PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Willem Kriel (ranked 16228 p4p, 2763 weight class) and Steven Kennedy (ranked 680 p4p, 355 weight class). Kriel comes to the cage accompanied by Jack Parow & Freshlyground - Army Of One. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Kriel
vs
Kennedy

178 cm
40
183
12 - 17 - 0

183 cm
40
178
25 - 37 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
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 - 17 - 0, fighting out of New York, Willem Kriel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 25 - 37 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Steven Kennedy!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Shirou Masuda and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kriel tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kennedy was well out of range. Poor timing from Kriel.
Kennedy with a poor takedown
and Kriel counters with a head kick. That will keep Kennedy thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Kriel connects with a body shot.
Kriel slips a jab from Kennedy.
Kennedy sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Kriel looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Willem Kriel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kennedy scores with a head kick.
Kriel misses with a kick to the body.
Kriel throws an off balance right hand
and Kennedy counters with a stiff right hand.
We've been informed that Kennedy has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Kriel throws a body kick that misses.
Kennedy is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Kriel with a body shot.
A slapping leg kick lands for Kriel.
Kriel thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Kennedy if he has to take too many more of those.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nice takedown defense from Kriel. No joy for Kennedy on that attempt.
Kriel misses with a low kick as Kennedy jumps back.
Kriel misses with a body shot.
Good work by Kennedy as he checks the leg kick.
And Kennedy tries to counter it with a takedown but Kriel pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Kriel works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kennedy closes the distance and clinches.

Kriel pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Kennedy throws out a leg kick but Kriel moves out of range and Kennedy only half commits.
Kennedy checks a leg kick.
Kriel throws a leg kick but Kennedy sees it coming and moves out of range.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Kennedy.
Kennedy throws a chopping leg kick but Kriel manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Kriel throwing a counter right hand but Kennedy manages to avoid it.
Kriel misses with a low kick.
A jab lands there for Kriel.
Kennedy attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Jab by Kennedy.
Kennedy throws a front kick aimed at Kriel's knee but Kriel avoids it well.
Willem Kriel is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kennedy throws a jab when Kriel was well out of range.
Kriel scores with a jab.
Kriel missing with a left hand there. Kennedy was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Kennedy follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Kriel checks a leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kriel lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Kennedy at a distance.
Kennedy moves out of range of the body kick from Kriel.
Kriel attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kennedy avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Kennedy looks to land a body kick but Kriel moved away.
Kriel swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Kriel loads up on a big right hand but Kennedy slips the punch.
Kennedy throws a jab but it's blocked by Kriel.
Kriel ducks under a wild hook from Kennedy.
Kennedy tries to land a body kick
enabling Kriel to counter with a crisp jab.
Kennedy is looking to chop away at Kriel's legs.
Kennedy throws a right and a left that both miss.
Kennedy lands a nice shot to the body.
Kriel throws a head kick that misses.
Kennedy throws a leg kick that misses.
Kriel throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Kennedy tries to counter with a clinch but Kriel shakes him off and moves away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kennedy misses with a low kick as Kriel jumps back.
Kriel rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Kennedy counters with a lovely shot to the body.
A jab from Kriel misses.
Kriel ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A head kick by Kennedy misses
and Kriel makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Kriel checks a low kick from Kennedy.
Kennedy throws a solid leg kick but Kriel takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Kennedy.
Kriel misses with an uppercut
and Kennedy counters with a solid body kick.
Kennedy throws a series of punches but Kriel avoids them all with ease.
Kriel throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Kennedy on the side of the head.
Kriel avoids the head kick by Kennedy.
Kennedy on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Kriel. Kriel obviously looking to wear him down.
Kriel throws a low kick but it's checked well by Kennedy.
Kriel throws a jab when Kennedy was well out of range.
Kriel scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Kennedy doesn't seem bothered though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kennedy throws a sloppy head kick and Kriel moves out of range easily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kriel throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
A jab from Kriel misses.
Kriel scores with a jab to the head.
Kriel fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Kennedy checks it well.
Kennedy looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Kennedy throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kriel on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Kriel swats away the attempt to clinch by Kennedy.
Kennedy throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
An inside leg kick lands from Kriel.
Kriel goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Kennedy drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
A cross from Kriel lands.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Willem Kriel dominated that round.
That's time! Kriel's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Kriel chopping away at his opponent's legs.

Kennedy pushes Kriel up against the cage in a clinch.
Kennedy blocks the elbow strike.
Kennedy dodges an elbow strike from Kriel.

Kriel breaks the clinch.
Kriel lands a nice looking kick to the body. Kennedy takes a step back to recover.
A slow jab from Kriel misses its intended target.
Kennedy looks to land a body kick but Kriel moved away.
Kriel throwing a counter right hand but Kennedy manages to avoid it.
Kennedy ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kriel moves away.
Kennedy checks a leg kick nicely.
Kennedy throws a series of strikes that have Kriel backpedaling.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kriel thuds a left hand into Kennedy's body.
Kriel tries to land a body kick
and Kennedy counters with a two punch combo.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A shot to the liver by Kennedy. Beautiful body shot.
Kennedy throws a right and a left that both miss.
Kriel misses with a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kennedy needs to keep his hands up - Kriel had a free shot at his head there.
A head kick by Kriel misses
and Kennedy counters with a nice uppercut.
Kriel misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kennedy.
Kennedy counters with a body kick.
Willem Kriel is winning the standup battle so far.
Kennedy looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Kriel takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Kriel is looking to slow Kennedy down with leg kicks.
Kennedy slips under a jab from Kriel.
Kriel attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Kennedy misses with a hook. Kriel ducked under it nicely.
Kriel on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Kennedy throws a series of punches but Kriel moves out of range.
Kriel thinks about countering with a head kick.
Kriel misses with a double jab.
Kennedy appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Kennedy walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Kriel goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kriel thumps Kennedy with a low kick.
Kriel lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Kriel blocks a head kick by Kennedy.
Kennedy tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Kriel is able to avoid easily.
Kriel sizes up Kennedy with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Kennedy looks to throw the jab but Kriel is out of range.
Kriel throws out a leg kick but Kennedy moves out of range and Kriel only half commits.
Kennedy dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Kennedy moves away from the strike by Kriel.
Kriel blocks a head kick by Kennedy.
Kriel tries to work over Kennedy's front leg with a kick but Kennedy checks it.
Kennedy with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Kriel to score with a decent uppercut.
Kennedy sizes up Kriel with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Kennedy throws a body punch but Kriel moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kriel misses with a wild body shot.
Kennedy scores with the left hand. Kriel knows he should have avoided that one.
Kriel motions for Kennedy to come forward. Kriel throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Kriel throws an overhand right that lands on Kennedy's shoulder, as Kennedy tries to avoid the shot.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Kriel, as that shot connected.
Kennedy misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kriel.
Kriel quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Kennedy misses the shot to the body.
Kriel chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Kennedy throws a body kick that misses.
Kriel is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Kennedy.
Kriel tries to land a leg kick but Kennedy saw it coming and moves away.
A jab lands there for Kriel.
Kennedy avoids the body shot from Kriel.
Kennedy moves forwards but Kriel connects with a nice, crisp jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kennedy scoring well with a low kick there.
Kriel misses with a kick to the body.
Kriel throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kennedy misses with a leg kick.
Kriel will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Kriel missing with a left hand there. Kennedy was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Kriel circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kennedy with a hook.
Kriel throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Kennedy counters with a nice uppercut.
A head kick misses from Kriel.
Kriel takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Kennedy connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Kriel throws a head kick that misses.
Kriel misses with a body punch
and Kennedy counters with a stiff right hand.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Steven Kennedy will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Kennedy misses with a wild body shot.
Jab from Kriel.
Kennedy takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Kriel's corner calls for a 1-2. Kriel obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Kennedy misses the shot to the body.
Kennedy moves out of range of the strikes.
Kennedy's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Kennedy takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Kriel misses with a lunging right hand
and Kennedy makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Kriel really felt that one!
Kriel moves out of range of the body kick.
Kriel throws a head kick but Kennedy moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kennedy throws a big shot that misses.
Kennedy throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Kriel seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Kriel just misses with a punch to the body.
Kriel throws a head kick but Kennedy moves out of range.
Kennedy looks to land a left hand but Kriel moved out of range nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kennedy throws a hook but Kriel blocks it.
Kennedy swings for the body but Kriel moves out of range.
Kriel is looking for a counter combo.
Kriel tries to work over Kennedy's front leg with a kick but Kennedy checks it.
Kennedy throws a right and a left that Kriel avoids nicely.
A clash of legs there as Kennedy blocks the low kick.
Kennedy takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Kriel scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Kennedy walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Kriel takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Kennedy blocks a jab.
Kennedy throws a body shot but no joy.
Kennedy throws a leg kick but Kriel moved away.
Kennedy lands a jab to Kriel's midsection.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice cross by Kriel.
Kennedy wants to land a leg kick but Kriel is out of range.
Kriel throws a solid leg kick but Kennedy takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Kriel.
Kennedy is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Kriel with a body shot.
Kriel lands a right hook to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A slapping leg kick lands for Kriel.
Nice shot by Kriel.
Kriel misses with a hook
and Kennedy counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
That kick from Kennedy tenderised Kriel's leg. Kriel is trying to keep his angry face on.
Kriel pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Kriel throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kennedy throws out a leg kick but Kriel moves out of range and Kennedy only half commits.
Kriel is looking to counter punch.
Kennedy lands a head kick!
Kriel throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Kennedy closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kennedy has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Kriel.
Kriel lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Kriel throws a hook but Kennedy blocks it.
Kennedy is looking to land body kicks.
Kennedy bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Kennedy wants to counter the offense by Kriel and move into the clinch position.
Kennedy steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Kriel.
Kennedy lands the left hand.
Kennedy jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Kennedy has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Kennedy misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kriel tries to score with a low kick but Kennedy moves his leg out of the way.
Kriel throws a combination that misses

so Kennedy counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Kennedy controlling from the top position.
Kriel keeping full guard, as Kennedy tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kriel is controlling Kennedy's posture.
Kriel preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Kennedy trying to control but Kriel is working from the bottom.
Kriel has momentary wrist control but Kennedy slips an elbow through the middle.
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!
Kennedy postures up in Kriel's guard and throws a big left but Kriel blocks it.
Kennedy looking to sit in guard and control but Kriel gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Willem Kriel.
I think Kriel 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 Shigeki Sano scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 29:28
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Willem Kriel!
Willem Kriel bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.