PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mikel Pierce (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nick Kennedy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nick Kennedy has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Pierce
vs
Kennedy

216 cm
24
279 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

200 cm
25
250 lbs
1 - 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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mikel Pierce!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nick Kennedy!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Fedor Mirinova and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kennedy uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Pierce.
Pierce throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Kennedy.

Pierce gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Kennedy sitting in guard here, content to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Pierce is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kennedy sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Pierce is looking for a triangle but Kennedy pushes his legs off easily.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pierce can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Kennedy controls the pace.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Kennedy rushes Pierce and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Pierce pulls guard effortlessly.
Kennedy is stalling in the full guard.

Pierce has his foot on Kennedy's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kennedy works his way back into a safe position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kennedy cracks Pierce with a solid left hand.
Pierce will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Kennedy keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Pierce's head.
Pierce can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Kennedy controls the pace.
Kennedy's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

Pierce is working an open guard so Kennedy takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Kennedy shoots in and gets a takedown into Pierce's guard.
Kennedy engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kennedy working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Pierce's head.
Kennedy's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Pierce escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Kennedy gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Kennedy's corner is telling him to maintain position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Kennedy checks a leg kick nicely.

Kennedy feints and as Pierce raises his hands in defense, Kennedy changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Kennedy scoring with some ground and pound.
Kennedy not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Kennedy got a little sloppy there for a moment and Pierce has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Kennedy has managed to get both his arms back between Pierce's legs - danger averted.
Pierce being controlled here, momentarily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Let's hope that Kennedy has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
We're seeing a lot of stalling here from Kennedy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Kennedy dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

A punch combination from Kennedy misses.
Nick Kennedy is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Pierce throws a leg kick but Kennedy moved away.
Pierce lands with a nice body kick.
Kennedy throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Pierce.
Kennedy moves out of range of the body kick from Pierce.
Kennedy goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

Pierce clinches with his opponent.
Pierce is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Kennedy to keep the fight standing.
Pierce wants to take the fight to the mat but Kennedy manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Pierce has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Kennedy is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mikel Pierce. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kennedy has Pierce pressed against the cage, preventing Pierce from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Pierce is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Pierce manages to break the clinch.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Kennedy. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.

Kennedy shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Pierce's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kennedy gets to his feet. Pierce looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Kennedy looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Pierce!
Kennedy controlling from side mount.
Pierce is trying to work for a sweep but Kennedy has mounted him!
Kennedy takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
More stalling from Kennedy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kennedy wants to finish this one by submission but Pierce is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Kennedy.
Kennedy has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Kennedy controlling from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pierce throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Pierce can't escape the position.
Kennedy sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Kennedy is continuing to stall.
Yet more stalling tactics from Kennedy.
Nick Kennedy has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kennedy working the ground and pound effectively.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kennedy jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Pierce manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Kennedy has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Kennedy tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kennedy won't let Pierce get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
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 referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

No joy there for Pierce, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Despite the aggression on Kennedy's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Pierce swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kennedy looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.

Pierce gets caught napping as Kennedy dives in and scores a takedown. Pierce manages to retain guard.
Kennedy scoring with punches to the head and body.

Kennedy stands up from Pierce's guard - Kennedy perhaps looking for a knockout.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Pierce enables Kennedy to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Pierce manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Kennedy is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kennedy gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Kennedy shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Pierce's guard.
Kennedy controlling from the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The adventures of Kennedy the control monster continue. Boring.

Pierce escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Kennedy gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Kennedy controls from within his opponent's guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Kennedy gets a takedown into half guard.
Kennedy prevents Pierce from improving his position.
Kennedy keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kennedy drops an elbow to the side of Pierce's head.

Pierce looking for subs from the bottom but Kennedy mounts him!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kennedy takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Kennedy with more of the same as he continues to hold on.

Pierce is flailing around, obviously not happy about being mounted. Kennedy locks hold of one of his arms and spins for an armbar. He's got it! Pierce is forced to tap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Nick Kennedy!