PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Death Above (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jesse Kauo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kauo has chosen RAWR as his entrance music. Jesse Kauo is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Above
vs
Kauo

190 cm
25
143 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

173 cm
27
137 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Death Above!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Jesse Kauo!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, William Gold and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Above instigates a clinch.

Above jumps guard and drags Kauo to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Above wants to sweep here but Kauo controlling him for the moment.
Kauo throws a strike but Above rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Above postures up.
Above works over Kauo with some ground and pound from guard.
Above stopping the sweep attempt from Kauo.
Kauo looking to control.
Above is looking to work some ground and pound but Kauo has wrist control.
Above looking to pass the guard.
Kauo trying to strike off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Above postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Kauo is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Above, into his guard.
Kauo trying to control but Above is working from the bottom.
Kauo is looking to work some ground and pound but Above has wrist control.
Kauo loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kauo with a flurry of punches that miss.
Above not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Above looking for a sweep. Not yet Above, not yet.
Above keeping moving, preventing Kauo from controlling successfully.
Above knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Kauo on the ground.
Above is pulling down on Kauo's head to control his posture.
Kauo lands a couple of digs.

Kauo drops back looking for a leg! Above is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Above manages to kick Kauo off! Kauo jumps back into Above's guard.
Kauo throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Above will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kauo trying to control the position from guard on top but Above is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Above controls Kauo momentarily but Kauo frees himself.
Kauo throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Above works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Kauo trying to control the position from guard on top but Above is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kauo loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kauo preventing the sweep.
Above is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Kauo throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Kauo shoots in and drives through. Above sprawls well.
Above catches Kauo with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

Above closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Above trying to control the position but Kauo is working away.
Above passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Kauo!
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 Death Above will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Kauo throws a right hand that Above ducks under and follows up with a left that Above also avoids with ease.
Kauo with a poor takedown
and Above counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Kauo will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Above tries to clinch but Kauo moves out of range.
Above is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Above drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Kauo is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Above is aware though and is defending well.
Kauo lands an upkick as Above stands over him.
Above wants to control from the top but Kauo keeps moving.
Kauo is breathing heavily.
Above looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kauo bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Above's guard.
Above is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Above is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Kauo sees it coming and defends easily.
Kauo gets full guard.
Above wants to pass the guard but Kauo is keeping the position.
Kauo is trying to control the position but Above postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Above showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Above has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Kauo keeping moving, preventing Above from controlling successfully.
Kauo throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

Above avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Above connects with a couple of short punches.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Above wants to control from the top but Kauo keeps moving.
Kauo keeping full guard, as Above tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kauo controlling the position.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Kauo is trying to keep Above in close.
Above stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kauo swivels though and keeps the full guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Kauo showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Above.
Jesse Kauo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Above doesn't manage to clinch there - Kauo circles away.
Kauo misses the body punch
and Above counters with a straight right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kauo throws a head kick but Above moves out of range.

Above moves into the clinch successfully.
A frustrated look appears on Kauo's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Above taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

Above manages to break the clinch.
Kauo throws a left and a right that both miss
and Above counters with an inside leg kick.
Kauo jabs Above right on the nose. Above blinks but takes it well.
Kauo changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Above tries to avoid it but Kauo manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Above to the ground. Above escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Kauo is trying hard to land a takedown here. Above sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Death Above has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jesse Kauo.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Above blocks a head kick by Kauo.
Above throws a right and a left that both miss.
Kauo shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Above sprawls well. Above wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Kauo gets slowly back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Death Above will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Above connects with a crisp jab.
Kauo with a lazy takedown attempt

and Above decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Kauo's guard.

Kauo looking for a guillotine here but Above defends easily.
Kauo looking to hit a scissor sweep but Above is one step ahead there.
Above works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Death Above overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kauo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kauo is looking to control Above's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Kauo avoid being mounted?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kauo is in trouble now - Above has advanced to mount!

Above is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Kauo is surviving well by controlling Above's body position as best he can.
Above controlling from mount.
Above trying to control but Kauo is having none of it.
Above scores with a couple of good head shots there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Above fails to advance to Kauo's back.
Above avoids the attempt from Kauo to control.
Above scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Kauo in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Kauo is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Kauo is working to get back to half guard.
Kauo is bucking up trying to escape but Above cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Above trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Above lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Above punishing his opponent with strikes.
Kauo is desperately trying to improve his position but Above has a good base and remains in mount.
A nice elbow there by Above.
Above with shots to the head and body - Kauo looks very uncomfortable down there.
Above content just to control the position here.
Kauo is squirming around, avoiding Above's attempts to control the action.
Kauo tries to lock up and control but Above gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Above tries to control but Kauo wriggling away.
Above lands a big shot there that rocks Kauo but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Kauo is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Kauo takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Kauo tries to reverse the position but Above maintains control.
Above looking to control but Kauo is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Above putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Above really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Above gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
Jesse Kauo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kauo throws a leg kick that is checked
and Above counters with a series of strikes. Kauo will be more careful next time no doubt.
Death Above is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Above is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Kauo takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

And that's the end of the fight!
Death Above showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Above has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 James Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge William Gold scores the fight 30:28
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Death Above!