PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Roberto Baltar (ranked 4737 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lucien Kessler (ranked 5901 p4p, 0 weight class). Roberto Baltar has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Baltar
vs
Kessler

190 cm
25
230 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
25
250 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Knockout power

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Roberto Baltar!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Lucien Kessler!
The judges for this bout are Sandra Marshall, Santiago Holmes and Dirk Anderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kessler doesn't manage to clinch there - Baltar circles away.
Baltar circles away from the clinch attempt.

Baltar closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Baltar lands in his opponent's guard.
Baltar is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Kessler trying to keep a closed guard but Baltar is proving a slippery customer.

Kessler looking for subs off his back but Baltar has passed one foot through into half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Kessler manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kessler is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Baltar is aware though and is defending well.

Baltar stands and steps away. Kessler gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Baltar moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.

Baltar bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kessler is trying to improve his position.
Baltar misses with the ground and pound.
Baltar controls the position.
Kessler sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Baltar performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Baltar missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Kessler actively working from the bottom here.
Baltar controlling the pace.
Baltar knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Kessler on the ground.

Kessler looking for submissions off his back.
Baltar is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baltar's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Kessler regains full guard. Nicely done.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Baltar not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Kessler is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Baltar is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Baltar slips nicely into half guard.
Kessler tries to roll over but Baltar keeps him under control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kessler blocking the ground and pound attempt from Baltar.
Baltar thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Baltar decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.

Baltar moves into range and clinches up with Kessler.
Kessler misses with the head strike.

Baltar successfully pulls guard.
Kessler is fighting to break Baltar's control of his arms but Baltar is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Baltar will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Kessler looking to pass the guard.
Kessler works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Baltar is defending against the submission attempts here by Kessler.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Baltar has one foot on Kessler's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

Baltar has taken the fight to the clinch.

Baltar pulls guard successfully.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Baltar is on top in guard.

Baltar has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Kessler has his foot on Baltar's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Baltar works his way back into a safe position though.
Baltar is looking to work some ground and pound but Kessler has wrist control.
Baltar sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Kessler working for a triangle but Baltar defends it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roberto Baltar 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.

Baltar clinches up against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kessler.
Baltar's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

Baltar has Kessler pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Baltar pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Kessler tumbling to the mat - Baltar dives into Kessler's guard.

Kessler working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Baltar doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Baltar manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Baltar slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kessler looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Kessler escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Baltar gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Kessler looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Baltar is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kessler can do to turn this around?
Baltar trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Kessler had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Baltar defends it easily.
Baltar pushes down on Kessler's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Baltar is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baltar tries to pass the half guard into mount. Kessler knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Baltar is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Baltar is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Kessler has managed to free his arm - good work.

Baltar stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

Baltar gets the takedown into side control.
Kessler sneaks back into half guard.

Baltar decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kessler wants to clinch.

Baltar clinches with his opponent.
Baltar is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Kessler is defending well for now.
A nice left hand lands by Kessler.
Baltar tries to break free but Kessler pushes him back against the cage.
Kessler swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Baltar wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Kessler has him pressed against the cage.
Kessler tries to throw a body punch but Baltar avoids it by throwing Kessler back against the cage.
Kessler misses with a punch on the inside.

Baltar jumps guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kessler advances to half guard.
Baltar is trying to control but can't.

Baltar is defending against the submission attempts here by Kessler.
Kessler works his way into full mount!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Baltar is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

Kessler looking to secure an arm triangle but Baltar defends it well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Baltar tries to hold on but Kessler postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roberto Baltar dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Baltar gets a clinch.
Baltar pushes Kessler back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

Baltar tightens his grip and picks Kessler up, before dumping him to the ground. Kessler manages to land in guard.
Kessler being controlled here, momentarily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kessler is looking to cinch up a triangle. Baltar throws the leg off to one side though and gets in tight to Kessler's body to avoid the submission. Kessler has instead reached around Baltar's neck and now has a guillotine! Oh, this is biiiig trouble! Kessler arches his back and squeezes and forces the tap from his hapless opponent.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Lucien Kessler!