PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Clay Kessel (ranked 5283 p4p, 471 weight class) and Old Middle (ranked 5460 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Kessel
vs
Middle

179 cm
23
169 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Clay Kessel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Old Middle!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Dirk Anderson and Peter Branson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kessel clinches.
Kessel tries to break free but Middle pushes him back against the cage.

Kessel pulls guard successfully.
Middle has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Kessel is proving hard to escape from.
Kessel wants to stand but Middle is controlling the position.
Middle showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Middle tries to free his leg and advance position but Kessel is retaining full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Middle content to stall in guard here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
It looks like Middle might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Kessel looking to control.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Middle shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Kessel manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Middle is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Middle trying to stand up but can't free himself from Kessel's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kessel looking for a sweep. Not yet Kessel, not yet.

Kessel looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Middle engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kessel lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Middle backs up against the cage.

Middle gets a double leg takedown into Kessel's guard.
Middle looking to pass the guard.
Kessel is trying to hold Middle in close to prevent damage but Middle has managed to pass into half guard.
Kessel tries to kick Middle off in order to stand up. Middle Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Middle working the head and body with strikes.
Middle is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Middle is continuing to stall.
Kessel wants to control but Middle postures up.
Middle taking a breather here.
Kessel takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Old Middle dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Kessel fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kessel is trying hard to land a takedown here. Middle sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Kessel looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Middle is fending him off so far but Kessel persists. Nope, Middle circles away and we're back to standing.
Kessel fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kessel wants to clinch up but Middle keeps it at a distance.
Middle tries to clinch there but Kessel circles away.

Kessel clinches up against the cage.
Kessel wants a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Clay Kessel. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kessel is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kessel tries to break the clinch but Middle is controlling the position.
Middle gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Kessel.
Kessel working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Middle tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Kessel's elbow.

Kessel manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Middle wants to stand but Kessel has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Middle pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kessel is keeping the position for now.
Middle chips away with some ground and pound.
Middle is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Middle connects with a couple of short punches.
Kessel controls Middle momentarily but Middle frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kessel is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Middle is controlling him.
Middle working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Kessel looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Middle has picked Kessel up and slammed him! Kessel can't keep hold of the triangle and Middle manages to pass to side control!
Kessel seems a little lost for a moment, as Middle dominates the positioning.

Middle is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Kessel knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Middle is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Kessel has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Middle is trying to get an arm triangle but Kessel is defending well.

Middle is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Kessel knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Middle tries to stand but Kessel is controlling his head.

That's four 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.

Middle decides to stand back up.
A head kick misses from Middle.
Kessel appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

Kessel drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Kessel trying to control the action but Middle is working from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kessel tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Old Middle showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Kessel shoots in for a takedown but Middle shows good takedown defense.
Middle shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Kessel sprawls well. Kessel wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Middle gets slowly back to his feet.
Kessel shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Middle counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Middle lands with a punch from half guard.
Middle seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Middle working the head and body with strikes.
Kessel tries to roll over but Middle keeps him under control.
Middle working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Kessel wants to control the action here but instead Middle manages to pass to full mount!
Middle has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Middle sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Kessel wants to control but Middle is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Middle tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Kessel is in a horrible position here. Middle smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Middle looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Middle's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

Middle is working for a guillotine from mount but Kessel frees his head quite easily.
Middle is landing with some decent strikes but Kessel is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Kessel is trying to reverse the position but instead Middle has taken his back - oops!
Kessel is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

Middle is looking for the choke from the back position but Kessel is controlling his hands well.

Kessel manages to get to his feet, escaping the difficult position.
Kessel punishes Middle's body with a nice straight punch.
Kessel moves in looking to clinch but Middle pushes him off.
Kessel tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Middle defends well and Kessel ends up having to push Middle into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Clay Kessel. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kessel shoots in looking for a takedown but Middle manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Kessel's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kessel looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Clay Kessel has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Old Middle is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The fight stays on the outside here - Middle looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

And that's the end of the fight!
Old Middle comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Middle 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Old Middle!