PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Kagiso Lekobe (ranked 3722 p4p, 5644 weight class) and Johnny Kenard (ranked 330 p4p, 374 weight class). Johnny Kenard will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Lekobe
vs
Kenard

176 cm
25
146
2 - 1 - 0

180 cm
23
149
0 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Very confident

White Gorilla

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Kagiso Lekobe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Johnny Kenard!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Robert Douchet and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Kenard is defended easily by Lekobe.
Lekobe looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Lekobe shoots in looking for a takedown. Kenard tries to sprawl out of it but Lekobe keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Kenard manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Kenard misses with a jab, cross combination.
Lekobe shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Kenard as he jumps to the side.

Kenard decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kenard is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Lekobe doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Kenard.
Kenard is trying to control the action in half guard but Lekobe is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kenard works his foot free and advances to mount.
Kenard looking to finish Lekobe with some ground and pound. This is bad for Lekobe!

Kenard looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

Kenard is working for a guillotine from mount but Lekobe frees his head quite easily.

Kenard jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Lekobe is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Lekobe and Kenard has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lekobe takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Kenard tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

Kenard tries for a kimura but Lekobe is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Kenard working the ground and pound.
Lekobe pushes Kenard away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Kenard gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

Kenard is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Lekobe has escaped the position, nice work there.
Lekobe pushes Kenard away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Kenard gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Kenard is looking to take a break and control but Lekobe is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Lekobe is trying to get back to half guard.

Kenard wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Lekobe, who protects the arm well.

Kenard tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Kenard has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Lekobe manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny Kenard dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Kenard shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Lekobe but Lekobe pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Kenard has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Kenard fails with the takedown.

Lekobe drives through with a takedown into guard.
Lekobe trying to control the position from guard on top but Kenard is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Lekobe got a little sloppy there for a moment and Kenard has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Lekobe has managed to get both his arms back between Kenard's legs - danger averted.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kenard looking for a sweep. Not yet Kenard, not yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kenard not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Kenard striking off his back but it's not causing Lekobe any problems.
Lekobe wants to control from the top but Kenard keeps moving.
Kenard is trying to control the position but Lekobe postures up.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Kenard shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Lekobe as he avoids it easily.
Kagiso Lekobe has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Johnny Kenard.
Kenard misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Lekobe shoots in looking for a takedown. Kenard tries to sprawl out of it but Lekobe keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Kenard manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Kenard misses with a body kick.

Kenard shoots in and bounces Lekobe off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Lekobe is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Kenard keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Lekobe's head.
Kenard is pushing down on Lekobe's leg trying to pass to half guard. Lekobe is fighting to maintain full guard but Kenard has managed to sneak the leg through.
Lekobe wants to control but Kenard is keeping busy.

Kenard is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Lekobe defends it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lekobe tries to roll over but Kenard keeps him under control.
Kenard seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Lekobe does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Kenard thows a huge punch but Lekobe dodges it nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kenard working Lekobe over with strikes.

Kenard is looking for a kimura here.
Kenard looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Lekobe trying to control but Kenard postures up.
Kenard trying to control the action but Lekobe is working from the bottom.
Kenard perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Kagiso Lekobe is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kenard shoots for a takedown but Lekobe saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Kenard fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Lekobe to the ground. Kenard is now in Lekobe's guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny Kenard showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Kenard shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Lekobe pinned against the cage. Lekobe gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Lekobe misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Kenard closes the distance and clinches.

Kenard's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kenard throws a low kick but it's checked well by Lekobe.
Kenard shoots in for a takedown but Lekobe shows good takedown defense.
Lekobe drops down looking for a counter takedown but Kenard sprawls and moves away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Lekobe gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Lekobe preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kenard tries to free his leg and advance position but Lekobe is retaining full guard.
Kenard is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Kenard with a nice head shot there.
Lekobe looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Lekobe keeping moving, preventing Kenard from controlling successfully.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Kenard wants to pass the guard but Lekobe is keeping the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Lekobe gets caught flat footed, as Kenard shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Lekobe looking to control.
Johnny Kenard has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kenard trying to control the position from guard on top but Lekobe is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kenard working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Kenard postures up.
Kenard with a nice head shot there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kenard wants to stand but Lekobe is controlling his posture from full guard.
Kenard pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Lekobe is keeping the position for now.
Lekobe pulls Kenard in close to prevent any damage.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Johnny Kenard is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Kenard just misses with a punch to the body.

Kenard closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Lekobe to the mat! Lekobe manages to get full guard.
Kenard won't allow Lekobe to get back to his feet.
Kenard passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lekobe is looking for a sweep.
Kenard slows the pace down.
Lekobe is trying to control Kenard's posture but Kenard avoids it.

Kenard decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Lekobe seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Lekobe fails to land the takedown.
Kagiso Lekobe has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Kenard closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Johnny Kenard comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Kenard has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Elvis Blanc scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Johnny Kenard!
During a confident post fight interview, Johnny Kenard thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.