PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kool Keith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Forrest Gump (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gump has chosen INTERNATIONALE as his entrance music. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Keith
vs
Gump

198 cm
28
205 lbs
14 - 4 - 0

187 cm
27
206 lbs
12 - 7 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

GREEN!160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Kool Keith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Forrest Gump!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gump throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A head kick misses from Gump.
Gump throws a body kick that misses.
Gump lands a jab to Keith's midsection.
Gump moves out of range of the body kick.
Gump checks the leg kick.
Gump connects with the punch.
Gump looks to land a body kick but Keith moved away.
Gump looks to land a body kick but Keith moved away.
Gump pivots, looking for a leg kick but Keith is out of range and Gump settles back down.
Forrest Gump seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Keith misses with a shot to the body

and Gump counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Keith.
Keith scores with an uppercut up the middle.

Keith pulls Gump into guard.
Gump wants to control from the top but Keith keeps moving.
Gump is fighting to break Keith's control of his arms but Keith is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gump looking to pass the guard.
Keith trying to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gump controlling from the top position.
Gump won't allow Keith to sweep him here.
Gump stays in close to Keith's body and controls the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Forrest Gump is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Keith tries to close the distance and clinch but Gump swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Keith moves into the clinch.
Gump misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Gump throws an elbow but it misses.
Keith misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Keith working aggressively here.

Keith works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Gump looking to control.
Keith working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Gump is trying to keep Keith in close.
Gump looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

Gump working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Keith doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Keith manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Keith looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gump is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Keith in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Keith content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Keith will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Keith wants to control from the top but Gump keeps moving.
Gump not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Gump keeping moving, preventing Keith from controlling successfully.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's four 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.
Keith ducks under a wild hook from Gump.
Gump moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
A bone on bone clash there as Keith blocks the leg kick.
Gump moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Gump lands a leg kick that knocks Keith off balance momentarily.
Gump swings for the body but Keith moves out of range.
Keith shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Gump pinned against the cage. Gump gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Keith staying out of range there.

Keith closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Gump wants to control but Keith is keeping busy.
Keith not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Kool Keith will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Keith takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Gump moves away from the strike by Keith.
Keith walks forward, straight into a front kick from Gump.
Keith on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
A low kick from Gump is predictable there
and Keith counters with a thumping low kick.
Keith takes a kick to the side of the head.
Gump misses with a kick to the body.
Keith dives in and grabs Gump's left leg, looking for a takedown. Gump pushes down on Keith's head and hops out.

Gump clinches.
Keith managing to block the knees to the body from Gump.
Gump trying to land knees to the body.
Gump blocks an uppercut.
Gump working some nice short punches in the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Keith lands with a light punch inside.
Keith misses with some punches.
Gump tries to throw a body punch but Keith avoids it by throwing Gump back against the cage.
Keith prevents a body shot from Gump.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Keith misses with a hook to the ribs.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Gump.
Keith blocking some punches.
Keith misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Keith is trying to drag Gump to the mat but Gump just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Keith jumps guard.
Gump looking to pass the guard.
Gump looking to sit in guard and control but Keith gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Keith is working Gump over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Keith postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Gump trying to control the position.
Keith slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Keith working away.
Gump gets back to half guard.
Keith not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Gump wants to improve his position but Keith is controlling well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gump keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Gump is looking for a sweep. Keith is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Keith has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Keith lands with a punch from half guard.
Gump is looking to control Keith's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Gump avoid being mounted?
The fighters are battling for position here. Gump manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Gump keeping moving, preventing Keith from controlling successfully.
Gump avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Gump has his hands on Keith's head, controlling the position.
Keith is in close to Gump's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Keith trying to control the position from guard on top but Gump is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Keith controlling from the top position.
Keith wants to pass the guard but Gump is keeping the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Keith shoots in and drives through. Gump sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kool Keith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Keith misses with a head kick.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Gump.
Keith tried to counter with a leg kick but Gump avoided it.
Keith closes this distance looking for a takedown but Gump circles away.
Gump stuffs the takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Forrest Gump will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Gump lands a glancing blow to the side of Keith's head.
Gump uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Gump throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Gump looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Gump scores with a jab to the body.
Gump tries to land a front kick but Keith steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Forrest Gump seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Gump throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Gump goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Keith tries to work over Gump's front leg with a kick but Gump checks it.
Keith misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Gump ducks down and throws a hook to the body.

Keith drives through with a takedown into Gump's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Keith connects with a couple of short punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Keith makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Keith got a little sloppy there for a moment and Gump has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Keith has managed to get both his arms back between Gump's legs - danger averted.
Gump being controlled here, momentarily.
Keith cracks Gump with a solid left hand.
Keith working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Keith wants to control from the top but Gump keeps moving.
Gump controls Keith momentarily but Keith frees himself.

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.
Gump avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Gump keeping moving, preventing Keith from controlling successfully.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Gump is looking for a triangle but Keith pushes his legs off easily.
Keith works over Gump with some ground and pound from guard.
Keith connects with a couple of short punches.
Gump is trying to keep Keith in close.
Keith advances to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gump is trying to get back to full guard.
Keith missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Gump makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Gump.
Kool Keith overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Gump keeping full guard, as Keith tries to pass.
Gump controls Keith momentarily but Keith frees himself.

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

Keith shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Keith showed some decent athleticism there.
Gump manages to get to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Keith chips away with some ground and pound.
Keith throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gump keeping moving, preventing Keith from controlling successfully.
Gump is controlling Keith's posture.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Let's hope that Gump 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.
Gump working a defensive guard here.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Kool Keith.
I think Keith has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:30

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Kool Keith!
Kool Keith bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.
Forrest Gump spoke after the fight, saying 'I am proud communist.'.