PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Avery Nijholt (ranked 4215 p4p, 512 weight class) and Steven Kennedy (ranked 2994 p4p, 387 weight class). Steven Kennedy acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Nijholt
vs
Kennedy

178 cm
21
176 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

183 cm
29
178 lbs
9 - 11 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Great elbows
Experienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

IniTech Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Avery Nijholt!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Steven Kennedy!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fight stays on the outside here - Nijholt looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nijholt moves out of range of the body kick.

Nijholt forces Kennedy back against the cage and clinches.
Nijholt has Kennedy pressed against the cage, preventing Kennedy from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Kennedy manages to break the clinch.

Nijholt rushes Kennedy and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Nijholt misses with a shot to the kidneys.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kennedy breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Nijholt misses with a takedown attempt - Kennedy sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Kennedy throws a counter combo.
Kennedy throws a head kick but Nijholt moves out of range.
Nijholt throws a one two combo.
Kennedy throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Nijholt is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Kennedy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nijholt throws a jab but it's blocked by Kennedy.
Nijholt misses with a left hand
and Kennedy counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Good shot there by Nijholt.
Kennedy scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Nijholt doesn't seem bothered though.

Kennedy scores with a takedown into Nijholt's guard.
Kennedy trying to control but Nijholt is working from the bottom.
Kennedy sitting in guard here, content to control.
Kennedy has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Crapollas Gym. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
Nijholt not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Kennedy sitting in guard here, content to control.

Nijholt escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Kennedy gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kennedy is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Kennedy slips nicely into half guard.
Kennedy winds up and cracks Nijholt with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Kennedy wants to control but Nijholt is keeping him busy.

Kennedy is working for a kimura but Nijholt is defending it quite comfortably.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kennedy content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nijholt wants to improve his position but Kennedy is controlling well.
Kennedy is thwarting Nijholt's attempts to control the position.
Kennedy prevents Nijholt from improving his position.

Kennedy is trying to work for a kimura but Nijholt is defending well.
Nijholt wants to control but Kennedy is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Kennedy controlling the pace.

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.

Kennedy is looking for a kimura but Nijholt is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Kennedy to get the leverage.
Kennedy thows a huge punch but Nijholt dodges it nicely.
Kennedy throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Kennedy is looking to take a break and control but Nijholt is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Kennedy perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
It looks like Kennedy might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Nijholt is not content to let Kennedy control the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Nijholt moves in looking to clinch but Kennedy pushes him off.
Kennedy throws out a counter right but Nijholt avoids it with no problem.
Nijholt tries to clinch but Kennedy is having none of it.
Nijholt tries to clinch but Kennedy is having none of it.
Nijholt works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Nijholt jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Kennedy keeps the fight on the outside.
Kennedy misses with a head kick.
Nijholt is looking to counter the offense by Kennedy and move into the clinch.
Nijholt throws a body shot but no joy.
Avery Nijholt seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nijholt fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kennedy connects with a body shot that sends Nijholt's belly button to the back.
Nijholt tries to clinch up but Kennedy circles away and keeps his distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nijholt loads up on a big right hand but Kennedy slips the punch.
Nijholt tries to close the distance and clinch but Kennedy swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Nijholt checks a low kick from Kennedy.
Kennedy with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Kennedy lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kennedy throws a head kick but Nijholt moves out of range.
Nijholt throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Kennedy counters with a left to the body.
Kennedy throws out a powerful jab.
Kennedy tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Nijholt was well out of range. Poor timing from Kennedy.
Nice uppercut lands for Kennedy. That snapped Nijholt's head back.
Nijholt tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Nijholt loads up on a big right hand but Kennedy slips the punch.
Nijholt displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Kennedy throws out the jab.
Nijholt tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Kennedy manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Nijholt moves out of range of the leg kick from Kennedy.
Nijholt is looking to counter the offense by Kennedy and move into the clinch.
Kennedy throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Nijholt tries to counter by clinching up but Kennedy breaks away and moves out of range.
Nijholt tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Kennedy scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

Kennedy gets tackled into the cage by Nijholt. Nijholt maintains the clinch.
Nijholt misses with some punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nijholt works on Kennedy's body with a couple of short punches.
Kennedy blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Kennedy wants a takedown but no success here.
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!
A right handed body shot lands from Nijholt.
Kennedy is trying to pull guard but Nijholt turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Nijholt.
A frustrated look appears on Kennedy's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Nijholt digs a right hand underneath Kennedy's ribcage. Kennedy let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Nijholt misses with a punch to the body.
Nijholt tries to work over Kennedy's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Kennedy has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Kennedy is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Nijholt lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Kennedy has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Kennedy decides to pull guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nijholt wants to control from the top but Kennedy keeps moving.
Kennedy wants to sweep but no luck.

Kennedy is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Nijholt is aware though and is defending well.
Nijholt looking to pass the guard.
Kennedy lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Kennedy pushes down on Nijholt's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Nijholt is not content to let Kennedy control the position.
Kennedy thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kennedy performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nijholt avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Kennedy.

Nijholt actively working from the bottom here.
Kennedy is looking to take a break and control but Nijholt is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Kennedy is trying to work for a kimura but Nijholt is defending well.
Nijholt is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Kennedy seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Nijholt does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steven Kennedy showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Kennedy fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Kennedy does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Kennedy scores with a kick to the body.
Kennedy lands with a good body shot.
Nijholt will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Kennedy misses with a head kick.
Nijholt defending well as Kennedy loads up on a big left hand.
Kennedy pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Kennedy tries to score a power double leg takedown but Nijholt sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Kennedy somewhat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Nijholt crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Kennedy - the referee stops the clock and Nijholt gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Kennedy. Nijholt manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Nijholt ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kennedy moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Nijholt looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nijholt walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

Nijholt instigates a clinch.
A left hand lands to the body for Nijholt.
Kennedy tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Nijholt smiles and moves away.

Nijholt gets a clinch.
Kennedy looking for a takedown.
Avery Nijholt has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Steven Kennedy.

Kennedy's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Steven Kennedy seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kennedy takes a swing at Nijholt's ribcage but misses.

Nijholt gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Avery Nijholt has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nijholt lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Kennedy tries to break the clinch but Nijholt is controlling the position.
Kennedy is trying to drag Nijholt to the mat but Nijholt just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Nijholt lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Kennedy is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Nijholt.
Kennedy fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Kennedy tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Avery Nijholt has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Nijholt lands a right hand that snaps the head of Kennedy backwards.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nijholt misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Nijholt misses with the head strike.

Kennedy manages to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nijholt is looking to clinch.
Kennedy on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Kennedy moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Kennedy throws a hook to the side of Nijholt's head but Nijholt sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Kennedy thows a body kick. Nijholt tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Kennedy ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Nijholt moves away.
A low kick from Nijholt is predictable there
and Kennedy counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Nijholt forces Kennedy back against the cage and clinches.
Nijholt lands with a right to the head.
Kennedy tries to break the clinch but Nijholt is controlling the position.
Nijholt tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kennedy jumps guard but Nijholt turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Kennedy breaks the clinch.

Nijholt gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kennedy pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nijholt fails with an attempt to clinch.
Nijholt misses with a lunging right hand
and Kennedy counters with a nice uppercut.
Nijholt looks to score with a jab to the body but Kennedy is just out of range.
Nijholt takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Kennedy delivers a nice body kick.

Nijholt has closed the distance and engaged Kennedy in a clinch.

Kennedy jumps guard and drags Nijholt to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Nijholt has gone for a leg lock! Kennedy slips out almost immediately though and dives into Nijholt's guard.

Kennedy landing some decent shots from guard.
Kennedy stands and throws Nijholt's legs to the side, diving into side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Steven Kennedy comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Kennedy winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Steven Kennedy!
A relieved looking Steven Kennedy thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.
Avery Nijholt was interviewed post fight and said 'This guy was the better fighter tonight, and deserved the win. I will go back to train harder and come back better than ever'.