PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Mark Billings (ranked 21126 p4p, 3933 weight class) and Esa Kettu (ranked 533 p4p, 411 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Billings
vs
Kettu

175 cm
29
159
4 - 11 - 0

179 cm
41
155
29 - 25 - 3

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

Warrior's Way

Bondi MMA 🏝️

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 4 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Mark Billings!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 29 - 25 - 3, fighting out of New York, Esa Kettu!
The judges for this bout are Summer Carpenter, Francis DeMontford and Chris Dean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A looping hook to the body misses from Billings. Kettu does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kettu is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Billings throws a poor cross that misses
letting Kettu counter with a right hand.
Sloppy strikes from Kettu. Those never looked like landing.
Kettu tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Billings was well out of range. Poor timing from Kettu.
Kettu takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Kettu smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Billings misses the shot to the body.
Kettu's corner calls for a 1-2. Kettu obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Kettu uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Billings.
Kettu throws a shot to the body.
Billings has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Lionheart Muay Thai in the buildup to the fight.
Kettu connects with a good right hand that stumbles Billings. Billings circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Billings lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
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!
Kettu ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Billings moves away.
Kettu swings for the body but Billings moves out of range.
Kettu slips a straight right by Billings.
Kettu looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kettu defending well as Billings loads up on a big left hand.
Billings uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kettu.
Kettu punishes Billings's body with a nice straight punch.
Billings moves out of range of the strikes.
Kettu throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kettu swings widly with a right hand
and Billings makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Billings tries to move into range but Kettu moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Kettu fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Billings manages to avoid it.
Billings was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Kettu missing with a left hand there. Billings was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Billings misses with an uppercut.
Kettu throws a right and a left that both miss.
An attempted straight right counter from Billings misses the target.
Kettu ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Kettu throws a series of punches but Billings moves out of range.
Kettu misses with a left hand
letting Billings counter with a right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
Kettu misses with a series of wild punches.
Jab from Kettu.
Billings blocks a jab.
Billings takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Kettu misses with a wild combination.
Billings throws a big shot that misses.
Kettu misses with a straight left.
It looked like Billings wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
A big right from Kettu misses.
Kettu uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Billings has time to react.
Kettu tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Billings was well out of range. Poor timing from Kettu.
Billings throwing a counter right hand but Kettu manages to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kettu doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Kettu takes a swing at Billings's ribcage but misses.
A counter left hand to the body from Billings misses its target.
Nice body punch from Billings.
Billings slips under a jab from Kettu.
Kettu comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Billings misses with a wild body shot.
A lazy left from Kettu finds it's target.
Billings lands with a nice body punch.
Kettu looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Billings is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Kettu looks to land a left hand but Billings moved out of range nicely.
Kettu misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Billings.
Billings takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Billings gets cracked there but stands up to it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Billings's corner calls for a 1-2. Billings obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Kettu throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Nice defenses there by Kettu.
Kettu just misses with a punch to the body.
Kettu lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Billings avoids a punch combination nicely.
A punch combination from Kettu misses.
Billings is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Kettu throws a body shot but no joy.
Billings is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Kettu moves out of range of the strikes.
Kettu throws a body shot but no joy.
A swing and a miss from Billings.
Some wild striking there from Kettu.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Esa Kettu dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Billings slips a jab and a cross from Kettu.
A combination from Kettu does no damage.
Kettu lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Kettu has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Billings misses with an uppercut. Kettu saw that one coming.
Kettu is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Billings with a body shot.
Kettu misses with a body shot.
Kettu rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Billings counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Kettu throws a right and a left that both miss.
Kettu misses with a straight right.
Billings throwing a counter right hand but Kettu manages to avoid it.
Kettu defending well as Billings loads up on a big left hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A left lands for Kettu.
Billings avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Kettu throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Nice uppercut lands for Kettu. That snapped Billings's head back.
This entire fight has taken place on the feet so far and you wonder whether Billings might be better served trying to take this one to the ground because he's losing the standup battle so far.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kettu with a hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kettu throws a right hand that misses
and Billings counters with a left to the body.
Billings slips under a jab.
Kettu misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Billings lands a jab to Kettu's midsection.
Kettu scores with a hook.
Billings gets cracked there but stands up to it.
A swing and a miss from Kettu.
Billings misses with an uppercut. Kettu saw that one coming.
Billings ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kettu moves away.
Kettu misses the body punch
and Billings cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Kettu avoids the body shot from Billings.
Billings blocks a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kettu displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Billings throws out the jab.
Kettu scores with a jab to the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Billings takes one to the chin there.
Kettu scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Billings ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kettu moves away.
Billings slips a jab from Kettu.
Kettu throws a lazy right hand but Billings sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Billings throws a body shot but no joy.
Kettu avoids the body shot from Billings.
A little jabbing left from Kettu on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Kettu fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Billings manages to avoid it.
Kettu displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Billings throws out the jab.
Kettu swinging wildly here.
Billings is looking to counter punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A punch lands to the side of Billings 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Billings takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Kettu throws a lazy right hand but Billings sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Kettu looks to score with a jab to the body but Billings is just out of range.
The crowd cheers as Kettu lands an impressive looking overhand right. Billings doesn't seem phased though.
Kettu throws a right hand that Billings ducks under and follows up with a left that Billings also avoids with ease.
Kettu moves out of range of the strikes.
Kettu is looking for the big counter here.
Billings loads up on a big right hand but Kettu slips the punch.
Billings connects with a crisp jab.
Kettu scores with a jab to the jaw.
Esa Kettu seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kettu lands with an uppercut that bounces Billings off the cage and back into range.
Billings lands with a nice body punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Billings slips a straight right by Kettu.
Billings was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Kettu misses with a body punch
and Billings counters with a nice uppercut.
Kettu digs a good hook to Billings's body.
Billings throws out a loose jab but Kettu uses good head movement to avoid it.
Esa Kettu seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Billings throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Kettu rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Billings moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A jab from Kettu misses.
Kettu misses with a jab, cross combination.
Billings throwing a counter right hand but Kettu manages to avoid it.
Billings swings for the body but Kettu moves out of range.
Kettu is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Billings with a body shot.
Billings misses the jab.
A countering left hand to the body from Kettu misses.
Kettu displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Kettu slips under a jab from Billings.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Esa Kettu showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Kettu misses with a hook
enabling Billings to counter with a crisp jab.
Kettu misses with a shot to the body
letting Billings counter with a right hand.
Kettu lands a jab-cross combination.
Billings lands a jab to the nose.
Kettu swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Billings counters with a nice uppercut.
Billings takes one on the button.
Kettu displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Billings throws out the jab.
Billings missing with a left hand there. Kettu was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A shot to the body from Kettu misses
enabling Billings to counter with a crisp jab.
Billings shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Billings moves forwards but Kettu connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Billings ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Kettu throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Billings counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kettu moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Kettu misses with a hook. Billings ducked under it nicely.
Billings was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Kettu lands a nice shot to the body.
Billings throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Billings keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kettu.
Billings misses with a straight right.
Kettu throws a looping overhand right but Billings ducks down to avoid it.
It looked like Billings was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Kettu.
A jab from Billings misses.
Kettu throws a big shot that misses.
A big left from Billings misses.
Billings wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Billings slips a straight right by Kettu.
Mark Billings has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kettu cracks Billings with a right hand to the side of the head.
Kettu throws a body shot but no joy.
Billings throwing a counter right hand but Kettu manages to avoid it.
Billings gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Billings jabs at Kettu's body.
Kettu misses with a double jab
and Billings counters with a stiff right hand.
Billings misses the shot to the body.
Kettu swings widly with a right hand
enabling Billings to counter with a crisp jab.
Billings ducks right into an uppercut from Kettu.
Billings looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Kettu scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Kettu misses with a body punch
and Billings counters with a nice uppercut.
Esa Kettu is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Kettu throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Billings throwing a counter right hand but Kettu manages to avoid it.
Kettu swinging wildly here.
Kettu fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Billings manages to avoid it.
Billings swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Billings swings for the body but Kettu moves out of range.
Kettu keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kettu throws a series of punches but Billings moves out of range.
Kettu closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Billings misses with a body punch
and Kettu counters with a three punch combo that has Billings backing up. Billings nods at Kettu to acknowledge the strikes.
Kettu lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Kettu punishes Billings's body with a nice straight punch.
Kettu throws a right and a left that Billings avoids nicely.
Kettu takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Billings looks to score with a jab to the body but Kettu is just out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Billings uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Kettu.
Kettu fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Billings lands a body shot.
Kettu throws a body punch but Billings moves out of range.
Kettu lands a jab to Billings's midsection.
Billings throws a poor cross that misses
and Kettu counters with a right hand to the body.
Kettu thuds a left hand into Billings's body.
Kettu throws a body punch but Billings moves out of range.
Kettu misses with a right hand
and Billings counters with a straight right hand.
Billings takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Billings tries to move into range but Kettu moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Billings keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Esa Kettu comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Kettu 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 Summer Carpenter scores the fight 27:30
Judge Francis DeMontford scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Dean scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Esa Kettu!
An out of breath Esa Kettu thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.