PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Dan Kennedy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Connor McManus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Kennedy
vs
McManus

186 cm
18
198 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

177 cm
18
167 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Dan Kennedy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Connor McManus!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Eddie Farnsworth and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kennedy swings and misses with a hook to the body.
McManus throws a low kick but it's checked well by Kennedy.
McManus looks to land a combination but Kennedy avoids it well.
Kennedy keeps the fight on the outside.
McManus dives in and grabs Kennedy's left leg, looking for a takedown. Kennedy pushes down on McManus's head and hops out.
McManus shoots in but Kennedy avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Kennedy keeps the fight on the outside.
Kennedy shoots in for a takedown but McManus shows good takedown defense.
Kennedy throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
McManus gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Kennedy counters with a nice double leg into side control. McManus won't be happy with that.
Dan Kennedy has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Connor McManus.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
McManus is trying to improve his position.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kennedy stands up.
McManus is looking to clinch.
McManus stuffs the takedown.
McManus tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Kennedy manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
McManus blocks a head kick by Kennedy.
McManus circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kennedy misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Nice body kick from McManus.
Kennedy is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McManus misses with a takedown attempt - Kennedy sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Kennedy has managed to clinch.

Kennedy pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

McManus pushes Kennedy up against the cage in a clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
McManus tries to pull guard but Kennedy forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Kennedy pulls guard.
McManus trying to control but Kennedy is working from the bottom.

McManus stands and steps away. Kennedy gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
McManus misses with a takedown attempt

and Kennedy counters with a shoot takedown. McManus fights it but they end up in guard.
McManus bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Kennedy's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McManus stops Kennedy from standing up.
Kennedy 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.
McManus looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
McManus wants to control from the top but Kennedy keeps moving.
McManus pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kennedy is keeping the position for now.
McManus wants to stand and escape but instead Kennedy has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Kennedy knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for McManus on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kennedy is stalling in the full guard.
McManus keeping full guard, as Kennedy tries to pass.
Kennedy's corner is telling him to maintain position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Kennedy is looking to clinch.

Kennedy shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
McManus regains full guard. Nicely done.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dan Kennedy dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Kennedy shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Kennedy is looking to take a break and control but McManus is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
McManus is looking to improve his position.
McManus has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Kennedy is working away from the top position though.
McManus regains full guard. Nicely done.
McManus is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kennedy sitting in guard here, content to control.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Kennedy shoots in for a takedown but McManus shows good takedown defense.
McManus slaps away a takedown attempt from Kennedy, before circling back to the center of the mat.
McManus fails with a takedown attempt.
McManus throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Kennedy's waist but Kennedy gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing McManus off to one side.
McManus shoots in but no luck this time.
Dan Kennedy has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Connor McManus.
Kennedy swats away the attempt to clinch by McManus.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McManus defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Kennedy.
McManus tries to clinch but Kennedy is having none of it.
Dan Kennedy is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kennedy stuffs the takedown attempt from McManus. McManus gets slowly back to his feet.
Kennedy dives in and grabs McManus's left leg, looking for a takedown. McManus pushes down on Kennedy's head and hops out.

McManus gets tackled into the cage by Kennedy. Kennedy maintains the clinch.

Kennedy has dropped down and is working for a takedown. McManus is trying to keep an underhook but Kennedy manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Kennedy keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kennedy wants to pass to mount but McManus is defending the position.
McManus is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McManus connecting with a few gentle strikes.
McManus keeping control of the position.
Kennedy frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Kennedy tries to control but McManus wriggling away.
Kennedy won't let McManus get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
The referee warns McManus that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McManus working to try and regain half guard.
Dan Kennedy overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kennedy wants to control the pace but McManus is squirming around nicely.
Kennedy tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
McManus is mounted but he's throwing punches.
Kennedy looking to control and managing it successfully.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dan Kennedy dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Kennedy.
McManus misses with a jab, cross combination.

Kennedy clinches up against the cage.
Kennedy jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as McManus walks away with a smile on his face. Kennedy gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

McManus changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Kennedy looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Kennedy manages to get back to half guard.
Kennedy tries to push off, looking to stand up, but McManus manages to move to mount!
Kennedy on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Kennedy tries to get out of the position.
Kennedy's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Kennedy is looking to improve his position but McManus isn't that keen on the idea.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McManus controlling from the full mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McManus trying to control but Kennedy is having none of it.
Kennedy is working to get back to half guard.

McManus is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McManus tries to close the distance and clinch but Kennedy swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

McManus gets tackled into the cage by Kennedy. Kennedy maintains the clinch.
McManus tries to break the clinch but Kennedy is controlling the position.

Kennedy has picked McManus up - he's going for a ride! Kennedy dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
McManus is controlling Kennedy's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Kennedy trying to control the action but McManus is working from the bottom.
Kennedy wants to advance to full mount but McManus doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
McManus is trying to keep Kennedy in close.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
McManus looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

McManus working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Kennedy has passed into half guard!
McManus trying to hold on to Kennedy's head to control him but Kennedy postures up.
Kennedy wants to pass the guard but McManus is defending well.

McManus pushes Kennedy off and gets back to his feet.
Connor McManus seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Kennedy closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. McManus quickly recovers to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kennedy throwing shots but McManus is blocking nicely.
Kennedy wants to control but McManus is keeping him busy.
Kennedy prevents McManus from standing back up.
Kennedy is looking to take a break and control but McManus is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
McManus wants to get back to his feet.
McManus takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kennedy stalling.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Dan Kennedy.
Kennedy throws a head kick but McManus moves out of range.
Connor McManus has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Dan Kennedy is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
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!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kennedy fails in his attempt to clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Dan Kennedy.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Kennedy, 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 Columbo Gatti scores the fight 30:27
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dan Kennedy!
A relieved looking Dan Kennedy thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.