PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mikkel Kessler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bee Benson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Kessler
vs
Benson

185 cm
18
185 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

191 cm
18
194 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Tends to cut

Red Light Clothing ► Amsterdam!

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mikkel Kessler!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Bee Benson!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Matti Vanhoillinen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A head kick misses from Kessler.
Benson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kessler.
Kessler swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Benson counters with a lovely shot to the body.
A cross from Kessler lands.
A left lands for Benson.
Benson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kessler manages to avoid it.
Benson thows a body shot but no joy.
Nice defenses there by Kessler.
Kessler uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Benson.
Benson uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kessler.
Benson uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Kessler has time to react.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Benson tries to move into range but Kessler moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Benson lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Kessler circles away quickly and effectively.
Benson connects with a right hand. Kessler shakes it off.
Kessler loads up on a big right hand but Benson slips the punch.
The fighters circling - Benson throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Kessler ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Benson moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kessler avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Benson misses with a looping right.
Kessler thows a body shot but no joy.
Kessler throws a front kick aimed at Benson's knee but Benson avoids it well.
Kessler ducks under a wild hook from Benson.
Kessler slips a jab and a cross from Benson.
Benson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Benson misses with a lunging right hand
and Kessler counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Kessler dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Kessler misses with a left hand
and Benson counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Benson missing with a left hand there. Kessler was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Benson slips under a jab from Kessler.
Benson has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Benson there as he acknowledges the shot.
Benson looks to land a right hand but Kessler moved out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benson misses with a looping right.
Kessler moves out of range of the strikes.
Benson looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Kessler slips a jab from Benson.
Benson bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Benson uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Kessler.
Benson lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Kessler at a distance.
Kessler lands a nice looking body shot.
Benson looks to land a combination but Kessler avoids it well.
Kessler swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Kessler, as that shot connected.
Benson throws a combination that misses
and Kessler counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Benson misses with a straight right.
Benson slips under a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kessler fails in his attempt to clinch.
Benson throws a low kick but Kessler avoids it.
Kessler tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Benson counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Kessler lands with a right hand.
Kessler looks to throw the jab but Benson is out of range.
Benson misses the shot to the body.
Benson throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Benson lands a nice looking body shot.
Benson uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kessler.
Kessler throws a right hand that Benson ducks under and follows up with a left that Benson also avoids with ease.
Kessler tests Benson's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Benson is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Kessler misses with a looping left.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Benson misses.
Kessler scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Benson doesn't seem bothered though.
Benson keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kessler.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kessler takes one on the button.
Kessler misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Benson.
Kessler works over Benson's head and body with a nice combination.
Kessler misses the jab.
Kessler uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Benson swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Benson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kessler lands a lovely overhand right.
Benson with a hook.
Jab, jab by Benson - just one landing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Bee Benson will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Kessler misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Benson.
Benson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kessler manages to avoid it.
Kessler throws a shot from downtown. Benson moves away and avoids it.
Kessler attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Benson swings for the body but Kessler moves out of range.
Kessler thows a left - swing and a miss!
Benson misses the jab.
Kessler scores with a punch to the head.
Benson throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Kessler.
Kessler throws a hook but Benson avoids it easily.
Kessler looks to land a right hand but Benson moved out of range.
The fighters circle momentarily. Benson darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Kessler lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Kessler digs a good hook to Benson's body.
Benson scores with a sloppy right hand. Kessler should have avoided that one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kessler lands with a nice body punch.
Benson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kessler throws a jab but it's blocked by Benson.
Kessler uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Benson has time to react.
Kessler lands a slapping body shot.
Kessler waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Benson.
Kessler throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Benson with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Kessler to score with a decent uppercut.
Benson takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Benson looks to throw the jab but Kessler is out of range.
Benson pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Benson misses with an uppercut.
Benson throws an overhand right that lands on Kessler's shoulder, as Kessler tries to avoid the shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benson throws a hook but Kessler avoids it easily.
Benson lands a nice shot that snaps Kessler's head back.
Kessler blocks a jab.
Benson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
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!
Kessler ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A good leg kick by Kessler.
Kessler misses with a left hand
and Benson counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Kessler thinking.
Kessler scores with a jab to the head.
Benson scores with a nice head shot.
Bee Benson seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Benson throws a body punch but Kessler moves out of range.
Benson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kessler manages to avoid it.
Benson takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Nice defenses there by Kessler.
Kessler connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benson throws out a loose jab but Kessler uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kessler lands a right hook to the body.
Benson ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Kessler jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Benson takes one to the side of the head.
Kessler connects with a body shot.
Benson defending well as Kessler loads up on a big left hand.
Benson's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Kessler connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Benson scrambles back to his feet.
Benson slips a jab from Kessler.
Benson wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Kessler uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Benson has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

It looks like Bee Benson has been cut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Donk. Benson catches Kessler right on the button with a cross.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benson thuds a left hand into Kessler's body.
Benson throws a lazy uppercut
and Kessler counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Kessler tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Benson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Benson has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Kessler misses with a low kick.
Benson lunges at Kessler with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Kessler's hand.
The crowd cheers as Kessler lands an impressive looking overhand right. Benson doesn't seem phased though.
Kessler lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Kessler.
Benson uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kessler.
Kessler does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A shot to the liver by Benson. Beautiful body shot.
A shot to the liver by Kessler. Beautiful body shot.
Benson swings for the body but Kessler moves out of range.
Kessler uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Benson.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mikkel Kessler dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Bee Benson's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Benson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Benson misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Kessler moves out of range of the strikes.
Kessler throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kessler defending well as Benson loads up on a big left hand.
Kessler throws a jab but it's blocked by Benson.
Kessler connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Benson's hands.
Benson falls off balance throwing a combination
and Kessler makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Benson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Benson pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Benson looks to land a combination. Kessler sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Benson slips a jab from Kessler.
Benson takes one to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kessler lands with a cross.
Kessler avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Kessler ducks under a wild hook from Benson.
Benson thows a body shot but no joy.
Benson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kessler manages to avoid it.
Benson looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Benson throws out a loose jab but Kessler uses good head movement to avoid it.
Benson misses the shot to the body.
Kessler throws a hook to the side of Benson's head but Benson sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Benson misses with a left hand
and Kessler connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Kessler connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Benson tries to bum rush Kessler with a series of wild strikes but Kessler uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Kessler swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kessler tries to clinch but Benson is having none of it.
Kessler misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Benson.
Benson bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A swing and a miss from Benson.
Benson takes a body punch but keeps moving.
A looping hook to the body misses from Benson. Kessler does a little dance to reset his feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Benson will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Benson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kessler scores with a jab.
Kessler darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
The fighters circling - Benson throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Benson feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Kesslers jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Kessler misses with a lunging right hand
and Benson counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benson lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Kessler changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Kessler punishes Benson's body with a nice straight punch.
Kessler swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Jab from Kessler.
Kessler misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Benson.
Benson misses with a hook
and Kessler counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Kessler misses with a wild body shot.
Benson throws a hook but Kessler blocks it.
Kessler misses with a right hand
and Benson counters with a straight right hand.
Benson misses with a series of wild punches.
Kessler misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kessler swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Benson throws a body punch but Kessler moves out of range.
The fighters circling - Kessler throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Kessler moves in looking to clinch but Benson pushes him off.
Benson slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Benson misses the shot to the body.
Kessler avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Kessler lands with a right hand.
Kessler throws a looping overhand right but Benson ducks down to avoid it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kessler looks to land a right hand but Benson moved out of range.
Benson misses with a straight right.
Kessler lands with a good body shot.
Benson avoids the body shot from Kessler.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mikkel Kessler showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Kessler has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mikkel Kessler!
Mikkel Kessler took to the mic in his post fight interview and said 'Wow, I can't believe I won this fight. No one gave me a chance. I showed the Viking spirit and showed boxers can fight K-1. Thanks to my manager Chris Funkyama, I'd like to say a big thanks to my fans and most of all Throwdown for the opportunity. 3 and 1 baby.'.