PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Olivier Denis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cody Kessinger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Denis comes to the cage accompanied by Undead. Kessinger has chosen Don't Push Me-50 Cent as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Denis
vs
Kessinger

173 cm
19
130 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

175 cm
19
135 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

HATE Technologies
Win Nutritional

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Olivier Denis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Cody Kessinger!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Lou da Vinci and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kessinger displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Denis.

Denis decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Kessinger wants to get back to full guard.
Kessinger is trying to maintain the position but Denis is very close to passing his half guard.
Kessinger is pressing down on Denis's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Kessinger not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Kessinger strikes from his own guard.
Kessinger is trying to hold Denis in close to prevent damage but Denis has managed to pass into half guard.
Denis prevents Kessinger from improving his position.
Kessinger is trying to maintain the position but Denis is very close to passing his half guard.
Denis with the ground and pound but Kessinger uses the opportunity to regain guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kessinger looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Denis landing with the ground and pound.
Denis lands a couple of digs.
Denis preventing the sweep.
Denis missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Denis won't allow Kessinger to sweep him here.
Kessinger trying to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Denis slaps away a takedown attempt from Kessinger, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Kessinger takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Kessinger looks gassed!
Denis throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Denis really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Denis swats away the attempt to clinch by Kessinger.
Denis looking to land some kicks to the body here.

Denis takes the fight into the clinch.
Come on Kessinger - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

Denis pulls guard effortlessly.

Denis working for a triangle but Kessinger defends it easily.
Denis wants to control the position but Kessinger says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Denis is staying active underneath Kessinger, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Kessinger is looking for a kimura here.

Kessinger is working for a kimura but Denis is defending it quite comfortably.
Denis flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Denis looks like he's trying to stand up.
Kessinger tries to pass the half guard into mount. Denis knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Kessinger is thwarting Denis's attempts to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Nice sprawl there from Denis as Kessinger shoots in.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Denis throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.

Denis drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Denis stays in close to Kessinger's body and controls the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Olivier Denis dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Kessinger fails to land the takedown.
Kessinger tries for a takedown but Denis circles away easily
and Denis makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Kessinger fails with the takedown

and Denis counters with a takedown into side control.
Olivier Denis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cody Kessinger.
Denis gets to mount! Kessinger was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Kessinger tries to hold on but Denis postures up.
Denis fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
BOOM! Denis connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Denis working Kessinger over with strikes here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kessinger sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Denis looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Kessinger wants to control but Denis is keeping busy.
Kessinger pushes Denis off looking to stand but Denis dives back in and keeps control.
Denis misses with a head shot. Kessinger uses the momentum to regain guard.
Kessinger is trying to keep Denis in close.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Kessinger wants to hit a switch here but Denis passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Kessinger there!

Denis is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Kessinger can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Kessinger tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Denis scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Kessinger?
Kessinger is trying to escape the mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Denis punishing his opponent with strikes.
Kessinger keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Kessinger is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Denis with the ground and pound from mount.
Kessinger tries to lock up and control but Denis gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Denis breaks from Kessinger's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Kessinger is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Kessinger regains half guard.
Kessinger is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Denis is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Olivier Denis dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Kessinger fails with the takedown
and Denis counters with a solid body kick.

Kessinger shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Kessinger showed some decent athleticism there.
Kessinger winds up and cracks Denis with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Denis moves into full guard.
Denis manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Kessinger manages to get himself to full guard.
Olivier Denis overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Denis pushing down on Kessinger's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Denis is thwarting Kessinger's attempts to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Denis tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Denis scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Kessinger moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Kessinger trying to keep a closed guard but Denis is proving a slippery customer.
Kessinger is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Kessinger not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Kessinger is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

Kessinger manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Kessinger shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Denis defends it nicely.
Denis misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kessinger.
Denis shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Kessinger but Kessinger pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Kessinger fails to land the takedown.
Olivier Denis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cody Kessinger.
Denis misses with a two punch combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
No luck for Kessinger with that takedown attempt.
Denis throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Kessinger avoids the head kick by Denis.

Kessinger shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Denis's guard.
Denis will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Kessinger works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Kessinger is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Kessinger seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Denis does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Denis tries to roll over but Kessinger keeps him under control.
Denis flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Kessinger trying to control from half guard but Denis is working away.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Kessinger moves into the clinch.
Kessinger looking to stall.

Denis pulls guard.
Kessinger stands and throws Denis's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Kessinger has knee on belly and moves into mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cody Kessinger comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Denis 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 Jorge Garcia scores the fight for Olivier Denis!
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight for Olivier Denis!
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight for Olivier Denis!

Olivier Denis wins by unanimous decision!