PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Dmitri Elenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alex Kesler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Elenko
vs
Kesler

185 cm
18
190 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

188 cm
22
192 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Nemesis Cage Clothing

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Dmitri Elenko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Alex Kesler!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Elenko fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Kesler avoids it really well and circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kesler looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Kesler looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Well, if Kesler is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Kesler throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Elenko is trying to maintain the position but Kesler is very close to passing his half guard.
Kesler throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Elenko tries to get to full guard but Kesler has control of the leg.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Kesler in particular looking to stall.
Kesler passes to side control.
A lull in the action here as Kesler stalls from top position.
Kesler throws an elbow but Elenko slips to the side and avoids it well.
Kesler slows the pace down.
Elenko is looking for a sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Elenko can't do much from the bottom here.
Kesler throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Kesler slows the pace down.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Elenko tries to bench press Kesler off him but Kesler keeps the position.
Elenko is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Kesler's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Kesler uses his free foot to push down on Elenko's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Elenko.
Kesler controlling the position easily from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Elenko keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Kesler looking to control and managing it successfully.
Elenko keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Kesler looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Elenko is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kesler controlling his opponent.

Despite being in the dominant position, Alex Kesler just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Kesler throws a head kick that Elenko semi-blocks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Kesler dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Kesler misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kesler changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Elenko tries to avoid it but Kesler manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Elenko to the ground. Elenko escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Elenko tries to clinch

and Kesler moves into the clinch.

Kesler has Elenko pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Kesler pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Elenko tumbling to the mat - Kesler dives into Elenko's guard.
Elenko keeping moving, preventing Kesler from controlling successfully.
Kesler throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Elenko works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Elenko seems keen to control Kesler's posture.
Kesler stays in close to Elenko's body and controls the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Elenko keeping moving, preventing Kesler from controlling successfully.
Kesler wants to get up but he can't break Elenko's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Kesler is breathing heavily.
Elenko is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Elenko keeping moving, preventing Kesler from controlling successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Kesler tries to clinch there but Elenko circles away.
Elenko shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Kesler is looking to clinch but Elenko is avoiding it.
Elenko shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Kesler but Kesler pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Kesler shoots in for a double leg but Elenko sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Elenko closes the distance but Kesler moves to the side
and Kesler counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Elenko is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Elenko tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Kesler counters with a shoot takedown. Elenko fights it but they end up in guard.
Kesler throwing strikes from guard but Elenko blocks nicely.
Kesler won't allow Elenko to sweep him here.
Elenko controls Kesler momentarily but Kesler frees himself.
Kesler not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Elenko is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kesler postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Kesler stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Elenko swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Elenko scores with a jab to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Elenko swats away the attempt to clinch by Kesler.

Kesler rushes Elenko and presses him up against the cage.
Kesler has Elenko pressed against the cage.
Kesler jumps guard but Elenko stands there with Kesler around his waist. Kesler gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Dmitri Elenko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alex Kesler.
Elenko scores with a hook to the body.

Kesler breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Elenko has Kesler up against the cage in a clinch.
Kesler unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Elenko looking to stall.
Kesler putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Elenko in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Kesler is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Elenko pulls him back up using the underhooks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Kesler showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Kesler tries to clinch up but Elenko circles away and keeps his distance.
Elenko shoots and misses

and Kesler counters by moving into the clinch.
Kesler is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Kesler connects with a nasty looking knee right to Elenko's face.
Elenko has Kesler pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Kesler manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Elenko has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Kesler regains guard immediately.

Elenko postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Kesler is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Elenko, into his guard.
Kesler looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kesler passes Elenko's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Kesler content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

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.
Kesler trying to pass the guard but Elenko defending well.
Elenko looks like he's trying to stand up.
Kesler stalling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Elenko trying to control but Kesler postures up.
Kesler works his way into side control.
Kesler lands an elbow.
Elenko tries to buck Kesler off but Kesler is having none of it.
Kesler moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Kesler works to advance to full mount. Elenko defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Kesler is landing with some decent strikes but Elenko is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Kesler controlling his opponent.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Despite being in the dominant position, Alex Kesler just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Kesler moves into range and clinches up with Elenko.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alex Kesler comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Kesler 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alex Kesler!