PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Robert Kelly (ranked 1252 p4p, 1215 weight class) and Nikolai Kaspersky (ranked 163 p4p, 157 weight class). Kelly comes to the cage accompanied by Rnb (feat. Bandit Gang Marco). Nikolai Kaspersky has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Kelly
vs
Kaspersky

178 cm
24
200
6 - 2 - 0

180 cm
23
188
8 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Champion Apparel

FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!)
Shadow Realm Apparel

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 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Robert Kelly!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Nikolai Kaspersky!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Bruno Lombardi and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kelly swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
And Kaspersky tries to counter it with a takedown but Kelly pushes his down on his head and steps out.

Kelly shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Kaspersky keeping hold of Kelly's head, controlling as best he can.
Kaspersky wants to get back to full guard.
Kaspersky controlling the position well.
Kaspersky trying to control here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kaspersky keeping control of the position.
Kaspersky felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Kaspersky is trying to maintain the position but Kelly is very close to passing his half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kaspersky is trying to get back to full guard.
Kaspersky is looking to control Kelly's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Kaspersky avoid being mounted?
Kaspersky wants to get back to full guard but Kelly has passed into side control.
Kaspersky wants to control but Kelly postures up.
Kaspersky might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Kelly haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Kaspersky tries to strike from the bottom but misses.
Kaspersky stuck in half guard on the bottom here.
Kaspersky takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Kelly working away.

Kelly is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Kaspersky knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kelly tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Kaspersky wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.
Kaspersky holding on.
Kaspersky can't do much from the bottom here.
Kelly looks up at the clock and then as Kaspersky takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Kelly smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kaspersky stops Kelly from passing to mount.

Kelly goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Kaspersky rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Kelly's guard! Nice work there by Kaspersky!

Kelly is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Kaspersky stopping the sweep attempt from Kelly.
Kelly can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Kaspersky controls the pace.
Kaspersky is in close to Kelly's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Kaspersky slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Kaspersky scores with a couple of short elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kelly manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Kelly blocking the ground and pound attempt from Kaspersky.
Kaspersky lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Kelly is staying active underneath Kaspersky, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Kaspersky lands with a punch from half guard.
Kaspersky wants to free his trapped foot but Kelly is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Kaspersky works his way into full mount!
Kaspersky lands a big shot there that rocks Kelly but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A nice elbow there by Kaspersky.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kaspersky lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Robert Kelly will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Kaspersky's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Kelly connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Kaspersky scrambles back to his feet.
Kaspersky waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Kelly.
Kelly misses with an uppercut.
Kaspersky uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kelly.
Kaspersky looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Kelly throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kelly throws a right and a left that both miss.
Kelly darts in looking for a takedown but Kaspersky gets double underhooks and turns Kelly into the cage.

Kaspersky pulls guard successfully.
Kaspersky has Kelly pulled in close to control his posture.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kaspersky is trying to control the position but Kelly postures up.
Kaspersky tries to strike from the bottom.
Kaspersky trying to control the position here.
Kelly wants to pass the guard but Kaspersky is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kelly throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Kaspersky thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Kelly wants to control from the top but Kaspersky keeps moving.
Kaspersky is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Kaspersky ducks under a wild hook from Kelly.
Kelly throws a left and a right that both miss
and Kaspersky cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
A big left from Kelly misses.
Kelly cracks a nice hook into Kaspersky's ribs.
Kaspersky shoots in and drives through. Kelly sprawls well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kelly throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kelly tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kaspersky was well out of range. Poor timing from Kelly.
Kelly on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Kelly misses with a lunging right hand

and Kaspersky counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Kaspersky scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Kelly is looking for a sweep. Kaspersky is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Kelly looking for a kimura from the bottom but Kaspersky passes into side control!
Check out the look on Kaspersky's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Kelly manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Nikolai Kaspersky has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kelly is looking to advance position but Kaspersky won't allow it.
Kelly scoring with strikes to the body and head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kaspersky is looking to control Kelly's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Kaspersky avoid being mounted?
Kelly passes the guard and advances to mount!
Kaspersky tries to lock up and control but Kelly gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Kelly thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Poor strikes thrown by Kelly there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Kelly avoids the attempt from Kaspersky to control.
Kaspersky is working to get back to half guard.

Kelly wants to finish this one by submission but Kaspersky is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Kelly.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kaspersky tries to lock up and control but Kelly gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Kaspersky bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

Kelly working for a triangle but Kaspersky defends it easily.
Kaspersky lands a couple of digs.
Kaspersky cracks Kelly with a solid left hand.
Kaspersky lands a couple of elbows.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Robert Kelly will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Kaspersky displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Kelly.
Robert Kelly seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kaspersky lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Kelly tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kaspersky was well out of range. Poor timing from Kelly.
Kaspersky lands a jab to the nose.
Kelly tries for a takedown but Kaspersky sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Kelly takes a swing at Kaspersky's ribcage but misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kelly ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Good standup being displayed there by Kaspersky as he connects with a hook.
Kelly lands a body shot.
Kaspersky throws a series of strikes that have Kelly backpedaling.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice cross by Kaspersky.
Kelly misses with a jab to the body
and Kaspersky counters with a straight right hand.
Nice sprawl there from Kelly as Kaspersky shoots in.
Kelly looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Kelly looks to land a left hand but Kaspersky moved out of range nicely.
Kelly misses with a wild body shot.
Kaspersky defending well as Kelly loads up on a big left hand.
Nice cross by Kelly.
Kaspersky slips under a jab from Kelly.
Kelly throws out a loose jab but Kaspersky uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kaspersky with the counter takedown but Kelly avoids it easily.
Kelly misses with a wild combination.
Nikolai Kaspersky has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kaspersky swings for the body but Kelly moves out of range.
Kelly throws an overhand right that lands on Kaspersky's shoulder, as Kaspersky tries to avoid the shot.
Kaspersky changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Kelly throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kaspersky sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Kelly throws a jab when Kaspersky was well out of range.
Kelly throws a body shot but no joy.
Kelly lands with a cross.

Kaspersky closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Kelly to the mat! Kelly manages to get full guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kaspersky working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Kelly working a defensive guard here.
Kaspersky trying to control but Kelly is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kaspersky working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Kaspersky lands a couple of elbows.
Kaspersky stands up over Kelly, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Kaspersky landing some decent shots from guard.
Kaspersky trying to control but Kelly is working from the bottom.
Kaspersky postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Kaspersky stands and throws Kelly's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Kelly is looking for a sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kaspersky grinds an elbow into Kelly's temple.
Kelly is trying to get back to half guard.
Kaspersky controlling the position.
Kaspersky working away.

Kaspersky is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Kelly is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Kaspersky in side control lands a decent elbow.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nikolai Kaspersky comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Kelly 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 Joseph Jones scores the fight 29:28
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 29:28
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Robert Kelly!
Our winner, Robert Kelly, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.