PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between KEITH JOYCE (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kevin Kesler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). KEITH JOYCE has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

JOYCE
vs
Kesler

225 cm
20
265 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

185 cm
23
220 lbs
4 - 6 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, KEITH JOYCE!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Kevin Kesler!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, James Glass and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

JOYCE closes the distance and clinches.
Kesler looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!

JOYCE manages to break the clinch.

JOYCE darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
JOYCE tries to stand but can't do so whilst Kesler controls his leg.
JOYCE trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

JOYCE decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
JOYCE is looking to land body kicks.

JOYCE gets a clinch.
JOYCE keeps control of Kesler as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

JOYCE's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

JOYCE has closed the distance and engaged Kesler in a clinch.
JOYCE prevents a takedown attempt there.

JOYCE breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.

JOYCE closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - JOYCE lands in his opponent's guard.
JOYCE will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
JOYCE trying to stand up but can't free himself from Kesler's guard.
JOYCE not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
JOYCE cracks Kesler with a solid left hand.
JOYCE wanted to stand there but Kesler had control of the position.

JOYCE decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Kesler, up you get!

JOYCE closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kesler tries to buck JOYCE off but JOYCE is having none of it.
JOYCE is staying tight to Kesler's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Kesler is trying to improve his position.

JOYCE decides to stand up, so the ref orders Kesler to his feet.
JOYCE keeps the fight on the outside.

JOYCE moves into the clinch.

JOYCE manages to break the clinch.
Kesler bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of JOYCE's head.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts JOYCE, as that shot connected.

JOYCE fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Kesler, pushing him back against the ropes.
Kesler is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.

JOYCE lands a takedown into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
JOYCE tries to free his leg and advance position but Kesler is retaining full guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
JOYCE would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
JOYCE stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kesler swivels though and keeps the full guard.
JOYCE wants to stand but Kesler is controlling his posture from full guard.
Kesler looking for a sweep. Not yet Kesler, not yet.

Kesler is working an open guard so JOYCE takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
JOYCE tries to clinch there but Kesler circles away.
KEITH JOYCE seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

JOYCE drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
JOYCE has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Kesler is proving hard to escape from.
JOYCE tries to free his leg and advance position but Kesler is retaining full guard.
Kesler looking to control.

Kesler working for a triangle but JOYCE defends it easily.

Kesler looking for a guillotine here but JOYCE defends easily.
JOYCE controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

KEITH JOYCE dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Kesler shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
JOYCE lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

It looks like Kevin Kesler has been cut.
JOYCE scores with a kick to the midsection.

JOYCE fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Kesler sprawls well initially but JOYCE persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

JOYCE stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
JOYCE looks to land a right hand but Kesler moved out of range.
JOYCE lands a high kick!
Kesler rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but JOYCE moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
JOYCE tries a head kick but it misses.

JOYCE instigates a clinch.
A short right from JOYCE.

JOYCE breaks from the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

JOYCE moves into the clinch successfully.

JOYCE breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kesler misses with the combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No luck for JOYCE with that takedown attempt.
Kesler shoots and misses
and JOYCE counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Kesler fails in his attempt to clinch.

JOYCE instigates a clinch.
Kesler has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. JOYCE is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
KEITH JOYCE has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kevin Kesler.
Kesler is looking to break free of the clinch but JOYCE has double underhooks.
Kesler is working for takedown but JOYCE is calmly controlling the position for now.
JOYCE blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
A short right hand to the side of the head by JOYCE.

JOYCE is working on a single leg takedown against the ropes. Kesler can't fight it off and eventually JOYCE manages to take the fight to the floor. Kesler looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
JOYCE tries to stand but Kesler is controlling from the bottom.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
JOYCE controlling from the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kesler keeping moving, preventing JOYCE from controlling successfully.
JOYCE controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
JOYCE stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kesler swivels though and keeps the full guard.

JOYCE gets to his feet. Kesler looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
JOYCE looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Kesler tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
JOYCE throws a shot from downtown. Kesler moves away and avoids it.
Kesler tries to clinch up.
Kesler will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
JOYCE shoots in and drives through. Kesler sprawls well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

JOYCE clinches up with Kesler and pushes him back against the ropes.
JOYCE lands a shoulder strike.

JOYCE manages to break the clinch.
Kesler throws a combination that misses

and JOYCE counters with a nice double leg into side control. Kesler won't be happy with that.
JOYCE wants to stand but Kesler has his arm trapped.
JOYCE taking a breather here.
JOYCE wants to stand but Kesler has his arm trapped.
You can see the frustration on Kesler's face as JOYCE controls the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
JOYCE cracks Kesler with an elbow. That is naaassty.

JOYCE decides to take the fight back to the feet.
JOYCE lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
JOYCE scores with a jab. Kesler acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

Kesler feints and as JOYCE raises his hands in defense, Kesler changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
JOYCE is looking to stand up but Kesler isn't so interested in that idea.
Kesler content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kesler tries to stand but JOYCE is controlling from the bottom.
Kesler prevents JOYCE from getting back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

KEITH JOYCE dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Kevin Kesler's cut.
That's time! JOYCE's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

JOYCE clinches up with Kesler and pushes him back against the ropes.
JOYCE lands a nice uppercut.
JOYCE stops a takedown attempt from Kesler.

JOYCE breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
JOYCE throws a left and a right that both miss

and Kesler counters with a shoot takedown. JOYCE fights it but they end up in guard.

JOYCE uses the ropes to get back to his feet.

JOYCE darts in and clinches Kesler up against the ropes.

JOYCE gets control of Kesler's arms and successfully pulls guard. JOYCE will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Kesler preventing the sweep.
JOYCE has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
KEITH JOYCE overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kesler wants to control from the top but JOYCE keeps moving.

Kesler gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

JOYCE moves into the clinch.
Kesler tries to pull guard but JOYCE won't allow it.
JOYCE lands a right hand that snaps the head of Kesler backwards.

JOYCE is working on a single leg takedown against the ropes. Kesler can't fight it off and eventually JOYCE manages to take the fight to the floor. Kesler looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Kesler is on top in guard.
JOYCE wants to stand and escape but Kesler is having none of it.
Kesler being controlled here momentarily.
JOYCE wants to stand up but Kesler is controlling him.
JOYCE wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kesler passes easily into side control. Nice work.
You can see the frustration on JOYCE's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
JOYCE wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
A control attempt from JOYCE but he's now mounted!
Kesler seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but JOYCE is holding on tight.
JOYCE really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Kesler wants to control the pace but JOYCE is squirming around nicely.
JOYCE wants to control but Kesler is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
JOYCE tries to buck Kesler off but he can't manage it.
Kesler tries to control but JOYCE wriggling away.
Kesler fails to advance to JOYCE's back.
JOYCE wants to use the ropes to get back to his feet here.
JOYCE is trying desperately to improve position.
JOYCE tries to buck Kesler off but Kesler takes his back!
JOYCE is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

That's four 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.
JOYCE breaks Kesler's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Kesler trying to control the position here.
JOYCE is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kesler can do to turn this around?
Kesler keeping full guard, as JOYCE tries to pass.
Kesler wants to sweep here but JOYCE controlling him for the moment.
Kevin Kesler has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

JOYCE gets to his feet. Kesler looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
No luck for JOYCE with that takedown attempt.
Kesler tries to clinch but JOYCE is having none of it.
KEITH JOYCE is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

JOYCE clinches up with Kesler and pushes him back against the ropes.

JOYCE manages to break the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to KEITH JOYCE.
Well JOYCE has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 William Gold scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... KEITH JOYCE!