PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between James Freeman (ranked 3277 p4p, 345 weight class) and Clay Kessel (ranked 24642 p4p, 580 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Freeman
vs
Kessel

184 cm
25
180 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

179 cm
24
169 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Woodhouse's

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, James Freeman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Clay Kessel!
The judges for this bout are Winston Alpacca, Dirk Anderson and Bart Greer.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kessel forces Freeman back against the cage and clinches.
Kessel wants to get back to striking at distance but Freeman won't allow it.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kessel.
Freeman lands with a short punch from the clinch.
A short left from Freeman.
Freeman prevents the takedown attempt.
Freeman lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
A short uppercut from Freeman.
Freeman tries to throw a body punch but Kessel avoids it by throwing Freeman back against the cage.
Freeman scores with a nice hook to the head.
Freeman swings wildly with an uppercut but Kessel uses good head movement to avoid it.
Freeman lands with a light punch inside.
Freeman struggles to land a body shot inside as Kessel controls his hands.
Freeman misses with a short punch on the inside.
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!
A quick uppercut on the inside from Freeman.
Freeman lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

Kessel has clasped his hands together around Freeman's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Kessel looks winded!
Freeman tries to buck Kessel off but Kessel is having none of it.
Freeman sneaks back into half guard.
Kessel trying to control the action but Freeman is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Freeman looking for submissions off his back.

Freeman is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Kessel pulls his head out easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Freeman looking for a kimura from the bottom but Kessel passes into side control!
Freeman is trying to improve his position.

Kessel wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Freeman, who protects the arm well.
Kessel remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Freeman tries to improve position but can't.
Freeman is working hard here to advance position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Freeman looks to move to half guard but instead Kessel has passed into mount! Damn!
Kessel content just to control the position here.
Freeman tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Kessel controlling the position easily from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kessel prevents Freeman from getting the reversal.
Kessel raining down shots from the mount!
Freeman is looking to get to half guard.
Freeman tries to improve his position but instead Kessel has taken his back!
Freeman breaks Kessel's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Kessel is trying to keep Freeman in close.
Freeman is looking to stand up but Kessel won't let him.
Freeman won't allow Kessel to sweep him here.

Freeman drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Freeman jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Freeman tries to stand but Kessel is controlling from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Freeman 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.
Freeman wants to stand and escape but instead Kessel has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Freeman has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Kessel can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Freeman looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Kessel passes into side control.

Kessel tries for a kimura but Freeman is defending well.
Freeman is trying to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that James Freeman will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Freeman tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Kessel manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Kessel shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Freeman as he avoids it easily.
Freeman is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A countering left hand to the body from Kessel misses.
Freeman tries to clinch up.
Nice sprawl there from Freeman as Kessel shoots in.
Freeman looks to clinch

and Kessel counters with a nice double leg into side control. Freeman won't be happy with that.
Freeman tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Kessel wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Freeman stops Kessel from passing to mount.
Freeman is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kessel tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Kessel is breathing heavily.
Freeman is looking for a sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kessel tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Kessel has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Freeman tries to improve position but can't.
Freeman is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Kessel's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Freeman actively working from the bottom here.
Freeman tries to roll over but Kessel keeps him under control.

Freeman with the active half guard here but Kessel passes nicely into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Freeman is looking to reverse the position.
Kessel wants to control but Freeman is keeping him busy.

Kessel has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Freeman rushes Kessel and presses him up against the cage.
Freeman lands with a right to the head.
Kessel is trying to force a seperation but Freeman has the dominant position.
Freeman scores with a hook to the body.
Freeman stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
A nice left hand lands by Freeman.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kessel is trying to pull guard but Freeman turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
James Freeman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Clay Kessel.
Freeman lands a right hand.
Kessel has Freeman pressed against the cage.
We've been informed that Kessel has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Freeman lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Kessel's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Freeman struggles to land a body shot inside as Kessel controls his hands.
A head punch on the inside from Freeman fails to land.
Kessel tries to pull guard but Freeman forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Freeman lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Kessel's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
James Freeman has scored more points in the clinch so far.

Freeman drags the fight down to the ground.

Freeman pushes a forearm under Kessel's chin to create some space. He's escaped his hips and pivoted quickly for an armbar! Can he extend the arm? Yes, Kessel is tapping out! Damn, that was fast!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). James Freeman!
James Freeman thanked the fans post fight for their support.