PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Keith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vitor Fernandes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fernandes has chosen Opus - Life is Life as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Keith
vs
Fernandes

184 cm
18
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

195 cm
20
215 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, John Keith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Vitor Fernandes!
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, David Schapiro and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Keith changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Fernandes tries to avoid it but Keith manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Fernandes to the ground. Fernandes escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Fernandes stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Fernandes wants it to stay on the feet.
Keith shoots in and drives through. Fernandes sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Keith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fernandes throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Keith's waist but Keith gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Fernandes off to one side.
Fernandes wants to clinch.

Keith closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Keith is looking to take a break and control but Fernandes is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Fernandes is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Fernandes is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Keith is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Fernandes is trying to escape the mount.
Keith tries to control but Fernandes wriggling away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fernandes taking shots to the head.
Fernandes tries to hold on but Keith postures up.
Keith prevents Fernandes from getting the reversal.

Keith goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Fernandes is on top in guard.
Keith manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Keith looking to control but Fernandes is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Keith is breathing heavily.
Fernandes is looking to get to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fernandes wants to control but Keith is having none of it.
Fernandes is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Keith looking to control but Fernandes is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Fernandes really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Keith. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Fernandes tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Keith avoids the attempt from Fernandes to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fernandes might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Keith kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Keith wants to control the pace but Fernandes is squirming around nicely.
Fernandes keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Fernandes throwing hammer fists to the chest of Keith. What's that going to do exactly?
Fernandes wants to hold on but Keith pushes him away.
Keith throwing strikes here but Fernandes is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Fernandes bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Keith trying to keep a closed guard but Fernandes is proving a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Fernandes is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Keith is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Keith has escaped and now he's on top!

Fernandes has his foot on Keith's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Keith works his way back into a safe position though.
Fernandes keeping moving, preventing Keith from controlling successfully.
Keith postures up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Keith wants to get up but he can't break Fernandes's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Keith trying to control but Fernandes is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Fernandes misses with a double jab.
Fernandes leaves Keith with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Fernandes throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Keith throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

Keith shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Fernandes tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Keith has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Fernandes really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Fernandes is squirming around, avoiding Keith's attempts to control the action.
Fernandes sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Fernandes wants to improve his position but Keith is controlling well.
Fernandes is pressing down on Keith's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Keith gets to his feet - Fernandes follows without any prompting.
Fernandes comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Keith throws the kick towards the body but Fernandes avoids it.

Fernandes closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Keith is trying to control Fernandes's posture but Fernandes avoids it.

Fernandes tries for a kimura but Keith is defending well.
Keith sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Fernandes throwing shots but Keith is blocking nicely.
Keith trying to hold on to Fernandes's head to control him but Fernandes postures up.
Fernandes stops Keith from getting back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fernandes is nestled in close to Keith, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Keith is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Fernandes tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Fernandes is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Keith's half guard.
Keith gets full guard.
Fernandes trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Fernandes with a flurry of punches that miss.
Fernandes trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Fernandes is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Keith is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Keith has escaped and now he's on top!
Keith won't allow Fernandes to sweep him here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Keith gets to his feet - Fernandes follows without any prompting.
A nice combination there by Fernandes.
Fernandes tries to clinch but Keith is having none of it.
Fernandes gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Keith counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Keith.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Fernandes wants to sweep here but Keith controlling him for the moment.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Keith connects with a couple of short punches.
Keith wants to pass the guard but Fernandes is keeping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Keith dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Fernandes tries a head kick but it misses.
Fernandes wants to clinch.
Keith scores with a spinning back kick!

Keith shoots in and bounces Fernandes off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Keith might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Keith trying to control but Fernandes is working from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Keith wants to stand but Fernandes has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fernandes keeping moving, preventing Keith from controlling successfully.
Keith is really struggling to control Fernandes but he's trying to hold on to the position.

Fernandes is looking for a triangle but Keith pushes his legs off easily.
Fernandes keeping moving, preventing Keith from controlling successfully.
Fernandes throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Fernandes has managed to clinch.

Fernandes breaks from the clinch.

Fernandes clinches up with Keith and pushes him back against the cage.

Fernandes pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Fernandes.
A lazy body kick from Keith

and Fernandes counters with a nice double leg into side control. Keith won't be happy with that.
Keith tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Fernandes wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Keith sneaks back into half guard.
Keith is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Fernandes's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Fernandes's back!
Keith controlling the position well here. Fernandes rolled but Keith kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Keith is looking to control Fernandes but Fernandes is wriggling around and keeping busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fernandes tries to break free.
Fernandes is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Keith gets his hooks in and is throwing strikes.
Keith lands strikes to the head.
Keith controlling well, preventing Fernandes from escaping the position.
Keith struggling to keep hold of the position.
Keith gets his hands free as Fernandes looks to control.
Fernandes turns into Keith and is now in his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Fernandes is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Fernandes tries to free his leg and advance position but Keith is retaining full guard.

Fernandes stands up and waves to Keith to follow him.
Fernandes wants to clinch.
Fernandes misses with a combination

and Keith moves into the clinch.
Keith is looking to control Fernandes's arms but Fernandes gets an underhook and turns him. Now Keith has his back to the cage.
Vitor Fernandes has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
John Keith is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Fernandes pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Fernandes throws a head kick that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vitor Fernandes comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Keith has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Alyssa Summers scores the fight 29:28
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 29:28
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Keith!