PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kaio Kekahuna (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Joseph (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mark Joseph is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Kekahuna
vs
Joseph

190 cm
25
193 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
24
185 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Kaio Kekahuna!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Mark Joseph!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Bart Greer and Michael Johnstone.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Joseph looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Kekahuna!
Joseph tries to advance to mount but Kekahuna denies him.
Kekahuna is looking for a sweep.
Kekahuna wants to control but Joseph postures up.
Kekahuna is looking for a sweep.
Joseph is looking to take a break and control but Kekahuna is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Joseph postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Kekahuna tries to bench press Joseph off him but Joseph keeps the position.
Joseph is staying tight to Kekahuna's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Joseph advances to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kekahuna is bucking up trying to escape but Joseph cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Joseph cracks Kekahuna with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Joseph scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Kekahuna?
Kekahuna is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Joseph looking to control but Kekahuna is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Kekahuna slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Joseph is trying to work for a kimura but Kekahuna is defending well.
Kekahuna is looking to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Joseph trying to mount his opponent but Kekahuna defends it.
Joseph lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Joseph prevents Kekahuna from improving his position.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Kekahuna tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Still in half guard, Joseph seems content to control.
Kekahuna keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Joseph seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Kekahuna does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The fighters are battling for position here. Kekahuna manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Kekahuna is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joseph wants to control from the top but Kekahuna keeps moving.
Kekahuna wants to stand and escape but Joseph is having none of it.

Joseph thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Joseph is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Kekahuna not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Joseph trying to control the position from guard on top but Kekahuna is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Joseph is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Mark Joseph.
Kekahuna looks to clinch

and Joseph counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Kekahuna!
Kekahuna can't do much from the bottom here.
Joseph cracks Kekahuna with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Joseph is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Kekahuna is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Joseph lands some shots froms side control.
Kekahuna prevents Joseph from improving position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Joseph lands a decent elbow from side control.
Joseph working the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Joseph forces Kekahuna back against the cage and clinches.
Joseph blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Kekahuna has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Joseph avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Joseph has hold of one of Kekahuna's legs. Kekahuna is fighting the takedown attempt but Joseph gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Joseph chips away with some ground and pound.
Joseph postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Kekahuna avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Joseph with a flurry of punches that miss.
Joseph must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Joseph tries to free his leg and advance position but Kekahuna is retaining full guard.
Joseph trying to control the position from guard on top but Kekahuna is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Joseph won't allow Kekahuna to sweep him here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joseph trying to control but Kekahuna is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Mark Joseph was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Joseph looking to score a takedown here. Kekahuna is defending well but Joseph drives through and ends up in Kekahuna's guard.
Joseph is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Joseph stopping the sweep attempt from Kekahuna.
Joseph is working Kekahuna over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Joseph throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kekahuna keeping moving, preventing Joseph from controlling successfully.
Kekahuna tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Joseph content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Joseph is in close to Kekahuna's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Joseph wants to control from the top but Kekahuna keeps moving.
Joseph is working Kekahuna over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Joseph pushing down on Kekahuna's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Joseph wants to pass to mount but Kekahuna is defending the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joseph seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Joseph really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Kekahuna. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Joseph lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Joseph working Kekahuna over with strikes.
Joseph works his way into full mount!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Joseph cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joseph lands a couple of good shots and Kekahuna has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Joseph biding his time, controlling Kekahuna.
Joseph trying to control.

Joseph looking for the choke but no joy.
Joseph connects with a big shot to the side of Kekahuna's head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kekahuna is covering up but some of the strikes from Joseph are getting through and doing damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Joseph showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Joseph scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Joseph tries to pass the half guard into mount. Kekahuna knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Kekahuna trying to hold on to Joseph's head to control him but Joseph postures up.
Joseph not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Joseph is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Kekahuna reverses the position - he's now on top in Joseph's guard.
Joseph wants to stand up but Kekahuna is controlling him.
Mark Joseph has got the better of the ground game so far.
Joseph looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kekahuna prevents Joseph from getting back to his feet.
Joseph takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kekahuna trying to control the position from guard on top but Joseph is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Joseph wants to stand up but Kekahuna is controlling him.

We're going to have a standup here because Kaio Kekahuna wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Kekahuna is looking to clinch but Joseph is avoiding it.

Joseph closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Nice strikes from Joseph there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Joseph trying to pass the guard but Kekahuna defending well.
Joseph is thwarting Kekahuna's attempts to control the position.
Joseph keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Kekahuna tries to get to full guard but Joseph has control of the leg.
Joseph landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Joseph wants to take a breather but Kekahuna is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Joseph wants to advance to full mount but Kekahuna doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Joseph not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Mark Joseph wasn't active enough on the ground.
Kekahuna walks into a jab.

Joseph shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Kekahuna manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Joseph looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Joseph postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joseph is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Mark Joseph has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Joseph shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Kekahuna is trying to defend but Joseph finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Joseph is working for a kimura but Kekahuna is defending it quite comfortably.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mark Joseph comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Joseph 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 27:30
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mark Joseph!