PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Abdul Rahman (ranked 912 p4p, 2399 weight class) and Steven Kennedy (ranked 123 p4p, 319 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Rahman
vs
Kennedy

182 cm
25
184
12 - 6 - 0

183 cm
40
178
25 - 36 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Vegan Gains

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Abdul Rahman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 25 - 36 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Steven Kennedy!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Kenichi Hosakawa and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kennedy throws a body punch but Rahman moves out of range.
Rahman closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Kennedy throws a push kick but Rahman slaps the foot to one side.
A combination from Kennedy does no damage.
Kennedy misses with a takedown attempt

and Rahman counters by moving into the clinch.
Our sources have told us that Rahman has been working on his knees in the buildup to the fight.
Kennedy tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Rahman smiles and moves away.
Rahman scores with a jab. Kennedy acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rahman throws a hook but Kennedy avoids it easily.
Kennedy steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Rahman.
The fighters circle momentarily. Kennedy darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Kennedy throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Rahman's waist but Rahman gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Kennedy off to one side.
Rahman is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Abdul Rahman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Steven Kennedy.
Rahman takes a swing at Kennedy's ribcage but misses.
Kennedy swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rahman throws a hook but Kennedy avoids it easily.
Rahman throws an overhand right that lands on Kennedy's shoulder, as Kennedy tries to avoid the shot.
Kennedy avoids the body shot from Rahman.
A big right from Rahman misses.
Kennedy keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rahman on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Kennedy throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Kennedy wants to land a leg kick but Rahman is out of range.
Kennedy throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rahman throws a body shot but no joy.
Kennedy connects with a leg kick.
Kennedy misses with a low kick as Rahman jumps back.
As Kennedy tries to get set, Rahman tries to push him back and clinch up but Kennedy manages to avoid the attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rahman avoids a kick to the body.
Rahman throws a hook but Kennedy avoids it easily.
A slow jab from Rahman misses its intended target.
Kennedy keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Rahman.
Rahman goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kennedy misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rahman.

Kennedy fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Rahman, pushing him back against the cage.

Kennedy pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Kennedy uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Rahman.

Kennedy changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Rahman looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Kennedy throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Kennedy wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rahman keeps working.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kennedy is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Rahman has escaped the position, nice work there.
Kennedy tries to score with some ground and pound. Rahman controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Kennedy has knee on belly momentarily but Rahman bucks him off and regains half guard.

Kennedy is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Rahman sees it coming and defends easily.
My spies in Crapollas Gym inform me that Kennedy has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Kennedy thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Kennedy throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Kennedy wants to take a breather but Rahman is having none of it.
Kennedy stalling away here and it's allowed Rahman to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Rahman working a defensive guard here.
Kennedy trying to control the position from guard on top but Rahman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kennedy throws a strike but Rahman rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Kennedy working for a triangle but Rahman defends it easily.

Kennedy has an active guard here but Rahman has managed to pass into half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Abdul Rahman will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Kennedy lands with a thumping leg kick.
Kennedy throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kennedy looks to score with a jab to the body but Rahman is just out of range.
Kennedy ducks under a wild hook from Rahman.
The crowd cheers as Kennedy lands an impressive looking overhand right. Rahman doesn't seem phased though.
Rahman throws a sloppy body shot
and Kennedy counters with a nice kick to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kennedy fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Rahman checks it well.
Rahman throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Kennedy stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Kennedy blocks a jab.
Kennedy connects with a nice looking jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kennedy throws a sloppy body shot

and Rahman counters by clinching up.
Rahman will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Kennedy up against the cage.
Rahman lands a nice uppercut.
Kennedy swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Kennedy tries to pull guard but Rahman holds him up against the cage and eventually Kennedy drops back down to his feet.
Rahman tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Rahman is trying to push Kennedy away but Kennedy has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Rahman tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Kennedy's elbow.
Kennedy goes for a takedown attempt but Rahman pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Rahman takes one to the chin there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rahman takes a swing at Kennedy's ribcage but misses.
Kennedy throws a hook to the side of Rahman's head but Rahman sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Steven Kennedy seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Kennedy gets the takedown into side control.
Kennedy working away.
Kennedy creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Rahman sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kennedy in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Kennedy throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Kennedy throws a strike aimed at the side of Rahman's head but Rahman avoids it well.
Kennedy content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Kennedy advances nicely into full mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kennedy looking to finish with strikes here!
Kennedy trying to control but Rahman is having none of it.
Rahman tries to lock up and control but Kennedy gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Kennedy controlling from the full mount.
Kennedy wants to control the pace but Rahman is squirming around nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Kennedy thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Kennedy throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Steven Kennedy has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kennedy throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Rahman is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Rahman tries to reverse the position but Kennedy maintains control.
Kennedy throws some wild stikes that Rahman manages to avoid easily.
Kennedy scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Rahman?
Rahman is squirming around, avoiding Kennedy's attempts to control the action.
Kennedy throwing strikes here but Rahman is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Rahman blocking the ground and pound.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Steven Kennedy showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Kennedy has closed the distance and engaged Rahman in a clinch.
Rahman can't find room to land a body shot as Kennedy controls the action.
Rahman stalling in the clinch.
Rahman lands a hook that snaps the head of Kennedy backwards.
Rahman just leaning against Kennedy, taking a breather.

Rahman breaks from the clinch.
Kennedy is looking to land body kicks.
Rahman tries to counter by clinching up but Kennedy breaks away and moves out of range.
Kennedy looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Rahman wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Steven Kennedy seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kennedy misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rahman.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Horrible takedown attempt by Kennedy or perhaps it was just good defense by Rahman, which made it look bad.
A combination from Rahman does no damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kennedy tries to score with a low kick but Rahman moves his leg out of the way.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Kennedy.
Kennedy finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Rahman misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kennedy.
Kennedy is looking for the big counter here.
Rahman digs a good hook to Kennedy's body.
Rahman lands a jab-cross combination.
Kennedy throws a leg kick but Rahman checks it.
Rahman connects with a right hand. Kennedy shakes it off.
Kennedy shoots in and drives through. Rahman sprawls well.
Abdul Rahman is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kennedy looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A head kick misses from Kennedy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rahman throws a jab but it's blocked by Kennedy.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Kennedy is defended easily by Rahman.
Abdul Rahman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Steven Kennedy.

Rahman gets a clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kennedy lands with a light punch inside.
Rahman has Kennedy pressed against the cage, preventing Kennedy from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Rahman's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rahman with a body punch. A glancing blow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rahman connects with a body shot.
Rahman throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kennedy sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A shot to the liver by Kennedy. Beautiful body shot.
Rahman scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Good shot there by Rahman.
Rahman wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Kennedy avoids the body shot from Rahman.
Kennedy fakes the leg kick and cracks Rahman in the body.
Rahman punishes Kennedy's body with a nice straight punch.
Kennedy walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Rahman checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Rahman seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Kennedy throws a push kick but Rahman slaps the foot to one side.
Rahman tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Kennedy manages to circle out of the way.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rahman has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Rahman there as he acknowledges the shot.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rahman with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Rahman misses with a hook
and Kennedy counters with a nice uppercut.
Rahman connects with a crisp jab.
Rahman lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Kennedy at a distance.
Rahman swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Rahman slips under a jab.
A left lands for Rahman.
Rahman scores with a decent looking hook.
Kennedy misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Rahman counters by moving into the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Abdul Rahman showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Rahman 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 Ren Mimura scores the fight 29:28
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 29:28
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Abdul Rahman!