PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Johnny Kenard (ranked 4896 p4p, 5395 weight class) and Kang Richards (ranked 366 p4p, 0 weight class). Johnny Kenard has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Kenard
vs
Richards

180 cm
23
149
0 - 1 - 0

173 cm
20
155
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
KO power

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Powerful

White Gorilla

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Johnny Kenard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kang Richards!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Robert Twigg and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kenard throws a leg kick but Richards sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Kenard is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kenard shoots in for a takedown but Richards shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Kenard lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
A head kick by Kenard misses

so Richards counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Richards trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Richards is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Richards must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kenard wants to stand and escape but Richards is having none of it.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Kenard tries to clinch up but Richards circles away and keeps his distance.
Kenard misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kenard tries for a takedown but Richards sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Richards changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Richards enables Kenard to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Richards manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kenard trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Kenard wants to pass the guard but Richards is keeping the position.

Richards is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Kenard presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Kenard gets underhooks to prevent Richards's takedown attempt.
Richards is trying to drag Kenard to the mat but Kenard just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Kenard gets underhooks to prevent Richards's takedown attempt.
Johnny Kenard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kang Richards.
Kenard misses with a body punch.
Richards tries for a takedown but Kenard manages to get underhooks.
Richards tries for a takedown but Kenard manages to get underhooks.
Richards is trying to drag Kenard to the mat but Kenard just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Kenard has clasped his hands together around Richards's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.

Richards throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kenard shoots in but no luck this time.
Richards is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Johnny Kenard seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kenard tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Richards counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Kenard!
Richards taking a breather here.
You can see the frustration on Kenard's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Kenard sneaks back into half guard.
Well, if Richards is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Kenard slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kang Richards dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

A low kick from Kenard misses

and Richards counters with a shoot takedown. Kenard fights it but they end up in guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Kenard manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.

Kenard jumps into guard, dragging Richards to the mat.
Richards showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Richards tries to free his leg and advance position but Kenard is retaining full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Richards controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Let's hope that Richards has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kenard wants to stand but Richards is controlling the position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Richards avoids the head kick by Kenard.
Richards changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Kenard throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Kenard tries to clinch but Richards is having none of it.
Richards changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Kenard with the inside leg kick.
Kenard has his takedown stuffed

and Richards counters with a nice double leg into side control. Kenard won't be happy with that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kenard gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Richards performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Richards is continuing to stall.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Richards's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kenard is trying to maintain the position but Richards is very close to passing his half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Kenard is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Well, if Richards is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Richards prevents Kenard from standing back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Kenard shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Richards as he jumps to the side.
Richards is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Kenard throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Richards stuffs the takedown attempt from Kenard. Kenard gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Johnny Kenard. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kenard misses with a head kick.
Richards with the counter takedown but Kenard avoids it easily.
Kenard gets off balance looking for a body kick

and Richards counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Richards is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kenard trying to control the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Kang Richards will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Kenard fails with the takedown.
Richards with the counter takedown but Kenard avoids it easily.
Kenard tries to clinch up but Richards circles away and keeps his distance.
Richards is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Horrible takedown attempt by Kenard or perhaps it was just good defense by Richards, which made it look bad.
Richards tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Kenard tries to clinch up but Richards circles away and keeps his distance.
Kenard throws a head kick that misses.
Johnny Kenard is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kenard darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Richards makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kenard shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Kenard was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Richards can't do much from the bottom here.
Kenard wants to control but Richards is keeping him busy.
Kenard creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Richards sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Kenard in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Kenard working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richards managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Kenard.
I wouldn't like to be where Richards is right now.

Kenard thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Richards has one of Kenard's arms on lockdown, trying to prevent him from doing any damage.
Richards stops Kenard from passing to mount.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Richards can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richards is not content to let Kenard control the position.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.

Kenard decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Johnny Kenard has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kenard fails with a takedown attempt.
Richards drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Kenard defends it well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Johnny Kenard. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kenard throws a lazy body kick

and Richards counters with a single leg into guard. Kenard didn't expect that.

Kenard pushes Richards off and gets back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kenard is trying hard to land a takedown here. Richards sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Richards stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Richards wants it to stay on the feet.
Richards changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Richards blocks a low kick nicely.
Kenard throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Richards counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Richards.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Richards sitting in guard, not really doing much.
More stalling from Richards.
Kang Richards is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The adventures of Richards the control monster continue. Boring.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Kang Richards.
I've got Richards winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 George Francis scores the fight 28:30
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 28:30
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Kang Richards!
Johnny Kenard spoke after the fight, saying 'Bow in grace'.