PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rudolf Leblanc (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nick Kennedy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Leblanc
vs
Kennedy

176 cm
24
279 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
25
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
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 St Petersburg, Rudolf Leblanc!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nick Kennedy!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Aleksandr Martynov and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kennedy shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Kennedy showed some decent athleticism there.
Leblanc could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Leblanc won't allow Kennedy to pass to mount.

Kennedy stands up from half guard.
Leblanc fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Leblanc shoots in but no luck this time.
Kennedy misses with a takedown
and Leblanc counters with a one-two to the body.

Kennedy closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Leblanc did well to prevent Kennedy getting side control.
Kennedy has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kennedy controlling from mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leblanc is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Kennedy controlling his opponent.
Kennedy's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
It looks like Kennedy might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Kennedy landing strikes from the mount.

It looks like Rudolf Leblanc has been cut.
Kennedy controlling the position easily from mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kennedy scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Leblanc is bucking up trying to escape but Kennedy cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Kennedy controlling from the full mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kennedy scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Kennedy tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Kennedy with good strikes from the mount here!
Kennedy dominating with strikes here.
Kennedy controlling the pace for now.
Leblanc is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kennedy tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Kennedy with good strikes from the mount here!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kennedy controlling the pace for now.
Leblanc might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
More stalling from Kennedy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Kennedy dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rudolf Leblanc's cut.
That's time! Leblanc's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Kennedy closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Kennedy lands in his opponent's guard.
Leblanc working a defensive guard here.
Kennedy is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Leblanc throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Nick Kennedy has got the better of the ground game so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kennedy slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Leblanc controls Kennedy momentarily but Kennedy frees himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leblanc can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Kennedy controls the pace.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Kennedy throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Leblanc's waist but Leblanc gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Kennedy off to one side.
Leblanc leaves Kennedy with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Leblanc went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Leblanc.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Kennedy shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Leblanc pinned against the cage. Leblanc gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Leblanc was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Rudolf Leblanc has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nick Kennedy.

Kennedy scores with a takedown into Leblanc's guard.
Leblanc is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Kennedy postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kennedy is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Kennedy stopping the sweep attempt from Leblanc.
Kennedy sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Leblanc doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Kennedy stays in close to Leblanc's body and controls the position.
Kennedy loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's four 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.
Kennedy fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Kennedy closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Leblanc looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Leblanc tries to break free but Kennedy pushes him back against the cage.
Kennedy looking for a takedown.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Leblanc escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Leblanc doesn't manage to clinch there - Kennedy circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Kennedy showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Rudolf Leblanc's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Kennedy lands a two punch combo.
Leblanc dives in for a single leg takedown but Kennedy sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Kennedy throws an overhand right from the outside, which connects and sends Leblanc stumbling backwards into the cage! Leblanc bounces back off the cage towards Kennedy, who cracks him with a two punch combination that drops him to his knees! Kennedy lands two more shots before the referee has chance to intervene - what a finish! Kennedy celebrates with his corner as the crowd cheer loudly.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:16 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Nick Kennedy!