PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Syd Scarr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rory Keenan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Keenan is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Warriors Code. The key to victory for Syd Scarr has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Scarr
vs
Keenan

186 cm
25
186 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

178 cm
26
169 lbs
8 - 7 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Syd Scarr!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 7 - 1, fighting out of London, Rory Keenan!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, William Gold and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Keenan moves into range and clinches up with Scarr.

Keenan breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Keenan forces Scarr back against the cage and clinches.
Scarr lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Scarr throws an elbow that misses.
Scarr missing with knees to the body.
Scarr is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Scarr lands a nice uppercut.
Keenan managing to block the knees to the body from Scarr.
Scarr has a couple of punches blocked by Keenan.
Keenan dodges an elbow strike from Scarr.
Scarr looking to slow down the pace here.

Keenan manages to break the clinch.

Keenan closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Keenan lands in his opponent's guard.
Keenan is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's one minute gone in the round.
It looks like Keenan might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Keenan wants to pass the guard but Scarr is keeping the position.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Rory Keenan wasn't active enough on the ground.
Scarr takes a swing at Keenan's ribcage but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Scarr.

Keenan gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Scarr has Keenan pressed against the cage, preventing Keenan from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Scarr throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Keenan avoiding damage as Scarr throws knees to the body.
Scarr goes for a takedown attempt but Keenan pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Keenan throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Scarr tries to clinch

and Keenan counters by moving into the clinch.
Stalling in the clinch from Keenan.
Scarr is trying to break the clinch but Keenan has him pressed against the cage.

Keenan pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Keenan swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Keenan circles away from the clinch attempt

and Keenan counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
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.
Keenan is pressing down on Scarr's thigh, looking to free his foot. Scarr is holding on for now.
Keenan is figuring out what he wants to do next.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Keenan is thwarting Scarr's attempts to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Syd Scarr just wasn't active enough.
Scarr thumps Keenan with a low kick.

Keenan closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Keenan lands in his opponent's guard.
Scarr is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rory Keenan dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Scarr takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Keenan throws a predictable looking body shot
and Scarr counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Scarr gets tackled into the cage by Keenan. Keenan maintains the clinch.
Scarr with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Keenan escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Keenan checks a low kick from Scarr.
Scarr throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Keenan sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Keenan moves out of range of the strikes.
Keenan checks a low kick from Scarr.
Scarr misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Keenan gets a takedown into half guard.
Scarr trying to control here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Syd Scarr just wasn't active enough.
Keenan moves out of range as Scarr throws a body kick.
Keenan has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Scarr.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Scarr, right into the meat.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Keenan. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Scarr darts in trying to clinch
and Keenan counters with a slapping leg kick.
Scarr drops his hands momentarily and Keenan takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Scarr lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Keenan circles away quickly and effectively.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Keenan pushes Scarr up against the cage in a clinch.

Keenan wants the takedown. Scarr is fighting it off but Keenan persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Scarr's guard against the cage.
Scarr trying to keep a closed guard but Keenan is proving a slippery customer.
Scarr wants to sweep but no luck.
Keenan looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Syd Scarr just wasn't active enough.
Scarr fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Keenan throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Keenan throws a hook but Scarr avoids it easily.
Scarr looks to throw the jab but Keenan is out of range.
Keenan connects with a good right hand that stumbles Scarr. Scarr circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Syd Scarr is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Scarr has his takedown stuffed

and Keenan holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Scarr missing with knees to the body.
Keenan avoiding damage as Scarr throws knees to the body.
Scarr missing with knees to the body.
Keenan on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Keenan has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Scarr is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Keenan breaks from the clinch.
Scarr closes the distance but Keenan moves to the side

and Keenan counters with a takedown into side control.
Keenan moves into full mount!
Keenan works his way to his opponent's back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Keenan trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Scarr doesn't escape.
Keenan misses with punches from the back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rory Keenan showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Keenan throws a hook but Scarr blocks it.
A slapping leg kick lands for Scarr.

Keenan gets a clinch.
Scarr has Keenan pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Keenan manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Keenan blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Keenan has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Scarr clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Keenan trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Scarr doesn't escape.
Keenan is trying to stick to Scarr's back but Scarr is turning into Keenan. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Keenan's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Scarr.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Keenan tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Keenan is pulling down on Scarr's head. It's preventing any offense from Scarr, at least for the moment.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Syd Scarr.
Scarr misses with a takedown
and Keenan counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Keenan avoids the head kick by Scarr.
Keenan sizes up Scarr with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Scarr swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Keenan throws a jab when Scarr was well out of range.
Sloppy strikes from Scarr. Those never looked like landing.

Keenan takes the fight into the clinch.
Scarr tries for a takedown. No joy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Syd Scarr. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Scarr misses with an elbow strike.
Scarr misses with a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Keenan is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Scarr is looking to control Keenan's arms but Keenan gets an underhook and turns him. Now Scarr has his back to the cage.
Keenan drops down looking for an ankle pick but Scarr pulls his leg out and moves away.

Keenan moves into range and clinches up with Scarr.
Keenan goes for a takedown in the clinch but Scarr prevents it.
Scarr wants to stall.
Scarr missing with knees to the body.
Scarr tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Scarr struggles to land a body shot inside as Keenan controls his hands.
Scarr landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

Keenan has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Scarr regains guard immediately.
Keenan takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Keenan postures up.
Syd Scarr has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Scarr working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Keenan doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Keenan manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Keenan is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Scarr looking to hit a scissor sweep but Keenan is one step ahead there.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Scarr misses with a kick to the body.

Keenan scores a takedown into full mount!
Keenan controlling from mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rory Keenan comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Keenan has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight 27:30
Judge William Gold scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rory Keenan!