PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Don Domino (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Maynard Keenan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Domino
vs
Keenan

183 cm
25
195 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

182 cm
25
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Don Domino!
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, Maynard Keenan!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Alyssa Summers and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Keenan fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Domino throws a lazy head kick
and Keenan counters with a three punch combo that has Domino backing up. Domino nods at Keenan to acknowledge the strikes.
Domino has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Cozad MMA New York in the buildup to the fight.

Keenan closes the distance and pushes Domino back into the cage.
Domino connects with a knee to the head.
Come on Keenan - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

Domino escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Domino stuffs the takedown attempt from Keenan. Keenan gets slowly back to his feet.
Domino swinging wildly here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Keenan has taken the fight to the clinch.

Keenan decides to pull guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Domino is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Domino stands up over Keenan, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Domino passes Keenan's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Domino seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Ground and pound from Domino.
Domino not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Keenan is trying to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Keenan flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Nice strikes from Domino there.
Domino winds up and cracks Keenan with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Domino wants to take a breather but Keenan is having none of it.
Domino scoring with strikes to the body and head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Domino trying to control the action but Keenan is working from the bottom.
Domino has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Domino is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Domino wants to lay and pray for a moment but Keenan keeps working.
Ground and pound from Domino.
Domino seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Keenan does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Keenan has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Domino is on him like a limpet, forcing Keenan back against the cage.
Keenan with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Domino jumps guard but Keenan stands there with Domino around his waist. Domino gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Keenan breaks from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Domino tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Keenan manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Domino misses with a few strikes there.
Keenan fails with an attempt to clinch.
Domino with a poor takedown

and Keenan counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Keenan.
Keenan gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Keenan misses with a knee strike.
Domino tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Keenan just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Don Domino. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Keenan trying to land knees to the body.
Keenan lands with a left to the head.
Keenan tries to pull guard but Domino forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
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!

Keenan pulls guard.
Keenan looks winded!
Domino controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Domino avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maynard Keenan dominated that 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.

Keenan stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Keenan wants it to stay on the feet.
Domino goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

Keenan rushes Domino and presses him up against the cage.
Keenan working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Domino wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Keenan ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Keenan no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Domino trying to control the position from guard on top but Keenan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Domino looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Domino is trying to pull guard but Keenan turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Domino avoiding damage as Keenan throws knees to the body.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Domino looking to stall.

Keenan escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Keenan lands with a thumping leg kick.
Keenan has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Keenan tries to clinch but Domino moves out of range.
Domino wants to clinch up but Keenan keeps it at a distance.

Keenan clinches with his opponent.
Domino wants to get back to striking at distance but Keenan won't allow it.

Domino jumps guard and drags Keenan to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Domino is looking to stand up but Keenan isn't so interested in that idea.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Keenan gets to his feet - Domino follows without any prompting.
Keenan moves in looking to clinch but Domino pushes him off.
Keenan tries to score a power double leg takedown but Domino sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Keenan somewhat.
Keenan is breathing heavily.
A nice combination there by Domino.

Keenan pushes Domino up against the cage in a clinch.
Keenan stalling in the clinch but Domino improves position.
Keenan trying to land knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Domino can't break the clinch.
Keenan lands a body shot.
Domino wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Maynard Keenan seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Domino is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Keenan is defending well for now.

Keenan jumps into guard, dragging Domino to the mat.

Keenan scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Domino takes one on the chin but seems OK.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Domino.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Don Domino. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Domino tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Keenan defends well and Domino ends up having to push Keenan into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Domino tries to clinch but Keenan is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Keenan takes the fight into the clinch.
Domino tries for a takedown. No joy.
Keenan scores with a shoulder strike.
Nice elbow from Keenan.
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!
Keenan slowing the pace effectively.
Keenan softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Domino wants to break free but Keenan has control.

Keenan jumps guard and drags Domino to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Our spies down at at School of Hard Knocks (Elite Training for $225) inform us that Keenan has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?

Domino got a little sloppy there for a moment and Keenan has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Domino has managed to get both his arms back between Keenan's legs - danger averted.

Keenan looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Domino passes into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maynard Keenan showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Keenan on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Keenan tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Domino manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Domino tries to bum rush Keenan with a series of wild strikes but Keenan uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A left and a right from Domino both land. Nice combination.

Keenan has closed the distance and engaged Domino in a clinch.

Keenan breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Domino keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Keenan gets a clinch.
Keenan lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Domino backwards.
Domino is working for takedown but Keenan is calmly controlling the position for now.

Keenan pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Keenan misses with a combination

and Domino counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Keenan takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Domino makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Keenan preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Domino gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Some wild striking there from Keenan.
Domino fails to land with a series of punches.
Nice takedown defense from Keenan. No joy for Domino on that attempt.
Keenan tries to counter with a clinch but Domino shakes him off and moves away.
Domino lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Keenan throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Domino.

Domino forces Keenan back against the cage and clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Domino is trying to force a seperation but Keenan has the dominant position.

Keenan breaks the clinch.
Don Domino is winning the standup battle so far.
Keenan defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Domino.
Keenan is trying to counter with his kicks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Don Domino. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Domino stuffs the takedown.
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!
Domino fails with an attempt to clinch.

Domino manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Keenan on his heels. He'll look to pass Keenan's guard now, I'm sure.
Domino controls from within his opponent's guard.

Keenan has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Domino can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Domino stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Keenan swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Keenan not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Domino is standing up over Keenan. Keenan looks to escape but Domino dives into side control.
Keenan is trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Domino cracks Keenan with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Domino cracks Keenan with a big elbow.
Keenan seems a little lost for a moment, as Domino dominates the positioning.
Keenan wants to get back to his feet but Domino drags him back down.
Domino landing a few strikes.
Keenan tries to escape but Domino is in control.
Domino wants to lay and pray for a moment but Keenan keeps working.

And that's the end of the fight!
Don Domino showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Keenan has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 John Roberts scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Maynard Keenan!
Maynard Keenan spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.