PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Carl Menger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Connor Kelly (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Menger comes to the cage accompanied by Bring Back The Music - by Sweatshop Union. The crowd seem to be enjoying Kelly's choice of entrance music: (When) Your Middle Name Is Danger. Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Connor Kelly enters the cage!

Menger
vs
Kelly

170 cm
29
157 lbs
15 - 9 - 0

183 cm
28
145 lbs
17 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Carl Menger!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Connor Kelly!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Dillan Fox and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kelly on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Menger fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Kelly throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Menger's waist but Menger gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Kelly off to one side.
Kelly throws a hook but Menger blocks it.
Menger throws a right and a left that both miss.
Menger throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Kelly's waist but Kelly gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Menger off to one side.
Menger shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Carl Menger. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kelly tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Menger is able to avoid easily.
Menger misses with a two punch combination.
Menger tries to clinch but Kelly is having none of it.
Menger misses with a combination
and Kelly counters with a nice body shot.
Kelly lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Menger throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Kelly's waist but Kelly gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Menger off to one side.
Menger throws a lazy uppercut
and Kelly counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Menger thinking.
Menger looks to throw the jab but Kelly is out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Menger fails with the takedown
and Kelly cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Menger swinging wildly here.
Carl Menger seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kelly misses with a two punch combination.
Menger gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
letting Kelly counter with a right hand.
Kelly lands a jab to the head.
Menger shoots in but no luck this time.
Kelly throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Menger looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Kelly throws a one two combo.
Menger shoots in but Kelly avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Kelly is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Menger.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Menger misses with a double jab.
Good leg kick by Kelly there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

Menger tries to sprawl but Kelly drives through with a takedown into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kelly missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Menger avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Kelly.
Menger blocking the ground and pound attempt from Kelly.
Kelly takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Kelly is trying to control the action in half guard but Menger is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Menger slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Menger has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Kelly can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Menger is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Kelly wants to control from the top but Menger keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kelly slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Menger preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Menger throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Kelly looking to pass the guard.

Kelly avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Kelly is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Menger looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kelly is one step ahead there.
Kelly trying to control the position from guard on top but Menger is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kelly forces his way into half guard.

Kelly stands up and beckons Menger to join him on the feet.
A bone on bone clash there as Kelly blocks the leg kick.
Menger fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Kelly throws a one two combo.

It looks like Carl Menger has been cut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Menger shoots in but no luck this time.
Kelly shoots in looking for a takedown but Menger manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Kelly's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Menger shoots in for a takedown but Kelly shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Menger looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Connor Kelly dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Carl Menger's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Menger changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Kelly tries to avoid it but Menger manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Kelly to the ground. Kelly escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Kelly throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Menger shoots for a double leg takedown but Kelly sprawls well. He's pushed Menger's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Menger closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Menger misses with a looping right.
Menger jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Kelly has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Menger takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Kelly dodges the punch combination from Menger.
Menger fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Carl Menger. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A solid body kick from Menger.
Menger has his takedown stuffed
and Menger takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Menger misses with a takedown
and Kelly counters with a left to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Menger misses with a double jab
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kelly throws a series of punches but Menger moves out of range.
Kelly's corner calls for a 1-2. Kelly obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Menger misses with a hook
and Kelly counters with a thumping low kick.
Menger connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Menger tries to land a body kick
letting Kelly counter with a right hand.

Menger is rocked!
Menger wants to clinch but Kelly slips to the side
and Kelly counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Oh Menger is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Menger swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Kelly counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Menger's guard now.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kelly wants to control from the top but Menger keeps moving.
Kelly throws a big elbow that misses.
Kelly trying to control the position from guard on top but Menger is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kelly throws a strike but Menger rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Kelly managing to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kelly manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Menger manages to get himself to full guard.
Kelly trying to control the position from guard on top but Menger is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kelly seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Menger seems to have got his legs back now.
Menger is trying to keep Kelly in close.
Kelly pushes down on Menger's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Menger gets full guard.

Menger escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Kelly gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Kelly trying to control the position from guard on top but Menger is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Menger working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Kelly has passed into half guard!
Kelly not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Menger is pressing down on Kelly's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Menger might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Menger is looking for a triangle but Kelly pushes his legs off easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kelly trying to control the position from guard on top but Menger is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kelly postures up in Menger's guard and throws a big left but Menger blocks it.
Menger controls Kelly momentarily but Kelly frees himself.

Menger is looking for a triangle but Kelly pushes his legs off easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Menger utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Kelly pushing down on Menger's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Menger looking for submissions off his back.
Menger gets back to full guard.
Kelly wants to control from the top but Menger keeps moving.
Kelly is pushing down on Menger's leg trying to pass to half guard. Menger is fighting to maintain full guard but Kelly has managed to sneak the leg through.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kelly is trying to control the action in half guard but Menger is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Menger trying to control but Kelly postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Connor Kelly showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Carl Menger's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Menger works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Menger tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kelly paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Carl Menger is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kelly connects with the punch.
Kelly circles away from the clinch attempt
and Kelly makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Menger lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Kelly circles away quickly and effectively.
Kelly stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Kelly wants it to stay on the feet.
Kelly slips under a jab from Menger.

Menger changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Kelly looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kelly manages to get back to half guard.
Kelly is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Menger's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Menger's back!

Kelly 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, Menger has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kelly missing with strikes from the back.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kelly looking for the choke from the back.
Good control from Kelly.

Kelly working for the rear naked choke here. He's got one arm under but Menger is defending well. A couple of punches soften him up though and Kelly has tightened the hold! This one could be all over! It is! Menger taps out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:37 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Connor Kelly!
During a confident post fight interview, Connor Kelly thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.