PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kobe Bryant (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Virgil Keller (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Keller has chosen War Music as his entrance music. Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the prize buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Bryant
vs
Keller

192 cm
27
187 lbs
10 - 1 - 0

184 cm
35
197 lbs
29 - 17 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Voodoo Nutrition

Spartan Nutrition

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 10 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kobe Bryant!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 29 - 17 - 0, fighting out of London, Virgil Keller!
The judges for this bout are , Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Keller throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Keller throws a head kick that misses.
Bryant thuds a left hand into Keller's body.
Keller avoids the body shot from Bryant.
Bryant fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Keller avoids the body shot from Bryant.
Keller defending well as Bryant loads up on a big left hand.
Keller bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Bryant ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Keller moves away.
Bryant's corner calls for a 1-2. Bryant obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bryant misses with a hook to the body
and Keller counters with a stiff right hand.
Keller on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Bryant stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Keller thuds a left hand into Bryant's body.
Bryant throws a series of strikes that have Keller backpedaling.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bryant swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Bryant misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Keller.
Bryant takes a swing at Keller's ribcage but misses.
Bryant just misses with a punch to the body.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Keller! But no joy.
Keller is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Bryant steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Keller.
Keller on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Bryant. Bryant obviously looking to wear him down.
Bryant slips a straight right by Keller.
Bryant is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Keller staying out of range there.
Bryant is looking to wear down Keller with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Bryant pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Keller back to the cage. Bryant follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Keller takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Bryant tries a head kick but it misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jab, jab by Bryant - just one landing.
Keller avoids the body shot from Bryant.
Keller is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Bryant with a body shot.
Bryant is looking to chop away at Keller's legs.
Keller flicks out a counter leg kick but Bryant steps away.
Bryant misses with a few strikes there.
Keller swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Keller tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Bryant is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Bryant uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Keller.
Bryant has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Bryant scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Keller cracks the inside of Bryant's front leg.
Some bone on bone action there as Bryant checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
A nice leg kick lands there from Keller.
Keller takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
A left lands for Bryant.
Bryant connects with a body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bryant looks to score with a jab to the body but Keller is just out of range.
Bryant misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Keller.
Bryant throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
It seemed like Keller was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Keller is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Bryant misses with an attempted mid kick.
A little jabbing left from Keller on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Bryant will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Bryant misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Keller.
Bryant moves into range and connects with a jab.
Keller takes one to the chin there.
Bryant lands a body shot.
Bryant throws a hook but Keller blocks it.
Bryant just misses with a punch to the body.
Bryant throws a jab when Keller was well out of range.
Kobe Bryant seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bryant ducks under a wild hook from Keller.
Bryant throwing a counter right hand but Keller manages to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Keller misses with a straight left.
Keller lands a jab.
Bryant misses the body punch
and Keller makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Bryant really felt that one!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Keller moves into range and clinches up with Bryant.
A short body shot lands from Keller as the two fighters clinch.
Keller struggles to land a body shot inside as Bryant controls his hands.
Keller lands with a short shot to the head.
Keller scores with a shoulder strike.
Keller lands a shot to the body.
Bryant is breathing heavily.

Keller breaks from the clinch.
Keller feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Bryant's calf.
Bryant throws a leg kick that misses.
A looping hook to the body misses from Keller. Bryant does a little dance to reset his feet.
Keller throws a wild body kick that Bryant sees coming a mile off.
A combination from Keller does no damage.
Bryant appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kobe Bryant 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.

Keller tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Bryant misses with a kick to the body.
Keller looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Keller blocks the body kick.
Keller flicks out a counter leg kick but Bryant steps away.
Keller on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Good exchange - Bryant coming out on top.
Nice jab there from Bryant.
A slow jab from Keller misses its intended target.
Bryant was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Bryant connects with a good right hand that stumbles Keller. Keller circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Bryant scores with a jab. Keller acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Keller lands with an uppercut that bounces Bryant off the cage and back into range.
Nice shot by Bryant.
Keller misses with a looping right.
Bryant connects with a crisp jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bryant lands with an overhand left.
Keller fails in his attempt to clinch.
Keller ducks right into an uppercut from Bryant.
Keller slips a jab and a cross from Bryant.
Keller throws a body punch but Bryant moves out of range.
Bryant throws a jab when Keller was well out of range.
Bryant bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Keller's head backwards.
Bryant scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Bryant throws a body shot but no joy.
Bryant throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Keller was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Bryant throws a head kick that misses
and Bryant takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Keller misses with a hook. Bryant ducked under it nicely.
Bryant pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bryant lands a body shot.
Keller tries to clinch but Bryant moves out of range.
An inside leg kick lands from Bryant.
Keller walks into a jab.
Bryant is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Keller.
Bryant lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Keller ducks under a wild hook from Bryant.
Kobe Bryant is winning the standup battle so far.
Keller pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Bryant scores with a sloppy right hand. Keller should have avoided that one.
Keller takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Bryant throws a low kick, looking for Keller's leg but Keller calmly moves out of range.
A countering left hand to the body from Keller misses.
Bryant jabs at Keller's body.
Bryant lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bryant is looking to slow Keller down with leg kicks.
Keller has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Keller throws a big shot that misses.
Bryant throws a chopping leg kick but Keller manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Bryant lands a nice shot to the body.
Keller throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Bryant thows a left - swing and a miss!
It seemed like Keller was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Bryant throws a chopping leg kick but Keller manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Keller misses with a body kick.
Bryant lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Bryant misses with a jab to the body
and Keller counters with a good low kick that Bryant was not able to check.
Bryant tried to score with a low kick but Keller checks it.
Bryant throws a nice outside leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bryant misses with the combination.
As Bryant backs off Keller throws a huge counter combo but Bryant manages to avoid it all.
A punch lands to the side of Keller 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Bryant. Keller shrugs it off though.
Bryant is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Keller can do to turn this around?
Bryant misses with a shot to the body
enabling Keller to counter with a crisp jab.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Keller takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Bryant throws a big shot that misses.
Bryant scores with a nice body kick.
Bryant cracks Keller with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Bryant scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Keller lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bryant misses with a telegraphed body shot
enabling Keller to counter with a crisp jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kobe Bryant dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Keller throws out a loose jab but Bryant uses good head movement to avoid it.
Bryant misses with a looping right.
Bryant throws a right hand that Keller ducks under and follows up with a left that Keller also avoids with ease.
Keller looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Bryant is looking to slow Keller down with leg kicks.
Bryant throws out a powerful jab.
Bryant lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

Keller has taken the fight to the clinch.
Bryant blocks an uppercut.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Keller.
Bryant swings wildly with an uppercut but Keller uses good head movement to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Bryant escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Bryant misses with a two punch combination.
Keller uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Bryant.
Bryant throws the kick towards the body but Keller avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Keller jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Keller moves out of range of the strikes.
Keller connects with an inside leg kick.
Bryant swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Keller ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Bryant throws a right and a left that Keller avoids nicely.
A thudding body kick lands there by Bryant!
Bryant throws a push kick but Keller slaps the foot to one side.
Bryant misses the body punch
and Keller counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Bryant misses with a double jab
and Keller counters with a stiff right hand.
Some wild striking there from Bryant.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bryant rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Keller counters with a nice low kick that buckles Bryant's knee momentarily.
Bryant throws out a powerful jab.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bryant tries a low kick but Keller avoids it.
A lazy left from Bryant finds it's target.
Bryant takes a swing at Keller's ribcage but misses.
Keller lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Bryant backs up against the cage.
Keller throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Keller misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Keller looks to land a left hand but Bryant moved out of range nicely.
Bryant connects with a body shot.
Keller displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Bryant throws out the jab.
Bryant lands a nice hook to Keller's body. Keller takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Keller misses.
No joy there for Bryant, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Bryant connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Keller slips under a jab.
Keller is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Keller drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Virgil Keller has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Keller slips under a jab from Bryant.
Bryant throws a right and a left that Keller avoids nicely.
Bryant throws a predictable looking body shot
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Keller takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Bryant misses with a double jab

and Bryant is countered with a crisp right hand from Keller that sends him to the canvas! Keller follows him to the mat into side control.

Bryant is rocked!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Keller looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Oh Bryant is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Bryant wants to control but Keller postures up.
Keller passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Bryant!
Bryant seems to have got his legs back now.
Keller misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Kobe Bryant is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Bryant can't escape the position.
Keller lands a heavy elbow.
Keller misses with a head shot.
Keller throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Bryant manages to work a leg through to get back to half guard here. Good work there by Bryant, under a barage of strikes from Keller.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Virgil Keller.
I think Bryant has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kobe Bryant!
A less than humble Kobe Bryant misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.