PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Yoko Honda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Kearney (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Joe Kearney acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the ring.

Honda
vs
Kearney

195 cm
25
275 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

192 cm
23
225 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Big heart

Good takedowns
Brawler
Experienced

Sun-Tzu

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yoko Honda!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Joe Kearney!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Shigeki Fujiwara and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kearney gets caught napping as Honda dives in and scores a takedown. Kearney manages to retain guard.
Kearney avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Honda is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
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.
Honda landing with the ground and pound.
Honda passes Kearney's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Kearney won't allow Honda to pass to mount.
Honda wants to control but Kearney is keeping him busy.
Honda sitting and controlling from the half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Honda tries to pass the half guard into mount. Kearney knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Honda wants to take a breather but Kearney is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Honda lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Honda throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Kearney tries to kick Honda off but Honda keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Honda is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Kearney doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Honda.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Honda thows a huge punch but Kearney dodges it nicely.
Kearney wants to get back to full guard.
Honda 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.

That's two 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.

Kearney actively working from the bottom here.
Honda perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Kearney is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Honda pulls his head out easily.
Honda wants to pass the guard but Kearney is defending well.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Honda trying to control the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Honda shoots in and drives through. Kearney sprawls well.
Honda fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Honda looking to score a takedown here. Kearney is defending well but Honda drives through and ends up in Kearney's guard.
Honda is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at Tri-Force MMA that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kearney keeping moving, preventing Honda from controlling successfully.

Kearney throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Honda trying to control but Kearney is working from the bottom.

Kearney has his foot on Honda's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Honda works his way back into a safe position though.
Honda stands and throws Kearney's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Honda wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Kearney, who protects the arm well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Kearney is looking for a sweep.

Honda thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Honda takes a little break here. Kearney wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Kearney gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Honda is keen to just control but Kearney is a slippery customer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yoko Honda dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Honda gets a double leg takedown into Kearney's guard.
Honda trying to control but Kearney is working from the bottom.

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

Honda got a little sloppy there for a moment and Kearney has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Honda has managed to get both his arms back between Kearney's legs - danger averted.

Kearney is looking for a triangle here but Honda uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Honda is looking to take a break and control but Kearney is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Honda grinds an elbow into Kearney's temple.

Honda is trying to get an arm triangle but Kearney is defending well.
Honda has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Honda scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Kearney?
You get the feeling that Kearney really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Honda putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Honda in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Honda lands with some strikes.

Honda looking for a guillotine from mount but Kearney is having none of it.
Kearney is looking to get to half guard.
Honda controlling the pace for now.
Honda drops a big elbow. That's hurt Kearney! More shots from Honda and the ref steps in! The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:50 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Yoko Honda!