PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Martell Hennessey (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marlon Kooch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kooch has chosen Rise Against - The strenght to go on as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Hennessey
vs
Kooch

195 cm
19
213 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

189 cm
21
215 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Powerful

Deadly Clothing
Beast Body

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Martell Hennessey!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Marlon Kooch!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Robert Twigg and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hennessey swinging wildly here.
Hennessey tries to clinch but Kooch is having none of it.
Hennessey fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Kooch avoids it really well and circles away.
Hennessey pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Hennessey has managed to clinch.

Kooch pulls guard successfully.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

Hennessey avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hennessey preventing the sweep.
Hennessey is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Kooch pulls Hennessey in close to prevent any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hennessey thows a big elbow that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kooch keeping moving, preventing Hennessey from controlling successfully.
Hennessey is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Kooch is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Hennessey working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Kooch's head.
Hennessey knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Kooch on the ground.
Hennessey preventing the sweep.
Kooch is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Kooch slips a nice elbow through Hennessey's hands, connecting with Hennessey's forehead.
Nice strikes from Kooch there.

Kooch is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Hennessey defends it well.
Kooch trying to pass the guard but Hennessey defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hennessey keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Kooch is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Hennessey has managed to free his arm - good work.
Hennessey pushes Kooch off looking to stand but Kooch dives back in and keeps control.
Kooch has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Kooch is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Hennessey defends it well.
Kooch not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Kooch wants to pass to mount but Hennessey is defending the position.
Kooch is thwarting Hennessey's attempts to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Hennessey fails with the takedown.
Hennessey fails in his attempt to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hennessey looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Hennessey throws a series of punches but Kooch moves out of range.
Hennessey closes this distance looking for a takedown but Kooch circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Martell Hennessey. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hennessey is breathing heavily.

Kooch shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Hennessey napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Kooch tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Kooch has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Hennessey is trying to control Kooch's posture but Kooch avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kooch is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Hennessey has escaped the position, nice work there.
Kooch throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

Kooch thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Kooch is trying to get an arm triangle but Hennessey is defending well.

Kooch goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Hennessey rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Kooch's guard! Nice work there by Hennessey!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Hennessey misses with the combination.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kooch looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Hennessey throws a right hand that Kooch ducks under and follows up with a left that Kooch also avoids with ease.
Hennessey clinches but Kooch breaks the clinch
and Kooch cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Kooch tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hennessey paws at him with a jab and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hennessey shoots and misses
and Kooch counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Hennessey with a lazy takedown attempt

and Kooch counters with a takedown into side control.

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

Kooch has his feet on Hennessey's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Martell Hennessey is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hennessey gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Kooch counters by clinching up.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Martell Hennessey. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kooch jumps guard.
Kooch manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Kooch cracks Hennessey with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Hennessey takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Kooch has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Hennessey's face.

Kooch jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Hennessey manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Kooch trying to control the action but Hennessey is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hennessey parries the strikes from Kooch easily there. Kooch is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Hennessey to escape.

Kooch is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Hennessey knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Kooch looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
You can see the frustration on Hennessey's face as Kooch controls the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kooch scoring with punches and elbows.
Kooch wants to control but Hennessey is keeping him busy.
Kooch fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Hennessey is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Hennessey defending against the ground and pound.

Kooch is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Hennessey knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Kooch is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Hennessey is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kooch working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Hennessey is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Kooch is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Hennessey knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Kooch working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marlon Kooch showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Hennessey's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Hennessey throws a combination that misses

and Kooch moves into the clinch.
Kooch prevents Hennessey from breaking the clinch.
Kooch is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Hennessey is defending well for now.

Kooch gets control of Hennessey's arms and successfully pulls guard. Kooch will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Marlon Kooch has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kooch wants to sweep here but Hennessey controlling him for the moment.

Hennessey got a little sloppy there for a moment and Kooch has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Hennessey has managed to get both his arms back between Kooch's legs - danger averted.

Hennessey avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Hennessey controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Hennessey wants to control from the top but Kooch keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kooch 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.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hennessey wants to stand but Kooch is controlling his posture from full guard.
Kooch strikes from his own guard.
Kooch bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Hennessey's guard.
Kooch wants to pass the guard but Hennessey is keeping the position.
Kooch throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Kooch decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Hennessey tries for a takedown but Kooch circles away easily
and Kooch counters with a body kick that stops Hennessey in his tracks momentarily.

Kooch moves into the clinch.
Hennessey gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Kooch.
Hennessey is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Kooch tries to stall but Hennessey uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Martell Hennessey has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kooch is trying to drag Hennessey to the mat but Hennessey just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Kooch has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Hennessey tries to land a knee to the head but Kooch blocks with his arms.

Kooch has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Hennessey regains guard immediately.
Kooch wants to control from the top but Hennessey keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kooch is pushing down on Hennessey's leg trying to pass to half guard. Hennessey is fighting to maintain full guard but Kooch has managed to sneak the leg through.
Hennessey is looking for a sweep. Kooch is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Kooch seems to be working for a kimura but Hennessey defends the submission attempt.
Hennessey is looking to control Kooch's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Hennessey avoid being mounted?
Hennessey tries to get to full guard but Kooch has control of the leg.

Hennessey is defending against the submission attempts here by Kooch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kooch is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Kooch prevents Hennessey from standing back up.
Marlon Kooch is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Kooch trying to control the action but Hennessey is working from the bottom.

Kooch has hold of the far side arm. He's working for the Kimura, can Hennessey defend it? Kooch steps over the head and cranks it - Hennessey is tapping out! That was textbook stuff right there - nice submission victory for Kooch!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Marlon Kooch!