PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kobe Bryan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Toby Kensmith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kensmith has chosen ATB - Justify (Club Mix) as his entrance music. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Bryan
vs
Kensmith

185 cm
19
170 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

182 cm
23
179 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Powerful

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 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Kobe Bryan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Toby Kensmith!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kensmith throws a head kick but Bryan moves out of range.
An inside leg kick from Bryan misses.
Bryan throws a nice looking combination but Kensmith bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Kensmith tries a head kick but it misses.
Bryan is looking to chop away at Kensmith's legs.
Horrible takedown by Bryan or perhaps it was just good defense by Kensmith which made him look bad.

Bryan gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Kensmith drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Kensmith jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Bryan looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Bryan is trying to keep Kensmith in close.
Kensmith won't allow Bryan to sweep him here.
Bryan keeping full guard, as Kensmith tries to pass.
Bryan avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Bryan keeping moving, preventing Kensmith from controlling successfully.
Bryan trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Bryan throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Kensmith feints and then cracks Bryan's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Bryan down.
Kensmith misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kensmith throws a head kick that misses.
Bryan misses with the combination.
Kensmith throws a head kick that misses.
Kensmith tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kensmith throws a head kick that Bryan semi-blocks.
Kensmith tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kensmith throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Bryan shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Bryan trying to control the position from guard on top but Kensmith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bryan connects with a couple of short punches.

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

Bryan 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kensmith trying to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kensmith wants to sweep here but Bryan controlling him for the moment.
Bryan missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Kensmith not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Bryan won't allow Kensmith to sweep him here.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Bryan.
Bryan works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Kensmith is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Bryan lands a decent elbow from side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kensmith tries to improve position but can't.
Bryan wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kensmith keeps working.
Bryan wants to stand but Kensmith has his arm trapped.
Bryan working away.
Kensmith is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Kensmith has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Bryan is working away from the top position though.

Kensmith looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Kensmith looks gassed!

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Kensmith misses with a head kick.

Bryan scores with a takedown into Kensmith's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kensmith keeping moving, preventing Bryan from controlling successfully.

Kensmith working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Bryan doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Bryan manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Kensmith keeping full guard, as Bryan tries to pass.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Kensmith utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Kensmith escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Bryan gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Kensmith is trying to control the position but Bryan postures up.
Bryan wants to pass the guard but Kensmith is keeping the position.
Bryan postures up.
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 Kobe Bryan 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.

A low kick from Bryan misses
and Kensmith counters with a big head kick but Bryan shrugs it off.
Bryan fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Bryan throws and low kick but Kensmith moves out of range easily.
Bryan shoots in but no luck this time.
Kensmith lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Bryan throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Bryan swinging wilding here.
Bryan looks to land a combination but Kensmith avoids it well.
Kensmith misses with a head kick.
Kensmith blocks a leg kick.
Kensmith avoids a punch combination nicely.
Kensmith throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Bryan avoids the head kick by Kensmith.
Kensmith lands a head kick!
Bryan misses with a few strikes there.
Bryan takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A punch combination from Bryan misses.
Kensmith throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Bryan.
Kobe Bryan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A head kick from Kensmith lands but Bryan takes it in his stride.
Kensmith lands a head kick!
Kensmith throws a head kick but Bryan moves out of range.
Kensmith tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Bryan blocks a head kick by Kensmith.
Kensmith moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Bryan takes a kick to the side of the head.
No luck for Bryan with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kobe Bryan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kensmith lands a head kick. Bryan smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Kobe Bryan is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kensmith lands a head kick!
Kensmith fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Bryan.

Kensmith closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Bryan to the mat! Bryan manages to get full guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kensmith throws a big right hand that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kensmith throws a big right hand that misses.
Kensmith passes into half guard.
Kensmith moves into full mount! Bryan won't be happy about that!
Kensmith takes Bryan's back. Could be looking for a rear naked choke here - either way, Bryan is in trouble.
Bryan tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Kensmith lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Bryan hang on?
Kensmith takes Bryan's back. Could be looking for a rear naked choke here - either way, Bryan is in trouble.
Kensmith is trying to stick to Bryan's back but Bryan is turning into Kensmith. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Kensmith's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Bryan.
Bryan trying to control but Kensmith is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kensmith is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Bryan is looking for a sweep. Kensmith is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Kensmith seems to be looking for submissions.
Kensmith is trying to control. Bryan wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Kensmith is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Kensmith is trying to control the action in half guard but Bryan is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Bryan trying to control from the bottom.
Bryan is trying to stand up here but Kensmith is controlling him well.
Bryan gets back to full guard.
Kensmith slips nicely into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bryan trying to control from the bottom.
Bryan is trying to get back to full guard.

Bryan looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Kensmith is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Bryan is just riding it out for now. Kensmith eventually gives up the hold.
Bryan taking some punishment here, with Kensmith in his half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bryan moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Bryan is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Toby Kensmith showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Bryan misses with the combination.
A head kick misses from Kensmith.
Kensmith throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kensmith connects with a solid leg kick.
Kensmith connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Kensmith throws a head kick that Bryan semi-blocks.
Bryan stuffs the takedown.
Bryan fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kensmith manages to avoid it.
Bryan blocks a head kick by Kensmith.
Bryan misses with a looping left.
Kensmith lands a nice leg kick that just misses Bryan's sensitive parts.
Bryan doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Kensmith counters with a thumping low kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kensmith throws a head kick that half lands.
Kensmith tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kensmith throws a head kick that half lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kensmith avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Kensmith blocks a leg kick.
Bryan takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Kensmith tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Kensmith shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Kensmith trying to control but Bryan is working from the bottom.
Bryan controls Kensmith momentarily but Kensmith frees himself.

Bryan throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Kensmith passes into half guard.
Bryan is looking for a sweep. Kensmith is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Kensmith working the head and body with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bryan is staying active underneath Kensmith, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Kensmith is trying to work for a kimura but Bryan is defending well.
Bryan is refusing to be controlled, as Kensmith sits in half guard.
Bryan wants to improve his position but Kensmith is controlling well.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Kensmith throws a quick inside leg kick.
Bryan misses with a wild combination.
Kensmith ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Good leg kick by Kensmith there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Kensmith is looking to slow Bryan down with leg kicks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kensmith uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Bryan.
Kensmith throws a quick inside leg kick.
Bryan takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Kensmith misses with a head kick.
Kensmith pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A head kick misses from Kensmith.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Kensmith.
You can see the frustration on Bryan's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Kensmith tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Kensmith has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Bryan is looking for a sweep.
Toby Kensmith has got the better of the ground game so far.

Kensmith has worked his way into a potential kimura here. Bryan is trying to get out of the position but his squirming has just got him deeper into trouble. Kensmith yanks on the arm and Bryan is forced to tap due to a very painful looking submission! Nice work by Kensmith.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:18 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Toby Kensmith!