PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Steven Kennedy (ranked 1119 p4p, 1808 weight class) and Yancy Makaki Iii (ranked 177 p4p, 268 weight class). 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?

Kennedy
vs
Makaki Iii

183 cm
38
178
23 - 31 - 0

182 cm
38
177
32 - 20 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Vegan Gains

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 23 - 31 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Steven Kennedy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 32 - 20 - 1, fighting out of New York, Yancy Makaki Iii!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Taro Takaoka and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Makaki Iii throws the kick towards the body but Kennedy avoids it.
Makaki Iii misses with a straight left.
Makaki Iii scores with a decent looking hook.
Makaki Iii throws a body punch but Kennedy moves out of range.
Kennedy has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Makaki Iii is looking to slow Kennedy down with leg kicks.

Kennedy closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Makaki Iii working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Kennedy leaning against his opponent.
A short left from Kennedy.
Kennedy tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Makaki Iii just stands there and leans against the cage.
Makaki Iii trying to land knees to the body.

Kennedy's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kennedy wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Kennedy on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Makaki Iii moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Makaki Iii ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kennedy moves away.
Makaki Iii blocks the body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Makaki Iii takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Makaki Iii smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Makaki Iii jabs Kennedy right on the nose. Kennedy blinks but takes it well.
Yancy Makaki Iii is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Makaki Iii throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kennedy sees it coming and avoids it easily.
As Makaki Iii looks to move away, Kennedy throws a big counter combo but Makaki Iii just gets out of the way.
Kennedy fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Makaki Iii is out of range.
Makaki Iii tries to land a front kick but Kennedy steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Kennedy misses with a wild body shot.

Kennedy looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Kennedy wants to pass the guard but Makaki Iii is keeping the position.
Kennedy looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Makaki Iii seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Kennedy trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Kennedy stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Makaki Iii swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kennedy wants to control from the top but Makaki Iii keeps moving.
Makaki Iii is pulling down on Kennedy's head. It's preventing any offense from Kennedy, at least for the moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A leg kick checked by Makaki Iii.
Makaki Iii scores with a jab to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kennedy ducks under a wild hook from Makaki Iii.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kennedy moves out of range of the body kick.
Kennedy tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Makaki Iii manages to circle out of the way.
Kennedy misses with a leg kick
and Makaki Iii counters with a straight right hand.
Yancy Makaki Iii seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Makaki Iii dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Kennedy. That did some damage!
Makaki Iii misses with a wild body shot.
Kennedy tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Makaki Iii scores with a shot to the body.
Makaki Iii looks to land a right hand but Kennedy moved out of range.
Kennedy is looking for a counter combo.
Kennedy slips under a jab from Makaki Iii.
Kennedy throws out a loose jab but Makaki Iii uses good head movement to avoid it.

Kennedy throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Makaki Iii tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Kennedy is in Makaki Iii's guard.
Kennedy trying to control but Makaki Iii is working from the bottom.
Makaki Iii avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Makaki Iii utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Makaki Iii is pulling down on Kennedy's head to control his posture.
Makaki Iii utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Kennedy trying to control but Makaki Iii is working from the bottom.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Kennedy looking to sit in guard and control but Makaki Iii gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Kennedy looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Makaki Iii passes into half guard.
Kennedy is trying to control but Makaki Iii passes into side control!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yancy Makaki Iii dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

A good leg kick by Kennedy.
Kennedy sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Makaki Iii just misses with a punch to the body.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Kennedy 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 Makaki Iii has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Makaki Iii and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Kennedy tries to close the distance and clinch but Makaki Iii swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Makaki Iii scores with a spinning back kick!
Makaki Iii has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
A big left from Makaki Iii misses.
Makaki Iii connects with a crisp jab.
Makaki Iii throws a push kick but Kennedy slaps the foot to one side.
Kennedy throws a leg kick which misses Makaki Iii's front leg but catches the back leg as Makaki Iii tries to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kennedy wants to clinch.
Kennedy dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Makaki Iii is looking to land body kicks.
Makaki Iii misses with a looping right.
Makaki Iii misses with a low kick.
And Kennedy counters with a quick kick to the body but Makaki Iii blocks it.
Kennedy throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Makaki Iii.
Makaki Iii throws out a counter right but Kennedy avoids it with no problem.
Makaki Iii swings for the body but Kennedy moves out of range.
Makaki Iii throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kennedy motions for Makaki Iii to come forward. Kennedy throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Kennedy blocks a leg kick.
Kennedy misses with a head kick.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Kennedy.
Makaki Iii slips a jab from Kennedy.
Kennedy shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Kennedy tries to land a body kick
and Makaki Iii counters with a nice body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Makaki Iii chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Kennedy lunges at Makaki Iii with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Makaki Iii's hand.
Kennedy thows a leg kick but Makaki Iii checks it
and Makaki Iii counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Yancy Makaki Iii seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A head kick by Kennedy misses
and Makaki Iii counters with a thumping low kick.
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!
Makaki Iii moves into range and connects with a jab.
Kennedy misses with a hook to the body
letting Makaki Iii counter with a right hand.
Makaki Iii fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Good standup being displayed there by Makaki Iii as he connects with a hook.
Makaki Iii looks to land a body kick but Kennedy moved away.
A quick step to the side and Kennedy tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kennedy chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Makaki Iii can pounce on him.
Makaki Iii throws out a powerful jab.
Kennedy misses with a low kick.
Makaki Iii lands a front kick.
Makaki Iii scoring well with a low kick there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kennedy misses with a body shot.
Kennedy tries to land a front kick but Makaki Iii steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
A telegraphed right hand from Makaki Iii misses the target.
Kennedy looks to throw a body kick
and Makaki Iii counters with a low kick, right behind Kennedy 's knee.
Makaki Iii misses with an uppercut. Kennedy saw that one coming.
Makaki Iii connects with a high kick.
Kennedy throws a sloppy head kick
and Kennedy takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Kennedy tries to score a power double leg takedown but Makaki Iii sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Kennedy somewhat.
Makaki Iii misses with an uppercut.
Kennedy walks into a jab.
Makaki Iii throws a push kick but Kennedy slaps the foot to one side.
Kennedy seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
A head kick misses from Kennedy.
Kennedy throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Makaki Iii has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Kennedy.
Kennedy swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kennedy avoids a punch combination nicely.
Nice straight punches there by Makaki Iii. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Makaki Iii.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Makaki Iii circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kennedy looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
A solid leg kick lands there for Kennedy.
Makaki Iii checks a leg kick nicely.
Kennedy scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Makaki Iii doesn't seem bothered though.
Makaki Iii avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Makaki Iii looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Makaki Iii throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Kennedy on the side of the head.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Kennedy is defended easily by Makaki Iii.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yancy Makaki Iii 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!

Makaki Iii throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Makaki Iii on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Makaki Iii misses with a jab, cross combination.
Kennedy slips a jab from Makaki Iii.
Makaki Iii scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Kennedy is looking to wear down Makaki Iii with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Makaki Iii misses with a kick to the body.
Makaki Iii looks for the body kick but Kennedy saw that one coming.
Kennedy throws a lazy right hand but Makaki Iii sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Makaki Iii rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Kennedy counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Kennedy takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Kennedy moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Kennedy avoids the body shot from Makaki Iii.
Kennedy throws a wild body kick that Makaki Iii sees coming a mile off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Makaki Iii looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Kennedy tries a head kick but it misses.
Makaki Iii takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

Kennedy closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Makaki Iii did well to prevent Kennedy getting side control.
Kennedy thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Makaki Iii's head.
Kennedy is stalling here. Makaki Iii is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Kennedy seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Makaki Iii has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Kennedy tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Makaki Iii wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Makaki Iii staying calm.
Kennedy is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Makaki Iii off and has taken his back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Kennedy is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Kennedy lands an elbow to the side of the head.

Kennedy has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Makaki Iii has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Steven Kennedy overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
Makaki Iii is trying to break free.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kennedy struggling to land strikes to the head as Makaki Iii covers up.
I would not like to be Makaki Iii right now.
Makaki Iii covering up well under a barage of strikes.
Kennedy trying to control momentarily.
Kennedy controlling from the back.

Kennedy working for the choke.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Makaki Iii prevents Kennedy from getting a body triangle.
Kennedy looking to hold on to the position here but Makaki Iii rolls and ends up regaining guard.
Kennedy has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Kennedy trying to control the position from guard on top but Makaki Iii is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kennedy pushing down on Makaki Iii's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Kennedy thows a huge punch but Makaki Iii dodges it nicely.
Makaki Iii makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Makaki Iii.
Kennedy wants to control from the top but Makaki Iii keeps moving.

And that's the end of the fight!
Steven Kennedy showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Makaki Iii 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 28:29
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 28:29
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yancy Makaki Iii!
Yancy Makaki Iii decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.