PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nick Kennedy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Etro Kreiss (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kreiss has chosen Muse - Hysteria as his entrance music. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Kennedy
vs
Kreiss

200 cm
27
250 lbs
4 - 6 - 0

197 cm
20
270 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

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 4 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nick Kennedy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Etro Kreiss!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fray, Micheangelo Fripello and Jeff Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kennedy blocks a head kick by Kreiss.
Kreiss 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 Kreiss off to one side.
Kreiss cracks Kennedy with an open hand slap.
Kennedy fails with a takedown attempt.
Kennedy slips a jab and a cross from Kreiss.
Kreiss tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Kennedy swivels and escapes.
An attempted straight right counter from Kennedy misses the target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Kreiss is defended easily by Kennedy.
Nick Kennedy has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Etro Kreiss.
Kennedy misses with a takedown attempt

and Kreiss counters by clinching up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kreiss successfully pulls guard.
Kennedy missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Kennedy postures up in Kreiss's guard and throws a big left but Kreiss blocks it.
Kennedy being controlled here momentarily.
Kennedy working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Kennedy wants to control from the top but Kreiss keeps moving.
Kreiss wants to sweep but no luck.

Kennedy stands up and waves to Kreiss to follow him.

Kreiss closes the distance and clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kreiss breaks the clinch.
Kreiss will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Kennedy is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Kreiss.
Kreiss throws a leg kick
and Kennedy counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Kreiss closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Kreiss tries to pull guard but Kennedy won't allow it.

Kreiss manages to break the clinch.
Kennedy throws a leg kick

and Kreiss holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Kreiss is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Kennedy pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Kreiss breaks the clinch.
Kennedy fails with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kreiss moves into the clinch successfully.
Kennedy wants to get back to striking at distance but Kreiss won't allow it.
Kennedy scores with an uppercut up the middle.

Kreiss breaks from the clinch.
Kennedy closes the distance and clinches up with Kreiss, looking for a takedown. Kennedy pushes Kreiss against the cage but Kreiss circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Kreiss clinches up against the cage.
Kreiss drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Kennedy breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kennedy keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Kennedy stuffs the takedown.
Kreiss shoots in but no luck this time.

Kreiss moves into range and clinches up with Kennedy.

Kreiss's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Kreiss moves into the clinch successfully.
Kennedy jumps guard but Kreiss stands there with Kennedy around his waist. Kennedy gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Kennedy looking for a takedown.
Kreiss gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Kennedy.
Kennedy tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Kreiss smiles and moves away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Kennedy lands with a good body shot.
Kreiss lands a two punch combo.
Etro Kreiss seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Kreiss takes the fight into the clinch.
Kennedy misses with a hook from the clinch.

Kreiss pulls Kennedy into guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kennedy trying to stand up but can't free himself from Kreiss's guard.
Kennedy works over Kreiss with some ground and pound from guard.
Kreiss is controlling Kennedy's posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kreiss 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.
Kennedy postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Kennedy trying to control but Kreiss is working from the bottom.
Kreiss managing to control the position.
Kreiss avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Kreiss is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Kreiss can do anything to dispel that myth.
Kennedy trying to control but Kreiss is working from the bottom.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Kennedy 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Kreiss is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Kennedy moves out of range of the leg kick from Kreiss.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Kennedy.

Kreiss has Kennedy up against the cage in a clinch.

Kreiss breaks from the clinch.
Kreiss fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Horrible takedown attempt by Kennedy or perhaps it was just good defense by Kreiss, which made it look bad.

Kreiss has taken the fight to the clinch.

Kreiss breaks from the clinch.
Jab by Kreiss.

Kreiss looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Kreiss won't allow Kennedy to sweep him here.
Kreiss throws a big elbow that misses.
Kennedy looking for a sweep. Not yet Kennedy, not yet.
Kreiss has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kreiss 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.
Kreiss trying to control but Kennedy is working from the bottom.
Kreiss looking to pass the guard.

Kennedy looking for a guillotine here but Kreiss defends easily.
Kreiss throwing strikes from guard but Kennedy blocks nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Etro Kreiss showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Kennedy fails with the takedown.
Kreiss shoots in looking for a takedown but Kennedy manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Kreiss's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Kennedy tries to counter by clinching up but Kreiss breaks away and moves out of range.
Horrible takedown attempt by Kreiss or perhaps it was just good defense by Kennedy, which made it look bad.
Kennedy shoots in for a double leg but Kreiss sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Kennedy shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nick Kennedy. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice takedown defense from Kennedy. No joy for Kreiss on that attempt.
Kennedy appears to be looking for a big counter.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kreiss closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Kennedy wants to control but Kreiss is keeping busy.
Kreiss is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kennedy wants to get back to his feet.
Kennedy is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at Ironfist MMA , so we'll see if he gets out of it.
Kreiss is looking to pass Kennedy's guard but actually Kennedy recovers to full guard.
Kennedy is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kreiss is stalling in the full guard.
Kreiss postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Etro Kreiss has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Kreiss seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Kreiss stuffs the takedown.
Kennedy displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Kreiss.

Kreiss shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Kennedy's guard.
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.

Kreiss avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kreiss tries to stand but Kennedy is controlling from the bottom.
Kreiss pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kennedy is keeping the position for now.
Kreiss throwing strikes but missing.
Kreiss stopping the sweep attempt from Kennedy.
Kreiss wants to stand and escape but instead Kennedy has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Nick Kennedy has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kennedy landing some decent shots from guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Kreiss is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Kennedy defends well.

Kreiss is looking for a triangle but Kennedy pushes his legs off easily.
Kennedy postures up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kennedy is fighting to break Kreiss's control of his arms but Kreiss is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Kreiss is trying hard to land a takedown here. Kennedy sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Kennedy attempts a counter takedown but Kreiss avoids it well and moves away.
Etro Kreiss is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Kreiss scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
Etro Kreiss comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Kreiss has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Colin Fray scores the fight 27:30
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Etro Kreiss!
An out of breath Etro Kreiss thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.