PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Gareth Keenan (ranked 50 p4p, 9 weight class) and Jiri Sayonara (ranked 179 p4p, 24 weight class). Sayonara has chosen Edge Of The Blade as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Keenan
vs
Sayonara

179 cm
32
150 lbs
24 - 5 - 3

178 cm
34
138 lbs
27 - 14 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Aspire Clothing

HELLBENT
THE END 32

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 24 - 5 - 3, fighting out of Las Vegas, Gareth Keenan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 27 - 14 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jiri Sayonara!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sayonara fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Keenan manages to avoid it.
Keenan lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Keenan cracks the inside of Sayonara's front leg.
Sayonara misses with a few strikes there.
Keenan throws out a leg kick but Sayonara moves out of range and Keenan only half commits.
Sayonara checks a low kick from Keenan.
Sayonara throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
And Keenan counters with a quick kick to the body but Sayonara blocks it.
Sayonara has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Keenan.
Keenan scores with a jab to the head.
Keenan looks to land a body kick but Sayonara moved away.
Sayonara displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Keenan throws out the jab.
Sayonara looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
A nice leg kick lands there from Keenan.
Sayonara displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Keenan throws out the jab.
Keenan lands a nice leg kick that just misses Sayonara's sensitive parts.
A jab from Keenan misses.
Sayonara changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
A low kick from Keenan is predictable there
and Sayonara cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Sayonara misses with a body shot.
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!
Sayonara throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Keenan throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Keenan throws a hook to the side of Sayonara's head but Sayonara sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Keenan avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Keenan avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Sayonara changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Keenan tries to avoid it but Sayonara manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Keenan to the ground. Keenan escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Keenan throws a head kick that misses.
Keenan misses with an uppercut.
Keenan scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Good exchange - Keenan coming out on top.
Sayonara takes one on the button.
Sayonara throws a hook but Keenan blocks it.
Keenan misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Keenan swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Keenan scoring well with a low kick there.
Keenan finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Sayonara slips a straight right by Keenan.
Keenan scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Keenan swings for the body but Sayonara moves out of range.
Keenan tries to land a front kick but Sayonara steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Keenan bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Sayonara's head backwards.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sayonara scores with a shot to the body.
Keenan tries to bum rush Sayonara with a series of wild strikes but Sayonara uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Keenan is looking light on his feet compared to last time was saw him fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Keenan throws a body shot but no joy.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sayonara. Keenan does a little dance to reset his feet.
An attempted straight right counter from Keenan misses the target.
Keenan pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
An inside leg kick lands from Keenan.
Keenan throws a head kick that misses.
Sayonara is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Sayonara takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Sayonara tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Keenan was well out of range. Poor timing from Sayonara.
Gareth Keenan is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Keenan throws a leg kick

and Sayonara counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Sayonara missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sayonara sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Keenan defending well though.
Keenan tries to get to full guard but Sayonara has control of the leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Keenan keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Sayonara with the ground and pound but Keenan uses the opportunity to regain guard.

Sayonara drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Keenan dives on top into guard.

Sayonara not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Sayonara isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Keenan stacks Sayonara on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Keenan!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sayonara gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Sayonara works his way to full guard. Good work.
Keenan passes Sayonara's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Sayonara is pressing down on Keenan's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Sayonara is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Keenan sitting in guard, not really doing much.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gareth Keenan dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

A looping hook to the body misses from Sayonara. Keenan does a little dance to reset his feet.
Keenan looks to score with a jab to the body but Sayonara is just out of range.
Sayonara is trying to counter with his kicks.
Keenan scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Keenan uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sayonara.
Keenan cracks Sayonara with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Keenan slips under a jab from Sayonara.
Sayonara slips under a jab from Keenan.
Sayonara follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Keenan throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Sayonara looks to score with a jab to the body but Keenan is just out of range.
Keenan takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Keenan lands a nice hook to Sayonara's body. Sayonara takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Keenan throws a body punch but Sayonara moves out of range.
Good shot there by Sayonara.
The fighters circle momentarily. Keenan darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Keenan connects with a solid leg kick.
Sayonara swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Sayonara is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Keenan rather than just go for the knockout.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sayonara scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Keenan throws a leg kick but Sayonara moved away.
Keenan lands a leg kick that knocks Sayonara off balance momentarily.
Sayonara's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Sayonara misses with an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Keenan swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Sayonara.
Sayonara has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Keenan.
Keenan takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Jab by Keenan.
Sayonara is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Gareth Keenan is winning the standup battle so far.
Keenan feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Sayonara's calf.
Keenan takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Keenan scores with a nice body kick.
Sayonara uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Keenan.
Keenan looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Sayonara uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Keenan.
Keenan scores with a hook to the body. Sayonara takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sayonara misses with a body kick.
Sayonara takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Sayonara works Keenan's body with a nice hook.
Sayonara takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Keenan missing with a left hand there. Sayonara was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A leg kick checked by Sayonara.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Keenan lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Sayonara tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Keenan was well out of range. Poor timing from Sayonara.
Sayonara waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Keenan.
Sayonara cracks Keenan with a right hand to the side of the head.
Sayonara shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Sayonara moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Keenan keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Sayonara swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Keenan throwing a counter right hand but Sayonara manages to avoid it.
An inside leg kick from Keenan misses.
Keenan throws a hook but Sayonara blocks it.
Keenan is looking to land body kicks.
Sayonara swings for the body but Keenan moves out of range.
Sayonara swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Keenan needs to keep his hands up - Sayonara had a free shot at his head there.
Keenan slips under a jab from Sayonara.
Keenan seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Sayonara works Keenan's body with a nice hook.
Sayonara throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Keenan lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Keenan throws a hook but Sayonara blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Keenan misses with a straight right.
Keenan is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sayonara can do to turn this around?
Sayonara scores with a jab to the body.
An inside leg kick from Keenan misses.
Sayonara bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Keenan throws a body punch but Sayonara moves out of range.
Keenan lands a leg kick that knocks Sayonara off balance momentarily.
Keenan throws a solid leg kick but Sayonara takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Keenan.
Keenan avoids the body shot from Sayonara.
Keenan jabs Sayonara right on the nose. Sayonara blinks but takes it well.
Keenan is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Sayonara.
Keenan misses with a hook.
Keenan misses with a body shot
and Sayonara counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
A right-left combo lands from Keenan.
Sayonara throws a looping overhand right but Keenan ducks down to avoid it.
Keenan fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Keenan is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Sayonara.
Sayonara just misses with a punch to the body.
Sayonara uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Keenan ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Sayonara moves away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sayonara goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
A cross from Keenan lands.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Sayonara checks a leg kick.
Keenan throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Nice defenses there by Sayonara.
Keenan misses with a low kick.
Keenan attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Sayonara! But no joy.
Gareth Keenan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Keenan throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Keenan moves away from the strike by Sayonara.
Keenan lands with a shot to the body.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Keenan lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Sayonara has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Sayonara and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Keenan throws a jab when Sayonara was well out of range.
Keenan throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Sayonara.
Keenan swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Sayonara swings for the body but Keenan moves out of range.
Keenan was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Keenan pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Sayonara doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Keenan throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gareth Keenan dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

A big right from Keenan misses.
A countering left hand to the body from Sayonara misses.
Sayonara chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Keenan can pounce on him.
Sayonara throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Keenan fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Sayonara looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Keenan swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Keenan bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Keenan misses with a looping right.
Sayonara checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Keenan works the jab nicely.
Keenan turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Keenan throws out a loose jab but Sayonara uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sayonara swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Sayonara lands with a good body shot.
Keenan moves out of range of the body kick from Sayonara.
Sayonara rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Keenan moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Keenan takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A low kick from Keenan misses
and Sayonara counters with a nice uppercut.
Sayonara throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Sayonara throws a jab but it's blocked by Keenan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sayonara uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Keenan.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Sayonara! But no joy.
Sayonara lands with a good body shot.
Keenan just misses with a punch to the body.
Sayonara moves out of range of the strikes.
Sayonara misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Keenan.
Sayonara throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Keenan doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Sayonara digs a good body shot into Keenan's ribs.
Sayonara swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Keenan throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Keenan throws an overhand right that lands on Sayonara's shoulder, as Sayonara tries to avoid the shot.
Sayonara throws a right and a left that both miss.
Keenan scores with a jab to the head.
Keenan gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Sayonara counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Keenan thinking.
Sayonara steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Keenan.
Decent striking displayed by Keenan there.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Keenan connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Sayonara momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sayonara jabs at Keenan's body.
Keenan swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Sayonara with the counter takedown but Keenan avoids it easily.
Sayonara moves out of range of the body kick.
Sayonara throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Sayonara keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Sayonara swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Sayonara throws a poor cross that misses
and Keenan counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Sayonara takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Sayonara shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Keenan as he avoids it easily.
Keenan pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Keenan takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Keenan looks to land a body kick but Sayonara moved away.
Sayonara lands a jab to Keenan's midsection.
Keenan throws a jab when Sayonara was well out of range.
Keenan throws a poor cross that misses
and Sayonara counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Sayonara misses the shot to the body.
Keenan scores with a leg kick.
Sayonara looks to land a combination but Keenan avoids it well.
Sayonara ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Sayonara let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Keenan lands a lovely overhand right.
Keenan thows a left - swing and a miss!
Sayonara throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Sayonara misses with a body shot.
Sayonara lands with a cross.
Sayonara has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Sayonara fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Sayonara uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Keenan.
Keenan avoids the body shot from Sayonara.
Keenan rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Sayonara makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Keenan connects with a leg kick. Sayonara looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Sayonara throws a body punch but Keenan moves out of range.
Sayonara defending well as Keenan loads up on a big left hand.
Sayonara takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Keenan walks into a stiff left hand from Sayonara.
Keenan throws a sloppy head kick and Sayonara moves out of range easily.
Keenan throws a leg kick which misses Sayonara's front leg but catches the back leg as Sayonara tries to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sayonara misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Keenan.
Keenan takes a swing at Sayonara's ribcage but misses.
Keenan feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Sayonara's calf.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sayonara throws a body punch but Keenan moves out of range.
Sayonara takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Sayonara missing with a left hand there. Keenan was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Keenan misses with a looping left.
Keenan throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Jiri Sayonara has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A jab lands there for Keenan.
Sayonara jabs Keenan right on the nose. Keenan blinks but takes it well.
Sayonara fails with the takedown.
Gareth Keenan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jiri Sayonara.
Keenan throws a leg kick which misses Sayonara's front leg but catches the back leg as Sayonara tries to avoid it.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Keenan misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Keenan thows a left - swing and a miss!
Sayonara misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Keenan.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Gareth Keenan.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Keenan, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gareth Keenan!
Gareth Keenan looked relieved post fight as he said the following; 'Can this be over now?'.