PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Francis kenneth (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ippo makunuochi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ippo makunuochi is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

kenneth
vs
makunuochi

179 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

180 cm
22
150 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Very confident

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Francis kenneth!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ippo makunuochi!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Felipe Paraventi and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
kenneth fails with the takedown.
makunuochi fails with the takedown

and kenneth counters with a single leg into guard. makunuochi didn't expect that.
kenneth looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
kenneth throws and elbow that misses. makunuochi uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in kenneth's guard. Nice move by makunuochi!
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
makunuochi won't allow kenneth to get back to his feet.
makunuochi thows a big elbow that misses.
kenneth looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
makunuochi wants to control from the top but kenneth keeps moving.
makunuochi trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
kenneth managing to control the position.
makunuochi throws a big right hand that misses.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
makunuochi leaves kenneth with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
No luck for kenneth with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Francis kenneth. That's going to take a lot out of him.
kenneth swats away the attempt to clinch by makunuochi.
kenneth throws a head kick that misses.
makunuochi tries for a takedown but kenneth circles away easily
and kenneth counters with a big head kick but makunuochi shrugs it off.
kenneth fails with the takedown.
kenneth is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
kenneth misses with a wild body shot.
makunuochi tries to bum rush kenneth with a series of wild strikes but kenneth uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
kenneth throws a head kick that misses.
kenneth shoots in for a takedown but makunuochi shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
makunuochi misses with a jab, cross combination.
Some wild striking there from makunuochi.
makunuochi fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
makunuochi throws a leg kick
and kenneth counters with a head kick. That will keep makunuochi thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
makunuochi lands a jab-cross combination.
kenneth lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
makunuochi tries for a takedown but kenneth circles away easily
and kenneth counters with a stiff right hand.
A looping hook to the body misses from kenneth. makunuochi does a little dance to reset his feet.
kenneth swats away the attempt to clinch by makunuochi.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
makunuochi moves in looking to clinch but kenneth pushes him off.
makunuochi lands with a nice combination. kenneth backs away looking to recover.
makunuochi chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before kenneth can pounce on him.
kenneth throws a nice looking combination but makunuochi bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
kenneth circles away from the clinch attempt.
makunuochi throws a combination that misses
and kenneth makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
makunuochi rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but kenneth moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
kenneth throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

makunuochi closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
kenneth tries to kick makunuochi off but makunuochi keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
kenneth is looking to improve his position.
kenneth is trying to maintain the position but makunuochi is very close to passing his half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

makunuochi is sneakily working for an arm triangle but kenneth sees it coming and defends easily.
makunuochi not landing any meaningful shots this time.
kenneth keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
makunuochi throws a strike but kenneth avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
makunuochi throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as kenneth works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

makunuochi gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows kenneth to score an easy takedown into full guard.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as kenneth accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

kenneth throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
No luck for kenneth with that takedown attempt.
makunuochi tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
makunuochi dives in and grabs kenneth's left leg, looking for a takedown. kenneth pushes down on makunuochi's head and hops out.
Ippo makunuochi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

kenneth changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. makunuochi looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
kenneth working the ground and pound.
kenneth postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
The ground and pound from kenneth seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
makunuochi wants to control but kenneth postures up.
kenneth working the ground and pound.

kenneth swings around for an armbar but makunuochi sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into kenneth's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
kenneth trying to control the position.
makunuochi has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
makunuochi trying to control the position from guard on top but kenneth is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
makunuochi landing some decent shots from guard.
makunuochi throws and elbow that misses. kenneth uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in makunuochi's guard. Nice move by kenneth!
kenneth sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's two 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.

makunuochi uses the ropes to get back to his feet.
kenneth fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Francis kenneth is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
makunuochi fails with an attempt to clinch.
kenneth avoids the head kick by makunuochi.
makunuochi misses with a double jab.
makunuochi gets cracked there but stands up to it.
makunuochi tries to clinch but fails miserably
and kenneth counters with a head kick. That will keep makunuochi thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A punch combination from kenneth misses.
makunuochi misses with an attempted mid kick.
kenneth misses with a takedown attempt - makunuochi sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

makunuochi has closed the distance and engaged kenneth in a clinch.
makunuochi misses with a knee to the head.
kenneth trying to stall but makunuochi improves his position.
A short right from makunuochi.
kenneth changes levels and goes for a takedown here. makunuochi fights it off and pushes away nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Francis kenneth. That's going to take a lot out of him.
makunuochi defends well against a solid takedown attempt from kenneth.
makunuochi throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

kenneth pushes makunuochi up against the ropes in a clinch.

kenneth manages to break the clinch.
makunuochi shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has kenneth pinned against the cage. kenneth gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
kenneth takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
kenneth displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from makunuochi.
kenneth shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. makunuochi defends it nicely.
makunuochi with a lazy takedown attempt

and kenneth counters with a takedown into side control.
kenneth working the ground and pound but makunuochi is defending the strikes.
kenneth lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
makunuochi wants to control but kenneth postures up.

kenneth swings around for an armbar but makunuochi sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into kenneth's guard.
kenneth working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from makunuochi.
makunuochi trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Francis kenneth dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

makunuochi fails to land the takedown.

kenneth closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming makunuochi to the mat! makunuochi manages to get full guard.
kenneth loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
kenneth with a flurry of punches that miss.
kenneth looking to sit in guard and control but makunuochi gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
makunuochi throwing strikes from guard but kenneth blocks nicely.
makunuochi trying to control but kenneth is working from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
kenneth is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
makunuochi is looking to work some ground and pound but kenneth has wrist control.
kenneth keeping moving, preventing makunuochi from controlling successfully.
Francis kenneth overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
makunuochi tries to clinch but kenneth moves out of range.
makunuochi slaps away a takedown attempt from kenneth, before circling back to the center of the mat.
makunuochi looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

makunuochi gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
makunuochi wants to sweep here but kenneth controlling him for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
kenneth looking to sit in guard and control but makunuochi gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
kenneth is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst makunuochi is controlling him.
makunuochi throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
kenneth looking to hit a scissor sweep but makunuochi is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
makunuochi lands a couple of digs.
kenneth is trying to control the position but makunuochi postures up.
makunuochi is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

makunuochi postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! kenneth is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of makunuochi, into his guard.
kenneth throws and elbow that misses. makunuochi uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in kenneth's guard. Nice move by makunuochi!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
makunuochi working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as makunuochi accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
kenneth lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for makunuochi!
kenneth throwing strikes here but makunuochi is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
kenneth with the ground and pound from mount.
Ippo makunuochi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Francis kenneth is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
kenneth looking to control but makunuochi is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

And that's the end of the fight!
Francis kenneth showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for kenneth, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight 30:27
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Francis kenneth!