PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Gabin Nico (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Kessler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Nico
vs
Kessler

171 cm
25
153 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Gabin Nico!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mark Kessler!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Anni Minnemäki and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kessler tries a head kick but it misses.
Kessler misses with a kick to the body.
Nico throws a right hand that Kessler ducks under and follows up with a left that Kessler also avoids with ease.
Kessler tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kessler throws a sloppy head kick and Nico moves out of range easily.
Nico tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kessler was well out of range. Poor timing from Nico.
Kessler throws a nice head kick!
Kessler looks for the body kick but Nico saw that one coming.
Kessler pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kessler wants to slow Nico down by chopping away at his legs.
Kessler tries a low kick but Nico avoids it.
Nico pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Kessler back to the cage. Nico follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Kessler misses with an attempted mid kick.
Nico moves out of range as Kessler throws a body kick.
Nico stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Mark Kessler seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A combination from Nico does no damage.
Nico avoids the head kick by Kessler.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kessler is looking to land body kicks.
A jab lands there for Nico.
Kessler misses with a body kick.
Kessler takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Nico avoids the head kick by Kessler.
Nico throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Nico throws a series of punches but Kessler avoids them all with ease.
Kessler is looking to score with low kicks.
Kessler looks gassed!
Kessler tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A jab from Nico does it's job there.
Nico blocks a head kick by Kessler.
Kessler looks for the body kick but Nico saw that one coming.
Nico throws a combination. Kessler tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Kessler throws a wild body kick that Nico sees coming a mile off.
Kessler swings away with a leg kick that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kessler throws a low kick but Nico avoids it.
Nico wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Nico tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kessler was well out of range. Poor timing from Nico.
Kessler doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kessler misses with a head kick.
A decent looking cross lands there for Nico.
Nice body punch from Nico.
Nico digs a good hook to Kessler's body.
Kessler throws a head kick that misses.
Nico with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Nico getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Nico lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Nico scores with a body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nico looks to land a combination. Kessler sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Nico.
Kessler takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Nico connects with a body shot.
Nico throws a good cross that connects.
Nico scores with a nice right hand.
Nico misses with a wild body shot.
Kessler tries to land a leg kick but Nico saw it coming and moves away.
Kessler throws a head kick that misses.
Kessler closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Kessler misses with a head kick.
Nico connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Kessler's hands.
Nico lands a nice looking body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kessler does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Nico cracks Kessler with an open hand slap.
A head kick misses from Kessler.
Nico fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Nico works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Nico lands with a shot to the body.
Kessler misses with a head kick.
Nico fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Kessler on the side of the head.
Nico is looking to wear down Kessler with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Nico lands a nice shot to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kessler throws a half hearted mid kick.
Kessler is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Nico.
Kessler throws a chopping leg kick but Nico manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gabin Nico dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Kessler throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Nico works over Kessler's head and body with a nice combination.
Nice defenses there by Kessler.
Nico checks a leg kick.
Kessler takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Kessler misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Nico thuds a left hand into Kessler's body.
Nico swings for the body but Kessler moves out of range.
Nico throws a body punch but Kessler moves out of range.
Kessler throws a head kick but Nico moves out of range.
Kessler is breathing heavily.
Kessler tries to land a leg kick but Nico saw it coming and moves away.
Nico fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kessler manages to avoid it.
Gabin Nico is winning the standup battle so far.
Kessler pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Nico dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kessler pivots, looking for a leg kick but Nico is out of range and Kessler settles back down.
Nico scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Kessler pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kessler throws a sloppy head kick and Nico moves out of range easily.
Kessler walks into a straight right hand from Nico.
Nico misses with a body shot.
Some bone on bone action there as Nico checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Nico scores with a jab to the body.
Nico lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Kessler takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Kessler throws a leg kick but Nico sees it coming and moves out of range.
Kessler takes one on the button.
Kessler misses with a body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kessler misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Nico lands a nice looking body shot.
Nico throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Kessler stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Kessler takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Kessler moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Nico tests Kessler's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Kessler misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Nico connects with a body shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nico moves out of range of the body kick from Kessler.
Nico with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Nico shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Kessler eats them both and turns towards Nico to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nico slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Kessler throws the kick towards the body but Nico avoids it.
Kessler has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
A low kick from Kessler is predictable there
and Nico counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Nico with a hook.
Nico misses with a few strikes there.
Nico avoids the head kick by Kessler.
A head kick misses from Kessler.
Nico scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Kessler throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kessler looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Nico pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Kessler pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nico lands with an uppercut that bounces Kessler off the cage and back into range.
Kessler misses with an attempted mid kick.
Kessler throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Nico lands with a nice body punch.
A head kick misses from Kessler.
Kessler misses with a head kick.
Kessler takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Kessler throws a head kick but Nico moves out of range.
Nico blocks a head kick by Kessler.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kessler throws a sloppy head kick and Nico moves out of range easily.
Nico scores with a shot to the body.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Kessler lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Nico has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Nico and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gabin Nico dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Kessler needs to keep his hands up - Nico had a free shot at his head there.
Kessler throws a leg kick that misses.
Kessler throws a sloppy head kick and Nico moves out of range easily.
Nico's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Nico duly obliges.
Nico throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kessler tries a head kick but it misses.
Nico throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Kessler throws the kick towards the body but Nico avoids it.
Nico with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Kessler misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Nice body punch from Nico.
Kessler misses with a low kick as Nico jumps back.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nico cracks Kessler with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
A head kick misses from Kessler.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A right-left combo lands from Nico.
A head kick misses from Kessler.
Nico lands with a straight right. Kessler didn't see that one coming.
Nico scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Nico lands a nice looking body shot.
Nico connects with a crisp jab.
Kessler throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Nico stalks Kessler and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Kessler's face. Kessler staggers backwards, shaken.
Nico moves into range and connects with a jab.
Nico lands with a good body shot.
Kessler pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kessler drops his hands momentarily and Nico takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kessler tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Nico with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Nico lands a slapping body shot.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Kessler lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Nico has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Nico and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Good exchange - Nico coming out on top.
Kessler throws a sloppy head kick and Nico moves out of range easily.
Nico scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Kessler tries a head kick but it misses.
Kessler tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Kessler misses with a head kick.
Nico lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Kessler circles away quickly and effectively.
Kessler throws a half hearted mid kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nico moves out of range as Kessler throws a body kick.
Kessler throws a head kick but Nico moves out of range.
Kessler uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Nico.
Nico avoids the head kick by Kessler.
A head kick misses from Kessler.
Nico looks to score with a jab to the body but Kessler is just out of range.
A head kick misses from Kessler.
Nico tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kessler was well out of range. Poor timing from Nico.
Kessler misses with a low kick.
A head kick misses from Kessler.
Nico blocks the body kick.
Nico blocks a head kick by Kessler.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kessler misses with a low kick.
Kessler throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Nico tests Kessler's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Nico blocks a head kick by Kessler.
Kessler misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Jab by Nico.
Kessler throws a leg kick but Nico moved away.
Nico throws a one two combo.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kessler throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kessler looks for the body kick but Nico saw that one coming.
Kessler looks for the body kick but Nico saw that one coming.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Gabin Nico.
Well Nico 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight for Gabin Nico!
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight for Gabin Nico!
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight for Gabin Nico!

Gabin Nico wins by unanimous decision!
Gabin Nico spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.