PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Alex Rhodes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cathal Kelly (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kelly has chosen Flogging Molly - Devil's Dance Floor as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. 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?

Rhodes
vs
Kelly

180 cm
22
152 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

177 cm
22
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Alex Rhodes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Cathal Kelly!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, James Glass and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kelly shoots in but Rhodes avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Rhodes throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Rhodes misses with a two punch combination.
Rhodes misses with a two punch combination.
Rhodes tries to clinch but Kelly moves out of range.
Kelly avoids a kick to the body.
Rhodes tries to work over Kelly's front leg with a kick but Kelly checks it.
Kelly fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Rhodes will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Rhodes scores with a one two! Kelly had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

It looks like Cathal Kelly has been cut.
A punch combination from Rhodes misses.
Rhodes is looking to chop away at Kelly's legs.
Rhodes swings for the body but Kelly moves out of range.
Rhodes throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kelly shoots in and drives through. Rhodes sprawls well.
Alex Rhodes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cathal Kelly.
Nice sprawl there from Rhodes as Kelly shoots in.
Kelly blocks a low kick nicely.
Nice takedown defense from Rhodes. No joy for Kelly on that attempt.
Rhodes throws a series of punches but Kelly moves out of range.
Kelly shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Rhodes but Rhodes pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Rhodes throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Rhodes misses with a few strikes there.
Rhodes lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Kelly circles away quickly and effectively.
Rhodes is looking to clinch but Kelly is avoiding it.

Kelly pushes Rhodes up against the cage in a clinch.

Kelly has hold of one of Rhodes's legs. Rhodes is fighting the takedown attempt but Kelly gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.

Kelly drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Kelly jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Kelly looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kelly being controlled here momentarily.
Kelly is looking to work some ground and pound but Rhodes has wrist control.
Kelly wants to get up but he can't break Rhodes's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Kelly 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.
Rhodes has Kelly pulled in close to control his posture.
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.
Rhodes tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Kelly trying to control the position from guard on top but Rhodes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rhodes seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Kelly trying to control the position from guard on top but Rhodes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Kelly 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.
Rhodes is controlling Kelly's posture.
Rhodes knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Kelly on the ground.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Rhodes dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Cathal Kelly's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Rhodes looks to land a body kick but Kelly moved away.
Rhodes misses with a few strikes there.
Rhodes misses with a jab, cross combination.
Rhodes throws and low kick but Kelly moves out of range easily.
No luck for Rhodes with that takedown attempt.
Rhodes fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Rhodes throws a low kick, looking for Kelly's leg but Kelly calmly moves out of range.
Rhodes gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Kelly counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Kelly.
Rhodes is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Rhodes on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Rhodes tries to get out of the position.
Rhodes has a closed guard, preventing Kelly from standing up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kelly postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kelly lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Kelly won't allow Rhodes to sweep him here.
Kelly working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Kelly content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Kelly landing some decent shots from guard.
Rhodes wants to sweep here but Kelly controlling him for the moment.
Rhodes trying to control the position.
Kelly wants to pass the guard but Rhodes is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rhodes is on top in guard.

Kelly has his foot on Rhodes's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Rhodes works his way back into a safe position though.
Rhodes trying to control but Kelly is working from the bottom.

Kelly looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Kelly has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Rhodes can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rhodes looking to pass the guard.
Rhodes seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Rhodes pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kelly is keeping the position for now.
Kelly looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Kelly escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rhodes gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Rhodes controlling from the top position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kelly trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Rhodes content to stall in guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cathal Kelly showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Cathal Kelly's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Rhodes throws a leg kick but Kelly sees it coming and moves out of range.

Kelly rushes Rhodes and presses him up against the cage.
Kelly is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Rhodes wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Kelly has him pressed against the cage.
Kelly fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Kelly tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Rhodes just stands there and leans against the cage.
Alex Rhodes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cathal Kelly.
Kelly stops a takedown attempt from Rhodes.
Kelly prevents Rhodes from breaking the clinch.
Kelly goes for a takedown attempt but Rhodes pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Rhodes swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Kelly counters with a single leg into guard. Rhodes didn't expect that.
Kelly trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rhodes wants to sweep here but Kelly controlling him for the moment.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Kelly 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 one minute gone in the round.
Rhodes wants to sweep here but Kelly controlling him for the moment.
Rhodes has control of Kelly's left arm, preventing Kelly from doing any damage.
Kelly trying to control but Rhodes is working from the bottom.
Rhodes is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Rhodes stalling.

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.
Kelly throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Rhodes stalling.
Rhodes seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Kelly does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Alex Rhodes just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Kelly showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rhodes.
Rhodes is looking to land body kicks.
Rhodes throws a series of punches but Kelly moves out of range.

Kelly darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Kelly wants to pass the guard but Rhodes is defending well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rhodes trying to hold on to Kelly's head to control him but Kelly postures up.
Kelly wants to pass to mount but Rhodes is defending the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kelly tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Rhodes desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Rhodes is trying to control but can't.
Kelly is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Rhodes!
Rhodes really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cathal Kelly comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Kelly has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Chris Edwards scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Glass scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cathal Kelly!