PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Francis kenneth (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gray Maynard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Maynard has chosen Madcon Beggin as his entrance music. Francis kenneth has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

kenneth
vs
Maynard

179 cm
18
151 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

173 cm
23
155 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Francis kenneth!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Gray Maynard!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Emerson Jorge and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Maynard shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
kenneth pushes Maynard off looking to stand but Maynard dives back in and keeps control.
Maynard wants to lay and pray for a moment but kenneth keeps working.
kenneth wants to get back to his feet.
kenneth is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Maynard scores with a couple of nice shots.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
kenneth keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Maynard perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Maynard misses with a head shot. kenneth uses the momentum to regain guard.
Maynard controls from within his opponent's guard.
kenneth is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maynard controls from within his opponent's guard.
kenneth is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Maynard is controlling him.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now kenneth is on top in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Maynard is trying to control the position from the bottom.
kenneth wants to stand but Maynard is controlling his posture from full guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Maynard can do anything to dispel that myth.
Maynard preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

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.
Maynard throws a couple of heel strikes.

Maynard working for a triangle but kenneth defends it easily.
kenneth with a flurry of punches that miss.
Maynard looking to control.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
kenneth with a flurry of punches that miss.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Maynard shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. kenneth defends it nicely.
Maynard shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has kenneth pinned against the cage. kenneth gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
kenneth pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
kenneth lands a nice looking kick to the body. Maynard takes a step back to recover.
Maynard misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Francis kenneth has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gray Maynard.
Maynard looks gassed!
kenneth misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
kenneth doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Maynard counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Maynard thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Maynard missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Maynard with the ground and pound but kenneth uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Maynard not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

kenneth is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Maynard's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Maynard showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
kenneth is pulling down on Maynard's head to control his posture.
Maynard wants to control from the top but kenneth keeps moving.
Maynard connects with a couple of short punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gray Maynard dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

kenneth closes the distance looking to clinch

and Maynard counters with a shoot takedown. kenneth fights it but they end up in guard.
Maynard thows a big elbow that misses.
kenneth working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Maynard.
Maynard wants to control from the top but kenneth keeps moving.

kenneth pushes Maynard off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Maynard closes the distance and clinches up with kenneth, looking for a takedown. Maynard pushes kenneth against the cage but kenneth circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Maynard bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Maynard working the strikes but kenneth uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Maynard perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
kenneth keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

kenneth has one foot on Maynard's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
kenneth throws a head kick but Maynard moves out of range.

Maynard decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Maynard looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
kenneth looks like he's trying to stand up.
kenneth trying to control but Maynard postures up.
Maynard is taking a breather. kenneth says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maynard thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed kenneth's head.
Maynard wants to control but kenneth is keeping him busy.
Maynard winds up and cracks kenneth with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Maynard not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Maynard performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Maynard takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maynard takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Gray Maynard.
kenneth misses with a takedown

and Maynard counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in kenneth's guard now.
Maynard working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Maynard is stalling in the full guard.
Maynard working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maynard loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Maynard wants to control from the top but kenneth keeps moving.
Maynard sitting in guard here, content to control.
Maynard connects with a couple of short punches.
kenneth preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
kenneth trying to keep a closed guard but Maynard is proving a slippery customer.
kenneth being controlled here, momentarily.
Maynard must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
kenneth wants to get back to his feet but Maynard is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gray Maynard 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!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Maynard.
Maynard prevents kenneth from escaping the position.
kenneth wants to control but Maynard postures up.
Maynard grinds an elbow into kenneth's temple.
Gray Maynard has got the better of the ground game so far.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
kenneth tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Maynard wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maynard working the body and head with strikes.
kenneth seems a little lost for a moment, as Maynard dominates the positioning.
Let's hope that Maynard has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Gray Maynard.
kenneth lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Maynard circles away quickly and effectively.

Maynard feints and as kenneth raises his hands in defense, Maynard changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Maynard chips away with some ground and pound.
kenneth wants to stand up but Maynard is controlling him.
Maynard is stalling in the full guard.
kenneth keeping moving, preventing Maynard from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
kenneth is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Maynard trying to control the position from guard on top but kenneth is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Maynard postures up and lands a big shot to kenneth's brow.
Maynard is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
kenneth bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Maynard's guard.
kenneth pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Maynard is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maynard is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Maynard pulls kenneth in close to prevent any damage.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Gray Maynard.

Maynard throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. kenneth was covering up waiting for the punch and Maynard finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Maynard is looking to work some ground and pound but kenneth has wrist control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
kenneth striking off his back but it's not causing Maynard any problems.
Maynard postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Maynard trying to control the position from guard on top but kenneth is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Maynard controlling from the top position.
Maynard throwing strikes from guard but kenneth blocks nicely.
Maynard trying to control but kenneth is working from the bottom.
Francis kenneth has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gray Maynard is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Maynard is stalling in the full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gray Maynard comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Maynard 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gray Maynard!