PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kellie Kattanach (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jay Sponseller (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Kattanach
vs
Sponseller

195 cm
19
225 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
19
225 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

The Fire Inside

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Kellie Kattanach!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Jay Sponseller!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kattanach closes the distance and clinches.
Kattanach is pressed up against the cage. Sponseller has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Kattanach down to the mat. Kattanach avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Kattanach throws a sloppy head kick and Sponseller moves out of range easily.

Kattanach has closed the distance and engaged Sponseller in a clinch.
Kattanach wants a takedown.
Sponseller connects with a nasty looking knee right to Kattanach's face.
Sponseller using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Kattanach has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Sponseller breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kattanach fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Kattanach tries for a takedown but Sponseller sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kellie Kattanach. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kattanach shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Sponseller as he jumps to the side.
Kattanach closes this distance looking for a takedown but Sponseller circles away.
A head kick misses from Kattanach.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sponseller tries to close the distance and clinch but Kattanach swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Sponseller should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Sponseller tries to clinch up
and Kattanach counters with a straight right hand.
Kattanach throws a right hand that Sponseller ducks under and follows up with a left that Sponseller also avoids with ease.
Kattanach misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Kellie Kattanach seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A nice combination there by Sponseller.

Kattanach is rocked!

It looks like Kellie Kattanach has been cut.
Kattanach will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Kattanach is breathing heavily.
Kattanach swats away the attempt to clinch by Sponseller.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sponseller looks to land a combination but Kattanach avoids it well.
Sponseller tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Kattanach tries for a takedown but Sponseller sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Kattanach circles away from the clinch attempt
and Sponseller takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Kattanach fails with a takedown attempt.
Kattanach fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sponseller throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A clash of legs there as Sponseller blocks the low kick.
Kattanach fails in his attempt to clinch.
Sponseller wants to clinch up but Kattanach keeps it at a distance.

Sponseller clinches up with Kattanach and pushes him back against the cage.
Sponseller holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Sponseller tries a knee to the head but Kattanach blocks it.

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.

Kattanach jumps guard.
Sponseller is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Sponseller really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Kattanach. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
I looks like Sponseller 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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jay Sponseller dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Kellie Kattanach's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Sponseller tries to clinch there but Kattanach circles away.
Kattanach misses with a looping right.
Kattanach tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sponseller swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kattanach shoots in for a double leg but Sponseller sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
No luck for Kattanach with that takedown attempt.
Kattanach swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Sponseller counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sponseller darts in trying to clinch

and Kattanach counters with a shoot takedown. Sponseller fights it but they end up in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sponseller keeping moving, preventing Kattanach from controlling successfully.
Kattanach is really struggling to control Sponseller but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Sponseller is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Kattanach is controlling him.

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.
Kattanach looking to pass the guard.
Kattanach is working hard here to advance position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sponseller wants to improve his position but instead Kattanach has moved into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sponseller is looking to escape.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Kattanach swats away the attempt to clinch by Sponseller.

Sponseller closes the distance and clinches.
Kattanach managing to block the knees to the body from Sponseller.
Sponseller scores with a knee to the head.
Kattanach prevents a takedown attempt there.
Sponseller tries to land a knee to the head but Kattanach blocks with his arms.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Sponseller stops a takedown attempt from Kattanach.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kellie Kattanach. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kattanach has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Sponseller avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Sponseller throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Kattanach blocks it with crossed arms.
Sponseller tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Sponseller scores a nice knee to the body.
Knees to the body from Sponseller.
Knees to the body from Sponseller.
Sponseller landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Kattanach wants a takedown but no success here.
Kattanach on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Kattanach wants a takedown but no success here.
Knees in the clinch landing for Sponseller.
Sponseller tries a knee to the head but Kattanach blocks it.
Sponseller tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Sponseller prevents Kattanach from breaking the clinch.
Sponseller lands a nice knee to the body.
Sponseller tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Kattanach tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Sponseller smiles and moves away.
Kattanach shoots in but Sponseller avoids the takedown attempt easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jay Sponseller showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Kellie Kattanach's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

Kattanach closes the distance and clinches.
Sponseller trying to land knees to the body.
Kattanach avoiding damage as Sponseller throws knees to the body.
Sponseller misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Kattanach.
A knee to the head by Sponseller.
Sponseller trying to land knees to the body.

Kattanach jumps into guard, dragging Sponseller to the mat.
Kattanach is looking to stand up but Sponseller isn't so interested in that idea.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kattanach looking for a guillotine here but Sponseller defends easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kattanach has a closed guard, preventing Sponseller from standing up.
Sponseller stays in close to Kattanach's body and controls the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

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.
Kattanach wants to stand but Sponseller is controlling the position.

Kattanach working for a triangle but Sponseller defends it easily.
Kattanach trying to keep a closed guard but Sponseller is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Kattanach tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sponseller swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kattanach doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Sponseller counters by moving into the clinch.
Sponseller throws a knee to the head but misses.
Kattanach tries to pull guard but Sponseller holds him up against the cage and eventually Kattanach drops back down to his feet.
Sponseller tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Sponseller tries to land a knee to the head but Kattanach blocks with his arms.
Sponseller connects with a knee to the head.
Sponseller tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Knees to the body from Sponseller.
Sponseller lands a knee to the head.

Kattanach manages to break the clinch.
Kattanach throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Kattanach shoots in for a double leg but Sponseller sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kellie Kattanach. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kattanach clinches but Sponseller breaks the clinch

and Sponseller moves into the clinch.
Kattanach can't get the takedown.
Sponseller misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Kattanach.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sponseller tries to break the clinch but Kattanach is controlling the position.
Knees to the body from Kattanach.
Kattanach has had enough of the clinch but Sponseller keeps him there for the moment.
Kattanach jumps guard but Sponseller stands there with Kattanach around his waist. Kattanach gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Kellie Kattanach has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A head punch blocked on the inside by Sponseller.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Jay Sponseller.
I've got Sponseller 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jay Sponseller!