PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bryan Kennedy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zebaztian Nord (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kennedy's entrance music is Sledgehammer. A fine choice. Zebaztian Nord told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Kennedy
vs
Nord

225 cm
22
225 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

195 cm
25
245 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

Sportsmanship Ltd.
Voodoo Nutrition

Sportsmanship Ltd.

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 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Bryan Kennedy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Zebaztian Nord!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Ryoma Takatsuka and Jeff Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kennedy goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Kennedy lands a two punch combo.
Kennedy looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Kennedy misses with a body shot.
As Kennedy backs off Nord throws a huge counter combo but Kennedy manages to avoid it all.
Kennedy looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Kennedy misses with a few strikes there.
Kennedy thumps Nord with a low kick.
Kennedy lands a lovely overhand right.
Kennedy looks for the body kick but Nord saw that one coming.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kennedy scores with a body shot.
Kennedy throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Nord is looking for the big counter here.
Nord uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kennedy.
Nord is looking for the big counter here.
Kennedy scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Kennedy really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kennedy connects with a jab.
Kennedy fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Nord manages to avoid it.
Kennedy throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Kennedy.
Kennedy throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Kennedy scores with a kick to the midsection.
Bryan Kennedy seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kennedy. Nord does a little dance to reset his feet.
Nord lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Kennedy with a hook.
Nord blocks a head kick by Kennedy.
A clash of legs there as Nord blocks the low kick.
Kennedy is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kennedy lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Kennedy throws a sloppy head kick and Nord moves out of range easily.
Kennedy looks to land a right hand but Nord moved out of range.
Kennedy throws a push kick but Nord slaps the foot to one side.
Nord is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.

Kennedy gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Nord avoiding damage as Kennedy throws knees to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nord tries to break the clinch but Kennedy is controlling the position.
Nord can't break the clinch.
Kennedy misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kennedy makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
A frustrated look appears on Nord's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Kennedy tries to work over Nord's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Kennedy swings away with an uppercut that misses.
With the fighters up against the cage, Kennedy throws an elbow but misses.
Kennedy keeps control of Nord as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Kennedy tries a body shot but Nord blocks it.
Kennedy throws a head punch that misses.

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.
Nord can't break the clinch.
Nord blocks an uppercut.
Nord wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Kennedy has him pressed against the cage.
Kennedy has Nord pressed against the cage, preventing Nord from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Nord tries to break the clinch but Kennedy is controlling the position.
Kennedy with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Nord breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kennedy swings and misses with a hook to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bryan Kennedy dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Nord ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Kennedy jabs Nord to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Kennedy gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Nord counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Kennedy fails in his attempt to clinch.
A slow jab from Kennedy misses its intended target.
Nord swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Kennedy's jab looks to have found its range, popping Nord under the eye.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kennedy. Nord does a little dance to reset his feet.
A slow jab from Kennedy misses its intended target.
Despite the aggression on Nord's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kennedy misses with a straight right.
A little jabbing left from Nord on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Kennedy throws a combination that misses
and Nord counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Nord avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kennedy lands with a hook. Nord tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Nord blocks a head kick by Kennedy.
Kennedy tests Nord's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Kennedy ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Nord moves away.
Kennedy rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Nord moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Despite the aggression on Nord's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Kennedy throws a solid leg kick but Nord takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Kennedy.
Nord is looking for the big counter here.
Kennedy throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Kennedy is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Nord can do to turn this around?
Nord uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kennedy.
Nord is looking for the big counter here.
Kennedy throws a right hand that Nord ducks under and follows up with a left that Nord also avoids with ease.
Nord is looking for the big counter here.
Kennedy scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kennedy misses with a low kick.
Nord throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Kennedy.
Kennedy misses with a head kick.
As Kennedy backs off Nord throws a huge counter combo but Kennedy manages to avoid it all.
Nord circles away from the clinch attempt
and Nord connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kennedy fails with an attempt to clinch.
Nord is looking for the big counter here.
Good shot there by Kennedy.
Nord uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kennedy.
Kennedy dips to his left and cracks Nord with an uppercut!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nord blocks the body kick.
Nord lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Kennedy lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Nord circles away quickly and effectively.
Nord throws out a counter right but Kennedy avoids it with no problem.
Kennedy scores with a sloppy right hand. Nord should have avoided that one.
Kennedy throws a looping overhand right but Nord ducks down to avoid it.
Nord is looking for the big counter here.
A solid leg kick lands there for Kennedy.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Kennedy, as that shot connected.
A head kick from Kennedy lands but Nord takes it in his stride.
Kennedy throws a jab but it's blocked by Nord.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Nord! But no joy.
Kennedy works Nord's body with a nice hook.
Nord looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Nord avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Kennedy tries to clinch there but Nord circles away.
It seemed like Nord was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kennedy showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Nord.
Nord moves out of range of the body kick.
Kennedy misses with the combination.
Kennedy fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Nord has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
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!
Nord avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Nord unleashes a big counter combination but Kennedy bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Kennedy is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
As Kennedy backs off Nord throws a huge counter combo but Kennedy manages to avoid it all.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bryan Kennedy dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Kennedy throws a solid leg kick but Nord takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Kennedy.
Nord throws a counter combo.
Nord misses with a double jab.
Kennedy looks to land a body kick but Nord moved away.
Nord lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Kennedy pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kennedy throws a series of strikes that have Nord backpedaling.
Nord keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kennedy.
Kennedy fakes the leg kick and cracks Nord in the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nord on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Kennedy throws a body shot but no joy.
Nord uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kennedy.
Sloppy strikes from Kennedy. Those never looked like landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nord moves out of range of the body kick.
Kennedy thows a left - swing and a miss!
Nord is looking for the big counter here.
Kennedy throws a right and a left that Nord avoids nicely.
Kennedy misses with a looping left.
Nord swats away the attempt to clinch by Kennedy.
Kennedy scoring well with a low kick there.
Kennedy swinging wildly here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kennedy throws a good cross that connects.
Nord avoids the body shot from Kennedy.
Kennedy misses with an uppercut. Nord saw that one coming.
Kennedy misses with a straight left.
Despite the aggression on Nord's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Nord slips a jab from Kennedy.
Nord uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kennedy.
Nord lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Kennedy throws a shot from downtown. Nord moves away and avoids it.
Kennedy looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Nord unleashes a big counter combination but Kennedy bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Kennedy feints a jab promting Nord to slip. Kennedy then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Nord slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nord avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Nord lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Kennedy smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Kennedy lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Kennedy.
Kennedy throws the left hand but Nord avoids the punch easily.
Nord is looking for the big counter here.
Nord misses the shot to the body.
Kennedy throws out a loose jab but Nord uses good head movement to avoid it.
Nord appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Kennedy misses the shot to the body.
Kennedy swings and misses with a hook to the body.
As Kennedy backs off Nord throws a huge counter combo but Kennedy manages to avoid it all.
Nord keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Nord swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Danga de danga de dang - Nord scores with a four punch combination!
Nord uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kennedy.
Kennedy throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Nord lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Bryan Kennedy is winning the standup battle so far.
Kennedy tries to clinch but Nord is having none of it.
Despite the aggression on Nord's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Kennedy scores with a push kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nord misses with the combination.
Kennedy is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Nord.
Nord lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Kennedy tries to clinch but Nord moves out of range.
Zebaztian Nord has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bryan Kennedy is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Kennedy throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Nord throws a counter combo.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bryan Kennedy showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Kennedy has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Josh West scores the fight 30:26
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 30:26
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bryan Kennedy!
A loyal slave to those sponsorship dollars, Bryan Kennedy made sure he mentioned Voodoo Nutrition, along with how happy he was to win his fight.