PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Maro Kartel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mo Lester (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mo Lester has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Maro Kartel's chin.

Kartel
vs
Lester

185 cm
20
158 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

210 cm
18
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Likes comics

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Maro Kartel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Mo Lester!
The judges for this bout are Dirk Anderson, Daniel Franklin and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lester stuffs the takedown attempt from Kartel. Kartel gets slowly back to his feet.
Kartel looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!

Lester closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Lester taking a breather.

Lester escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Lester scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Kartel doesn't seem bothered though.
Lester throws a nice head kick!

Lester closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Kartel to the mat! Kartel manages to get full guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Lester controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Lester pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kartel is keeping the position for now.
Lester wants to control from the top but Kartel keeps moving.

Lester stands up and waves to Kartel to follow him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lester manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Kartel on his heels. He'll look to pass Kartel's guard now, I'm sure.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lester is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Lester trying to control but Kartel is working from the bottom.
Kartel wants to get back to his feet but Lester is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Lester trying to control the position from guard on top but Kartel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Mo Lester.

Lester changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Kartel looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lester controlling the position from side mount.
Lester wants to control but Kartel is keeping him busy.
Kartel trying to control but Lester flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!
Lester throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lester punches the canvas rather than the man.
Kartel really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lester somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.
Lester tries to keep control of the position but Kartel is staying busy.
Lester biding his time, looking for the opening.
Lester throwing sloppy strikes.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Lester's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.

Lester is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Kartel is defending well though. Lester let's go of the attempt for now.
Kartel covering up well and avoiding damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lester is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Kartel is defending well though. Lester let's go of the attempt for now.

Lester looking for the choke from the back.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lester punishes Kartel with strikes from the back mount.
Kartel prevents Lester from getting a body triangle.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lester doesn't have the hooks in and Kartel manages to turn into his guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mo Lester 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.

Lester darts in and clinches Kartel up against the cage.

Lester has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Kartel uses from the top position.
Lester is looking to sweep but instead, Kartel has passed into half guard.
We've been hearing good reports from Kartel's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.

Lester kicks Kartel off and gets back to his feet.

Kartel gets caught flat footed, as Lester shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Lester trying to control but Kartel is working from the bottom.
Lester slips nicely into half guard.
Lester not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lester with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Kartel throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Lester landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Lester lands with a punch from half guard.
Lester works his way into side control.
Lester controlling the position.

Lester decides to stand back up. Lester steps back and let's Kartel get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lester pushes Kartel up against the cage in a clinch.

Lester breaks from the clinch.

Lester moves into the clinch.
Kartel wants to take the fight to the mat but Lester manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Lester has Kartel pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Lester pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Kartel tumbling to the mat - Lester dives into Kartel's guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lester trying to control but Kartel is working from the bottom.
Lester engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lester trying to control the position from guard on top but Kartel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lester has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Mo Lester was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Lester shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Lester is looking to advance position but Kartel won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kartel wants to get back to full guard.
Lester trying to mount his opponent but Kartel defends it.
Kartel punching from the bottom.
Kartel is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Lester scores with a couple of nice shots.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lester lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

Kartel is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Lester pulls his head out easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mo Lester 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! This is the final round!

Lester moves into the clinch successfully.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

Lester has hold of one of Kartel's legs. Kartel is fighting the takedown attempt but Lester gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Kartel wants to stand up but Lester is controlling him.
Lester seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Mo Lester has got the better of the ground game so far.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Lester trying to control but Kartel is working from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Mo Lester wasn't active enough on the ground.

Lester scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Lester wants to control but Kartel is keeping him busy.
Kartel might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Lester throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Kartel is letting Lester control him for a moment.
Lester trying to control the action but Kartel is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Mo Lester hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Lester fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.

Lester decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Lester seems to be working for a kimura but Kartel defends the submission attempt.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kartel won't allow Lester to pass to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lester is thwarting Kartel's attempts to control the position.
Lester is trying to control. Kartel wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Kartel is looking to escape.
Kartel wants to improve his position but Lester is controlling well.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Lester shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Lester is trying to control. Kartel wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lester missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Kartel trying to hold on to Lester's head to control him but Lester postures up.
Lester wants to advance to full mount but Kartel doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Kartel preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Maro Kartel has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mo Lester is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Kartel escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Lester gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mo Lester comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Lester has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Dirk Anderson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mo Lester!
A victorious Mo Lester thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.