PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between James Kennedy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paul Casio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kennedy comes to the cage accompanied by MegaDeth - Symphony of Destruction. 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.

Kennedy
vs
Casio

193 cm
26
275 lbs
14 - 6 - 0

199 cm
23
284 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Very strong

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 14 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, James Kennedy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Paul Casio!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, John Roberts and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kennedy bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Kennedy looking to control but instead Casio has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Kennedy wants to free his trapped foot but Casio is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Kennedy is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Kennedy missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Kennedy stops Casio from getting back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kennedy wants to advance to full mount but Casio doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kennedy trying to control but Casio is working from the bottom.
Kennedy controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

James Kennedy has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Kennedy gets a takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kennedy is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Kennedy trying to control the action but Casio is working from the bottom.
Kennedy is looking to stall here but Casio recovers full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Casio preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Kennedy stays in close to Casio's body and controls the position.
Casio keeping moving, preventing Kennedy from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

James Kennedy has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Kennedy looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Casio!
Casio is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Kennedy looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Casio is wriggling around trying to escape.

Kennedy goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Casio is on top in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Kennedy 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.

Kennedy misses with an uppercut.
Casio tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kennedy paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Kennedy drives through with a takedown into Casio's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Casio is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Kennedy controlling from the top position.
Casio keeping moving, preventing Kennedy from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kennedy throws and elbow that misses. Casio uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Kennedy's guard. Nice move by Casio!

Kennedy has his foot on Casio's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Casio works his way back into a safe position though.
Kennedy wants to sweep but no luck.
Kennedy is trying to control the position but Casio postures up.

Kennedy is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Casio drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Kennedy dives on top into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kennedy throws a big right hand that misses.
Kennedy looking to sit in guard and control but Casio gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Casio postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Casio postures up.
Kennedy has control of Casio's left arm, preventing Casio from doing any damage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Casio's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

It looks like James Kennedy has been cut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Casio would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Casio looking to sit in guard and control but Kennedy gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Kennedy wants to control from the top but Casio keeps moving.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Kennedy won't allow Casio to sweep him here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because James Kennedy wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Casio has closed the distance and engaged Kennedy in a clinch.

Kennedy has picked Casio up - he's going for a ride! Kennedy dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Kennedy is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Casio reverses the position - he's now on top in Kennedy's guard.
Casio passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Kennedy on the wrong end of some ground and pound.

James Kennedy's cut is getting worse.
James Kennedy overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kennedy wants to control but Casio postures up.
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 James Kennedy will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on James Kennedy's cut.
That's time! Kennedy's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Kennedy drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Casio can't do much from the bottom here.
Kennedy working the ground and pound.
Kennedy looking to control but instead Casio has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Kennedy is just content to waste time from the top position. Casio takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kennedy trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Casio keeping moving, preventing Kennedy from controlling successfully.
Casio not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Kennedy missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Casio scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Casio scoring well with a low kick there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Casio fails with an attempt to clinch.

Casio clinches up against the cage.

Casio breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Kennedy feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Kennedy postures up.
Kennedy working some strikes from top position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kennedy looking to sit in guard and control but Casio gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Kennedy tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kennedy trying to control the position.
Kennedy lands a couple of decent looking body shots there.
Kennedy looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Kennedy pulls Casio in close to prevent any damage.
Casio would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Kennedy looking to hit a scissor sweep but Casio is one step ahead there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Casio wants to control from the top but Kennedy keeps moving.
Paul Casio has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kennedy working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Casio.
James Kennedy is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Casio pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kennedy is keeping the position for now.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Kennedy shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Kennedy looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Kennedy showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Kennedy, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Steve Montenegro scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 30:27
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Kennedy!