PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jacob Connor Kenway (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Julien King (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kenway comes to the cage accompanied by Warriors. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Julien King was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Connor Kenway
vs
King

184 cm
26
195 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

188 cm
20
184 lbs
3 - 8 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Determined

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jacob Connor Kenway !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Julien King!
The judges for this bout are Ben Watson, John Mangel and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kenway shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. King is trying to defend but Kenway finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
King trying to hold on to Kenway 's head to control him but Kenway postures up.
King has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Madz **21 Elite coaches**. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
Kenway thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed King's head.
Kenway scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Kenway missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kenway slows the pace down in half guard.
Kenway seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kenway controlling the pace.
King is trying to control but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kenway is stalling here. King is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Kenway seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and King has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Kenway wants to control but King postures up.
Kenway tries to bench press King off him but King keeps the position.
Kenway wants to control but King postures up.
King wants to control for a moment but Kenway uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Kenway is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Kenway knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for King on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kenway wants to get back to his feet.
King wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kenway keeps working.
King passes into side control, despite Kenway 's attempt to control the position.

King is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Kenway is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Kenway is trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Kenway 's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Kenway tries to buck King off but King is having none of it.
Kenway defending against the ground and pound.
Kenway is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Julien King is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
King doesn't manage to clinch there - Kenway circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Kenway circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kenway looks to land a combination but King avoids it well.
King turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
King throws a head kick that half lands.
King misses with a head kick.
A big left from Kenway misses.
Kenway throws a combination but it was largely blocked by King.
Some bone on bone action there as King checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
King swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Kenway counters with a nice double leg into guard.
King wants to sweep here but Kenway controlling him for the moment.
King looks winded!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kenway with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Jacob Connor Kenway will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Kenway misses with a wild combination.
King lands with a thumping leg kick.
Kenway avoids the head kick by King.
King throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
King connects with a high kick.
Kenway misses with a few strikes there.
Kenway tries to bum rush King with a series of wild strikes but King uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
King goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kenway shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches King napping and manages to drive through into side control!
King is breathing heavily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
King regains half guard.
It looks like Kenway is going to stand back up.
King trying to hold on to Kenway 's head to control him but Kenway postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kenway missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Kenway thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
King is trying to maintain the position but Kenway is very close to passing his half guard.
King is trying to get back to full guard.
Kenway thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed King's head.
King slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Kenway slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
King is trying to improve his position.
King manages to work his way to half guard, despite Kenway 's best efforts.
Jacob Connor Kenway overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kenway is keen to just control but King is a slippery customer.
Kenway trying to control from King's half guard. King has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
King looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
King bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Kenway 's guard.

Kenway wants to get back to his feet but King passes into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kenway is trying to get back to full guard.
Kenway on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Kenway tries to get out of the position.
Kenway is staying active underneath King, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The fighters are battling for position here. Kenway manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Kenway keeping moving, preventing King from controlling successfully.
Kenway pulls King in close to his closed guard and prevents King from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
King prevents Kenway from getting back to his feet.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
King tries to free his leg and advance position but Kenway is retaining full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Both fighters circling a little - King finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
King blocks a head kick by Kenway .
Kenway tries to work over King's front leg with a kick but King checks it.
A nice leg kick lands there from King.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Julien King showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

King is looking to clinch.
Kenway feinted with a counter takedown.
Kenway misses with a two punch combination.
Jacob Connor Kenway is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
King walks into a stiff left hand from Kenway .
King throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Kenway .
A punch combination from King misses.
Kenway tries to land a body kick
and King counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Kenway is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Kenway misses with a leg kick.
Julien King seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A head kick misses from King.
Kenway tries to bum rush King with a series of wild strikes but King uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kenway closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
King dodges the ground and pound from Kenway .
Kenway working the ground and pound.
King tries to improve position but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kenway is chipping away with strikes.
King tries to buck Kenway off but Kenway is having none of it.
King wants to control but Kenway postures up.
Kenway is looking to take a break and control but King is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
King can't do much from the bottom here.
King tries to bench press Kenway off him but Kenway keeps the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
King is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Kenway trying to control the action but King is working from the bottom.

Kenway is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but King is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
King regains half guard.
King makes his way to full guard. A much better position for King.
King looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
King keeping moving, preventing Kenway from controlling successfully.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Kenway shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in King's guard.
King pulls Kenway in close to prevent any damage.
Kenway throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Kenway postures up.
Kenway is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

King looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kenway 's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Kenway wants to pass the guard but King is keeping the position.
King working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kenway .
King wants to stand and escape but Kenway is having none of it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
King keeping full guard, as Kenway tries to pass.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Some bone on bone action there as King checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
King wants to clinch up but Kenway keeps it at a distance.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jacob Connor Kenway showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Kenway 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 Ben Watson scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 29:29
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!