PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Matt Thorne (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dead Kennedy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dead Kennedy is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Thorne
vs
Kennedy

180 cm
22
170 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

198 cm
21
178 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Matt Thorne!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Dead Kennedy!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, William Peck and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kennedy looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Thorne!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thorne looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Kennedy controlling from the full mount.
Kennedy lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Thorne hang on?
Thorne is working to get back to half guard.

Kennedy with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Kennedy lands a nice shot to the head.
Kennedy lands a heavy elbow.
Kennedy sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Kennedy landing strikes from the mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kennedy working Thorne over with strikes here.

Kennedy is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Thorne can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Kennedy prevents Thorne from getting the reversal.

Kennedy is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Thorne doesn't manage to clinch there - Kennedy circles away.

Kennedy feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Kennedy is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kennedy pushes down on Thorne's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kennedy working Thorne over with strikes.
Kennedy scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Kennedy wants to control but Thorne is keeping him busy.
Kennedy tries to pass to full mount but Thorne defends it.

Kennedy is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Kennedy is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Thorne!

Kennedy looking for a guillotine from mount but Thorne is having none of it.
Thorne is trying to escape the mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kennedy avoids the attempt from Thorne to control.
Kennedy controlling the pace for now.
Kennedy blocks Thorne's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Thorne is trying to escape the mount.
Thorne tries to hold on but Kennedy postures up.
Kennedy is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

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.
Thorne is trying desperately to improve position.
Kennedy is landing with some decent strikes but Thorne is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Thorne might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
A nice elbow there by Kennedy.

Kennedy working for a guillotine from mount but Thorne is in no mood to give up.
Kennedy tries to control but Thorne wriggling away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dead Kennedy dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Thorne darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Kennedy is trying to get back to full guard.

Kennedy actively working from the bottom here.
Kennedy moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Kennedy manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Thorne manages to get himself to full guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kennedy throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Thorne works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Kennedy is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Kennedy trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Thorne working a defensive guard here.

Thorne has an active guard here but Kennedy has managed to pass into half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Kennedy in particular looking to stall.

That's two 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.
Thorne moves into full guard.

Thorne looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Kennedy sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Thorne's guard.
Thorne regains full guard. Nicely done.
Kennedy sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Thorne is looking to stand up but Kennedy isn't so interested in that idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Thorne is on top in guard.

Kennedy throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Thorne makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Thorne wanted to stand there but Kennedy had control of the position.
Thorne wants to pass the guard but Kennedy is keeping the position.
Thorne is working hard here to advance position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Thorne stopping the sweep attempt from Kennedy.
Thorne wants to pass the guard but Kennedy is keeping the position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Kennedy is on top in guard.
Kennedy stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Thorne swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kennedy must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Thorne is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Matt Thorne will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. And we move into the final round!

Thorne misses with a takedown attempt

and Kennedy counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Kennedy in half guard on the top. He's looking for a kimura... He's got it locked and he's managed to free his trapped foot. Thorne tries to escape but it's on too tight and he has to tap! Great BJJ skills there from Kennedy!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:26 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Dead Kennedy!