PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Keanu Kealoha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dean Ambush (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Kealoha
vs
Ambush

168 cm
22
140 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

168 cm
20
147 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Big heart

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Keanu Kealoha!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Dean Ambush!
The judges for this bout are Roger Salmon, Jeff Smith and Ryoma Takatsuka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ambush keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Ambush dodges the punch combination from Kealoha.

Ambush fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Kealoha to the ground. Ambush is now in Kealoha's guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Ambush controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Ambush's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Kealoha keeping full guard, as Ambush tries to pass.
Kealoha keeping moving, preventing Ambush from controlling successfully.

Kealoha escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Ambush gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Ambush's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Ambush distracts Kealoha with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Ambush is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kealoha trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

Kealoha looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Ambush has picked Kealoha up and slammed him! Kealoha can't keep hold of the triangle and Ambush manages to pass to side control!
Ambush just content to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kealoha sneaks back into half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Kealoha throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Ambush wants to free his trapped foot but Kealoha is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Kealoha looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Ambush looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Kealoha with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ambush with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Kealoha looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ambush wants to pass the guard but Kealoha is defending well.
Still in half guard, Ambush seems content to control.

Kealoha is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Ambush pulls his head out easily.
Ambush is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
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!
Ambush lands with a punch from half guard.
Ambush scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Well, if Ambush is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kealoha missing with punches from the bottom.
Ambush not doing much here.
Ambush really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Kealoha. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Ambush scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Ambush in particular looking to stall.

Kealoha actively working from the bottom here.
Ambush takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Kealoha tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Ambush blocks the strikes from Kealoha.

Kealoha looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Kealoha is breathing heavily.
Ambush working the head and body with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ambush stalling.
Ambush takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

Kealoha looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Ambush slips a nice elbow through Kealoha's hands, connecting with Kealoha's forehead.
Ambush perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
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!
Ambush is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Ambush slows the pace down in half guard.
Kealoha misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Ambush working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ambush working Kealoha over with strikes.
Ambush controlling the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dean Ambush dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Ambush staying out of range there.
Kealoha rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Ambush moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Kealoha wants to clinch.

Ambush drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Ambush keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Kealoha's head.
Ambush content to stall in guard here.
Ambush scoring with some ground and pound.
Ambush controls from within his opponent's guard.
Kealoha keeping moving, preventing Ambush from controlling successfully.

Kealoha has his foot on Ambush's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Ambush works his way back into a safe position though.
Ambush trying to control but Kealoha is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ambush throws a big right hand that misses.

Kealoha has his foot on Ambush's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Ambush works his way back into a safe position though.
Ambush lands a couple of digs.
Ambush landing with the ground and pound.
Ambush with a nice head shot there.
Ambush tries to free his leg and advance position but Kealoha is retaining full guard.
Kealoha can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Ambush controls the pace.
Kealoha striking off his back but it's not causing Ambush any problems.
Dean Ambush has got the better of the ground game so far.

Kealoha isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Ambush stacks Kealoha on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Ambush!
You can see the frustration on Kealoha's face as Ambush controls the position.
Ambush avoids the strikes from the bottom by Kealoha.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kealoha on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ambush working the ground and pound.
Kealoha misses with a strike from the bottom.
Kealoha being controlled for a moment.
Kealoha 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.
Kealoha is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Ambush's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Ambush is taking a breather. Kealoha says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Dean Ambush.
Ambush circles away from the clinch attempt.
Ambush shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Kealoha sprawls well. Kealoha wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Ambush gets slowly back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ambush shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Kealoha's guard.
Ambush must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Ambush looking to pass the guard.

Kealoha has his foot on Ambush's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Ambush works his way back into a safe position though.

Kealoha looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ambush stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kealoha swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ambush connects with a couple of short punches.
Ambush not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Ambush lands a couple of elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kealoha being controlled here, momentarily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Kealoha had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Ambush defends it easily.
Ambush wants to control from the top but Kealoha keeps moving.
Ambush stays in close to Kealoha's body and controls the position.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Dean Ambush.

Ambush scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
You can see the frustration on Kealoha's face as Ambush controls the position.
Ambush trying to control the action but Kealoha is working from the bottom.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kealoha being controlled for a moment.
Kealoha is looking for a sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dean Ambush 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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Ambush feints and as Kealoha raises his hands in defense, Ambush changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Ambush throws a big right hand that misses.

Kealoha pushes a forearm under Ambush's chin to create some space. He's escaped his hips and pivoted quickly for an armbar! Can he extend the arm? Yes, Ambush is tapping out! Damn, that was fast!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:25 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Keanu Kealoha!