PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dimentiy Boykin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jack Kessler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Boykin comes to the cage accompanied by Пересмотри. Kessler has chosen Yattering - Chase of Thoughts as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. On his way into the cage it seems that Dimentiy Boykin has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Dimentiy Boykin seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Boykin
vs
Kessler

197 cm
37
275 lbs
29 - 25 - 0

185 cm
31
203 lbs
20 - 15 - 0

BJJ Red Belt
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 29 - 25 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Dimentiy Boykin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jack Kessler!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kessler will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Boykin half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Some bone on bone action there as Boykin checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Boykin shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Kessler sprawls well. Kessler wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Boykin gets slowly back to his feet.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Kessler has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Kessler uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Boykin.
Kessler pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Boykin tries to close the distance and clinch but Kessler swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Kessler gets a double leg takedown into Boykin's guard.

Boykin isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Kessler stacks Boykin on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Kessler!
Boykin manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Kessler preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Kessler wants to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boykin wants to pass the guard but Kessler is defending well.

Boykin is working for a kimura but Kessler is defending it quite comfortably.
Kessler regains full guard. Nicely done.
Boykin controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Boykin postures up.
Kessler is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Kessler keeping full guard, as Boykin tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Boykin postures up in Kessler's guard and throws a big left but Kessler blocks it.
Boykin wants to control from the top but Kessler keeps moving.

Kessler looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kessler is controlling Boykin's posture.
Boykin slips nicely into half guard.
Boykin is looking to take a break and control but Kessler is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kessler is defending against the submission attempts here by Boykin.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kessler wants to control but Boykin is keeping busy and won't allow it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Kessler misses with a body kick.

Boykin shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
We've been hearing that Boykin has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Boykin postures up.
Boykin forces his way into half guard.

Boykin is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Kessler defends it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kessler is looking to control Boykin's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Kessler avoid being mounted?

Boykin is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Kessler sees it coming and defends easily.

Boykin is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Kessler wants to control but Boykin is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Boykin blocks the strikes from Kessler.
Kessler is controlling Boykin's trapped leg to prevent Boykin from advancing to side control.

Boykin seems to be trying to get a kimura but instead Kessler has recovered full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Dimentiy Boykin will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Boykin fails with a takedown attempt.
Kessler cracks Boykin with an open hand slap.
Boykin throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Kessler.
Despite the aggression on Kessler's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Boykin 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.
A nice inside leg kick there by Kessler. That's going to slow Boykin down.
Kessler tries to land a front kick but Boykin steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

Kessler tries to sprawl but Boykin drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Boykin is keen to just control but Kessler is a slippery customer.
Boykin prevents Kessler from improving his position.

Boykin 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. Boykin eventually gives up the hold.
Kessler wants to control but Boykin is keeping busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Boykin is looking for a kimura here.
Kessler trying to control but Boykin postures up.
Kessler tries to roll over but Boykin keeps him under control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Boykin is keen to just control but Kessler is a slippery customer.
Boykin is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Kessler reverses the position - he's now on top in Boykin's guard.
Boykin keeping moving, preventing Kessler from controlling successfully.
Kessler must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Kessler trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Kessler chips away with some ground and pound.

Boykin looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Kessler has picked Boykin up and slammed him! Boykin can't keep hold of the triangle and Kessler manages to pass to side control!
Boykin sneaks back into half guard.
Boykin is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boykin controlling the position for now.

Boykin looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Kessler wants to lay and pray for a moment but Boykin keeps working.
Boykin trying to control but Kessler postures up.
Kessler looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Boykin with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Boykin is looking to control Kessler's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Boykin avoid being mounted?
The fighters are battling for position here. Boykin manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Kessler postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Boykin escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Kessler gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Boykin is trying to keep Kessler in close.
Kessler throws a big elbow that misses.
Kessler throwing strikes but missing.
Kessler makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Boykin is looking for a triangle but Kessler pushes his legs off easily.
Kessler missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kessler trying to control but Boykin is working from the bottom.
Kessler is stalling in the full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jack Kessler will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Boykin's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Boykin tries to sprawl but Kessler drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Kessler passes to side control.
Boykin is looking to regain half guard here but Kessler keeps moving and retains side control.
Kessler is chipping away with strikes.
Kessler grinds an elbow into Boykin's temple.
Jack Kessler has got the better of the ground game so far.
Boykin is looking to regain half guard here but Kessler keeps moving and retains side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kessler lands a decent elbow from side control.
Kessler trying to control the action but Boykin is working from the bottom.

Kessler is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Boykin knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kessler is looking to take a break and control but Boykin is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Boykin defending against the ground and pound.
Boykin manages to get back to half guard.
Boykin is trying to control but can't.
Boykin blocking the ground and pound attempt from Kessler.
Boykin has hold of Kessler's hands but Kessler slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Boykin moves into full guard.
Kessler trying to control the position from guard on top but Boykin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Boykin looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Kessler missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Kessler postures up and lands a big shot to Boykin's brow.

Kessler avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Kessler slips nicely into half guard.
Kessler sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Boykin defending well though.
Boykin is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Boykin looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Boykin trying to control but Kessler postures up.
Boykin is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Ground and pound from Kessler.
Kessler looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Kessler thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Boykin's head.

Boykin actively working from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Boykin is refusing to be controlled, as Kessler sits in half guard.
Kessler is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Boykin trying to control from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Kessler misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Boykin scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Kessler won't allow Boykin to pass to mount.
Kessler is pressing down on Boykin's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Boykin trying to control but Kessler is working from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Boykin stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kessler swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kessler keeping moving, preventing Boykin from controlling successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jack Kessler comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Kessler 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jack Kessler!
After winning the bout, Jack Kessler thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.