PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Julius Steel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kasper Kessler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Steel comes to the cage accompanied by Its a Fight. Kessler has chosen Black Eyed Peas - I Got A Feeling as his entrance music. Julius Steel has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Steel
vs
Kessler

190 cm
22
181 lbs
11 - 0 - 0

185 cm
27
180 lbs
14 - 2 - 0

Decent wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

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 11 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Julius Steel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Kasper Kessler!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kessler throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Steel stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Steel throws a body punch but Kessler moves out of range.
Kessler shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Steel defends it nicely.
Good shot there by Steel.
Kessler is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Steel.
Steel throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Kessler on the side of the head.
Steel throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Steel missing with a left hand there. Kessler was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Steel scores with a shot to the body.
A left and a right from Steel both land. Nice combination.
Kessler scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Kessler looks to land a left hand but Steel moved out of range nicely.
Kessler lands with a straight right. Steel didn't see that one coming.
Steel looks to score with a jab to the body but Kessler is just out of range.
Steel misses with a jab to the body
and Kessler counters with a nice body kick.

Kessler scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Kessler performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kessler is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Kessler controlling the position easily from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Steel is trying desperately to improve position.
Kessler fails to move to back control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kessler goes for an armbar but Steel turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Steel.
Steel is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Kessler working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Steel doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Steel manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Steel wants to control from the top but Kessler keeps moving.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kessler seems keen to control Steel's posture.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kasper Kessler dominated that 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.

A looping hook to the body misses from Kessler. Steel does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kessler misses with a wild body shot.
Steel throws a left and a right that both miss
and Kessler counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Steel lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Kessler throws a leg kick but Steel checks it.
Kessler keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kessler is trying hard to land a takedown here. Steel sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Kessler throws a predictable looking body shot
and Steel counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Julius Steel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Steel misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kessler.
Kessler slips under a jab from Steel.
Kessler moves out of range as Steel strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Steel takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
A nice inside leg kick there by Kessler. That's going to slow Steel down.
Kessler lands a nice hook to Steel's body. Steel takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Kessler throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Steel on the side of the head.
Steel takes one to the chin there.

Kessler has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kessler tries to pull guard but Steel holds him up against the cage and eventually Kessler drops back down to his feet.

Kessler manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Kessler pulls Steel in close to his closed guard and prevents Steel from doing any damage or advancing position.
Kessler not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Kessler pulls Steel in to control the position.

Kessler looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Kessler keeping moving, preventing Steel from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steel content to stall in guard here.
Kessler is trying to control the position but Steel postures up.

Kessler looking for a guillotine here but Steel defends easily.
Steel trying to control but Kessler is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Kessler looking to control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Kasper Kessler.
Kessler misses with an uppercut. Steel saw that one coming.
Decent striking displayed by Steel there.
Kessler misses with a wild body shot.
Kessler throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Steel's waist but Steel gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Kessler off to one side.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kasper Kessler showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Kessler misses with a looping right.
Steel throws a right and a left that Kessler avoids nicely.
Steel misses with a looping left.
Kessler fails with an attempt to clinch.
A shot to the body from Steel misses

so Kessler counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Kessler pushes down on Steel's leg and manages to get into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kessler keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Steel is not content to let Kessler control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Kessler seems content to control.

Kessler is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Steel knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Kessler on the ground.
The fighters are battling for position here. Steel manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Julius Steel has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Steel keeping moving, preventing Kessler from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Kasper Kessler.
Steel fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Kessler looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
A slow jab from Steel misses its intended target.
A slow jab from Kessler misses its intended target.
A telegraphed right hand from Steel misses the target.
Kessler works the jab nicely.
Steel looks to score with a jab to the body but Kessler is just out of range.
Julius Steel is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Steel just misses with a punch to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kessler shoots in but no luck this time.
Steel scores with a punch to the head.
Steel misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kessler.
Steel misses with a straight left.
Steel throws a one two combo.
Kessler wants to clinch up but Steel keeps it at a distance.
Steel throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Kessler stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Kessler misses with a double jab.
Kessler ducks under a wild hook from Steel.
Steel digs a good body shot into Kessler's ribs.
Steel misses with a wild body shot.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Steel!
Steel misses with a straight left.
Steel bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Kessler moves out of range as Steel strikes.
Steel takes a shot to the body in his stride.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Steel gets caught flat footed, as Kessler shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Steel keeping full guard, as Kessler tries to pass.
Kessler postures up.
Kasper Kessler is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Kessler pushing down on Steel's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Kessler trying to pass the guard but Steel defending well.
Kessler is trying to control the action in half guard but Steel is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Kasper Kessler.
I've got Kessler 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kasper Kessler!