PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Tempe Gorge (ranked 2498 p4p, 2506 weight class) and Ryan Keenan (ranked 269 p4p, 270 weight class). Gorge comes to the cage accompanied by For Heavy Metal we will die!. 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?

Gorge
vs
Keenan

170 cm
30
147
6 - 1 - 2

170 cm
29
153
12 - 4 - 3

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Core Combat
Brooklyn Apothecary

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 6 - 1 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tempe Gorge!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 4 - 3, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ryan Keenan!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Robert Douchet and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Gorge checks a leg kick.
Gorge misses the shot to the body.
Gorge throws a leg kick which misses Keenan's front leg but catches the back leg as Keenan tries to avoid it.
Keenan digs a good body shot into Gorge's ribs.
Gorge throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Gorge slips under a jab.
Ryan Keenan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Keenan throws a body punch but Gorge moves out of range.

Gorge shoots in and gets a takedown into Keenan's guard.
Gorge trying to control but Keenan is working from the bottom.
Gorge working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Gorge throws an elbow that misses. Keenan uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Gorge's guard. Nice move by Keenan!

Keenan wants to stand but Gorge has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Keenan gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Keenan ducks under a wild hook from Gorge.
Gorge throws a body punch but Keenan moves out of range.
Keenan throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Gorge sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Gorge was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Gorge moves out of range of the body kick.
Keenan steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Gorge.
Gorge sets himself, and Keenan steps forward looking for the clinch! Gorge avoids it this time.
Keenan cracks Gorge with a right hand to the side of the head.
Gorge throws a body punch but Keenan moves out of range.
Gorge throws a jab but it's blocked by Keenan.
Keenan moves forwards but Gorge connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Gorge has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Keenan.
Ryan Keenan is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Keenan scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
The fighters circle momentarily. Keenan darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Keenan lands a head kick!
Keenan takes a swing at Gorge's ribcage but misses.
Keenan takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Keenan swings away with a body shot that misses
and Gorge makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Keenan misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Gorge.
Keenan connects with a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gorge steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Keenan.
An inside leg kick lands from Gorge.
Keenan misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Keenan lands a really nice looking cross but Gorge seems unphased.
Gorge keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Keenan.
Keenan throws a low kick but it's checked well by Gorge.
A big left from Gorge misses.
Gorge ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Keenan moves away.
Keenan takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Keenan ducks under a wild hook from Gorge.
The fight stays on the outside here - Gorge looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Gorge throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Gorge jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Keenan tries to counter by closing the distance.
Keenan swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Keenan is looking to land body kicks.
Gorge feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Gorge throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Gorge lands with a nice body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gorge walks into a stiff left hand from Keenan.
Gorge misses the shot to the body.
Gorge missing with a left hand there. Keenan was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Gorge tries to land a leg kick but Keenan saw it coming and moves away.
Gorge waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Keenan.
Keenan steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Gorge.
Keenan misses with a jab, cross combination.
Keenan keeps Gorge at a distance using the push kick.
No luck for Gorge with that takedown attempt.
Keenan throws a body kick that misses

and Gorge counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Keenan manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Gorge keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gorge blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Gorge stalling in the clinch but Keenan improves position.
Gorge has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Keenan avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Keenan swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Keenan blocks an uppercut.
Keenan tries to throw a body punch but Gorge avoids it by throwing Keenan back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Keenan lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Keenan gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Gorge.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tempe Gorge. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gorge tries to land knees in the clinch but Keenan avoids the damage to the body.
Gorge stalling in the clinch.
Keenan blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A nice right hand lands inside from Keenan.
Gorge is trying to maintain a safe position but Keenan gets an underhook and turns Gorge into the cage.
Keenan swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Still in the clinch, Keenan scores with a nice short uppercut.
Keenan throws a punch but it's blocked by Gorge.

Gorge drags the fight down to the ground.
Keenan has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Gorge is proving hard to escape from.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Keenan dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Keenan throws a half hearted mid kick.
Keenan throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Gorge counters with a three punch combo that has Keenan backing up. Keenan nods at Gorge to acknowledge the strikes.
Keenan lands with an overhand left.
Gorge changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Keenan tries to avoid it but Gorge manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Keenan to the ground. Keenan escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Gorge on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Keenan. Keenan obviously looking to wear him down.
A big left from Keenan misses.
Keenan staying out of range there.
Keenan is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Keenan looks to score with a jab to the body but Gorge is just out of range.
Gorge scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Keenan keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Keenan attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Gorge does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Gorge checks a leg kick.
A slow jab from Gorge misses its intended target.
Gorge misses the jab.
Gorge sets himself, and Keenan steps forward looking for the clinch! Gorge avoids it this time.
Keenan lands a nice looking body shot.
Keenan has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Keenan throws a nice inside leg kick.
Sloppy strikes from Gorge. Those never looked like landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Keenan lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Keenan misses with a kick to the body.
Keenan ducks under a wild hook from Gorge.
Keenan looks to land a body kick but Gorge moved away.
Keenan tries to land a front kick but Gorge steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Keenan throws a shot from downtown. Gorge moves away and avoids it.
Gorge half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Gorge takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Keenan throws a right hand that misses

and Gorge counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Gorge throws an elbow that misses. Keenan uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Gorge's guard. Nice move by Keenan!

Gorge looking to control.
Keenan preventing the sweep.
Gorge trying to control the position.

Keenan gets to his feet - Gorge follows without any prompting.
Keenan slips a straight right by Gorge.
Keenan wants to counter the offense by Gorge and move into the clinch position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Keenan connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Keenan throws a low kick but Gorge moves out of range easily.
Gorge walks forward, straight into a front kick from Keenan.
Keenan pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
An attempted straight right counter from Gorge misses the target.
Keenan pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Keenan bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Keenan cracks Gorge with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Gorge throws the left hand but Keenan avoids the punch easily.
Gorge looks to land a right hand but Keenan moved out of range.
Gorge just misses with a punch to the body.
Keenan lands with a thumping leg kick.
Gorge keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Gorge throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Keenan's waist but Keenan gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Gorge off to one side.
Keenan missing with a left hand there. Gorge was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A little feinted left hand from Gorge on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Keenan is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Gorge.
Keenan throws a push kick but Gorge slaps the foot to one side.
A swing and a miss from Keenan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
That kick from Gorge tenderised Keenan's leg. Keenan is trying to keep his angry face on.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Gorge is defended easily by Keenan.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tempe Gorge. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Keenan thows a body kick. Gorge tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Keenan lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Keenan throws a leg kick which misses Gorge's front leg but catches the back leg as Gorge tries to avoid it.
Keenan jabs Gorge right on the nose. Gorge blinks but takes it well.
Keenan takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Gorge takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Keenan scores with a push kick.
Keenan gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Gorge is looking to score with low kicks.
Gorge fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Keenan wants to land a leg kick but Gorge is out of range.
Keenan scoring well with a low kick there.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gorge tries to close the distance and clinch but Keenan swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Gorge fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Keenan avoids it really well and circles away.
Gorge closes this distance looking for a takedown but Keenan circles away.
Gorge tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Keenan throws a nice looking combination but Gorge bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
The fight stays on the outside here - Gorge looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Gorge lands a leg kick that knocks Keenan off balance momentarily.
Keenan throws a hook but Gorge avoids it easily.
Keenan misses with a low kick.
Keenan throws a leg kick but Gorge checks it.
A little feinted left hand from Gorge on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Gorge stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Keenan.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Keenan showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Gorge ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Keenan throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Keenan walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Gorge misses the shot to the body.
Ryan Keenan seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Keenan misses with a left hand
and Gorge counters with a nice kick to the body.
Gorge will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Gorge comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Gorge pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Decent striking displayed by Keenan there.
Keenan misses with a kick to the body.
Gorge was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Keenan fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Gorge has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
The fighters circle momentarily. Keenan darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Gorge fails in his attempt to clinch.
Keenan lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Gorge tries to bum rush Keenan with a series of wild strikes but Keenan uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Keenan misses with a hook to the body
and Gorge counters with a stiff right hand.
Gorge misses with an uppercut.
The fight stays on the outside here - Gorge looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gorge rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Keenan moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A jab lands there for Keenan.
Keenan looks to land a left hand but Gorge moved out of range nicely.
A head kick misses from Gorge.
Gorge throws a head kick that misses.
Keenan throws a half hearted mid kick.
Gorge throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Keenan stuffs the takedown attempt from Gorge. Gorge gets slowly back to his feet.
Gorge takes a swing at Keenan's ribcage but misses.
Gorge throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Keenan connects with an inside leg kick.
Keenan looks for the body kick but Gorge saw that one coming.
Gorge is looking to counter punch.
A big right from Keenan misses.
Gorge misses with a looping left.
Keenan thows a body kick. Gorge tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Tempe Gorge has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Keenan throws a half hearted mid kick.
Gorge takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Keenan blocks a jab.
Gorge looks to throw the jab but Keenan is out of range.
A slow jab from Gorge misses its intended target.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Keenan lands a slapping body shot.
Gorge checks a low kick from Keenan.
Gorge dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Keenan. That did some damage!
Keenan checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Keenan scores with the left hand. Gorge knows he should have avoided that one.
Keenan misses with a hook.
Gorge tests Keenan's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Gorge ducks under a wild hook from Keenan.
No joy there for Keenan, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Gorge is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Gorge pivots, looking for a leg kick but Keenan is out of range and Gorge settles back down.
Keenan scores with a leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Keenan connects with a leg kick.
Keenan listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Gorge takes one on the button.
Gorge ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Good standup being displayed there by Gorge as he connects with a hook.
Keenan moves away from the strike by Gorge.
Keenan takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Gorge swings for the body but Keenan moves out of range.
Keenan misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Ryan Keenan is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Gorge takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Gorge tries a head kick but it misses.
Nice cross by Gorge.

Gorge drives through with a takedown into guard.

Keenan scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gorge tries to clinch up but Keenan circles away and keeps his distance.
Keenan wants to counter the offense by Gorge and move into the clinch position.
Gorge takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Keenan chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Gorge throws a body shot but no joy.
Keenan avoids the head kick by Gorge.
Keenan lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Keenan cracks Gorge with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Keenan defending well as Gorge loads up on a big left hand.
Gorge misses with a wild body shot.
Gorge thuds his right hand into Keenan's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Keenan lands a leg kick that knocks Gorge off balance momentarily.
Gorge throws a lazy right hand but Keenan sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Keenan connects with a looping right hand.
Gorge doesn't manage to clinch there - Keenan circles away.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gorge drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
A nice inside leg kick there by Keenan. That's going to slow Gorge down.
Keenan missing with a left hand there. Gorge was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Keenan lands with a straight right. Gorge didn't see that one coming.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ryan Keenan comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Keenan has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Yves DeLean scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ryan Keenan!
After the fight, Ryan Keenan was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.