PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jason Fairtex (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryan Kesler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kesler has chosen Cancer Bats - Deathsmarch as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Fairtex
vs
Kesler

184 cm
24
186 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

182 cm
25
200 lbs
19 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Heavy handed

West Coast 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 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jason Fairtex!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ryan Kesler!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, Reed Andrews and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fairtex throws a body kick that misses.
Kesler slips a straight right by Fairtex.
Kesler lands a nice leg kick that just misses Fairtex's sensitive parts.
Kesler jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Fairtex scores with a jab to the jaw.

Fairtex shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Kesler manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Fairtex seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fairtex pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kesler is keeping the position for now.
Fairtex content to stall in guard here.
Kesler has his hands on Fairtex's head, controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fairtex postures up in Kesler's guard and throws a big left but Kesler blocks it.
Kesler has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Kesler scores with a one two! Fairtex had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Jab by Kesler.
Kesler takes a swing at Fairtex's ribcage but misses.
Fairtex dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Kesler. That did some damage!
Fairtex takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Kesler misses with a low kick.
Fairtex misses with a low kick.
Fairtex misses with a low kick.
Kesler looks to throw the jab but Fairtex is out of range.
Kesler moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice leg kick lands there from Fairtex.
Kesler throws a leg kick that misses.
Fairtex throws a low kick, looking for Kesler's leg but Kesler calmly moves out of range.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kesler throws out a leg kick but Fairtex moves out of range and Kesler only half commits.
Fairtex looks for the body kick but Kesler saw that one coming.
Fairtex throws a solid leg kick but Kesler takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Fairtex.
Fairtex throws a shot from downtown. Kesler moves away and avoids it.
Kesler sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Fairtex throws a lazy right hand but Kesler sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Fairtex shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Good exchange - Kesler coming out on top.
Fairtex throws a right and a left that Kesler avoids nicely.
Fairtex avoids a kick to the body.
A low kick from Fairtex is predictable there
letting Kesler counter with a right hand.
Fairtex throws a leg kick
and Kesler counters with a nice kick to the body.
Kesler is looking to score with low kicks.
Fairtex lands an overhand right.

Kesler shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Kesler showed some decent athleticism there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fairtex wants to get back to full guard.
Kesler is trying to control. Fairtex wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Kesler wants to free his trapped foot but Fairtex is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Kesler seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Fairtex does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Ryan Kesler wasn't active enough on the ground.
Kesler tries to close the distance and clinch up but Fairtex swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fairtex throws a leg kick but Kesler checks it.
Fairtex misses the shot to the body.
Kesler misses with a takedown attempt - Fairtex sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Kesler throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Fairtex takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Kesler cracks Fairtex with a right hand to the side of the head.
Kesler misses with a low kick.
Fairtex tried to score with a low kick but Kesler checks it.
Fairtex throws a hook but Kesler avoids it easily.
Fairtex throws a quick inside leg kick.
Kesler shoots in but no luck this time.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Fairtex.
Kesler moves out of range as Fairtex throws a body kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Fairtex misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Kesler counters with a slapping leg kick.
Ryan Kesler seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fairtex throws a leg kick but Kesler checks it.
Kesler is looking to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Jason Fairtex will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Kesler throws a nice looking combination but Fairtex bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
A head kick misses from Kesler.
Fairtex ducks under a wild hook from Kesler.
Fairtex takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Kesler shoots in and drives through. Fairtex sprawls well.
Fairtex with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
The fighters circle momentarily. Fairtex darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Fairtex misses with a straight left.
Fairtex connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Kesler's hands.
Fairtex darts in and out, connecting with a jab.

Kesler is rocked!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Fairtex misses with a body kick.
Kesler is still on wobbly legs! Can Fairtex finish him?

Fairtex throws a big overhand right that connects, sending Kesler tumbling to the canvas!
Fairtex working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Kesler is breathing heavily.
Kesler keeping moving, preventing Fairtex from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fairtex pushes down on Kesler's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Kesler seems to have recovered his senses.
Fairtex is keen to just control but Kesler is a slippery customer.
Fairtex frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Fairtex lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Fairtex wants to control the pace but Kesler is squirming around nicely.
Fairtex working the ground and pound effectively.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fairtex tries to control but Kesler wriggling away.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Fairtex misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Fairtex with a couple of short strikes.
Fairtex misses with a head shot.
Fairtex takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Fairtex prevents Kesler from getting the reversal.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fairtex breaks from Kesler's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Fairtex is in the full mount, landing strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fairtex controlling from mount.
Fairtex misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
A nice elbow there by Fairtex.
Fairtex has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Oooh a big shot lands for Fairtex! Kesler is out! The ref dives in to save him from more punishment!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:46 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Jason Fairtex!