Folarin is controlling the position.

Folarin is trying to trip Kernspecht. He has hold of a leg but Kernspecht is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Folarin persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Folarin is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Kernspecht knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Folarin on the ground.
Folarin is standing up over Kernspecht. Kernspecht looks to escape but Folarin dives into side control.
Folarin slows the pace down.
Kernspecht sneaks back into half guard.
Still in half guard, Folarin seems content to control.
Folarin trying to control the action but Kernspecht is working from the bottom.
Folarin scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kernspecht is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Folarin scores with a couple of nice shots.
Folarin is nestled in close to Kernspecht, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Kernspecht is trying to stand back up but Folarin is controlling him
Folarin looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Kernspecht wants to get back to his feet.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Folarin lands with a punch from half guard.
Kernspecht is trying to stand back up but Folarin is controlling him
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Still in half guard, Folarin seems content to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Olubowale Folarin.

Folarin throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Kernspecht tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Folarin is in Kernspecht's guard.
Kernspecht keeping full guard, as Folarin tries to pass.
Folarin sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Kernspecht scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Kernspecht tries to clinch there but Folarin circles away.
Kernspecht misses with a hook
and Folarin counters with a stiff right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kernspecht misses with a combination
and Folarin makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Kernspecht tries to clinch there but Folarin circles away.
Kernspecht throws a left and a right that both miss
and Folarin counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Kernspecht falls off balance throwing a combination
and Folarin counters with a straight right hand.
Keith Ronald Kernspecht is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Folarin.
Folarin working the body and head with strikes.
Folarin staying calm.
Kernspecht is trying to buck Folarin off.
Folarin staying calm.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kernspecht wants to get back to his feet but Folarin drags him back down.
Kernspecht is being controlled here.
Folarin connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Kernspecht some visible discomfort.

Folarin looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Folarin taking a breather here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Folarin has knee on belly and moves into mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Olubowale Folarin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Kernspecht throws a head kick that half lands.
Folarin lands a jab to the head.
Kernspecht throws a combination that misses
and Folarin counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Kernspecht throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Folarin decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Kernspecht's guard.
Kernspecht looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Folarin puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Folarin lands with a punch from half guard.
Folarin is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Folarin looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Kernspecht with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Kernspecht taking some punishment here, with Folarin in his half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Folarin connects with a nice short shot to Kernspecht's temple.
Kernspecht is trying to stand up here but Folarin is controlling him well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Folarin looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Kernspecht with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Folarin slips a nice elbow through Kernspecht's hands, connecting with Kernspecht's forehead.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kernspecht wants to improve his position but Folarin is controlling well.
Folarin not doing much here.
Folarin has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Olubowale Folarin was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Folarin lands a nice hook to Kernspecht's body. Kernspecht takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Kernspecht swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Folarin counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Kernspecht thinking.
Folarin tests Kernspecht's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Kernspecht takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Folarin lands a jab to the nose.
Kernspecht throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Folarin counters with a stiff right hand.

Folarin closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Kernspecht quickly recovers to half guard.
Folarin content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Folarin works his foot free and advances to mount.
Folarin content just to control the position here.
Keith Ronald Kernspecht has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Folarin landing strikes from the mount.
Folarin sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Olubowale Folarin has got the better of the ground game so far.
A nice elbow there by Folarin.
Folarin pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
A nice elbow there by Folarin.
Kernspecht keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Folarin is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Kernspecht can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Olubowale Folarin is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Kernspecht is desperately trying to improve his position but Folarin has a good base and remains in mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Folarin landing strikes, looking to finish!
Kernspecht is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Folarin looking to control and managing it successfully.
Let's hope that Folarin has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
BOOM! Folarin connects with a massive shot to the dome!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kernspecht throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Folarin controlling his opponent.
Folarin blocks Kernspecht's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Olubowale Folarin comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Folarin has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Olubowale Folarin!