PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Bruce Kiwi (ranked 444 p4p, 779 weight class) and Dexter Roussel (ranked 60 p4p, 95 weight class). Kiwi's entrance music is Reaper. A fine choice. Roussel has chosen Manau - J'ai laissé là bas as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Bruce Kiwi could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Dexter Roussel's chin.

Kiwi
vs
Roussel

185 cm
30
186
17 - 6 - 0

185 cm
24
203
12 - 7 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
KO power

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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 17 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Bruce Kiwi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Dexter Roussel!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, Lou da Vinci and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Roussel misses with a straight left.
Roussel cracks Kiwi with an open hand slap.
Kiwi thows a leg kick but Roussel checks it

and Roussel counters with a nice double leg into side control. Kiwi won't be happy with that.
Kiwi is looking to regain half guard here but Roussel keeps moving and retains side control.
Roussel lands a nice forearm strike.
Roussel cracks Kiwi with a big right hand but Kiwi just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Kiwi manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Roussel wants to get back to full guard.

Kiwi is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Roussel doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Kiwi.
Roussel won't allow Kiwi to pass to mount.

Kiwi looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Roussel felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
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.
Roussel striking from the bottom.
Kiwi is looking to advance position but Roussel won't allow it.

Kiwi is trying to work for a kimura but Roussel is defending well.
Roussel slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Kiwi is pushing down on Roussel's leg trying to pass to half guard. Roussel is fighting to maintain full guard but Kiwi has managed to sneak the leg through.

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.
Roussel is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Kiwi's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Kiwi's back!
Kiwi is trying to remain composed but Roussel is hammering down strikes to the side of his head.
Roussel controlling well, preventing Kiwi from escaping the position.
Roussel loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Kiwi hold on?
Roussel lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.
Roussel keeps control of the position as Kiwi tries to break free.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kiwi is working hard here to advance position.
Roussel scores with strikes from the back.
Roussel is trying to stick to Kiwi's back but Kiwi is turning into Roussel. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Roussel's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Kiwi.
Roussel looking to control.
Roussel looking for a sweep. Not yet Roussel, not yet.

Kiwi drops back looking for a leg! Roussel is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Roussel manages to kick Kiwi off! Kiwi jumps back into Roussel's guard.
Kiwi won't allow Roussel to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roussel trying to keep a closed guard but Kiwi is proving a slippery customer.
Kiwi passes into half guard.
Kiwi tries to pass the half guard into mount. Roussel knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Roussel gets full guard.
Kiwi trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Roussel manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Kiwi manages to get himself to full guard.

Kiwi working for a triangle but Roussel defends it easily.
Roussel landing some decent shots from guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Roussel working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Kiwi's head.

Kiwi has his foot on Roussel's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Roussel works his way back into a safe position though.

Kiwi is looking for a triangle but Roussel pushes his legs off easily.
Roussel content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Kiwi seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Roussel with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Roussel postures up and lands a big shot to Kiwi's brow.
Roussel distracts Kiwi with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Roussel makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Roussel working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Kiwi's head.

Kiwi is rocked!

Kiwi had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Roussel defends it easily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Roussel stands up over Kiwi, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Oh Kiwi is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Kiwi is on top in guard.

Kiwi seems to have got his legs back now.
Kiwi tries to free his leg and advance position but Roussel is retaining full guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Dexter Roussel 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.

Roussel tries to score a power double leg takedown but Kiwi sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Roussel somewhat.
Roussel getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Roussel tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kiwi was well out of range. Poor timing from Roussel.
Roussel rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Kiwi counters with a straight right hand.
Roussel takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.

It looks like Dexter Roussel has been cut.
Roussel has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Roussel throws a big shot that misses.
Kiwi seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Roussel bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Roussel connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Kiwi momentarily.
Dexter Roussel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Roussel lands with a good body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roussel is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Kiwi.
Roussel fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Kiwi moves out of range as Roussel strikes.
Kiwi throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Roussel thuds his right hand into Kiwi's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Kiwi just misses with a punch to the body.
Kiwi misses with a low kick.
And Roussel tries to counter it with a takedown but Kiwi pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Roussel cracks Kiwi with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Roussel lands a right hook to the body.
Kiwi doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
A jab lands there for Roussel.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Kiwi, as that shot connected.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Roussel lands a head shot.
A slow jab from Roussel misses its intended target.
Roussel throws an off balance right hand
and Kiwi connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Roussel lands a nice hook to Kiwi's body. Kiwi takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Roussel cracks Kiwi with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Kiwi tries a low kick but Roussel avoids it.
Kiwi takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

Roussel moves into the clinch.
A short uppercut from Kiwi.
Kiwi throws a head punch that misses.
Roussel misses with some punches.
Kiwi presses Roussel against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Kiwi swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice left hand lands by Kiwi.
Kiwi goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Roussel misses with a short punch on the inside.
Roussel drops down looking for an ankle pick but Kiwi pulls his leg out and moves away.
Roussel staying out of range there.
Roussel looks to score with a jab to the body but Kiwi is just out of range.
Roussel lands a nice shot to the body.
Dexter Roussel seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kiwi throws a series of punches but Roussel moves out of range.
Kiwi looks to land a left hand but Roussel moved out of range nicely.
Kiwi lands a high kick!
Jab by Kiwi.
Roussel scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Roussel chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Kiwi can pounce on him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kiwi lands with a nice body kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sloppy strikes from Kiwi. Those never looked like landing.
Kiwi throws a nice looking combination but Roussel bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Roussel avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Roussel tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Roussel cracks Kiwi with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Roussel lands a glancing blow to the side of Kiwi's head.
Roussel fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kiwi manages to avoid it.
A swing and a miss from Kiwi.
Roussel feints the counter takedown.

Roussel cracks Kiwi with an uppercut from hell and Kiwi crumples to the canvas, he's out! Oh no, he's recovered and he's grabbed one of Roussel's legs and pulled him into guard. The ref thought about stopping it there but he's let it go - good reffing!
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Roussel gets to his feet and stands over Kiwi, holding his ankles. He dives in with a big left hand that connects! Kiwi felt that one! Roussel unloads more punches and elbows and this one is over! The ref has dived in to save Kiwi from any more punishment!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Dexter Roussel!
In his post fight interview, Dexter Roussel started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.