PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jack Kessler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mikhail Rakhmanov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kessler comes into the arena with Yattering - Chase of Thoughts blaring out of the sound system. The crowd seem to be enjoying Rakhmanov's choice of entrance music: Russian national anthem. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Kessler
vs
Rakhmanov

185 cm
26
203 lbs
12 - 7 - 0

179 cm
25
190 lbs
11 - 4 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Milwaukee's Best 160 SALE $140

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 12 - 7 - 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 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mikhail Rakhmanov!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Ivan Kurochkin and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rakhmanov jabs Kessler to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Rakhmanov scores with a hook to the body. Kessler takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Kessler needs to keep his hands up - Rakhmanov had a free shot at his head there.
Kessler throws a low kick but it's checked well by Rakhmanov.
Kessler avoids a kick to the body.
Kessler scores with a push kick.
Rakhmanov scores with a one two! Kessler had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Rakhmanov fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Rakhmanov misses with an attempted mid kick.
Mikhail Rakhmanov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kessler is looking to slow Rakhmanov down with leg kicks.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rakhmanov checks the leg kick nicely there.
Rakhmanov ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Rakhmanov throws a nice looking combination but Kessler bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rakhmanov walks into a left hand.
Rakhmanov looks to land a combination but Kessler avoids it well.
No joy there for Kessler, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Rakhmanov turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Nice body punch from Rakhmanov.
Rakhmanov looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Kessler moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Kessler misses with a wild 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 Rakhmanov has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Rakhmanov and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.

Kessler closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Kessler lands in his opponent's guard.
Rakhmanov controlling Kessler's posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kessler with a flurry of punches that miss.
Rakhmanov trying to keep a closed guard but Kessler is proving a slippery customer.
Kessler with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Kessler missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rakhmanov is on top in guard.
Kessler controlling Rakhmanov's posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rakhmanov trying to control but Kessler is working from the bottom.
Rakhmanov is pushing down on Kessler's leg trying to pass to half guard. Kessler is fighting to maintain full guard but Rakhmanov has managed to sneak the leg through.
Kessler is looking to improve his position.
Kessler moves into full guard.
Rakhmanov trying to control the position from guard on top but Kessler is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rakhmanov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Rakhmanov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kessler wants to sweep here but Rakhmanov controlling him for the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kessler not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Kessler working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rakhmanov.
Rakhmanov is looking to work some ground and pound but Kessler has wrist control.
Kessler tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Rakhmanov told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.
Rakhmanov landing with the ground and pound.
Kessler wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Rakhmanov postures up in Kessler's guard and throws a big left but Kessler blocks it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rakhmanov looking to pass the guard.
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!
Rakhmanov stopping the sweep attempt from Kessler.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mikhail Rakhmanov will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

A big left from Rakhmanov misses.
Rakhmanov throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kessler sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A lazy body kick from Rakhmanov
and Kessler counters with a big head kick but Rakhmanov shrugs it off.
Kessler tried to score with a low kick but Rakhmanov checks it.
Kessler looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Kessler moves out of range as Rakhmanov strikes.
A decent looking cross lands there for Kessler.
Rakhmanov wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Rakhmanov jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Rakhmanov is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Kessler rather than just go for the knockout.
Kessler on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Rakhmanov. Rakhmanov obviously looking to wear him down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kessler slips under a jab.
A chopping leg kick lands by Rakhmanov.
Jack Kessler is winning the standup battle so far.
Rakhmanov scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Rakhmanov looks to score with a jab to the body but Kessler is just out of range.
Rakhmanov throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rakhmanov looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Rakhmanov misses with a looping left.
A combination from Rakhmanov does no damage.
Rakhmanov throws a leg kick but Kessler sees it coming and checks it nicely.
The fighters circling - Kessler throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Rakhmanov misses with a takedown attempt - Kessler sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rakhmanov dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Kessler tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rakhmanov shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Kessler pinned against the cage. Kessler gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Rakhmanov fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Kessler has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Rakhmanov takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Rakhmanov throws a right hand that misses
and Kessler connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
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!
A looping hook to the body misses from Rakhmanov. Kessler does a little dance to reset his feet.
Rakhmanov avoids the body shot from Kessler.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rakhmanov throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Rakhmanov avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Kessler gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Rakhmanov throws a head kick that misses.
Rakhmanov thumps Kessler with a low kick.
Rakhmanov throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Kessler.
Rakhmanov swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A decent looking cross lands there for Rakhmanov.
Rakhmanov checks the leg kick.
Rakhmanov misses the jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rakhmanov moves in looking to clinch but Kessler pushes him off.
Kessler shoots for a takedown but Rakhmanov saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Kessler throws out a powerful jab.
Rakhmanov throws a body punch but Kessler moves out of range.
Rakhmanov fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Rakhmanov misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rakhmanov lands a right hook to the body.
Rakhmanov looks to land a combination but Kessler avoids it well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kessler lands a high kick!
Kessler dodges the punch combination from Rakhmanov.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Mikhail Rakhmanov 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!

Rakhmanov scores with a shot to the body.
Kessler shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Rakhmanov pinned against the cage. Rakhmanov gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Kessler showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rakhmanov.
Kessler misses with an uppercut. Rakhmanov saw that one coming.
Kessler blocks the body kick.
Kessler takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Rakhmanov lands a nice hook to Kessler's body. Kessler takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kessler throws a head kick that Rakhmanov semi-blocks.
A punch lands to the side of Kessler 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Rakhmanov changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Rakhmanov throws a body punch but Kessler moves out of range.
Rakhmanov throws a nice looking combination but Kessler bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Kessler gets caught flat footed, as Rakhmanov shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Kessler keeping moving, preventing Rakhmanov from controlling successfully.
Rakhmanov is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rakhmanov preventing the sweep.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kessler thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Rakhmanov with a nice head shot there.
Kessler wants to sweep but no luck.
Kessler wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Kessler controls Rakhmanov momentarily but Rakhmanov frees himself.
Kessler keeping moving, preventing Rakhmanov from controlling successfully.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Kessler throws a series of punches but Rakhmanov avoids them all with ease.
Jack Kessler has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Donk. Rakhmanov catches Kessler right on the button with a cross.
Rakhmanov slaps away a takedown attempt from Kessler, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Kessler throws a jab when Rakhmanov was well out of range.
Rakhmanov blocks a head kick by Kessler.
Kessler shoots for a takedown but Rakhmanov saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jack Kessler. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rakhmanov's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Rakhmanov duly obliges.
Kessler darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Kessler turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Rakhmanov throws a right and a left that Kessler avoids nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rakhmanov lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
A good leg kick by Kessler.
Kessler cracks Rakhmanov with a right hand to the side of the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nice body punch from Rakhmanov.
Kessler cracks Rakhmanov with an open hand slap.
Rakhmanov scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Rakhmanov misses with a wild body shot.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rakhmanov avoids the head kick by Kessler.
Rakhmanov scores with a nice body kick.
A leg kick checked by Rakhmanov.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mikhail Rakhmanov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Rakhmanov 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mikhail Rakhmanov!
A relieved looking Mikhail Rakhmanov thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.