PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Vincenzo Hall (ranked 1207 p4p, 158 weight class) and Steven Kennedy (ranked 2820 p4p, 342 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Hall
vs
Kennedy

181 cm
22
176 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

183 cm
31
178 lbs
11 - 15 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Sportivité

Vegan Gains

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 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Vincenzo Hall !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Steven Kennedy!
The judges for this bout are , Don Winkell and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kennedy attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Hall was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Kennedy swings away with a body shot that misses
and Hall counters with a right hand to the body.
Hall lands a jab to the head.
Hall avoids the body shot from Kennedy.
Hall lunges at Kennedy with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Kennedy's hand.
Kennedy tries to land a body kick

and Hall counters with a takedown into side control.
Hall lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Kennedy is looking to regain half guard here but Hall keeps moving and retains side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kennedy is trying to control Hall 's posture but Hall avoids it.
Kennedy tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Hall landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kennedy gets back to half guard.
Kennedy is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Hall is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Hall takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Hall is taking a breather. Kennedy says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Kennedy is looking to get back to full guard here but Hall has managed to pass to side control instead.
Kennedy tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Hall wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hall in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Kennedy manages to get back to half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Hall connects with a nice short shot to Kennedy's temple.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kennedy is trying to control but can't.
Hall trying to control from half guard but Kennedy is working away.
We've been hearing good reports from Hall 's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.

Kennedy looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Kennedy actively working from the bottom here.
Hall looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Kennedy with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Hall trying to mount his opponent but Kennedy defends it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hall slips a nice elbow through Kennedy's hands, connecting with Kennedy's forehead.
The fighters are battling for position here. Kennedy manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Hall is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Hall lands a couple of elbows.
Kennedy has momentary wrist control but Hall slips an elbow through the middle.
Kennedy keeping moving, preventing Hall from controlling successfully.
Hall has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Hall slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Hall preventing the sweep.
Hall makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hall cracks Kennedy with a solid left hand.
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.

Kennedy working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Hall doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Hall manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Kennedy tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hall landing with the ground and pound.

Kennedy has an active guard here but Hall has managed to pass into half guard.
Hall takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Kennedy ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hall moves away.
Kennedy takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

Hall throws a big overhand right that connects, sending Kennedy tumbling to the canvas!

It looks like Steven Kennedy has been cut.

Kennedy is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Hall defends well.
Kennedy is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hall works his way to full guard. Good work.
Kennedy is fighting to break Hall 's control of his arms but Hall is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Hall throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Kennedy is in close to Hall 's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Kennedy postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kennedy won't allow Hall to sweep him here.
Kennedy trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Hall wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Kennedy wants to control from the top but Hall keeps moving.
Hall wants to sweep but no luck.
Hall wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Kennedy controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Hall wants to sweep here but Kennedy controlling him for the moment.

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.
Hall controls Kennedy momentarily but Kennedy frees himself.
Hall preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Hall keeping moving, preventing Kennedy from controlling successfully.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Kennedy tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hall was well out of range. Poor timing from Kennedy.
Kennedy throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Hall half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Hall tests Kennedy's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Hall is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kennedy can do to turn this around?
Kennedy scores with a kick to the body.
Kennedy tries to close the distance and clinch but Hall swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kennedy shoots in for a double leg but Hall sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Kennedy uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Hall .
A jab from Hall finds it's way through Kennedy's defenses.
Kennedy swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Hall takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Hall throws a lazy right hand but Kennedy sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Hall dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Kennedy tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Hall defends well and Kennedy ends up having to push Hall into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Hall tries to counter with a takedown but Kennedy is quick to defend against it.
Kennedy scores with a nice right hand.
Kennedy tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hall paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kennedy lands with an overhand left.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kennedy lands a high kick!
Kennedy misses the body punch

and Hall counters with a combination of strikes to the head and body that crumple Kennedy!

Kennedy is rocked!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hall lands a massive shot from half guard that has rocked Kennedy! More strikes land and this one is all over! Hall jumps to his feet and is applauded loudly by the crowd!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:33 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Vincenzo Hall !