PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jack Kessler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Randall Cunningham (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kessler comes into the arena with Yattering - Chase of Thoughts blaring out of the sound system. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Kessler
vs
Cunningham

185 cm
24
203 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

188 cm
24
201 lbs
11 - 2 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

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 Amsterdam, Jack Kessler!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 2 - 1, fighting out of New York, Randall Cunningham!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Aleksandr Martynov and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cunningham takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Cunningham throws a head kick that misses

and Kessler counters with a nice double leg into side control. Cunningham won't be happy with that.
Cunningham is not content to let Kessler control the position.
You can see the frustration on Cunningham's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Kessler happy to just control the position for now.
You can see the frustration on Cunningham's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kessler tries to score with some ground and pound. Cunningham controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Kessler throws a strike aimed at the side of Cunningham's head but Cunningham avoids it well.
Kessler in side control, throwing shots but Cunningham defends.
Kessler wants to lay and pray for a moment but Cunningham keeps working.
Kessler cracks Cunningham with a big right hand but Cunningham just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.

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

Kessler is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Cunningham is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cunningham regains half guard, as Kessler was trying to land strikes.
Kessler thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Cunningham's head.
Kessler trying to control the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cunningham tries to get to full guard but Kessler has control of the leg.
Kessler sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Cunningham defending well though.
Kessler missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Kessler seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Cunningham does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Kessler is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Cunningham sees it coming and defends easily.
Kessler throwing shots but Cunningham is blocking nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kessler thows a huge punch but Cunningham dodges it nicely.
Kessler is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Kessler postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Cunningham holds on and takes a little breather.
Kessler lands a couple of elbows.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Kessler's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jack Kessler dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Cunningham misses with a wild body shot.
Cunningham throws a leg kick that is checked
and Kessler counters with a nice kick to the body.
Good leg kick by Cunningham there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Cunningham tests Kessler's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Kessler shoots in for a double leg but Cunningham sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Kessler lands a nice hook to Cunningham's body. Cunningham takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Cunningham wants to land a leg kick but Kessler is out of range.
Kessler avoids a low kick by using good footwork.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cunningham wants to clinch.
Randall Cunningham seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cunningham takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Cunningham throws a quick inside leg kick.
A bone on bone clash there as Kessler blocks the leg kick.
Kessler checks the leg kick.
Kessler throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Cunningham fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kessler fails with a takedown attempt.
Kessler throws a body punch but Cunningham moves out of range.
Kessler throws a hook to the side of Cunningham's head but Cunningham sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Randall Cunningham is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kessler lands the left hand.
Kessler checks a leg kick nicely.
A head kick misses from Kessler.
Kessler misses with a double jab
and Cunningham counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cunningham throws a low kick, looking for Kessler's leg but Kessler calmly moves out of range.
Kessler missing with a left hand there. Cunningham was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Cunningham tries to close the distance and clinch but Kessler swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kessler moves out of range as Cunningham throws a body kick.
Kessler uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Cunningham.
Cunningham blocks the body kick.
Cunningham thows a leg kick but Kessler checks it
and Kessler counters with a solid body kick.
Kessler on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cunningham misses with a body kick.
Kessler lands a nice looking kick to the body. Cunningham takes a step back to recover.
Cunningham takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Cunningham is looking to score with low kicks.
That kick from Cunningham tenderised Kessler's leg. Kessler is trying to keep his angry face on.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kessler blocks a head kick by Cunningham.
Kessler shoots in for a double leg but Cunningham sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Randall Cunningham will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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!

Kessler on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Kessler checks a low kick from Cunningham.
Cunningham throws out a loose jab but Kessler uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kessler looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Cunningham is fending him off so far but Kessler persists. Nope, Cunningham circles away and we're back to standing.
Cunningham throws a leg kick but Kessler moved away.
Cunningham defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Kessler.
Kessler throws a lazy head kick
and Cunningham counters with a low kick, right behind Kessler 's knee.
Kessler takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Cunningham checks a low kick from Kessler.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cunningham throws a body kick that misses.
Kessler shoots in for a takedown but Cunningham shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jack Kessler. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cunningham keeps Kessler at a distance using the push kick.
Kessler has a takedown stuffed.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Kessler crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Cunningham - the referee stops the clock and Kessler gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Cunningham. Kessler manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cunningham throws a sloppy head kick and Kessler moves out of range easily.
Cunningham scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cunningham misses with a two punch combination.
Cunningham feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Kessler's calf.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cunningham misses with a low kick as Kessler jumps back.
Kessler blocks a head kick by Cunningham.
Cunningham throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kessler checks a low kick from Cunningham.
Cunningham pivots, looking for a leg kick but Kessler is out of range and Cunningham settles back down.
Cunningham throws a right hand that misses

and Kessler counters with a single leg into guard. Cunningham didn't expect that.
Kessler trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kessler trying to control the position from guard on top but Cunningham is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Kessler thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cunningham being controlled here, momentarily.
Cunningham keeping full guard, as Kessler tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kessler trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Cunningham has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Cunningham utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kessler wants to pass the guard but Cunningham is keeping the position.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Kessler is working hard here to advance position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Randall Cunningham comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Cunningham 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Randall Cunningham!
Randall Cunningham bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.