PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between John Kelly (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Celestino Caballero (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Kelly
vs
Caballero

170 cm
25
145 lbs
6 - 6 - 0

171 cm
24
148 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, John Kelly!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Celestino Caballero!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Caballero looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Caballero throws a big shot that misses.
Kelly moves out of range as Caballero strikes.
Caballero throws a body punch but Kelly moves out of range.
No joy there for Caballero, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Caballero throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Kelly shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

Kelly is looking for a kimura here.

Kelly is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Kelly looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Kelly is looking for a kimura here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Caballero is defending against the submission attempts here by Kelly.

Kelly is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Caballero has managed to free his arm - good work.
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.
Kelly is breathing heavily.
Caballero looks like he's trying to stand up.

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.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Caballero fails to land with a series of punches.
Caballero fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kelly manages to avoid it.
Kelly slips a jab and a cross from Caballero.
A big left from Caballero misses.
Kelly slips a jab and a cross from Caballero.
Kelly misses with a takedown attempt - Caballero sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
A punch combination from Caballero misses.
Caballero lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Kelly circles away quickly and effectively.
Caballero connects with the punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Caballero throws a looping overhand right but Kelly ducks down to avoid it.
Caballero throws a looping overhand right but Kelly ducks down to avoid it.
Kelly avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Caballero misses with a hook.
Kelly showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Caballero.
Caballero tries to bum rush Kelly with a series of wild strikes but Kelly uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Kelly fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Caballero avoids it really well and circles away.
Caballero looks to score with a jab to the body but Kelly is just out of range.

That's four 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.
Caballero fails to land with a series of punches.
Caballero scores with a jab. Kelly acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Caballero stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Kelly bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Caballero throws a one two combo.
Caballero misses with a straight right.
Caballero catches Kelly with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Kelly slips a jab and a cross from Caballero.
A big right from Caballero misses.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Caballero throws out a loose jab but Kelly uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kelly steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Caballero.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Celestino Caballero will probably get the nod.
That's time! Kelly's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Caballero misses the shot to the body.
Caballero throws a jab but it's blocked by Kelly.

Kelly shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Caballero is trying to stand up here but Kelly is controlling him well.

Kelly wants to work for an arm triangle but Caballero is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Caballero wants to get back to his feet.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Kelly is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Caballero has managed to free his arm - good work.
Caballero wants to get back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kelly is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Caballero is trying to stand up here but Kelly is controlling him well.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Caballero fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Caballero throws a hook to the side of Kelly's head but Kelly sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Caballero loads up on a big right hand but Kelly slips the punch.
Caballero misses with a few strikes there.
Caballero scores with a one two! Kelly had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Caballero's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Caballero duly obliges.
Caballero throws a jab but it's blocked by Kelly.

That's two 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.
Kelly needs to keep his hands up - Caballero had a free shot at his head there.
Kelly is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Caballero.
Some wild striking there from Caballero.
Caballero stuffs the takedown.
Caballero pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Kelly defending well as Caballero loads up on a big left hand.
Caballero throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Kelly slips a jab from Caballero.
Caballero throws a series of punches but Kelly avoids them all with ease.
Kelly defending well as Caballero loads up on a big left hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Caballero fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kelly manages to avoid it.
Kelly closes the distance and clinches up with Caballero, looking for a takedown. Kelly pushes Caballero against the ropes but Caballero circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Danga de danga de dang - Caballero scores with a four punch combination!
Caballero fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Caballero tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kelly was well out of range. Poor timing from Caballero.
Kelly blocks a jab.
Caballero pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Caballero lands a two punch combo.
No joy there for Caballero, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Kelly bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Caballero misses with a straight left.
Caballero might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Kelly moves out of range as Caballero strikes.
John Kelly is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Caballero looks to throw the jab but Kelly is out of range.
Caballero lands a jab to the head.
Caballero stalks Kelly and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Kelly's face. Kelly staggers backwards, shaken.
A punch combination from Caballero misses.
Caballero looks to throw the jab but Kelly is out of range.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kelly shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Kelly. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Caballero fails to land with a series of punches.
Kelly displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Caballero throws out the jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Celestino Caballero will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Caballero defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Kelly.
Kelly avoids a punch combination nicely.
Caballero thows a left - swing and a miss!
Kelly moves out of range of the strikes.
Caballero misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Kelly drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Kelly wants to pass the guard but Caballero is keeping the position.

Kelly postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Caballero is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Kelly, into his guard.

Kelly has an active guard here but Caballero has managed to pass into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Caballero tries to stand but can't do so whilst Kelly controls his leg.

Kelly looking for submissions off his back.

Kelly is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Caballero pulls his head out easily.
Caballero is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
John Kelly has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Kelly is looking for a sweep. Caballero is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Kelly is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Caballero pulls his head out easily.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Caballero throws a series of punches but Kelly avoids them all with ease.
Kelly avoids a punch combination nicely.
Caballero will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Caballero throws a series of punches but Kelly avoids them all with ease.
Caballero thows a body shot but no joy.
Caballero misses with a body shot.

Kelly gets the takedown into side control.

Kelly working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Kelly thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Caballero can do anything to dispel that myth.

Kelly tries for a kimura but Caballero is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kelly tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Caballero is trying to get back to his feet.

Kelly is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Caballero is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Caballero is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the ropes but Kelly has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Celestino Caballero is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Kelly looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Kelly showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Caballero has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Celestino Caballero!