PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Sam Keller (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anthony Ant (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Anthony Ant was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Keller
vs
Ant

170 cm
29
143 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

170 cm
21
145 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Good kicks
Powerful

Fury Nutrition Inc.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Sam Keller!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Anthony Ant!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Daniel Bishop and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ant fails with the takedown.
Keller lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Keller.
Ant gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Ant's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Keller connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Ant scrambles back to his feet.
Ant fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Keller.

Ant shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Keller wants to get back to full guard.
Ant thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Keller blocking the ground and pound attempt from Ant.
Ant wants to take a breather but Keller is having none of it.
Ant is controlling the pace.
Ant throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Ant has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ant missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Ant missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Ant thows a huge punch but Keller dodges it nicely.
Ant controlling the action here.
Keller wants to control but Ant is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Keller blocking the ground and pound attempt from Ant.
Well, if Ant is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Keller tests Ant's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Keller misses with a few strikes there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ant missing with a left hand there. Keller was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Ant dives in for a single leg takedown but Keller sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Ant has Keller pressed against the cage.
Keller is trying to push Ant away but Ant has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Keller wants to stall.
Ant misses with some punches.
Ant throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Keller blocks it with crossed arms.
Keller working aggressively here.
Ant misses with a body punch.
Ant lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Keller.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Ant.
Keller makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Ant misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ant doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Ant throws a punch but it's blocked by Keller.
A nice left hand lands by Ant.
Keller works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Ant tries to land a knee to the head but Keller blocks with his arms.
Ant with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Nice body punch from Keller.
Ant lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Keller backwards.
Ant struggles to land a body shot inside as Keller controls his hands.
Keller lands a right hand.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Ant.
Keller managing to block the knees to the body from Ant.
Ant blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Keller misses with some punches.
Keller lands with a left to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Keller blocks an uppercut.
Keller lands a nice uppercut.
Keller tries to circle away but Ant has him pinned against the cage.
Keller swings wildly with an uppercut but Ant uses good head movement to avoid it.
Keller swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Ant misses with the head strike.
A right hook to the body lands for Ant.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Keller lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Ant blocks an uppercut.
Keller is stalling here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Keller struggles to land a body shot inside as Ant controls his hands.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Ant creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Keller scores with an uppercut up the middle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anthony Ant dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Keller lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Ant closes this distance looking for a takedown but Keller circles away.
Ant throws a hook but Keller blocks it.
Ant loads up on a big right hand but Keller slips the punch.
Ant misses with a right hand
and Keller counters with a series of strikes. Ant will be more careful next time no doubt.
Keller slaps away a takedown attempt from Ant, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Keller slips a straight right by Ant.
A combination from Keller does no damage.
Ant tries to move into range but Keller moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Keller misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Keller keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Ant darts in looking for a takedown but Keller gets double underhooks and turns Ant into the cage.
Sam Keller has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anthony Ant.
Ant misses with the head strike.
Keller lands a left hand.
Ant goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Ant goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Keller throws a punch but it's blocked by Ant.
Keller is trying to maintain a safe position but Ant gets an underhook and turns Keller into the cage.
Keller goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Sam Keller has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Ant swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Ant swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Keller lands a right hand.
Keller has Ant pressed against the cage.
Ant has a couple of punches blocked by Keller.
Ant misses with a knee to the head.
Keller blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Keller blocks a body shot from Ant.
Ant content to slow the pace in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ant tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Keller avoids it.
Ant can't find room to land a body shot as Keller controls the action.
Keller wants to break the clinch but can't.
Keller tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Ant's elbow.
Keller is trying to break free.
Ant swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Ant's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Ant shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Keller as he avoids it easily.
Keller throws a shot to the body.
Ant fails with a takedown attempt.
Keller smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Good exchange - Keller coming out on top.
A bone on bone clash there as Keller blocks the leg kick.
Keller misses with the combination.
Keller scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Keller getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Keller lands a glancing blow to the side of Ant's head.
Keller takes a swing at Ant's ribcage but misses.
Keller connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Nice uppercut lands for Keller. That snapped Ant's head back.
Ant is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Ant misses with a takedown attempt - Keller sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Ant.
Keller lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Ant at a distance.
Sam Keller is winning the standup battle so far.
Ant throws a hook but Keller blocks it.
Ant looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Keller is fending him off so far but Ant persists. Nope, Keller circles away and we're back to standing.
Ant ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Keller moves away.
Sam Keller is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ant tries a head kick but it misses.
Ant is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ant misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Keller.
Ant takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Keller scores with a jab to the jaw.
Ant fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Keller cracks Ant with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Keller thuds a left hand into Ant's body.
Keller scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Ant clobbers Keller with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Keller scores with a jab.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Keller checks a leg kick.
Keller feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Ants jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Sam Keller is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Keller changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nice defenses there by Ant.
Ant throws a body punch but Keller moves out of range.
Donk. Keller catches Ant right on the button with a cross.
Keller fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sam Keller dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Ant fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Keller manages to avoid it.
Keller throws a hook but Ant blocks it.

Ant closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Keller to the mat! Keller manages to get full guard.
Ant slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Ant throwing strikes but missing.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Ant working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Ant postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Ant postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Ant forces his way into half guard.
Ant trying to pass the guard but Keller defending well.
Ant lands with a punch from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ant not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Keller keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Ant not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Ant wants to take a breather but Keller is having none of it.
Keller wants to improve his position but Ant is controlling well.
Ant is trying to control the action in half guard but Keller is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Ant missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Ant is stalling here. Keller is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Ant seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Keller has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
A lull in the action here as Keller stalls from top position.
Keller tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Keller wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ant keeps working.
Keller controlling from side mount.
Ant tries to improve position but can't.
Ant manages to get back to half guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Keller in particular looking to stall.
Ant trying to control here.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Ant works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ant looking to control.

Sam Keller has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Ant takes one on the button.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Ant is defended easily by Keller.
Keller lands a slapping body shot.
Ant walks into a stiff left hand from Keller.
Ant's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Keller connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Ant scrambles back to his feet.
Ant takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Ant is looking to score with low kicks.
Ant feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Kellers jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
The crowd cheers as Keller lands an impressive looking overhand right. Ant doesn't seem phased though.
Keller moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Keller avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ant darts in trying to clinch
and Keller counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Ant is trying hard to land a takedown here. Keller sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Keller will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Ant closes this distance looking for a takedown but Keller circles away.
Sam Keller has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anthony Ant.
Ant takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Keller lands a jab to the head.
Ant walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Keller jabs at Ant's body.
Keller swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Keller. Ant does a little dance to reset his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ant takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Ant misses with a low kick.
Keller scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Anthony Ant.
I think Ant 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 28:29
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Anthony Ant!