PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Gareth Keenan (ranked 300 p4p, 40 weight class) and Vang Poulsen (ranked 1364 p4p, 151 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Keenan
vs
Poulsen

179 cm
38
150 lbs
39 - 10 - 5

162 cm
31
148 lbs
16 - 10 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

UnderGround Supplements

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 39 - 10 - 5, fighting out of Las Vegas, Gareth Keenan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Vang Poulsen!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Poulsen is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Keenan.
Keenan half committed to a counter leg kick.
Poulsen swings for the body but Keenan moves out of range.
Keenan misses with a leg kick.
Keenan throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Keenan throws a leg kick that is checked
and Poulsen cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Poulsen throws a jab but it's blocked by Keenan.
Keenan is looking to slow Poulsen down with leg kicks.
Danga de danga de dang - Keenan scores with a four punch combination!
Keenan throws a leg kick that is checked
and Keenan takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Poulsen swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Keenan jabs Poulsen to the body, keeping him at a distance.
A big left from Keenan misses.
Keenan scores with a leg kick.
A head kick misses from Poulsen.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Keenan walks into a straight right hand from Poulsen.
Poulsen misses the shot to the body.
Poulsen takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
A decent looking cross lands there for Keenan.
Keenan is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Keenan lands a head shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Poulsen jabs at Keenan's body.
Keenan moves out of range as Poulsen strikes.
A slow jab from Poulsen misses its intended target.
Keenan lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Keenan.
Keenan throws a head kick but Poulsen moves out of range.
Poulsen misses with a straight right.
Keenan walks into a stiff left hand from Poulsen.
Keenan uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Poulsen.
Poulsen keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Keenan.
Keenan lands a nice looking kick to the body. Poulsen takes a step back to recover.
Poulsen blocks the body kick.
Keenan slips under a jab.
Keenan dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Poulsen swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Keenan, as that shot connected.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Keenan shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Keenan scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Poulsen is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Keenan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Poulsen lands a slapping body shot.
Keenan throws a leg kick but Poulsen sees it coming and moves out of range.
Keenan thows a leg kick but Poulsen checks it
and Poulsen counters with a stiff right hand.
Keenan just misses with a punch to the body.
Poulsen now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Gareth Keenan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Keenan blocks a head kick by Poulsen.
Poulsen slips under a jab.
Keenan lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Poulsen scores with a jab to the body.
Keenan lands a really nice looking cross but Poulsen seems unphased.
A nice leg kick lands there from Keenan.
Keenan throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Poulsen connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Keenan momentarily.
Keenan throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Poulsen keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Keenan connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Keenan misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Poulsen.
Keenan checks the leg kick nicely there.
Poulsen misses with a jab to the body
and Keenan counters with a nice uppercut.
Keenan keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Poulsen takes a swing at Keenan's ribcage but misses.
A head kick misses from Poulsen.
Keenan is looking to counter punch.
A lazy left from Keenan finds it's target.
Keenan slips a jab from Poulsen.
Keenan is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Poulsen misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Poulsen defending well as Keenan loads up on a big left hand.
Poulsen throws a lazy right hand but Keenan sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Poulsen throws a predictable looking body shot
and Keenan counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Poulsen digs a good body shot into Keenan's ribs.
Keenan lands with a right hand.
Keenan swings for the body but Poulsen moves out of range.
Poulsen doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Poulsen on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Poulsen on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Keenan. Keenan obviously looking to wear him down.
Keenan connects with a body shot.
Poulsen tries to bum rush Keenan with a series of wild strikes but Keenan uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Poulsen avoids the body shot from Keenan.
Keenan attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Keenan scores with a hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Keenan throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Keenan slips under a jab from Poulsen.
Poulsen takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Poulsen uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Keenan.
Keenan looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Poulsen thows a left - swing and a miss!
Keenan throws a nice outside leg kick.
Keenan throws a sloppy head kick and Poulsen moves out of range easily.
Poulsen jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Keenan misses with a looping right.
Keenan fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Poulsen manages to avoid it.
Keenan connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Keenan lands a glancing blow to the side of Poulsen's head.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Poulsen closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Poulsen misses with a hook. Keenan ducked under it nicely.
Keenan throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Keenan throws a sloppy head kick and Poulsen moves out of range easily.
Nice body kick from Keenan.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gareth Keenan dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Poulsen swings for the body but Keenan moves out of range.
Poulsen jabs Keenan to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Keenan looks to land a right hand but Poulsen moved out of range.
Poulsen slips a straight right by Keenan.
Poulsen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Keenan manages to avoid it.
Poulsen uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Keenan.
Keenan is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Poulsen misses with a straight left.
Keenan throws out a leg kick but Poulsen moves out of range and Keenan only half commits.
Poulsen swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A punch combination from Poulsen misses.
Poulsen connects with a body shot.
Keenan displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Poulsen throws out the jab.
Keenan misses with a body kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Keenan uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Poulsen.
Keenan scoring well with a low kick there.
Keenan looks to land a left hand but Poulsen moved out of range nicely.
Keenan scores with a kick to the midsection.
Poulsen punishes Keenan's body with a nice straight punch.
Poulsen ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Poulsen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Keenan connects with a nice looking jab.
Poulsen gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Keenan.
Poulsen wants to land a leg kick but Keenan is out of range.
Poulsen avoids the body shot from Keenan.
Poulsen now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Keenan thumps Poulsen with a low kick.
An inside leg kick from Keenan misses.
Keenan is looking to slow Poulsen down with leg kicks.
Poulsen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Keenan was well out of range. Poor timing from Poulsen.
Keenan keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Poulsen.
Keenan digs a good body shot into Poulsen's ribs.
Keenan lands with a kick to the ribs.
Poulsen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Gareth Keenan is winning the standup battle so far.
Keenan tests Poulsen's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Keenan thuds a left hand into Poulsen's body.
Poulsen tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Keenan chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Keenan fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Poulsen checks it well.
Keenan blocks a head kick by Poulsen.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Keenan lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Poulsen has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Poulsen and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Poulsen takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Keenan just misses with a punch to the body.
Poulsen swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Keenan jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Poulsen misses with a wild body shot.
Keenan avoids the body shot from Poulsen.
Keenan fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Poulsen is out of range.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Keenan thuds his right hand into Poulsen's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Keenan lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Keenan steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Poulsen.
Poulsen's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Keenan loads up on a big right hand but Poulsen slips the punch.
Poulsen throws a body shot but no joy.
Keenan lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Both these guys seem content to just stand up and trade with eachother but Poulsen might want to think about changing up his gameplan a bit because over the course of the fight, Keenan has got the better of the exchanges.
Keenan jabs at Poulsen's body.
Keenan misses with a looping right.
Poulsen tries a quick counter leg kick but Keenan is wise to it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Poulsen misses with a kick to the body.
Keenan throws a leg kick but Poulsen sees it coming and moves out of range.
Poulsen has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Keenan takes a swing at Poulsen's ribcage but misses.
Keenan scores with the left hand. Poulsen knows he should have avoided that one.
Keenan lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Poulsen scores with a hook.
Keenan uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Poulsen looks to land a right hand but Keenan moved out of range.
Keenan feints and then cracks Poulsen's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Poulsen down.
Keenan tries to score with a low kick but Poulsen moves his leg out of the way.
Keenan just misses with a punch to the body.
Poulsen doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Keenan slips a straight right by Poulsen.
It looked like Keenan wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Poulsen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Keenan was well out of range. Poor timing from Poulsen.
Poulsen throws a body punch but Keenan moves out of range.
Poulsen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Keenan manages to avoid it.
Poulsen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Keenan manages to avoid it.
Poulsen throws a body shot but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Poulsen avoids the body shot from Keenan.
Keenan lands with a kick to the temple. Poulsen shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Poulsen comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Poulsen misses with a hook to the body
and Keenan counters with a nice uppercut.
Keenan fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Keenan blocks a jab.
A nice leg kick lands there from Poulsen.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Keenan.
Poulsen throws a shot from downtown. Keenan moves away and avoids it.
Keenan moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Keenan moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Poulsen swings for the body but Keenan moves out of range.
Poulsen has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Keenan.
Keenan is looking to score with low kicks.
Poulsen doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A solid leg kick lands there for Keenan.
Poulsen blocks a leg kick.
Poulsen looks to score with a jab to the body but Keenan is just out of range.
Nice body punch from Keenan.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gareth Keenan dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Poulsen with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Keenan to score with a decent uppercut.
Poulsen throws a jab when Keenan was well out of range.
A jab from Keenan does it's job there.
Poulsen swings for the body but Keenan moves out of range.
Keenan is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Poulsen can do to turn this around?
Keenan looks to land a left hand but Poulsen moved out of range nicely.
Keenan lands with a hook. Poulsen tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
A chopping leg kick lands by Keenan.
Keenan looks to land a left hand but Poulsen moved out of range nicely.
Keenan lands a nice hook to Poulsen's body. Poulsen takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
A chopping leg kick lands by Keenan.
Poulsen steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Keenan. That one must have hurt.
Keenan misses with a low kick.
Keenan throws the left hand but Poulsen avoids the punch easily.
A nice inside leg kick there by Keenan. That's going to slow Poulsen down.
Keenan throws a leg kick but Poulsen moved away.
Poulsen moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Jab from Keenan.
Keenan uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Poulsen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Keenan scoring well with a low kick there.
Keenan throws a solid leg kick but Poulsen takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Keenan.
Keenan checks a low kick from Poulsen.
Keenan throws a low kick but Poulsen avoids it.
Keenan throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Poulsen sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Keenan digs a good hook to Poulsen's body.
Keenan throws a low kick but it's checked well by Poulsen.
Keenan takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Keenan ducks right into an uppercut from Poulsen.
Nice shot by Keenan.
Keenan walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Poulsen checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Keenan misses with a wild body shot.
Poulsen ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Poulsen throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Keenan lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Keenan.
Poulsen throws a looping overhand right but Keenan ducks down to avoid it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Keenan fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Poulsen on the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Poulsen jabs Keenan right on the nose. Keenan blinks but takes it well.
Poulsen just misses with a punch to the body.
Poulsen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Poulsen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Keenan throws out a leg kick but Poulsen moves out of range and Keenan only half commits.
Keenan lands a head shot.
Keenan ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Keenan throws a body punch but Poulsen moves out of range.
Keenan cracks the inside of Poulsen's front leg.
Poulsen throws a head kick that misses.
Keenan lands a nice looking body kick.
Keenan moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
A solid leg kick lands there for Keenan.
Poulsen slips a straight right by Keenan.
Keenan tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Poulsen was well out of range. Poor timing from Keenan.
Crunch! Poulsen slams his shin into Keenan's torso.
Keenan throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Poulsen counters with a nice uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Keenan.
Poulsen has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Keenan.
Keenan throws a lazy right hand but Poulsen sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Poulsen misses with a wild body shot.
Keenan fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Keenan works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Poulsen misses the jab.
Keenan defending well as Poulsen loads up on a big left hand.
Both fighters circling a little - Keenan finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Keenan staying out of range there.
Poulsen paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Poulsen walks forward, straight into a front kick from Keenan.
Keenan bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Keenan throws a head kick that Poulsen semi-blocks.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Keenan throws out a loose jab but Poulsen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Keenan defending well as Poulsen loads up on a big left hand.
Poulsen misses with a head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Keenan with a jab.
Poulsen throws a body punch but Keenan moves out of range.
Keenan throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Poulsen sees it coming and avoids it easily.
The fighters circle momentarily. Keenan darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Poulsen throws a low kick but it's checked well by Keenan.
Poulsen works Keenan's body with a nice hook.
Keenan uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Poulsen.
Keenan throws a leg kick but Poulsen sees it coming and moves out of range.
Poulsen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Keenan fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Poulsen manages to avoid it.
Poulsen throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Keenan sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Keenan lands with an overhand left.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Keenan avoids the body shot from Poulsen.
Keenan looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Poulsen on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Vang Poulsen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Poulsen avoids the body shot from Keenan.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gareth Keenan showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Keenan 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 Ren Mimura scores the fight for Gareth Keenan!
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight for Gareth Keenan!
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight for Gareth Keenan!

Gareth Keenan wins by unanimous decision!
Gareth Keenan took to the mic in his post fight interview and said 'I believe this is over now.'.