PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Trent Pope (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and DeAngelo Kenner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Pope comes to the cage accompanied by LMFAO - Sexy and I Know It . Kenner has chosen ''Death Wish'' by Jadakiss feat. Lil Wayne as his entrance music. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Pope
vs
Kenner

198 cm
37
273 lbs
38 - 16 - 0

191 cm
34
272 lbs
25 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Hellbent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 38 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Trent Pope!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 25 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, DeAngelo Kenner!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Arvi Lind and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pope throws out a loose jab but Kenner uses good head movement to avoid it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kenner. Pope does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kenner lunges at Pope with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Pope's hand.
Pope misses with a leg kick

and Kenner counters with a single leg into guard. Pope didn't expect that.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kenner is looking to work some ground and pound but Pope has wrist control.
Pope keeping moving, preventing Kenner from controlling successfully.
Pope working a defensive guard here.
Kenner trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kenner trying to control the position from guard on top but Pope is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

DeAngelo Kenner has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Pope lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Pope scoring well with a low kick there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kenner shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Pope as he jumps to the side.
Pope throws a low kick, looking for Kenner's leg but Kenner calmly moves out of range.
Kenner digs a good hook to Pope's body.
Pope throws a low kick but Kenner moves out of range easily.
Kenner lands a jab to Pope's midsection.
Pope slips under a jab.
We've been told by Pope's head coaches at Synergy Fight Team that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Trent Pope seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kenner fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

Pope gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Kenner to score an easy takedown into full guard.
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!
Kenner pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Pope is keeping the position for now.
Kenner is in close to Pope's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pope working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kenner.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kenner accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Pope has his hands on Kenner's head, controlling the position.
Kenner trying to control the position from guard on top but Pope is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kenner throws a big right hand that misses.
Kenner connects with a couple of short punches.
Pope wants to sweep here but Kenner controlling him for the moment.
Pope utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kenner accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Kenner throwing strikes from guard but Pope blocks nicely.
Kenner won't allow Pope to sweep him here.
Pope manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Kenner manages to get himself to full guard.
Kenner 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.

Kenner escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Pope gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Kenner not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Kenner trying to control the position here.
Pope trying to control but Kenner is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pope wants to pass the guard but Kenner is keeping the position.
Kenner is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Kenner has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. DeAngelo Kenner wasn't active enough on the ground.
Pope scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Pope fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Kenner looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Pope tries a head kick but it misses.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Pope moves in looking to clinch but Kenner pushes him off.
Pope ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Kenner lands an overhand right.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

DeAngelo Kenner dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Pope shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Kenner scores with a punch to the head.

Kenner drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Pope is trying to keep Kenner in close.
Kenner preventing the sweep.
Kenner postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
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!
Kenner working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
DeAngelo Kenner has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kenner loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Kenner controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Kenner with a flurry of punches that miss.
Pope keeping moving, preventing Kenner from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. DeAngelo Kenner wasn't active enough on the ground.
A decent looking cross lands there for Pope.
Kenner shoots in but no luck this time.
Kenner scores with a jab.
Pope throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Pope misses with a head kick.
Pope dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Kenner darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Pope fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Kenner looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Pope tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kenner was well out of range. Poor timing from Pope.
Kenner fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pope avoids the body shot from Kenner.
Pope lands a nice shot to the body.
Kenner misses the shot to the body.
Kenner takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.

It looks like DeAngelo Kenner has been cut.
Kenner throws an overhand right that lands on Pope's shoulder, as Pope tries to avoid the shot.
Pope dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Kenner. That did some damage!
Kenner uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Pope.
Pope is looking to clinch.
Pope feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Kenner's calf.
Kenner misses with a looping right.
Kenner cracks the inside of Pope's front leg.
Kenner ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Decent striking displayed by Kenner there.
Kenner rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Pope moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Pope slips a jab from Kenner.
DeAngelo Kenner seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A big right from Kenner misses.
Pope fakes the leg kick and cracks Kenner in the body.
Kenner lunges at Pope with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Pope's hand.
Pope misses with a hook. Kenner ducked under it nicely.
Pope takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Kenner takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Kenner is breathing heavily.
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!
Kenner takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Pope lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Pope chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Kenner avoids the head kick by Pope.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
That kick from Pope tenderised Kenner's leg. Kenner is trying to keep his angry face on.
Pope scores with a spinning back kick!
Pope throws a sloppy head kick and Kenner moves out of range easily.
Pope throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Kenner on the side of the head.
Kenner takes one to the chin there.
Pope fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kenner manages to avoid it.
Kenner throws a lazy right hand but Pope sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Donk. Kenner catches Pope right on the button with a cross.
Pope scores with a nice body kick.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Pope connects with a high kick.
Kenner lands with an overhand left.
Pope slips a jab and a cross from Kenner.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Trent Pope dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on DeAngelo Kenner's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Pope lands with a right hand.
Kenner swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Pope fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Kenner checks it well.
Pope scores with a punch to the head.
Kenner tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Pope misses with a low kick.
Pope checks the leg kick.
Kenner on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Pope uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kenner.
Pope with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Kenner takes a kick to the side of the head.
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!
Pope ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Pope is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Kenner misses with an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kenner avoids the head kick by Pope.
Kenner uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Pope.
Kenner throws a jab but it's blocked by Pope.
Pope is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Pope takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Pope keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kenner.
Trent Pope is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kenner uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

Kenner closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Pope did well to prevent Kenner getting side control.
Kenner is looking to take a break and control but Pope is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kenner lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Kenner throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pope trying to control but Kenner postures up.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Kenner in particular looking to stall.
Kenner wants to take a breather but Pope is having none of it.
The fighters are battling for position here. Pope manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Kenner with a nice head shot there.
Kenner stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Pope swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Pope working a defensive guard here.
Kenner lands a couple of digs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pope bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Kenner's guard.
Pope slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Kenner pulls Pope in close to his closed guard and prevents Pope from doing any damage or advancing position.
Pope trying to control but Kenner is working from the bottom.
Pope won't allow Kenner to sweep him here.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Kenner scores with a decent looking hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kenner misses with a takedown attempt - Pope sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Kenner connects with a leg kick. Pope looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Pope delivers a nice body kick.
Kenner takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Pope lands a slapping body shot.
Pope throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Kenner shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Pope as he jumps to the side.
Kenner has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Pope finds it's way round the side to connect with Kenner's head.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kenner takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Kenner checks a low kick from Pope.
Kenner swats away the attempt to clinch by Pope.

And that's the end of the fight!
Trent Pope showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Pope has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:28
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Trent Pope!
A relieved looking Trent Pope thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.
The defeated DeAngelo Kenner had this to say: 'Much respect. Great fight.'.