PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ben Knope (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brad Brennan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Knope
vs
Brennan

198 cm
20
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
22
260 lbs
4 - 10 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ben Knope!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Brad Brennan!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Ron Honeybunn and Summer Carpenter.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Brennan shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Knope's guard.
Brennan looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Brennan is looking to work some ground and pound but Knope has wrist control.
Brennan postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Knope wants to sweep but no luck.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Brennan working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Knope wants to sweep here but Brennan controlling him for the moment.
Brennan trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Knope is trying to control the position but Brennan postures up.
Brennan throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Knope works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Brennan has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Knope looking to hit a scissor sweep but Brennan is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brennan connects with a couple of short punches.
Brennan throwing strikes but missing.
Brennan wants to stand but Knope is controlling his posture from full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Brennan accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Brennan postures up in Knope's guard and throws a big left but Knope blocks it.
Brennan trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Knope manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Knope throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Knope loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knope works over Brennan with some ground and pound from guard.
Brennan is striking from the bottom but Knope uses the opportunity to pass into half guard.
Knope throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Brennan can do anything to dispel that myth.
Knope trying to control from half guard but Brennan is working away.
Knope will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Brennan manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Brennan takes one to the side of the head.
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!
Knope scores with a decent looking hook.
Nice takedown defense from Brennan. No joy for Knope on that attempt.
Knope throws a right hand that misses
and Brennan makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Knope wants to clinch.
A punch combination from Brennan misses.
Ben Knope seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Knope lands a head shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knope paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Knope keeps the fight on the outside.
Knope is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Knope avoids the body shot from Brennan.
The fight stays on the outside here - Brennan looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Danga de danga de dang - Knope scores with a four punch combination!
Knope throws a combination. Brennan tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
The crowd cheers as Knope lands an impressive looking overhand right. Brennan doesn't seem phased though.
Brennan is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Knope misses with an uppercut
and Brennan counters with a series of strikes. Knope will be more careful next time no doubt.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Brennan shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Knope manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Knope preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Brennan with a flurry of punches that miss.
Brennan loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Brennan preventing the sweep.
Brennan tries to stand but Knope is controlling from the bottom.
Brennan throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Knope works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Brennan missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Knope wants to sweep but no luck.
Brennan throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Brennan throws an elbow that misses. Knope uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Brennan's guard. Nice move by Knope!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Brennan utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Brennan trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Knope's corner is telling him to maintain position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Brad Brennan will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Brennan gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Stalling in the clinch from Knope.

Brennan's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Knope swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Decent striking displayed by Knope there.
Ben Knope is winning the standup battle so far.
Brennan looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Knope looks to score with a jab to the body but Brennan is just out of range.
Brennan scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

Brennan rushes Knope and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Knope lands a body punch in the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Knope lands an uppercut.
Brennan presses Knope against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Knope is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.

Brennan tightens his grip and picks Knope up, before dumping him to the ground. Knope manages to land in guard.

Brennan stands and steps away. Knope gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Knope throws a leg kick but Brennan checks it.
Knope fails to land with a series of punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A jab lands there for Knope.
Knope fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Nice body punch from Brennan.
Knope throws a punch but it's blocked by Brennan.
Knope working aggressively here.
A body shot lands from Brennan.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Brennan pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Knope.

Brennan pulls Knope into guard.
Brennan throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Knope accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Brennan tries to strike from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knope throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Brennan holds on and takes a little breather.
Knope won't allow Brennan to get back to his feet.
Brennan is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Brad Brennan has got the better of the ground game so far.
Knope throwing strikes from guard but Brennan blocks nicely.
Brennan 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.
Knope lands a couple of digs.
Brennan throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Brennan striking from the bottom here.
Brennan working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Knope.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Knope postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brennan throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Knope loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Knope working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Brennan's head.
Brennan avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Knope missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Brennan preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Brennan working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Knope.
Brennan wants to sweep but no luck.
Knope postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Knope stands up over Brennan, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Knope throws a strike but Brennan rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Knope wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Brennan is now in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Brennan tries to stand and escape but Knope is controlling the position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Brennan throwing shots but Knope is blocking nicely.
Brennan thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Knope is looking to control Brennan's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Knope avoid being mounted?
Brennan tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Knope.
Knope has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Brennan is working away from the top position though.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Knope is not content to let Brennan control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Brad Brennan will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Knope punishes Brennan's body with a nice straight punch.
Brennan loads up on a big right hand but Knope slips the punch.
Brennan walks into a stiff left hand from Knope.

It looks like Brad Brennan has been cut.
Brennan shoots in looking for a takedown. Knope tries to sprawl out of it but Brennan keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Knope manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Knope keeps the fight on the outside.
Knope bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Brennan's head backwards.
Knope connects with a body shot.
A jab from Knope misses.
Brennan misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Knope tries to clinch but Brennan is having none of it.
Brennan misses with a takedown attempt - Knope sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Knope lunges at Brennan with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Brennan's hand.
Knope is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brennan fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Knope avoids it really well and circles away.
Ben Knope has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brad Brennan.
Knope jabs Brennan right on the nose. Brennan blinks but takes it well.
Brennan takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A looping hook to the body misses from Knope. Brennan does a little dance to reset his feet.
Knope doesn't manage to clinch there - Brennan circles away.
Brennan moves forwards but Knope connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Knope tries to clinch but Brennan moves away
and Brennan counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Brennan tries to clinch but Knope moves out of range.
Knope swats away the attempt to clinch by Brennan.
Knope wants to clinch up but Brennan keeps it at a distance.
Knope lands a jab to Brennan's midsection.

Knope gets caught napping as Brennan dives in and scores a takedown. Knope manages to retain guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Knope wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Brennan lands a couple of digs.
Knope is pulling down on Brennan's head to control his posture.
Knope avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Knope lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Brennan!
Knope thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Brennan is trying desperately to improve position.
Brennan is still trying to improve position.
Knope looking to control but Brennan is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brennan avoids a series of strikes thrown by Knope.
Brennan throwing hammer fists to the chest of Knope. What's that going to do exactly?
Brennan really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Brennan is bucking up trying to escape but Knope cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Knope landing shots from mount.

That has opened up Brad Brennan's cut even more.
Knope misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Brennan is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Knope in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

Brad Brennan's cut is absolute horrible now. This looks like something out of a horror film with blood covering both fighters.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Brad Brennan's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Ben Knope!