PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Tanaka Raizo (ranked 4823 p4p, 4771 weight class) and Jack Kessler (ranked 0 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.

Raizo
vs
Kessler

188 cm
20
184
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
18
195
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Enjoys gardening

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Tanaka Raizo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Jack Kessler!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Steven Brown and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Raizo lets loose with a powerful body kick. Kessler will feel that in the morning.
Kessler shoots and misses
and Raizo counters with a three punch combo that has Kessler backing up. Kessler nods at Raizo to acknowledge the strikes.

Kessler fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Raizo to the ground. Kessler is now in Raizo's guard.
Raizo bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Kessler's guard.

Raizo slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Raizo wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kessler keeps working.
Raizo controlling from side mount.
Raizo working away.
Raizo wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kessler keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kessler is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Raizo tries for a kimura but Kessler is defending well.
Kessler is trying to improve his position.
Raizo wants to control but Kessler is keeping him busy.

That's two 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.
You can see the frustration on Kessler's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Kessler can do anything to dispel that myth.
Kessler is looking for a sweep.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kessler trying to remain calm as Raizo controls from the top position.
Raizo trying to control the action but Kessler is working from the bottom.
Kessler is trying to control Raizo's posture but Raizo avoids it.

Raizo stands up and we're back to a striking position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Raizo gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Kessler to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Kessler postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Kessler looking to sit in guard and control but Raizo gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Raizo wants to control from the top but Kessler keeps moving.

Kessler escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Raizo gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Raizo trying to control the position from guard on top but Kessler is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kessler wants to stand but Raizo is controlling the position.

Raizo is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Raizo wants to stand but Kessler is controlling his posture from full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Kessler throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tanaka Raizo dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Kessler gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Kessler takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Raizo is trying hard to land a takedown here. Kessler sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Kessler shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Raizo defends it nicely.

Raizo closes the distance and pushes Kessler back into the cage.
Kessler lands with a short shot to the head.
Kessler has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Raizo avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Tanaka Raizo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jack Kessler.
Raizo is defending well against a takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kessler gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Raizo regains guard.
Kessler looking to sit in guard and control but Raizo gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Kessler keeping moving, preventing Raizo from controlling successfully.
Kessler really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Raizo. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raizo is really struggling to control Kessler but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Raizo postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Raizo controlling from the top position.
Kessler working a defensive guard here.
Raizo trying to stand up but can't free himself from Kessler's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Raizo trying to control but Kessler is working from the bottom.
Kessler is looking to sweep but instead, Raizo has passed into half guard.
Kessler wants to improve his position but Raizo is controlling well.
Kessler misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Kessler is not content to let Raizo control the position.
Kessler punching from the bottom.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kessler is trying to control but can't.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Raizo throws a head kick that half lands.
Raizo connects with a solid leg kick.
Kessler shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Raizo defends it nicely.
Raizo attempts a counter takedown but Kessler avoids it well and moves away.
Kessler shoots in for a takedown but Raizo shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Jack Kessler seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Raizo shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Kessler eats them both and turns towards Raizo to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Kessler throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Raizo's waist but Raizo gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Kessler off to one side.
Raizo stuffs the takedown attempt from Kessler. Kessler gets slowly back to his feet.
Raizo keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Kessler shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Raizo seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kessler misses with a takedown attempt
and Raizo counters with a nice low kick that buckles Kessler's knee momentarily.
Kessler is breathing heavily.
Raizo dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Kessler. That did some damage!

Kessler fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Raizo to the ground. Kessler is now in Raizo's guard.

Raizo wriggles free and stands up.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
No luck for Kessler with that takedown attempt.

Raizo closes the distance and clinches.

Kessler has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Raizo clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Raizo is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kessler can do to turn this around?
Kessler has his opponent trapped and is landing shots. Not a good position for Raizo.
Raizo rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Raizo wants to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tanaka Raizo dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Kessler misses with a takedown attempt
and Raizo counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Tanaka Raizo is winning the standup battle so far.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Kessler turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Kessler manages to end up in side control.
Tanaka Raizo overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Raizo tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Raizo gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Raizo wants to control but Kessler is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Kessler takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Raizo is concentrating on defense, preventing Kessler from advancing position.
Raizo moves into full guard.
Kessler postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raizo is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Kessler chips away with some ground and pound.
Kessler working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Raizo is rocked!
Kessler gets to his feet and stands over Raizo, holding his ankles. He dives in with a big left hand that connects! Raizo felt that one! Kessler unloads more punches and elbows and this one is over! The ref has dived in to save Raizo from any more punishment!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Jack Kessler!