PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jericho Datu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Conner Kent (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Conner Kent will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Datu
vs
Kent

173 cm
20
150 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

172 cm
18
157 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jericho Datu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Conner Kent!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Datu throws a head kick that misses.
Kent doesn't manage to clinch there - Datu circles away.
Kent shoots for a takedown but Datu saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Datu misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kent shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Datu as he avoids it easily.

Datu shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Datu sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Kent wants to improve his position but Datu is controlling well.
Still in half guard, Datu seems content to control.
Kent is trying to maintain the position but Datu is very close to passing his half guard.
Kent wants to improve his position but Datu is controlling well.
Datu trying to pass the guard but Kent defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Datu trying to control from half guard but Kent is working away.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Kent doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Datu counters with a shoot takedown. Kent fights it but they end up in guard.
Jericho Datu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Conner Kent.
Kent has his hands on Datu's head, controlling the position.
Datu trying to control the position from guard on top but Kent is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kent is trying to keep Datu in close.

Kent looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Datu has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Datu wants to pass the guard but Kent is keeping the position.
Datu advances position into side control!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Datu advances to full mount.
Kent regains half guard.
Datu tries to pass the half guard into mount. Kent knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Datu slows the pace down in half guard.
Datu wants to control but Kent is keeping him busy.
Kent gets full guard.
Datu won't allow Kent to get back to his feet.
Datu keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Kent's head.

Datu avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Kent looks gassed!
Datu trying to control but Kent is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Datu pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kent is keeping the position for now.
Datu wants to control from the top but Kent keeps moving.

Kent had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Datu is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Kent Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Datu's back instead.
A lull in the action here.
Datu just trying to survive but Kent is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Datu rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Kent looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Datu tries to bum rush Kent with a series of wild strikes but Kent uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Kent misses with a takedown attempt

and Datu counters with a takedown into side control.
Datu slows the pace down.
Kent tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Datu wants to control but Kent is keeping him busy.
A lull in the action here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Kent misses with a takedown

and Datu counters with a shoot takedown. Kent fights it but they end up in guard.
Kent keeping moving, preventing Datu from controlling successfully.
Kent is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Kent working for a triangle but Datu defends it easily.
Datu slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Datu works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.

Datu thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Jericho Datu overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kent is breathing heavily.
Datu scores with punches from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Datu in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Kent is looking for a sweep.
Kent is not content to let Datu control the position.
Datu working away.
Kent is looking to reverse the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Datu swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Kent shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Datu counters with a nice double leg into guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Datu accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Datu working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Kent's head.
Datu passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Kent is looking for a sweep.

Datu thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Kent is looking to reverse the position.
Kent is trying to buck Datu off.
Kent holding on.
Datu trying to control the action but Kent is working from the bottom.

Datu decides to take the fight back to the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kent misses with a takedown
and Datu counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Jericho Datu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Conner Kent.
Kent gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Datu counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Kent doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Datu counters with a two punch combo.
Datu throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kent with a lazy takedown attempt

and Datu counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Kent's guard now.
Datu prevents Kent from getting back to his feet.
Datu preventing the sweep.

Kent is looking for a triangle but Datu pushes his legs off easily.

Kent is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Datu wants to control from the top but Kent keeps moving.
Datu seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Datu looking to pass the guard.
Datu trying to control but Kent is working from the bottom.
Kent is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Datu won't allow Kent to sweep him here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jericho Datu dominated that second 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. And we move into the final round!

Kent fails with the takedown

and Datu counters with a nice double leg into side control. Kent won't be happy with that.

Datu wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Kent, who protects the arm well.
Kent is not content to let Datu control the position.
Kent is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Datu advances to full mount.
Kent is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kent is trying to reverse the position but instead Datu has taken his back - oops!
Datu trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Kent doesn't escape.
Datu struggling to keep hold of the position.
Datu doesn't have the hooks in and Kent manages to turn into his guard.
Kent pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Datu is keeping the position for now.
Datu pulls Kent in close to his closed guard and prevents Kent from doing any damage or advancing position.
Kent trying to control but Datu is working from the bottom.
Kent preventing the sweep.

That's two 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.
Kent stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Datu swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Datu throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Kent gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Datu counters with a nice double leg into side control. Kent won't be happy with that.
Kent tries to bench press Datu off him but Datu keeps the position.
Datu working away.
Kent tries to improve position but can't.
Datu working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kent is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Kent wants to get back to full guard.
Datu is controlling the pace.
Kent trying to control from the bottom.
Kent is looking for a sweep. Datu is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Datu wants to take a breather but Kent is having none of it.
Kent wants to improve his position but Datu is controlling well.
Datu trying to control the action but Kent is working from the bottom.
Datu thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Kent misses with a takedown attempt
and Datu counters with a head kick.
Jericho Datu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Conner Kent.

That's four 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.
Kent with a poor takedown
and Datu counters with a right hand to the body.
Datu throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Kent gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Datu decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Kent's guard.
Kent can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Datu controls the pace.
Datu wants to control from the top but Kent keeps moving.

Datu is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Datu trying to control but Kent is working from the bottom.
Conner Kent has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kent keeping full guard, as Datu tries to pass.
Kent keeping moving, preventing Datu from controlling successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jericho Datu showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Datu has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jericho Datu!