PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Eldar Tskhadaia (ranked 2875 p4p, 44 weight class) and Steven Kennedy (ranked 2781 p4p, 43 weight class). On his way into the cage it seems that Eldar Tskhadaia has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Eldar Tskhadaia seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Tskhadaia
vs
Kennedy

185 cm
19
243 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

183 cm
26
178 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very strong

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Dauntless
IniTech Nutrition

IniTech Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Eldar Tskhadaia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Steven Kennedy!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Frank Antenori and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kennedy ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Tskhadaia moves away.
The fighters circling - Tskhadaia throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Tskhadaia gets a clinch.
Kennedy jumps guard but Tskhadaia stands there with Kennedy around his waist. Kennedy gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Tskhadaia content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Kennedy fails to pull guard.

Tskhadaia turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Kennedy regains half guard.
Kennedy is looking to control Tskhadaia's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Kennedy avoid being mounted?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tskhadaia sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kennedy blocking the ground and pound attempt from Tskhadaia.
Tskhadaia stalling.

Kennedy looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Tskhadaia is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

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.
Kennedy is trying to get back to full guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Tskhadaia lands a nice short elbow.
Kennedy looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Tskhadaia perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tskhadaia circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kennedy misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
As Kennedy tries to get set, Tskhadaia tries to push him back and clinch up but Kennedy manages to avoid the attempt.
Tskhadaia misses with a low kick.

Tskhadaia drives through with a takedown into guard.

Kennedy has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Tskhadaia 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 Kennedy.
Kennedy wants to control but Tskhadaia postures up.
Kennedy is trying to escape the position but Tskhadaia is controlling the position.
Kennedy tries to improve position but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kennedy is still trying to improve position.
You can see the frustration on Kennedy's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Tskhadaia controlling the position from side mount.
Kennedy tries to buck Tskhadaia off but Tskhadaia is having none of it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Tskhadaia controlling the position from side mount.
Tskhadaia's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eldar Tskhadaia dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Tskhadaia lunges at Kennedy with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Kennedy's hand.
Tskhadaia uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kennedy.
Tskhadaia connects with a right hand. Kennedy shakes it off.
Tskhadaia fails in his attempt to clinch.
Tskhadaia bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Tskhadaia changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
A clash of legs there as Kennedy blocks the low kick.
Kennedy raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.

Tskhadaia closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Tskhadaia lands in his opponent's guard.
Kennedy bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Tskhadaia's guard.

Kennedy landing some decent shots from guard.
Kennedy wants to control from the top but Tskhadaia keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kennedy drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Tskhadaia dives on top into guard.

Tskhadaia controls from within his opponent's guard.

Kennedy working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Tskhadaia doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Tskhadaia manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Kennedy has a closed guard, preventing Tskhadaia from standing up.
Tskhadaia controls from within his opponent's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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

Kennedy has his foot on Tskhadaia's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Tskhadaia works his way back into a safe position though.
Tskhadaia is stalling in the full guard.

Tskhadaia got a little sloppy there for a moment and Kennedy has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Tskhadaia has managed to get both his arms back between Kennedy's legs - danger averted.
Tskhadaia slips nicely into half guard.
Kennedy taking some punishment here, with Tskhadaia in his half guard.
Kennedy is looking for a sweep. Tskhadaia is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kennedy trying to hold on to Tskhadaia's head to control him but Tskhadaia postures up.

Kennedy looking for submissions off his back.
Tskhadaia lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Tskhadaia with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Kennedy is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Tskhadaia pulls his head out easily.
Tskhadaia content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Kennedy looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Kennedy actively working from the bottom here.
Kennedy trying to control but Tskhadaia postures up.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Kennedy slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Tskhadaia 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.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Tskhadaia lands a couple of digs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eldar Tskhadaia dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Kennedy takes one on the button.
Kennedy shoots in and drives through. Tskhadaia sprawls well.
Tskhadaia slaps away a takedown attempt from Kennedy, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Tskhadaia closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Kennedy's guard.
Tskhadaia controlling from the top position.

Tskhadaia got a little sloppy there for a moment and Kennedy has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Tskhadaia has managed to get both his arms back between Kennedy's legs - danger averted.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tskhadaia engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kennedy controls Tskhadaia momentarily but Tskhadaia frees himself.
Tskhadaia is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Tskhadaia is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kennedy can do to turn this around?
Tskhadaia tries for a takedown but Kennedy sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Kennedy tries to move into range but Tskhadaia moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

Tskhadaia has Kennedy up against the cage in a clinch.
Tskhadaia looking for a takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kennedy tries to break free but Tskhadaia pushes him back against the cage.
Tskhadaia is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Kennedy misses with a punch to the body.

Kennedy pulls Tskhadaia into guard.

Tskhadaia got a little sloppy there for a moment and Kennedy has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Tskhadaia has managed to get both his arms back between Kennedy's legs - danger averted.
Tskhadaia is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tskhadaia has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Tskhadaia seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Kennedy for as long as he can get away with.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kennedy has his foot on Tskhadaia's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Tskhadaia works his way back into a safe position though.
Kennedy is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Tskhadaia sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Tskhadaia has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Kennedy wants to sweep but no luck.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

That's four 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.

Kennedy is looking for a triangle but Tskhadaia pushes his legs off easily.
Tskhadaia looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Eldar Tskhadaia is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Tskhadaia drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kennedy seems a little lost for a moment, as Tskhadaia dominates the positioning.
Steven Kennedy has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

And that's the end of the fight!
Eldar Tskhadaia showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Tskhadaia 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Eldar Tskhadaia!