PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Matt Tolbowl (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Kennedy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tolbowl's entrance music is Do Da Stanky Leg. A fine choice. Kennedy has chosen Killing in the name of - Rage against the Machine! as his entrance music. John Kennedy will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Tolbowl
vs
Kennedy

175 cm
28
215 lbs
13 - 9 - 0

190 cm
25
220 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Decent elbows
Very strong

Good wrestler
Great elbows
Good gas tank

Syndicate Nutrition
BeastMode

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 13 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Matt Tolbowl!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, John Kennedy!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Winston Howard and Donatello Bradman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Tolbowl looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Kennedy!
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Tolbowl tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tolbowl working away.
Kennedy parries the strikes from Tolbowl easily there. Tolbowl is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Kennedy to escape.
Tolbowl in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Tolbowl lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Kennedy down.
Kennedy manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Tolbowl throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Tolbowl missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The fighters are battling for position here. Kennedy manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kennedy avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Kennedy utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tolbowl is looking to work some ground and pound but Kennedy has wrist control.
Tolbowl stops Kennedy from standing up.
Tolbowl wants to control from the top but Kennedy keeps moving.
Kennedy working a defensive guard here.
Tolbowl throws a big elbow that misses.
Tolbowl postures up in Kennedy's guard and throws a big left but Kennedy blocks it.
Kennedy tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Tolbowl postures up in Kennedy's guard and throws a big left but Kennedy blocks it.
Kennedy bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Tolbowl's guard.

Tolbowl has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Kennedy is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Tolbowl.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tolbowl tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Kennedy wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Tolbowl can't do much from the bottom here.
Tolbowl is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Tolbowl is trying to control Kennedy's posture but Kennedy avoids it.
Kennedy is looking to take a break and control but Tolbowl is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tolbowl manages to work his way to half guard, despite Kennedy's best efforts.
Tolbowl tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Kennedy trying to control the action but Tolbowl is working from the bottom.
Kennedy is controlling the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. John Kennedy hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Kennedy lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Tolbowl shoots in looking for a takedown but Kennedy manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Tolbowl's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Kennedy misses the jab.
Tolbowl throws a body punch but Kennedy moves out of range.
Kennedy misses with a kick to the body
and Tolbowl counters with a thumping low kick.
Kennedy wants to clinch but Tolbowl slips to the side

and Tolbowl counters with a takedown into side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tolbowl throwing shots but missing, from side control.
You can see the frustration on Kennedy's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Sloppy strikes there by Tolbowl.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Tolbowl dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

A bone on bone clash there as Tolbowl blocks the leg kick.
Good exchange - Kennedy coming out on top.
No joy there for Kennedy, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Kennedy.
Jab from Kennedy.
Kennedy tries to close the distance and clinch but Tolbowl swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kennedy connects with a body shot that sends Tolbowl's belly button to the back.

Tolbowl shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Tolbowl trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Kennedy wants to sweep here but Tolbowl controlling him for the moment.
Tolbowl might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Tolbowl postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tolbowl distracts Kennedy with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Tolbowl loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Kennedy avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Tolbowl postures up.
Kennedy working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Tolbowl.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Kennedy holds on and takes a little breather.
Tolbowl is looking to work some ground and pound but Kennedy has wrist control.
Tolbowl postures up in Kennedy's guard and throws a big left but Kennedy blocks it.
Kennedy utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Tolbowl trying to control the position from guard on top but Kennedy is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Matt Tolbowl overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Tolbowl lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tolbowl lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Tolbowl loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Kennedy avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Tolbowl accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Tolbowl wants to control from the top but Kennedy keeps moving.
Tolbowl throwing strikes from guard but Kennedy blocks nicely.
Tolbowl throwing strikes from guard but Kennedy blocks nicely.
Tolbowl throws a big elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kennedy is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Kennedy wants to sweep but no luck.
Tolbowl throwing strikes but missing.
Kennedy preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Tolbowl throws a big right hand that misses.
Tolbowl loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Kennedy is trying to control the position but Tolbowl postures up.
Kennedy being controlled here, momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tolbowl working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Tolbowl chips away with some ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Tolbowl accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Tolbowl distracts Kennedy with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Tolbowl working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Kennedy lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Tolbowl!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Tolbowl is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tolbowl tries to hold on but Kennedy postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Tolbowl dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Kennedy attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Tolbowl swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kennedy throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Kennedy scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
A jab from Kennedy misses.

Tolbowl drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Kennedy is trying to control Tolbowl's posture but Tolbowl avoids it.
Tolbowl lands some shots froms side control.
Kennedy takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tolbowl tries to advance to mount but Kennedy instead regains half guard.
Tolbowl throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Kennedy avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Tolbowl.
Kennedy is looking for a sweep. Tolbowl is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Tolbowl sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Kennedy defending well though.
Kennedy on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Tolbowl not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Kennedy looks like he's trying to stand up.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Tolbowl lands a nice short elbow.
Matt Tolbowl is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kennedy on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Tolbowl throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Tolbowl is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Tolbowl is keen to just control but Kennedy is a slippery customer.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kennedy trying to control here.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Tolbowl in particular looking to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Tolbowl is thwarting Kennedy's attempts to control the position.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. John Kennedy wasn't active enough on the ground.
Tolbowl fails with the takedown.
Tolbowl throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Kennedy stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Kennedy wants it to stay on the feet.
Kennedy throws a leg kick which misses Tolbowl's front leg but catches the back leg as Tolbowl tries to avoid it.
Kennedy is looking to clinch.
John Kennedy has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tolbowl has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matt Tolbowl. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tolbowl fails to land the takedown.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kennedy fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Tolbowl looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Kennedy lands with a hook. Tolbowl tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tolbowl takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Tolbowl takes a body punch but keeps moving.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Tolbowl takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Kennedy scores with a spinning back kick!
Kennedy throws a chopping leg kick but Tolbowl manages to avoid taking any serious damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Kennedy comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Tolbowl has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Eliza Hachem scores the fight 29:28
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 29:28
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matt Tolbowl!
A less than humble Matt Tolbowl misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.