PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ryan Kesler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Panda Bare (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bare has chosen Ashes of the Wake as his entrance music. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Kesler
vs
Bare

200 cm
20
270 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

199 cm
26
275 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ryan Kesler!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Panda Bare!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Trevor Gratis and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kesler shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Bare as he avoids it easily.
Bare jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Bare throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Bare tries a low kick but Kesler avoids it.
Bare jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Kesler takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Bare ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kesler moves away.
Bare looks to score with a jab to the body but Kesler is just out of range.
Bare misses with a hook.
Kesler swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Bare throws an overhand right that lands on Kesler's shoulder, as Kesler tries to avoid the shot.
Kesler moves in looking to clinch but Bare pushes him off.

Kesler scores a takedown into full mount!
Bare holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Kesler tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Bare avoids a strike by Kesler and manages to complete a very nice reversal in the process, to end up in Kesler's guard! Fantastic escape!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bare stopping the sweep attempt from Kesler.
Kesler keeping moving, preventing Bare from controlling successfully.
Bare throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kesler works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Kesler keeping moving, preventing Bare from controlling successfully.
Kesler striking off his back but it's not causing Bare any problems.

Kesler is working an open guard so Bare takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Bare throws a wild body kick that Kesler sees coming a mile off.
Bare throws a shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kesler closes this distance looking for a takedown but Bare circles away.
Kesler staying out of range there.
Jab, jab by Bare - just one landing.
Bare checks a low kick from Kesler.
Bare misses with a hook. Kesler ducked under it nicely.
Bare misses with a straight right.
Bare wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Bare connects with a body shot.
Bare scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Kesler doesn't seem bothered though.
Kesler is breathing heavily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kesler changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Bare tries to avoid it but Kesler manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Bare to the ground. Bare escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ryan Kesler. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bare fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Kesler on the side of the head.
Bare misses with a series of wild punches.
Bare fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kesler manages to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bare throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kesler sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Bare misses with a low kick.
Bare misses with an uppercut. Kesler saw that one coming.
Kesler jabs at Bare's body.
Kesler scores with the left hand. Bare knows he should have avoided that one.

Kesler throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Bare was covering up waiting for the punch and Kesler finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Kesler prevents Bare from getting back to his feet.
Kesler is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Kesler trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Bare 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kesler trying to control but Bare is working from the bottom.

Bare kicks Kesler off and gets to his feet.
Bare throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Kesler shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Kesler was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
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.
Kesler 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 with the ground and pound from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Panda Bare will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Kesler shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Bare defends it nicely.
Bare throws a hook to the side of Kesler's head but Kesler sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Kesler misses with a kick to the body
and Bare counters with a thumping low kick.
Panda Bare seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kesler misses with a takedown
and Bare counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Kesler has his takedown stuffed
and Bare counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ryan Kesler. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kesler gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Kesler blocks a head kick by Bare.
Kesler misses with a takedown
and Bare counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bare fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
A punch combination from Bare misses.
Bare throws an overhand right that lands on Kesler's shoulder, as Kesler tries to avoid the shot.
Kesler staying out of range there.
Bare dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Kesler just misses with a punch to the body.
Kesler moves away from the strike by Bare.
Kesler uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Bare.
Kesler uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Bare.
Bare misses with a jab to the body

and Kesler counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Bare's guard now.
Kesler not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Kesler postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bare trying to control the position.
Bare has control of Kesler's left arm, preventing Kesler from doing any damage.
Kesler trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Bare looking for a sweep. Not yet Bare, not yet.
Kesler trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Bare manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Bare wants to control from the top but Kesler keeps moving.
Bare thows a big elbow that misses.

That's three minutes 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.
Bare displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Kesler.
Bare misses with a hook.
Bare throws a leg kick but Kesler sees it coming and moves out of range.
Bare throws the left hand but Kesler avoids the punch easily.
Kesler with a poor takedown
and Bare counters with a two punch combo.
Bare throws a body punch but Kesler moves out of range.
Kesler is looking to clinch but Bare is avoiding it.
Bare misses with a body shot.
Bare throws a predictable looking body shot

and Kesler counters by clinching up.
A short left from Bare.
Bare misses with a punch on the inside.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Bare.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kesler tries for a takedown. No joy.
Bare taking a breather.
Kesler fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Kesler displaying some good clinch control by pressing Bare up against the cage.
Bare scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Bare lands on the inside with an uppercut.
A left hand lands to the body for Bare.
Kesler tries to pull guard but Bare holds him up against the cage and eventually Kesler drops back down to his feet.
Bare working aggressively here.
Bare throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Keslers head.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bare misses with a body punch.
Kesler tries for a takedown but Bare manages to get underhooks.
Bare cracks Kesler with a nice body shot.
Kesler drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A short right from Bare.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Panda Bare 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! This is the final round!

Kesler closes the distance but Bare moves to the side
and Bare counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Kesler takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Bare with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Bare misses with a jab to the body

so Kesler counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kesler is fighting to break Bare's control of his arms but Bare is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Kesler trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Bare manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Bare trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Bare wants to control from the top but Kesler keeps moving.
Kesler wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bare connects with a couple of short punches.
Kesler is trying to control the position but Bare postures up.
Kesler trying to strike off his back.
Bare landing some decent shots from guard.
Kesler wants to sweep but no luck.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bare missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Bare showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kesler is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Bare tries to stand but Kesler is controlling from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Kesler escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Bare gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Bare missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Bare wants to control from the top but Kesler keeps moving.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Kesler slips a jab from Bare.
Bare throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Kesler takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Kesler tries for a takedown but Bare circles away easily
and Bare counters with a left to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bare scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Bare looks to land a left hand but Kesler moved out of range nicely.
Kesler keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Bare looks to score with a jab to the body but Kesler is just out of range.
The fighters circling - Bare throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Bare misses with a body shot.
Bare jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Bare looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Bare fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Kesler misses with a takedown
and Bare counters with a series of strikes. Kesler will be more careful next time no doubt.
Panda Bare is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Kesler on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Bare swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kesler keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A punch lands to the side of Kesler 's head but he takes it in his stride.

Kesler shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Bare is holding on to half guard well.
Kesler thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Bare's head.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bare regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Kesler.
Kesler postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

And that's the end of the fight!
Panda Bare comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Bare winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Yves DeLean scores the fight 27:30
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Panda Bare!