PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Keimah Animai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Denard Black (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Animai
vs
Black

190 cm
31
215 lbs
11 - 6 - 0

185 cm
40
210 lbs
27 - 24 - 2

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Machine Fight Gear

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 11 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Keimah Animai!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 27 - 24 - 2, fighting out of St Petersburg, Denard Black!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Chris Edwards and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Black throws out a loose jab but Animai uses good head movement to avoid it.
Black throws a jab when Animai was well out of range.
Animai scoring well with a low kick there.
Some bone on bone action there as Animai checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Black looks to land a left hand but Animai moved out of range nicely.
Animai throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Black.
A solid leg kick lands there for Animai.
Black gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Animai.
An inside leg kick lands from Animai.
Animai avoids a punch combination nicely.
Black throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Black loads up on a big right hand but Animai slips the punch.
Good work by Black as he checks the leg kick.
Black swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

Animai looking to score a takedown here. Black is defending well but Animai drives through and ends up in Black's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Animai trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Black is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Animai is controlling him.
Animai 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.
Black utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Animai throwing strikes but missing.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Animai accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Animai throws a big elbow that misses.
Animai throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Black works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Animai postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Animai throws a big elbow that misses.
Animai with a flurry of punches that miss.
Animai throws a strike but Black rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Animai 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.

Black decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Animai lands a jab.
Denard Black is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Animai cracks Black with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Black misses with an uppercut. Animai saw that one coming.
Black misses with an uppercut. Animai saw that one coming.
Animai looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Black turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Black moves out of range of the strikes.
Black let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Animai throws a leg kick that is checked
letting Black counter with a right hand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Animai lands a nice shot that snaps Black's head back.
Black throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Animai tries to close the distance and clinch but Black swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Black throws a fast counter high kick but Animai manages to duck under it in time.
Black lands with a nice body punch.
Animai tries to clinch there but Black circles away.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Animai has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Black uses from the top position.

Black stands and steps away. Animai gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Black just misses with a punch to the body.
Animai throws out a loose jab but Black uses good head movement to avoid it.
Black throws a fast counter high kick but Animai manages to duck under it in time.
Black takes one to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Animai cracks Black with a right hand to the side of the head.
Black throws a head kick but Animai moves out of range.
Animai misses with an uppercut.
Black let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Animai misses with a hook
and Black counters with a low kick, right behind Animai 's knee.
Animai scores with a leg kick.
Black has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
Animai takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Animai takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Decent striking displayed by Animai there.
Black checks a leg kick.
Black on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Black throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Animai throws a good cross that connects.
Animai throws a leg kick but Black moved away.
Black fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Animai manages to avoid it.
Black misses with a head kick.
A swing and a miss from Animai.
Animai is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.

Animai shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Black manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Animai throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Black works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Black has his feet on Animai's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Animai will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Animai connects with a jab.
Black lands a head kick. Animai smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Animai misses with a looping right.
Keimah Animai seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Animai is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Black.
Animai throws a low kick but Black avoids it.

Animai shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Animai throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Animai throwing strikes from guard but Black blocks nicely.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Animai accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Black wants to stand but Animai is controlling the position.
Animai postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Keimah Animai dominated that 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.

Animai wants to clinch up but Black keeps it at a distance.
Animai avoids the head kick by Black.
Animai fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Black has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Black there as he acknowledges the shot.
Black takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Animai slips a jab from Black.
Animai appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Animai smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Animai feints and then cracks Black's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Black down.
Denard Black is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Black tries to bum rush Animai with a series of wild strikes but Animai uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Keimah Animai is winning the standup battle so far.
Black takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Animai blocks a head kick by Black.
Animai avoids the head kick by Black.
Animai scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Black will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Black slips a straight right by Animai.
Animai ducks under a wild hook from Black.
Black rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Animai moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Black misses with a kick to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Black. Those never looked like landing.
Black ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Animai moves away.
Black uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Animai.
A thudding body kick lands there by Animai!
Black gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Black misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Black throws a right and a left that both miss.
A solid leg kick lands there for Animai.
Animai throws a low kick but it's checked well by Black.
Animai bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Black's head backwards.
Animai wants to slow Black down by chopping away at his legs.
Animai is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Animai pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Animai misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Animai pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Animai throws a low kick but Black moves out of range easily.
Black throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Animai is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Black can do to turn this around?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Animai connects with a solid leg kick.
A head kick misses from Black.
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!
Animai throws an overhand right that lands on Black's shoulder, as Black tries to avoid the shot.
A countering left hand to the body from Black misses.
Black looks to score with a jab to the body but Animai is just out of range.
Animai lands with a cross.
Black throws a head kick that misses.
Animai avoids the head kick by Black.
Nice uppercut there from Animai.
Animai lands with an uppercut that bounces Black off the cage and back into range.
Black ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Animai does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Animai fails in his attempt to clinch.
Animai with a hook.
Black throws a head kick but Animai moves out of range.
Animai scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Black tries to land a leg kick but Animai saw it coming and moves away.
Animai smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Animai shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Black appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Animai throws a leg kick which misses Black's front leg but catches the back leg as Black tries to avoid it.
Black throws a jab but it's blocked by Animai.
Black connects with a leg kick. Animai looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Black takes a swing at Animai's ribcage but misses.
Animai connects with a leg kick. Black looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Black throws a nice looking combination but Animai bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Animai connects with an inside leg kick.
Animai fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Animai cracks Black with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Black misses with an attempted mid kick.
Black throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Animai.
Good shot there by Animai.
Black throws a leg kick that misses.
Black throws out a loose jab but Animai uses good head movement to avoid it.
Nice defenses there by Black.
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!
Animai with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Animai lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Black gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Animai avoids the body shot from Black.
Animai scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Animai looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Animai lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Animai throws a head kick that misses
enabling Black to counter with a crisp jab.
Black keeps the fight on the outside.
The fighters circling - Animai throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Despite the aggression on Black's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Animai throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Animai throws a chopping leg kick but Black manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Animai throws a low kick, looking for Black's leg but Black calmly moves out of range.
Black uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Animai.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Black on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Black circles away from the clinch attempt
and Black counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Black staying out of range there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Keimah Animai dominated that second round.
That's time! Animai's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Animai finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Black let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Animai misses with a straight right.
Sloppy strikes from Black. Those never looked like landing.
Black moves out of range as Animai strikes.
Animai misses with a looping right.
Black is looking for the big counter here.
Animai moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Black bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Black throws a one two combo.
Black has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Animai checks a leg kick.
Animai is looking to chop away at Black's legs.
Black shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Animai connects with an inside leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Animai smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Black moves out of range of the body kick from Animai.
Animai misses with a hook.
Black throws a counter combo.
Black fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Animai lands a front kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Black uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Animai.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Black tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
No joy there for Black, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Animai appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Animai connects with a nice looking jab.
Black's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
A jab from Animai misses.
An inside leg kick lands from Animai.
Animai looks to throw the jab but Black is out of range.
Animai slips a jab and a cross from Black.
Animai fails to land with a series of punches.

Animai closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Black blocks an uppercut.
Animai misses with some punches.
Black wants to break free but Animai has control.
Animai misses with a punch on the inside.
Still in the clinch, Animai scores with a nice short uppercut.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Animai.
Keimah Animai is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Black tries to break free but Animai pushes him back against the cage.
Black has had enough of the clinch but Animai keeps him there for the moment.
Denard Black has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Black pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Black rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Animai moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Black scores with the left hand. Animai knows he should have avoided that one.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Animai, right into the meat.
Black walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Animai checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Black throws a head kick but Animai moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Animai throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Animai misses the jab.
Animai moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Animai tests Black's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Animai shoots in for a double leg but Black sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Animai catches Black with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Black lands with a slapping head kick.
Animai swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Black thows a left - swing and a miss!
Animai feinted with a counter takedown.
Animai is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Black.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Black checks a leg kick.
Black throws a big counter head kick but Animai avoids it with no problem.
Black stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Black wants it to stay on the feet.
Animai connects with an inside leg kick.
Black motions for Animai to come forward. Black throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Animai changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Animai lands a nice hook to Black's body. Black takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Animai throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Black swinging wildly here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Black throws a head kick but Animai moves out of range.
Black takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Animai is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Black's half guard.
Animai takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Animai's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

Black looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Animai performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Animai seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Black for as long as he can get away with.

And that's the end of the fight!
Keimah Animai showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Animai has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 William Gold scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Keimah Animai!
After winning the bout, Keimah Animai thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.