PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kenalemodisa Mabogo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jack Kessler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mabogo's entrance music is 3 Doors Down - Duck and Run. A fine choice. Kessler has chosen Yattering - Chase of Thoughts as his entrance music. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Mabogo
vs
Kessler

190 cm
23
215 lbs
12 - 8 - 0

185 cm
32
203 lbs
21 - 15 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Namunamu Clothing
GREEN!160

GREEN!160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 8 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Kenalemodisa Mabogo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jack Kessler!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Dmitry Maklakov and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kessler lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Kessler connects with an inside leg kick.
Mabogo misses with a head kick.
Kessler digs a good hook to Mabogo's body.
Mabogo throws a head kick but Kessler moves out of range.
Kessler thumps Mabogo with a low kick.
Kessler lands with a thumping leg kick.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Kessler has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Kessler lands with an overhand left.
Nice body punch from Kessler.
Kessler blocks a head kick by Mabogo.
Kessler scores with a punch to the head.
Mabogo misses with a head kick.
Kessler doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kessler takes a swing at Mabogo's ribcage but misses.
Mabogo tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Mabogo tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
An inside leg kick lands from Kessler.
Mabogo tries a head kick but it misses.
Mabogo keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Mabogo throws a sloppy head kick and Kessler moves out of range easily.
Mabogo throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Mabogo throws a head kick that misses.
Kessler lands a nice looking body shot.
Kenalemodisa Mabogo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kessler looking to score a takedown here. Mabogo is defending well but Kessler drives through and ends up in Mabogo's guard.
Kessler lands a couple of digs.
Mabogo is looking to stand up but Kessler isn't so interested in that idea.
Mabogo trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Kessler loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Kessler is stalling in the full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mabogo is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Mabogo preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Kessler landing some decent shots from guard.
Kessler trying to control the position from guard on top but Mabogo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kessler prevents Mabogo from getting back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kessler stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mabogo swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kessler stands up over Mabogo, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Kessler postures up in Mabogo's guard and throws a big left but Mabogo blocks it.
Kessler with a nice head shot there.
Mabogo is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Mabogo knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Kessler on the ground.
Kessler content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Kessler postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Mabogo is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Kessler throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Mabogo wants to stand and escape but Kessler is having none of it.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mabogo pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kessler thinks about the counter body kick.
Kenalemodisa Mabogo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A slapping leg kick lands for Kessler.
Kessler connects with an inside leg kick.
A head kick misses from Mabogo.
Kessler scores with a three punch combo!
Mabogo throws a lazy head kick
and Kessler counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Mabogo throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kessler connects with a leg kick. Mabogo looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Mabogo tries a head kick but it misses.
Good shot there by Kessler.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mabogo avoids the body shot from Kessler.

Mabogo tries to sprawl but Kessler drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Mabogo is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at Russian Fighting Community Gym, so we'll see if he gets out of it.
Kessler lands with a punch from half guard.
Kessler stops Mabogo from getting back to his feet.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Kessler connects with a nice short shot to Mabogo's temple.
Kessler has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Kessler throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kessler is looking to take a break and control but Mabogo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Mabogo on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Nice strikes from Kessler there.
Kessler scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Kessler scoring with strikes to the body and head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mabogo on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Kessler winds up and cracks Mabogo with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Mabogo wants to get back to his feet.
Kessler thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Mabogo looks like he's trying to stand up.
Kessler works his foot free and advances to mount.
Kessler looking to finish Mabogo with some ground and pound. This is bad for Mabogo!

Mabogo is rocked!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jack Kessler dominated that round.
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.

Kessler throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Mabogo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Jack Kessler seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Mabogo takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Mabogo throws a head kick but Kessler moves out of range.
Kessler avoids the head kick by Mabogo.

Kessler closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Mabogo to the mat! Mabogo manages to get full guard.
Kessler landing some decent shots from guard.
Kessler stops Mabogo from standing up.
Kessler chips away with some ground and pound.
Kessler is working Mabogo over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Mabogo wants to get back to his feet but Kessler is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mabogo keeping moving, preventing Kessler from controlling successfully.
Kessler is looking to work some ground and pound but Mabogo has wrist control.
Kessler landing with the ground and pound.
Jack Kessler has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kessler is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kessler stops Mabogo from standing up.
Kessler lands a couple of digs.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Kessler's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Kessler postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Mabogo keeping moving, preventing Kessler from controlling successfully.
Kessler postures up in Mabogo's guard and throws a big left but Mabogo blocks it.
Kessler has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Kessler is working Mabogo over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Kessler won't allow Mabogo to get back to his feet.
Kessler lands a couple of elbows.
Kessler won't allow Mabogo to get back to his feet.
Kessler working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Kessler looking to pass the guard.
Kessler lands a couple of digs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mabogo is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Kessler is controlling him.
Kessler's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Kessler trying to control but Mabogo is working from the bottom.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Mabogo tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kessler swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Mabogo throws a sloppy head kick and Kessler moves out of range easily.
Kessler bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Kessler is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Mabogo rather than just go for the knockout.
Mabogo walks into a stiff left hand from Kessler.
Mabogo tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kessler buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
A head kick misses from Mabogo.
Kessler scores with a leg kick.
Kessler moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mabogo connects with a high kick.
Kessler connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Mabogo tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mabogo throws a head kick that misses.
Kessler avoids the head kick by Mabogo.
Mabogo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Mabogo throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Mabogo takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Kessler jabs Mabogo to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Mabogo throws a sloppy head kick and Kessler moves out of range easily.
Mabogo closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Kessler blocks a head kick by Mabogo.
Kessler connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Mabogo's hands.
Kessler scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Oh Mabogo is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Mabogo throws a lazy head kick
and Kessler counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mabogo throws a head kick that misses.
A countering left hand to the body from Kessler misses.
Mabogo takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Donk. Kessler catches Mabogo right on the button with a cross.
A slapping body kick lands there for Kessler.
Kessler lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Mabogo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Mabogo misses with a head kick.
Mabogo on the wrong end of a kick to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mabogo has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Kessler.
A slapping leg kick lands for Kessler.
Kessler thuds a left hand into Mabogo's body.
Kessler scoring well with a low kick there.
Kessler is looking to slow Mabogo down with leg kicks.
Mabogo throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kessler lands a lovely overhand right.
Mabogo avoids the head kick by Kessler.
Mabogo throws a sloppy head kick
and Kessler counters with a big right hand! Oh Mabogo is in trouble here! Kessler follows up with more strikes and that's it! The ref has stopped it!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:30 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Jack Kessler!
After winning the bout, Jack Kessler thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.