PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ruben Gracie (ranked 2284 p4p, 302 weight class) and Steven Kennedy (ranked 3229 p4p, 394 weight class). Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Gracie
vs
Kennedy

185 cm
23
200 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

183 cm
31
178 lbs
11 - 16 - 0

BJJ Red Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Vegan Gains

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Ruben Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 16 - 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!
Kennedy tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Gracie was well out of range. Poor timing from Kennedy.
Kennedy throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kennedy wants to clinch up but Gracie keeps it at a distance.
Kennedy misses with a body shot.
Kennedy takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Kennedy throws a front kick aimed at Gracie's knee but Gracie avoids it well.
Gracie throws a leg kick but Kennedy moved away.
Gracie throws out a leg kick but Kennedy moves out of range and Gracie only half commits.
Kennedy thinks about the counter body kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kennedy throws a body shot but no joy.
Kennedy scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Kennedy throws a body shot but no joy.
Kennedy misses with a hook.
Gracie drops down looking for a counter takedown but Kennedy sprawls and moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A jab from Kennedy misses.
Gracie checks the leg kick nicely there.
Gracie lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Kennedy circles away quickly and effectively.
Steven Kennedy seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kennedy lands a slapping body shot.
Gracie is looking to chop away at Kennedy's legs.
Gracie fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Kennedy is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Gracie rather than just go for the knockout.
Kennedy throws a right and a left that both miss.
Kennedy walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Gracie lunges at Kennedy with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Kennedy's hand.
Kennedy thows a leg kick but Gracie checks it

and Gracie decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Kennedy's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gracie passes into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kennedy tries to get to full guard but Gracie has control of the leg.
Nice strikes from Gracie there.
Gracie winds up and cracks Kennedy with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
We've been hearing good reports from Gracie's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.

Kennedy looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Kennedy looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Gracie working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Kennedy punching from the bottom.
Gracie wants to pass the guard but Kennedy is defending well.
Gracie landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kennedy wants to improve his position but Gracie is controlling well.
Kennedy is looking to control Gracie's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Kennedy avoid being mounted?
Kennedy is looking for a sweep. Gracie is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Gracie lands with a punch from half guard.
Gracie passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Kennedy!
Kennedy is trying desperately to improve position.
Kennedy is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Gracie wants to control the pace but Kennedy is squirming around nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kennedy is trying to escape the mount.
Kennedy bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

Gracie working for a triangle but Kennedy defends it easily.
Kennedy must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Gracie is looking for a triangle but Kennedy pushes his legs off easily.
Gracie looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Kennedy tries to free his leg and advance position but Gracie is retaining full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ruben Gracie dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Kennedy throws a lazy right hand but Gracie sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Gracie uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kennedy.
Kennedy throws a jab when Gracie was well out of range.
Kennedy throws a wild body kick that Gracie sees coming a mile off.
Kennedy shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Gracie sprawls well. Gracie wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Kennedy gets slowly back to his feet.
Gracie swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Kennedy attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kennedy scores with a shot to the body.
Kennedy shoots in for a takedown but Gracie shows good takedown defense.
Gracie misses the shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kennedy fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Gracie is out of range.
Gracie with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Gracie takes a kick to the side of the head.
Kennedy misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Gracie uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kennedy.
Gracie's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Gracie duly obliges.
Kennedy cracks Gracie with a right hand to the side of the head.
Gracie moves out of range as Kennedy throws a body kick.
Gracie avoids a kick to the body.
Kennedy throws a big shot that misses.
Gracie lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
A low kick from Kennedy is predictable there
and Gracie counters with a stiff right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kennedy misses with a body kick.
Gracie was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Kennedy.
Gracie throwing a counter right hand but Kennedy manages to avoid it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kennedy goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Gracie takes one on the button.
Kennedy is looking to clinch.
Gracie's jab looks to have found its range, popping Kennedy under the eye.
Gracie takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Kennedy tries to close the distance and clinch but Gracie swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kennedy goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Gracie misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kennedy swings for the body but Gracie moves out of range.
Gracie throwing a counter right hand but Kennedy manages to avoid it.
A head kick from Gracie lands but Kennedy takes it in his stride.
Kennedy lands with a shot to the body.
Kennedy misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Gracie.
Kennedy throws a chopping leg kick but Gracie manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Gracie feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Kennedy throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Kennedy works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Kennedy thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Gracie if he has to take too many more of those.
Gracie keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Gracie avoids a kick to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kennedy takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Kennedy throws a leg kick that is checked
and Gracie counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Kennedy throws a leg kick
letting Gracie counter with a right hand.
Kennedy throws a sloppy body shot
and Gracie counters with a left and a right that stings Kennedy.
Steven Kennedy seems to be getting the better of the standup.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gracie avoids the body shot from Kennedy.
Gracie ducks under a wild hook from Kennedy.
Gracie shoots for a double leg takedown but Kennedy sprawls well. He's pushed Gracie's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Kennedy stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Crunch! Kennedy slams his shin into Gracie's torso.
Kennedy pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
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.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Kennedy fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Gracie avoids it really well and circles away.
Gracie half committed to a counter leg kick.
Gracie avoids the head kick by Kennedy.
Gracie doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Kennedy counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Kennedy moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kennedy looks for the body kick but Gracie saw that one coming.
A little feinted left hand from Gracie on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
An inside leg kick from Kennedy misses.
Gracie stuffs the takedown.
Gracie changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Gracie scores with a crisp jab that stopped Kennedy in his tracks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good exchange - Kennedy coming out on top.
Gracie slips a straight right by Kennedy.
Kennedy throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kennedy throws a hook but Gracie blocks it.
Gracie checks a low kick from Kennedy.
Gracie is looking to counter punch.
Kennedy misses with a low kick as Gracie jumps back.
Kennedy misses with a head kick.
Kennedy misses with a kick to the body.
Kennedy defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Gracie.
Kennedy cracks a nice hook into Gracie's ribs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kennedy throws a lazy body kick
and Gracie counters with a right hand to the body.

Gracie throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Kennedy was covering up waiting for the punch and Gracie finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Kennedy trying to control the position.

Kennedy has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Gracie 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 Kennedy.
Ruben Gracie overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
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!
Kennedy tries to buck Gracie off but Gracie is having none of it.
Kennedy can't do much from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie cracks Kennedy with a big elbow.
Gracie creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Gracie is putting a hurting on Kennedy here, landing some big shots from side control.
Gracie advances to full mount.

Gracie is controlling this nicely and is looking to make no mistakes. Kennedy is trying to wiggle out of this horrible position. Kennedy flips to his side and attempts to get a leg in for half guard. Gracie anticipates the leg and manages to get behind Kennedy and secures both hooks! This could be bad! Gracie slips an arm under Kennedy chin and tries to position for a rear naked choke. Gracie has worked the choke in now and it looks tight. Gracie is squeezing on Kennedy like an anaconda would it's prey. Kennedy fails to tap and has fallen unconscious! We've got ourselves a winner by way of a rear naked choke!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:43 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Ruben Gracie!
Ruben Gracie thanked the fans post fight for their support.