PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Scott Keene (ranked 1037 p4p, 124 weight class) and Gaia Ky Jr (ranked 758 p4p, 93 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Keene
vs
Ky Jr

180 cm
39
158 lbs
26 - 15 - 0

180 cm
30
147 lbs
9 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Sportivité

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 26 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Scott Keene!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Gaia Ky Jr!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, Anthony Taglia and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Keene swinging wildly here.
Keene throws a nice looking combination but Ky Jr bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Keene misses with a jab, cross combination.
Keene closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Ky Jr fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Keene avoids it really well and circles away.
Ky Jr moves out of range of the strikes.
Keene misses with a looping left.
Keene misses with a hook.
Keene scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Ky Jr misses with an uppercut.
Keene throws a hook to the side of Ky Jr's head but Ky Jr sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

Ky Jr shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Keene's guard.

Keene has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Ky Jr off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Ky Jr manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Keene on his heels. He'll look to pass Keene's guard now, I'm sure.
Ky Jr trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Ky Jr makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ky Jr accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Ky Jr postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Keene is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Ky Jr, into his guard.

Ky Jr has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Ky Jr has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Keene is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Ky Jr.
Ky Jr can't do much from the bottom here.
Ky Jr is looking to regain half guard here but Keene keeps moving and retains side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Keene decides to stand back up.
Keene stuffs the takedown attempt from Ky Jr. Ky Jr gets slowly back to his feet.
No joy there for Keene, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Ky Jr misses with a looping left.
A little feinted left hand from Keene on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Keene scores with a sloppy right hand. Ky Jr should have avoided that one.
Keene leaves Ky Jr with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Scott Keene has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gaia Ky Jr.

Ky Jr closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Keene quickly recovers to half guard.
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!
Ky Jr landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Ky Jr is looking to take a break and control but Keene is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Ky Jr tries to pass the half guard into mount. Keene knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Keene is trying to stand up here but Ky Jr is controlling him well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ky Jr throwing shots but Keene is blocking nicely.
Keene is staying active underneath Ky Jr, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Ky Jr has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Ky Jr postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Keene looks a forlorn figure.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Ky Jr throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Ky Jr trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Ky Jr wants to control but instead Keene manages to regain half guard.
Ky Jr missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Keene regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Ky Jr.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ky Jr pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Keene is keeping the position for now.
Ky Jr scoring with some ground and pound.
Ky Jr trying to control the position from guard on top but Keene is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Keene wants to stand but Ky Jr is controlling the position.
Ky Jr wants to control from the top but Keene keeps moving.
Ky Jr passes into half guard.
Ky Jr is pressing down on Keene's thigh, looking to free his foot. Keene is holding on for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Scott Keene dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Ky Jr tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Keene swivels and escapes.
Keene misses with the combination.

Ky Jr darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Ky Jr throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Keene is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ky Jr can do to turn this around?
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Ky Jr connects with a nice short shot to Keene's temple.
Ky Jr thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Keene's head.
Keene is trying to stand back up but Ky Jr is controlling him
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ky Jr throwing shots but Keene is blocking nicely.
Gaia Ky Jr has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ky Jr takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Ky Jr wants to pass the guard but Keene is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ky Jr wants to take a breather but Keene is having none of it.
Ky Jr thows a huge punch but Keene dodges it nicely.
Keene is trying to stand back up but Ky Jr is controlling him
Keene keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Ky Jr looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Ky Jr thows a huge punch but Keene dodges it nicely.
Ky Jr lands with a punch from half guard.
Ky Jr throwing shots but Keene is blocking nicely.
Keene on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Still in half guard, Ky Jr seems content to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ky Jr prevents Keene from standing back up.
Ky Jr lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Ky Jr is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

Keene is rocked!
Keene blocking the ground and pound attempt from Ky Jr.
Oh Keene is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Keene is trying to stand.
Keene seems to have got his legs back now.
Keene is refusing to be controlled, as Ky Jr sits in half guard.
Ky Jr winds up and cracks Keene with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Ky Jr sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Keene defending well though.
Ky Jr thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Ky Jr tries to pass the half guard into mount. Keene knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Ky Jr slips a nice elbow through Keene's hands, connecting with Keene's forehead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ky Jr lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Ky Jr is trying to control. Keene wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Ky Jr trying to pass the guard but Keene defending well.
Ky Jr missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Keene avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Ky Jr.
Ky Jr lands with a punch from half guard.

Ky Jr is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Keene doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Ky Jr.
Ky Jr is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ky Jr throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Ky Jr thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Ky Jr uses his free foot to push down on Keene's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Keene.

Ky Jr is working for a guillotine from mount but Keene frees his head quite easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Keene blocking the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Keene throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Ky Jr sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Ky Jr swings for the body but Keene moves out of range.
Keene is looking for a counter combo.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Ky Jr.
Ky Jr slips under a jab.
Ky Jr shoots in looking for a takedown but Keene manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Ky Jr's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Ky Jr bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Ky Jr walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Keene with a jab.
Keene looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Ky Jr shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Keene has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Ky Jr is on him like a limpet, forcing Keene back against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ky Jr tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Scott Keene has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gaia Ky Jr.
Ky Jr is working for takedown but Keene is calmly controlling the position for now.
Ky Jr manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ky Jr has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Keene avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Ky Jr breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Ky Jr shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Keene manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Ky Jr slips nicely into half guard.
Ky Jr thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Keene's head.

Ky Jr is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Keene doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Ky Jr.
Ky Jr controlling the action here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ky Jr uses his free foot to push down on Keene's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Keene.
Ky Jr landing strikes from the mount and Keene is in trouble!
Ky Jr pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Ky Jr with the ground and pound from mount.
Ky Jr scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Keene?
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ky Jr tries to control but Keene wriggling away.
Ky Jr postures up and throws a couple of big shots that have Keene in real trouble here! The ref calls for Keene to improve his position which he doesn't do, so the referee has no choice but to end the fight due to the strikes!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Gaia Ky Jr!
Gaia Ky Jr was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.