PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nick Kennedy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Artjom Fjodorow (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Fjodorow's choice of entrance music: Moskau. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Kennedy
vs
Fjodorow

200 cm
25
250 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

195 cm
26
266 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nick Kennedy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Artjom Fjodorow!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Konstantin Menshow and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fjodorow throws a right hand that Kennedy ducks under and follows up with a left that Kennedy also avoids with ease.
Kennedy tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Fjodorow swivels and escapes.
Fjodorow looks to land a combination but Kennedy avoids it well.
Fjodorow misses with a combination
and Kennedy counters with a series of strikes. Fjodorow will be more careful next time no doubt.
Fjodorow misses with the combination.
A little feinted left hand from Kennedy on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Kennedy tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Fjodorow defends well and Kennedy ends up having to push Fjodorow into the ropes where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Sloppy strikes from Fjodorow. Those never looked like landing.
Fjodorow will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Kennedy is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Fjodorow.

It looks like Nick Kennedy has been cut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Fjodorow misses with a series of wild punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fjodorow lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Kennedy circles away quickly and effectively.
It looked like Kennedy was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Fjodorow misses with a body shot
and Kennedy counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Artjom Fjodorow is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Fjodorow throws a series of punches but Kennedy moves out of range.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Kennedy is defended easily by Fjodorow.
Fjodorow is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nick Kennedy. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kennedy takes one to the chin there.
Fjodorow looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Kennedy looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Some wild striking there from Fjodorow.
Fjodorow feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Kennedys jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fjodorow looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Kennedy fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Despite the aggression on Fjodorow's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Kennedy dodges the punch combination from Fjodorow.
Fjodorow fails to land with a series of punches.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Fjodorow tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Kennedy manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Fjodorow lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Kennedy at a distance.
Kennedy walks into a jab.
Kennedy walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Kennedy slips a jab and a cross from Fjodorow.
Fjodorow moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Kennedy throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Fjodorow's waist but Fjodorow gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Kennedy off to one side.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fjodorow misses with a jab, cross combination.
Fjodorow will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A swing and a miss from Fjodorow.

Kennedy closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Fjodorow to the mat! Fjodorow manages to get full guard.
Kennedy trying to control but Fjodorow is working from the bottom.

Kennedy stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Fjodorow misses with a combination

and Kennedy counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Kennedy.
Fjodorow looks winded!

Kennedy gets to his feet - Fjodorow follows without any prompting.
Kennedy bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Kennedy dives in and grabs Fjodorow's left leg, looking for a takedown. Fjodorow pushes down on Kennedy's head and hops out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fjodorow throws a right hand that Kennedy ducks under and follows up with a left that Kennedy also avoids with ease.
Kennedy swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Fjodorow rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kennedy moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Kennedy seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Fjodorow throws a nice looking combination but Kennedy bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
It looked like Kennedy was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Fjodorow throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Fjodorow throws a shot to the body.
Fjodorow misses with a few strikes there.
Fjodorow walks into a jab.
Fjodorow swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Fjodorow gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
A frustrated look appears on Fjodorow's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Fjodorow tries to circle away but Kennedy has him pinned against the ropes.
Kennedy is pushing Fjodorow up against the ropes, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Artjom Fjodorow dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Nick Kennedy's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Fjodorow will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Fjodorow throws a nice looking combination but Kennedy bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Fjodorow misses with a wild combination.
A combination from Fjodorow does no damage.
Nick Kennedy is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Fjodorow tries to clinch but Kennedy moves out of range.
Artjom Fjodorow seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fjodorow swinging wildly here.
Fjodorow has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fjodorow misses with a few strikes there.
Fjodorow leaves Kennedy with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
We've been told by Kennedy's head coaches at Ironfist MMA that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Kennedy slips a jab and a cross from Fjodorow.
Kennedy appears to be looking for a big counter.
Kennedy doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Fjodorow connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kennedy shoots in but no luck this time.
Fjodorow is looking for the big counter here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nick Kennedy. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fjodorow fails to land with a series of punches.
Fjodorow misses with a double jab.
Fjodorow is breathing heavily.
Kennedy takes one to the side of the head.
Fjodorow throws a right and a left that both miss.
Kennedy appears to be looking for a big counter.
Sloppy strikes from Fjodorow. Those never looked like landing.
A quick step to the side and Kennedy tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
A combination from Fjodorow does no damage.
Kennedy fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Fjodorow fails to land with a series of punches.
Kennedy looks to land a body kick but Fjodorow moved away.
Kennedy fails with the takedown.
Despite the aggression on Fjodorow's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kennedy swats away the attempt to clinch by Fjodorow.
Fjodorow scores with the left hand. Kennedy knows he should have avoided that one.
Kennedy dodges the punch combination from Fjodorow.
Fjodorow throws a series of strikes that have Kennedy backpedaling.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Kennedy shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Fjodorow manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Kennedy trying to control but Fjodorow is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kennedy thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Kennedy wants to control from the top but Fjodorow keeps moving.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Kennedy thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Kennedy drops back looking for a leg! Fjodorow is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Fjodorow manages to kick Kennedy off! Kennedy jumps back into Fjodorow's guard.
Kennedy trying to control but Fjodorow is working from the bottom.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Fjodorow is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Fjodorow throws a right and a left that Kennedy avoids nicely.
Fjodorow lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Kennedy backs up against the ropes.
Fjodorow throws a jab when Kennedy was well out of range.
An attempted straight right counter from Kennedy misses the target.
Kennedy fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kennedy shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Fjodorow sprawls well. Fjodorow wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Kennedy gets slowly back to his feet.
Fjodorow throws a nice looking combination but Kennedy bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Kennedy tries to score a power double leg takedown but Fjodorow sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Kennedy somewhat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Artjom Fjodorow showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Nick Kennedy's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Fjodorow throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Fjodorow throws a series of punches but Kennedy moves out of range.
Kennedy throws a big counter combination but Fjodorow scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Fjodorow lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Kennedy circles away quickly and effectively.

Fjodorow closes the distance and clinches.
Fjodorow has had enough of the clinch but Kennedy keeps him there for the moment.
Fjodorow has had enough of the clinch but Kennedy keeps him there for the moment.
Fjodorow is working Kennedy over against the ropes.
Fjodorow is trying to break free.
Fjodorow wants to get back to striking at distance but Kennedy won't allow it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fjodorow lands a shoulder strike.
Fjodorow tries to circle away but Kennedy has him pinned against the ropes.
Kennedy fails to pull guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kennedy tries to throw a body punch but Fjodorow avoids it by throwing Kennedy back against the ropes.
Kennedy lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Fjodorow backwards.
Fjodorow has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Kennedy seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Fjodorow can turn it around.
Nice body punch from Fjodorow.
Fjodorow is looking to break free of the clinch but Kennedy has double underhooks.

Fjodorow breaks from the clinch.
Fjodorow misses with a combination

and Kennedy counters with a takedown into side control.
Fjodorow takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kennedy looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Fjodorow is avoiding damage well.
Fjodorow is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Kennedy asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Fjodorow prevents Kennedy from moving into mount.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kennedy wants to control but Fjodorow is keeping him busy.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Fjodorow can do anything to dispel that myth.

Kennedy wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Fjodorow, who protects the arm well.
Fjodorow wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Kennedy is looking to take a break and control but Fjodorow is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Fjodorow wants to get back to his feet but Kennedy drags him back down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kennedy is working for what looks like an arm triangle here. Fjodorow is trying to escape and Kennedy transitions quickly into an armbar! He's slapped it on tight and Fjodorow is forced to tap! Nice work there by Kennedy! Very nice indeed!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:22 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Nick Kennedy!
Artjom Fjodorow spoke after the fight, saying 'Congratulations to him, he is a tough guy and fought a very good fight but i will come back much stronger.'.