PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Roli Poli (ranked 52 p4p, 8 weight class) and Esa Kettu (ranked 131 p4p, 22 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Poli
vs
Kettu

183 cm
27
170 lbs
14 - 3 - 0

179 cm
31
171 lbs
19 - 11 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

HELLS BALLS RECOVERY
PWNAGE

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Roli Poli!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Esa Kettu!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Frank Antenori and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Poli looks to score with a jab to the body but Kettu is just out of range.
Kettu cracks Poli with a right hand to the side of the head.
Some bone on bone action there as Kettu checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Kettu misses with a body shot.
Kettu is looking to clinch but Poli is avoiding it.
Kettu missing with a left hand there. Poli was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
It looked like Poli wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Poli fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Kettu has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Esa Kettu seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kettu misses with a hook.
Poli is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Kettu ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Nice defenses there by Kettu.
Kettu uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Poli.
Kettu swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
An attempted straight right counter from Poli misses the target.
Kettu misses with a body shot
and Poli counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Poli checks a low kick from Kettu.
Poli's corner calls for a 1-2. Poli obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Kettu on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Kettu avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Kettu throws a leg kick but Poli moved away.
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!
Kettu tries to land a front kick but Poli steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Poli swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Kettu fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Poli manages to avoid it.
Kettu avoids the body shot from Poli.
Poli lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Poli bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Kettu throws a shot from downtown. Poli moves away and avoids it.
Poli was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Kettu ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Poli stuns Kettu with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Kettu fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Poli takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Kettu misses with an uppercut.
Kettu ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Poli slips a jab from Kettu.
Poli has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Kettu finds it's way round the side to connect with Poli's head.
Kettu has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Poli feints and then cracks Kettu's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Kettu down.
Kettu connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Kettu throws a front kick aimed at Poli's knee but Poli avoids it well.
Kettu tries to land a leg kick but Poli saw it coming and moves away.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A telegraphed right hand from Poli misses the target.
Kettu has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Kettu there as he acknowledges the shot.
Kettu throws a shot from downtown. Poli moves away and avoids it.
Kettu misses with an uppercut.
Kettu waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Poli.
Poli lands a glancing blow to the side of Kettu's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kettu keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Poli.
A slapping leg kick lands for Kettu.
Poli jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Poli lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Kettu gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Poli.
Kettu takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Poli is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Kettu thows a left - swing and a miss!
Kettu uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Poli.
Kettu takes a swing at Poli's ribcage but misses.
Kettu throws a front kick aimed at Poli's knee but Poli avoids it well.
Kettu looks to score with a jab to the body but Poli is just out of range.
Kettu swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Poli checks the leg kick.
Kettu on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Kettu walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Poli lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Kettu fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Poli manages to avoid it.
Kettu misses with a leg kick.
Poli avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

Kettu gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Poli fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Kettu working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
I was talking to Poli's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Kettu lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Poli backwards.
Kettu misses with a punch on the inside.
Kettu lands a hook that snaps the head of Poli backwards.
Kettu lands a nice shot to the body.
Poli lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Kettu backwards.
Kettu lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Poli stops a takedown attempt from Kettu.
Poli scores with an uppercut up the middle.

Kettu manages to break the clinch.
Poli catches Kettu with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Poli walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Poli lands a jab to the nose.
Poli thuds his right hand into Kettu's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Kettu listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Poli moves out of range as Kettu strikes.
Kettu comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Kettu misses with a body shot.
Poli slips under a jab.
Poli ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kettu throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Kettu blocks a low kick nicely.
Poli checks a leg kick nicely.
Poli ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
An inside leg kick lands from Kettu.
Kettu throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Poli counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Kettu moves away from the strike by Poli.
A decent looking cross lands there for Poli.
Kettu dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Kettu misses with an attempted mid kick.
Poli avoids the body shot from Kettu.
Kettu misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Poli.
Poli scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Kettu doesn't seem bothered though.
Poli connects with a nice looking jab.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Poli connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Kettu momentarily.
Kettu uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Poli.
Kettu misses the jab.
Kettu connects with a good right hand that stumbles Poli. Poli circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Kettu stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Esa Kettu will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Kettu misses the shot to the body.
Poli misses with a looping left.
Kettu now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Kettu steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Poli.
Poli lands with a good body shot.
Poli misses the jab.
Poli moves out of range of the leg kick from Kettu.
Kettu throws a series of punches but Poli moves out of range.
Poli waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Kettu.
Kettu misses with a wild body shot.
Poli with a hook.
Kettu misses with a straight right.
Poli throws a hook to the side of Kettu's head but Kettu sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Poli checks the leg kick.
Kettu throws the kick towards the body but Poli avoids it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kettu thuds his right hand into Poli's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Kettu tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Poli was well out of range. Poor timing from Kettu.
A little feinted left hand from Poli on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Kettu throws a leg kick which misses Poli's front leg but catches the back leg as Poli tries to avoid it.
Kettu misses with a low kick.
Poli throwing a counter right hand but Kettu manages to avoid it.
Poli checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Kettu lands a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Poli ducks under a wild hook from Kettu.
Poli throws a hook but Kettu blocks it.
Poli throws a body punch but Kettu moves out of range.
Poli takes a swing at Kettu's ribcage but misses.
Poli throws a chopping leg kick but Kettu manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
A nice leg kick lands there from Kettu.
Kettu scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
A big left from Kettu misses.
Poli throws a body shot but no joy.
Kettu cracks Poli with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Poli throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Kettu throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A nice inside leg kick there by Poli. That's going to slow Kettu down.
Poli thows a left - swing and a miss!
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Kettu! But no joy.
Kettu throws a low kick but Poli moves out of range easily.
Poli scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Kettu dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Poli. That did some damage!
Kettu finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Poli throws a low kick, looking for Kettu's leg but Kettu calmly moves out of range.
Poli avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A jab from Poli does it's job there.
Kettu connects with a leg kick. Poli looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Kettu has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Kettu defending well as Poli loads up on a big left hand.
Poli looks to throw the jab but Kettu is out of range.
Kettu thows a leg kick but Poli checks it
and Poli counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A swing and a miss from Poli.
Poli misses with a looping left.
Poli connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Kettu misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kettu throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Poli counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
The fighters circling - Kettu throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Kettu throws a leg kick
and Poli counters with a straight right hand.
Kettu fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Poli checks it well.
Kettu looks to land a left hand but Poli moved out of range nicely.
Kettu slips a straight right by Poli.
Poli checks a low kick from Kettu.
Poli misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kettu.
Good standup being displayed there by Poli as he connects with a hook.
Kettu throws a solid leg kick but Poli takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Kettu.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kettu uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Poli.
Poli checks a leg kick.
Poli on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Poli misses with an uppercut.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Kettu.
Kettu is looking to chop away at Poli's legs.
Kettu with a nice cross.
Kettu bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Poli's head backwards.
Kettu misses with an uppercut. Poli saw that one coming.
Kettu throws a hook but Poli avoids it easily.
Kettu throws a lazy right hand but Poli sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Poli moves out of range of the leg kick from Kettu.
Kettu throws a front kick aimed at Poli's knee but Poli avoids it well.
Poli throws a hook but Kettu blocks it.
Poli jabs at Kettu's body.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Kettu, right into the meat.
Kettu throws a nice outside leg kick.
Kettu checks a leg kick.
Poli avoids the body shot from Kettu.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kettu steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Poli.
Poli throws a hook to the side of Kettu's head but Kettu sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Kettu misses with a hook. Poli ducked under it nicely.
Poli throwing a counter right hand but Kettu manages to avoid it.
Kettu misses with an attempted mid kick.
Kettu uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Poli.
Kettu looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Kettu is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
A clash of legs there as Kettu blocks the low kick.
Kettu connects with an inside leg kick.
Kettu misses with an uppercut. Poli saw that one coming.
Kettu comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Poli. Kettu does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kettu throws out a counter right but Poli avoids it with no problem.
Poli throws a hook but Kettu blocks it.
Kettu throws out a loose jab but Poli uses good head movement to avoid it.
Poli throws a looping overhand right but Kettu ducks down to avoid it.
Kettu misses with a leg kick
and Poli counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Esa Kettu seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kettu uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Poli.
Poli misses with a looping right.
Poli uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kettu.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Poli throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Kettu let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Poli throws a hook but Kettu blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Esa Kettu will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Kettu slips a straight right by Poli.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Kettu! But no joy.
Kettu takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Poli scoring well with a low kick there.
Kettu blocks a jab.
Kettu scores with a nice right hand.
A swing and a miss from Kettu.
A big left from Kettu misses.
A swing and a miss from Kettu.
Kettu thows a left - swing and a miss!
Poli needs to keep his hands up - Kettu had a free shot at his head there.
Kettu cracks Poli with a right hand to the side of the head.
Poli throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kettu thows a left - swing and a miss!
Kettu swings and misses with a shot to the body
enabling Poli to counter with a crisp jab.
Kettu throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kettu lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kettu swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Poli misses with a body shot.
Poli scores with a decent looking hook.
Kettu slips a jab from Poli.
Kettu swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kettu throws a series of punches but Poli avoids them all with ease.
A big right from Poli misses.
Kettu buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Poli misses with a straight right.
Kettu keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Poli.
Poli lands with a good body shot.
Kettu misses with an uppercut.
Poli tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kettu was well out of range. Poor timing from Poli.
Kettu misses with a straight left.
Good leg kick by Kettu there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Kettu has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Kettu there as he acknowledges the shot.
Poli misses the jab.
Kettu thows a left - swing and a miss!
Kettu misses with a looping right.
Poli throwing a counter right hand but Kettu manages to avoid it.
A clash of legs there as Kettu blocks the low kick.
Poli staying out of range there.
Poli misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kettu.
Kettu staying out of range there.
Roli Poli has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kettu throws a low kick but Poli avoids it.
A quick step to the side and Poli tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kettu tries a head kick but it misses.
Kettu takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kettu misses with a low kick as Poli jumps back.
Kettu moves out of range as Poli strikes.
Poli takes one to the side of the head.

Kettu darts in and clinches Poli up against the cage.
Kettu swings wildly with an uppercut but Poli uses good head movement to avoid it.
Poli wants to get back to striking at distance but Kettu won't allow it.
Kettu misses with some punches.
Poli lands with a short shot to the head.
Poli tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kettu misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Kettu tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Poli misses with a punch on the inside.
Poli lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Kettu.

Poli breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Poli has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Kettu finds it's way round the side to connect with Poli's head.
Kettu looks to land a left hand but Poli moved out of range nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kettu looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Kettu moves out of range of the strikes.
Kettu throws a leg kick that is checked
and Poli cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Poli fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Kettu fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Kettu connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Kettu lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Kettu slips under a jab.
Poli just misses with a punch to the body.
Kettu swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Poli is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Kettu walks into a straight right hand from Poli.
A big right from Poli misses.
Poli throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Poli gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Kettu throws a solid leg kick but Poli takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Kettu.
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!
Poli thows a left - swing and a miss!
A big right from Poli misses.
A little jabbing left from Kettu on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Kettu cracks the inside of Poli's front leg.
Esa Kettu is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Kettu lands with a cross.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kettu keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kettu misses with a body shot.
Poli thows a left - swing and a miss!
Kettu thows a left - swing and a miss!
Kettu throws a right hand that Poli ducks under and follows up with a left that Poli also avoids with ease.
It looked like Poli wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Kettu fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Poli manages to avoid it.
Poli takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Kettu tries to score with a low kick but Poli moves his leg out of the way.
Kettu keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Poli misses with a series of wild punches.
Kettu displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Poli throws out the jab.
Poli is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Kettu.
Poli displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Kettu throws out the jab.
As Kettu backs away, Poli returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Poli missing with a left hand there. Kettu was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Kettu looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Poli blocks a head kick by Kettu.
A punch combination from Poli misses.
Poli missing with a left hand there. Kettu was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Esa Kettu.
Well Kettu 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:28
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 30:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Roli Poli!
Roli Poli decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.