PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between KJ Kesler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pekka Soikkeli (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Soikkeli has chosen Lordz Of Brooklyn - Lake Of Fire as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Kesler
vs
Soikkeli

185 cm
23
200 lbs
4 - 0 - 1

193 cm
22
205 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BLOODCLOT FIGHT GEAR

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, KJ Kesler!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Pekka Soikkeli!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Daniel Franklin and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kesler throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Pekka Soikkeli seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Soikkeli tries to close the distance and clinch but Kesler swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Soikkeli bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Soikkeli decides to stand up, so the ref orders Kesler to his feet.
Kesler has his takedown stuffed

and Soikkeli counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Kesler is breathing heavily.
Soikkeli sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Soikkeli wants to free his trapped foot but Kesler is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Soikkeli is trying to control the action in half guard but Kesler is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Soikkeli thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Kesler gets full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!

Kesler keeping busy on the bottom but Soikkeli has passed one foot through into half guard.
Soikkeli performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soikkeli wants to take a breather but Kesler is having none of it.
Soikkeli works his way into full mount!
Kesler is wriggling around trying to escape.

Soikkeli stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
Soikkeli lands a front kick.

Soikkeli instigates a clinch.

Soikkeli breaks the clinch.

Soikkeli rushes Kesler and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Soikkeli breaks the clinch.

Soikkeli closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Kesler is in trouble now - Soikkeli has advanced to mount!
Kesler is trying to escape the mount.
Kesler is working hard here to advance position.

Soikkeli looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

Soikkeli looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Kesler can't escape the position.
Soikkeli trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soikkeli blocks Kesler's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Kesler is desperately trying to improve his position but Soikkeli has a good base and remains in mount.
Soikkeli can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Kesler is looking to escape.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kesler really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Soikkeli controlling the pace for now.

Soikkeli is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Kesler throws a nice looking combination but Soikkeli bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Soikkeli tests Kesler's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Kesler tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Kesler with a lazy takedown attempt
and Soikkeli counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Soikkeli shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Soikkeli was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Soikkeli controlling the position easily from mount.
Soikkeli avoids the attempt from Kesler to control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kesler is looking to improve his position but Soikkeli isn't that keen on the idea.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pekka Soikkeli dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Soikkeli pushes Kesler up against the cage in a clinch.

Soikkeli pulls guard effortlessly.
Soikkeli bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Kesler's guard.
Kesler keeping full guard, as Soikkeli tries to pass.
Soikkeli is looking to stand up but Kesler won't let him.
Kesler wants to hit a switch here but Soikkeli passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Kesler there!

Soikkeli get's back to his feet.
Some wild striking there from Soikkeli.
Kesler clinches but Soikkeli breaks the clinch
and Soikkeli counters with a right hand to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kesler on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Soikkeli swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Kesler.
Soikkeli moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Soikkeli cracks Kesler with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Soikkeli shoots in but Kesler avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Soikkeli darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Kesler is looking to improve his position.

Soikkeli is looking for a kimura here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kesler regains full guard. Nicely done.
Soikkeli trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kesler keeping moving, preventing Soikkeli from controlling successfully.

Kesler has his foot on Soikkeli's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Soikkeli works his way back into a safe position though.

Kesler working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Soikkeli doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Soikkeli manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Soikkeli wants to control from the top but Kesler keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kesler is looking for a triangle but Soikkeli pushes his legs off easily.
Soikkeli works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Kesler missing with punches from the bottom.

Soikkeli is working for a submission of some sort.
Kesler is refusing to be controlled, as Soikkeli sits in half guard.
Soikkeli slows the pace down in half guard.
Kesler is staying active underneath Soikkeli, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Soikkeli tries to pass the half guard into mount. Kesler knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Kesler is defending against the submission attempts here by Soikkeli.

Soikkeli is looking for a kimura but Kesler is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Soikkeli to get the leverage.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Kesler closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Soikkeli wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.
Soikkeli takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Soikkeli is trying to control Kesler's posture but Kesler avoids it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pekka Soikkeli showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Soikkeli changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Kesler looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Kesler is looking for a sweep.

Soikkeli decides to stand up, so the ref orders Kesler to his feet.

Soikkeli shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.

Soikkeli is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Kesler has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Kesler regains half guard.
Kesler is trying to get back to full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Soikkeli tries to stand and escape but Kesler is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soikkeli wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kesler keeps working.
Soikkeli is controlling the pace.
Kesler is staying active underneath Soikkeli, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Kesler slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Kesler had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Soikkeli is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Kesler Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Soikkeli's back instead.
Kesler avoiding Soikkeli 's attempts to control his hands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Soikkeli rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Soikkeli trying to control from the bottom.
Kesler tries to pass the half guard into mount. Soikkeli knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Soikkeli gets full guard.
Kesler loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Soikkeli looking for a sweep. Not yet Soikkeli, not yet.
Kesler trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kesler passes into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kesler looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Kesler thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Kesler missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Soikkeli makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Soikkeli.
Kesler trying to control but Soikkeli is working from the bottom.
Soikkeli is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Kesler looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Kesler is trying to control but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Kesler is defending against the submission attempts here by Soikkeli.
Kesler won't allow Soikkeli to pass to mount.
Soikkeli is tying to control. Kesler wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Kesler regains full guard. Nicely done.
Kesler bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Soikkeli's guard.
Soikkeli is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Kesler prevents Soikkeli from getting back to his feet.
Kesler is in close to Soikkeli's body, working some short punches and elbows.
KJ Kesler has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kesler throwing strikes but missing.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pekka Soikkeli comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Soikkeli has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 George Francis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pekka Soikkeli!
Pekka Soikkeli is the new light heavyweight champion!