PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Darien Downs (ranked 4472 p4p, 4837 weight class) and Lewis Kennedy (ranked 479 p4p, 519 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Downs
vs
Kennedy

200 cm
18
205
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
18
205
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Darien Downs!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Lewis Kennedy!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, Donatello Bradman and Summer Carpenter.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Downs has his takedown stuffed
and Kennedy counters with a nice body shot.

Downs closes the distance and clinches.
Downs tries for a takedown. No joy.
Downs is trying to pull guard but Kennedy has him pressed against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Darien Downs. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Downs keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Kennedy's efforts to push away.

Downs pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kennedy avoids the head kick by Downs.
Kennedy swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Downs misses with a double jab
and Kennedy counters with a lovely shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Downs wants to clinch.
Kennedy doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Downs throws a lazy head kick
letting Kennedy counter with a right hand.
Downs throws a lazy head kick
enabling Kennedy to counter with a crisp jab.
Downs tries for a takedown but Kennedy circles away easily
and Kennedy counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Downs tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Kennedy manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
A countering left hand to the body from Kennedy misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kennedy leaves Downs with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Downs looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Downs feints a jab promting Kennedy to slip. Downs then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Kennedy slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Downs tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Kennedy swivels and escapes.
Kennedy throws out a counter right but Downs avoids it with no problem.
Downs changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Kennedy tries to avoid it but Downs manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Kennedy to the ground. Kennedy escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Kennedy let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Kennedy stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Kennedy wants it to stay on the feet.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Kennedy! But no joy.
Downs is breathing heavily.
Downs ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kennedy moves away.
Kennedy appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Kennedy swats away the attempt to clinch by Downs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Downs shoots in and drives through. Kennedy sprawls well.
Kennedy doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Downs gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Kennedy counters with a nice uppercut.
Kennedy defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Downs.
Kennedy now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Kennedy keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Kennedy is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Downs with a body shot.

Downs gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Downs is trying to pull guard but Kennedy has him pressed against the cage.
Kennedy working hard to break the clinch.
Downs is trying to pull guard but Kennedy turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Kennedy is trying to break free.
Downs keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Kennedy's efforts to push away.
Downs struggles to land a body shot inside as Kennedy controls his hands.
Downs is trying to pull guard but Kennedy has him pressed against the cage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Downs has Kennedy pressed against the cage, preventing Kennedy from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Downs has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Kennedy avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Lewis Kennedy dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Kennedy swats away the attempt to clinch by Downs.
Kennedy is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Downs with a body shot.
Downs throws a right hand that Kennedy ducks under and follows up with a left that Kennedy also avoids with ease.
Kennedy let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.

Downs clinches.
Downs wants a takedown.
Downs keeps control of Kennedy as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Downs slows down the pace here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Downs manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Downs gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kennedy is trying to break the clinch but Downs has him pressed against the cage.
Downs throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Kennedys head.
Kennedy on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Downs manages to break the clinch.
Downs is trying hard to land a takedown here. Kennedy sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Kennedy let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.

Downs forces Kennedy back against the cage and clinches.
Downs prevents Kennedy from breaking the clinch.
Kennedy stops a takedown attempt from Downs.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Darien Downs. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kennedy is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Downs escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Downs looks to throw a body kick
and Kennedy counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

Kennedy gets tackled into the cage by Downs. Downs maintains the clinch.
Downs tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Kennedy is trying to push Downs away but Downs has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Downs manages to break the clinch.
Downs tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Kennedy counters with a straight right hand.
Downs shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Kennedy pinned against the cage. Kennedy gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Downs throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kennedy is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Downs with a body shot.
Downs has his takedown stuffed
and Kennedy counters with a stiff right hand.
Downs shoots and misses
and Kennedy counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Downs misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Downs closes the distance looking to clinch
and Kennedy counters with a stiff right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Downs has his takedown stuffed
and Kennedy counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Downs is looking to clinch but Kennedy is avoiding it.
Kennedy now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Downs throws a body punch but Kennedy moves out of range.
Darien Downs seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Downs with a lazy takedown attempt
and Kennedy counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Downs swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kennedy let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Lewis Kennedy will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Downs fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Kennedy avoids it really well and circles away.
Lewis Kennedy is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Downs moves to clinch but Kennedy breaks away
and Kennedy connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Downs shoots and misses
and Kennedy counters with a stiff right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A slow jab from Downs misses its intended target.
Downs misses with a leg kick
and Kennedy counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Downs will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Downs misses with a hook. Kennedy ducked under it nicely.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Downs wants a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Darien Downs. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Downs tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Kennedy just stands there and leans against the cage.
Kennedy has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Downs jumps guard but Kennedy turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Downs tries to score a body lock takedown but Kennedy shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Downs prevents Kennedy from breaking the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Kennedy tries to break the clinch but Downs is controlling the position.
Kennedy working hard to break the clinch.
Downs is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Downs fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Downs tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
The referee is keeping an eye on Downs - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Downs drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Downs tries to pull guard but Kennedy forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Downs breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Downs misses with a takedown attempt - Kennedy sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Kennedy now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Downs tries a head kick but it misses.
Kennedy doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Downs darts in trying to clinch
and Downs takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Downs tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Kennedy defends well and Downs ends up having to push Kennedy into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Kennedy is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Downs with a body shot.
Kennedy looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Downs stalls.
Downs looking to slow down the pace here.
Darien Downs has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Downs dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lewis Kennedy comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Kennedy winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Winston Howard scores the fight 27:30
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 27:30
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lewis Kennedy!