PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Phil Kessel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nick James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Kessel
vs
James

190 cm
19
182 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

176 cm
19
178 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Phil Kessel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Nick James!
The judges for this bout are Skip Squint, Eliza Hachem and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kessel throws a low kick, looking for James's leg but James calmly moves out of range.

Kessel closes the distance and clinches.
James tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
James throws an elbow but it misses.
Kessel tries to break the clinch but James is controlling the position.
Kessel prevents the takedown attempt.

James pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
James is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kessel misses with a head kick.
Kessel misses with a jab, cross combination.
Kessel scores with a nice right hand.
A head kick misses from Kessel.
Sloppy strikes from Kessel. Those never looked like landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kessel tries to clinch but James moves out of range.
James blocks a low kick nicely.
James tries to clinch but Kessel moves out of range.
Kessel tries to close the distance and clinch but James swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
James throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Kessel counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
James tries to land knees in the clinch but Kessel avoids the damage to the body.
James lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

James breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
James throws a left and a right that both miss
and Kessel counters with a straight right hand.
Kessel tries a head kick but it misses.
Kessel misses with a low kick as James jumps back.

Kessel has James up against the cage in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

James pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
James misses with a wild combination.
James misses with a double jab.
James fails to land the takedown.
Phil Kessel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nick James.
Kessel wants to clinch up but James keeps it at a distance.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Kessel!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
James avoids the head kick by Kessel.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kessel throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Nice shot lands for Kessel.
Kessel tries to clinch but fails miserably
and James counters with a stiff right hand.
James needs to keep his hands up - Kessel had a free shot at his head there.
Kessel is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
The fighters circling - James throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

James gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

James breaks the clinch.
Kessel lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but James circles away quickly and effectively.
James swats away the attempt to clinch by Kessel.
Kessel looks to land a body kick but James moved away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kessel throws a series of punches but James moves out of range.
Kessel misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Nice takedown defense from James. No joy for Kessel on that attempt.
Kessel is breathing heavily.
A low kick from Kessel misses
and James makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
James tries to clinch but Kessel moves out of range.
Kessel shoots in for a takedown but James shows good takedown defense.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kessel keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kessel tries to clinch
and James counters with an outside leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Phil Kessel dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

James pushes Kessel up against the cage in a clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
James misses with a knee strike.
Kessel can't break the clinch.
Kessel has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. James avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
James drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Kessel gets the underhooks and prevents it.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

James's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kessel darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Kessel throws a leg kick that is checked
and James counters with a good low kick that Kessel was not able to check.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by James.
Phil Kessel is winning the standup battle so far.
Kessel throws a leg kick that misses.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kessel. James does a little dance to reset his feet.
James avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
James misses with a takedown attempt - Kessel sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
James tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kessel paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kessel throws a lazy head kick
and James counters with a stiff right hand.
Kessel doesn't manage to clinch there - James circles away.
Kessel misses with a kick to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

James pushes Kessel up against the cage in a clinch.
James is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Phil Kessel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nick James.
Kessel wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
James tries to land a knee to the head but Kessel blocks with his arms.
James tries to score a body lock takedown but Kessel shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Kessel wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but James has him pressed against the cage.
Kessel avoids the elbow strike from James, against the cage.
James tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Kessel looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

James breaks from the clinch.

Kessel rushes James and presses him up against the cage.
Kessel has had enough of the clinch but James keeps him there for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

James pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Kessel swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
James throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Kessel counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as James checks a leg kick.
Kessel fails in his attempt to clinch.
James keeps the fight on the outside.

Kessel moves into the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Kessel's face as he tries to break the clinch.
James comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Kessel wants a takedown.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

James breaks the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kessel closes this distance looking for a takedown but James circles away.
James shoots for a double leg takedown but Kessel sprawls well. He's pushed James's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Kessel feints a jab promting James to slip. Kessel then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. James slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Kessel stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Kessel wants it to stay on the feet.
James avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kessel moves in looking to clinch but James pushes him off.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kessel tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but James paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kessel fails with an attempt to clinch.
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 Phil Kessel 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. This is the final round!

Kessel throws a shot from downtown. James moves away and avoids it.
Kessel misses with a body kick.
James tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Kessel pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

Kessel gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
A short body shot lands from Kessel as the two fighters clinch.
Kessel is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Kessel wants to break the clinch but can't.
James misses with a knee strike.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, James just misses with a elbow thrown towards Kessel's brow.
Kessel scores with a nice hook to the head.
Kessel is looking to break free of the clinch but James has double underhooks.

James breaks the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kessel tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but James paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kessel tries to bum rush James with a series of wild strikes but James uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
James keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
A low kick from Kessel is predictable there
and James counters with a nice low kick that buckles Kessel's knee momentarily.
James tries to clinch but Kessel moves out of range.

Kessel gets tackled into the cage by James. James maintains the clinch.
Kessel tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. James just stands there and leans against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kessel has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
James gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Kessel.
James throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

James's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
James bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Kessel tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and James counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
James throwing shots but Kessel is blocking nicely.
James drops an elbow to the side of Kessel's head.

James is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
James trying to pass the guard but Kessel defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kessel wants to get back to his feet.
James controlling the action here.
Kessel wants to get back to his feet.
Kessel trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Kessel trying to control from the bottom.
Nick James has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
James seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
James takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
James has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
James missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James is controlling the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Kessel keeps the fight on the outside.
Sloppy strikes from James. Those never looked like landing.
A head kick misses from Kessel.
James throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Kessel.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kessel moves to clinch but James breaks away
and James counters with a one-two to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nick James comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Kessel 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 Skip Squint scores the fight 29:28
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Phil Kessel!