PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Toby Clifford (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mikkel Kessler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Toby Clifford has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Clifford
vs
Kessler

190 cm
18
265 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

225 cm
21
220 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Toby Clifford!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Mikkel Kessler!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, Summer Carpenter and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kessler swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Clifford counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Kessler is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Kessler looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Clifford stops Kessler from getting back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kessler won't allow Clifford to pass to mount.
Kessler keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Clifford slows the pace down in half guard.
Kessler looks like he's trying to stand up.
Clifford thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Kessler's head.
Clifford sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Kessler defending well though.
Clifford looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Kessler really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Clifford. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Clifford wants to stand but Kessler has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
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!

Clifford is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Kessler is just riding it out for now. Clifford eventually gives up the hold.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clifford looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Toby Clifford just wasn't active enough.
Clifford fails with the takedown.
Clifford throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Kessler's waist but Kessler gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Clifford off to one side.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kessler throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Clifford.
Clifford throws a leg kick that misses.
Kessler avoids a punch combination nicely.
Kessler slaps away a takedown attempt from Clifford, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Toby Clifford. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kessler tries to bum rush Clifford with a series of wild strikes but Clifford uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Clifford looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Clifford tries to clinch but Kessler is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kessler moves out of range of the body kick from Clifford.

Clifford closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Kessler breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kessler throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Clifford throws a one two combo.
Clifford shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Kessler as he avoids it easily.
Kessler slips under a jab from Clifford.
Clifford tries to score a power double leg takedown but Kessler sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Clifford somewhat.
Clifford throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Kessler.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Kessler, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Clifford doesn't manage to clinch there - Kessler circles away.
Clifford throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Kessler throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Kessler misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Clifford.

Kessler gets tackled into the cage by Clifford. Clifford maintains the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kessler is trying to break the clinch but Clifford is controlling him.
Clifford swings away with an uppercut that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Clifford finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Mikkel Kessler seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Some wild striking there from Kessler.
Clifford shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Kessler pinned against the cage. Kessler gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Clifford looks to score with a jab to the body but Kessler is just out of range.
Kessler throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Clifford tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kessler is breathing heavily.
Kessler checks the leg kick.
Clifford misses with a two punch combination.
Mikkel Kessler is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clifford fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Kessler stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

Clifford throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Kessler was covering up waiting for the punch and Clifford finishes the takedown easily into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Clifford wants to stand but Kessler is controlling his posture from full guard.
Kessler keeping moving, preventing Clifford from controlling successfully.
Clifford trying to stand up but can't free himself from Kessler's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clifford trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Clifford slips nicely into half guard.
Kessler won't allow Clifford to pass to mount.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Clifford in particular looking to stall.
Clifford not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Clifford uses his free foot to push down on Kessler's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Kessler.
Kessler is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clifford working Kessler over with strikes here.
Clifford controlling his opponent.

Kessler somehow manages to escape the mount and get back to his feet!
Kessler fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Clifford tries for a takedown but Kessler circles away easily
and Kessler counters with a series of strikes. Clifford will be more careful next time no doubt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Toby Clifford. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Clifford dodges the punch combination from Kessler.
Kessler misses with the combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Clifford misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Clifford fails with a takedown attempt.
Kessler lands a two punch combo.
Clifford throws a body kick that misses.
Kessler blocks a low kick nicely.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kessler misses with a two punch combination.
Clifford throws a head kick that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Toby Clifford dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Kessler misses with a wild combination.
Clifford finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Clifford could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Clifford shoots in for a takedown but Kessler shows good takedown defense.
Clifford tries to clinch there but Kessler circles away.

Clifford throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Kessler was covering up waiting for the punch and Clifford finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Clifford wanted to stand there but Kessler had control of the position.
Clifford passes Kessler's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Clifford tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Kessler.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clifford working the head and body with strikes.
Clifford 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.
Clifford prevents Kessler from standing back up.

Clifford seems to be working for a kimura but Kessler defends the submission attempt.
Clifford is looking to take a break and control but Kessler is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Clifford is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Kessler is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kessler is trying to stand up here but Clifford is controlling him well.
Clifford is trying to control. Kessler wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Toby Clifford has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Clifford looks for a takedown but Kessler sprawls well.
Kessler thuds his right hand into Clifford's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Kessler lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Clifford backs up against the cage.

Kessler tries to keep at a distance but Clifford has taken the fight into the clinch.

Clifford breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kessler misses with a jab, cross combination.
Kessler avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Toby Clifford is winning the standup battle so far.
Kessler rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Clifford moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Kessler keeps the fight on the outside.
Toby Clifford is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kessler misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Kessler lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Clifford circles away quickly and effectively.
Kessler tries to bum rush Clifford with a series of wild strikes but Clifford uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Clifford tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kessler paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kessler stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Toby Clifford. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Clifford is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kessler will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Clifford fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Kessler fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Clifford gets a takedown into half guard.

Kessler kicks off Clifford and gets to his feet.
Mikkel Kessler has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Toby Clifford is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kessler throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

And that's the end of the fight!
Toby Clifford showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Clifford 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 Donatello Bradman scores the fight 30:27
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 30:27
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Toby Clifford!