PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Sampson Kesler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andrew Stull (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Stull is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Numb/Encore by Linkin Park & Jay-Z. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Kesler
vs
Stull

170 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 6 - 0

177 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Improved boxing
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Striker Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sampson Kesler!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Andrew Stull!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Robert Twigg and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kesler fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Stull gets a clinch.

Stull wants the takedown. Kesler is fighting it off but Stull persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Kesler's guard against the cage.

Stull drops back looking for a leg! Kesler is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Kesler manages to kick Stull off! Stull jumps back into Kesler's guard.
Stull pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kesler is keeping the position for now.

Stull thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Kesler looking for a sweep. Not yet Kesler, not yet.
Stull tries to free his leg and advance position but Kesler is retaining full guard.
Kesler is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Kesler has momentary wrist control but Stull slips an elbow through the middle.
Kesler keeping moving, preventing Stull from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Stull looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Kesler is fending him off so far but Stull persists. Nope, Kesler circles away and we're back to standing.
Kesler shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Stull as he jumps to the side.
Stull circles away from the clinch attempt

and Stull counters with a nice double leg into side control. Kesler won't be happy with that.
Stull looks gassed!
Kesler can't do much from the bottom here.
Stull wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kesler keeps working.
Kesler manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Kesler on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Stull is tying to control. Kesler wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Stull scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Kesler tries to roll over but Stull keeps him under control.

Kesler is defending against the submission attempts here by Stull.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kesler is trying to stand up here but Stull is controlling him well.

Stull stands up and beckons Kesler to join him on the feet.

Stull looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Stull is tying to control. Kesler wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Stull is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Kesler is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Stull scores with a couple of nice shots.
Stull seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Kesler does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stull is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

Stull stands up out of the half guard.

Stull feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Stull content to stall in guard here.

Kesler throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Stull landing with the ground and pound.

Kesler looking for a guillotine here but Stull defends easily.
Stull won't allow Kesler to sweep him here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kesler looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Stull trying to control but Kesler is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stull postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Kesler working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Stull doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Stull manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Stull is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Kesler controlling the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stull chips away with some ground and pound.

Stull is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Stull controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andrew Stull dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Stull feints and as Kesler raises his hands in defense, Stull changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Kesler wants to get back to his feet but Stull is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Stull is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Stull has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Stull thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Kesler is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Stull stays in close to Kesler's body and controls the position.
Stull passes into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Stull controlling the pace.
Stull tries to pass the half guard into mount. Kesler knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stull stops Kesler from getting back to his feet.
Kesler is trying to maintain the position but Stull is very close to passing his half guard.
Kesler is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Stull is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Kesler wants to sweep but Stull has passed to side control!
Kesler is being controlled here.
Kesler tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Stull wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Kesler isn't going anywhere.

Stull stands up and beckons Kesler to his feet.
Kesler wants to clinch

and Stull counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Stull.

Kesler had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Stull is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Kesler Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Stull's back instead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kesler not allowing Stull to control his hands.
Stull looking very determined here, making life difficult for Kesler.
Stull manages to reverse the position and now he's in Kesler's guard. Nice work there by Stull.
Stull is looking to stand up but Kesler won't let him.
Kesler controls Stull momentarily but Stull frees himself.
Kesler preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Stull trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Kesler is looking to clinch.

Stull looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Kesler!

Stull looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kesler working to try and regain half guard.
Stull looking to control and managing it successfully.
Stull landing strikes from the mount and Kesler is in trouble!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stull misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Kesler is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Stull lands a heavy elbow.

Stull is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
A swing and a miss from Kesler.

Stull shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Stull showed some decent athleticism there.
Kesler trying to control from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Stull looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Stull missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Stull passes to full mount!
Kesler tries to lock up and control but Stull gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kesler gets back to half guard.
Stull is thwarting Kesler's attempts to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andrew Stull showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Kesler tries to clinch up but Stull circles away and keeps his distance.
Kesler is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kesler doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Stull decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Kesler's guard.
Stull forces his way into half guard.
Andrew Stull has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kesler trying to hold on to Stull's head to control him but Stull postures up.
Kesler looks like he's trying to stand up.
Stull is thwarting Kesler's attempts to control the position.
Kesler is trying to stand.
Stull has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kesler keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kesler tries to lock up and control but Stull gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Stull quickly switches position and commits to an armbar! It's a big risk for Stull but it's paid off an Kesler is forced to tap! Nice work by Stull.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:33 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Andrew Stull!