PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Conor Harris (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johann Kessler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kessler is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Coal Chamber - Burgundy. This should be fireworks!

Harris
vs
Kessler

190 cm
29
186 lbs
15 - 12 - 0

181 cm
29
179 lbs
17 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
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 15 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Conor Harris!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Johann Kessler!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, David Schapiro and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Some bone on bone action there as Harris checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Harris scores with a crisp jab that stopped Kessler in his tracks.
Harris thows a leg kick but Kessler checks it

and Kessler counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Harris prevents a body shot from Kessler.

Harris breaks from the clinch.
Kessler misses with a wild combination.
Kessler throws a nice inside leg kick.
Harris throws a series of punches but Kessler avoids them all with ease.
Harris will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kessler clinches up with Harris and pushes him back against the cage.
Kessler tries to land a knee to the head but Harris blocks with his arms.
Harris is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Kessler is keeping busy.
Kessler tries to throw a body punch but Harris avoids it by throwing Kessler back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Harris breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Harris misses with a double jab

and Kessler moves into the clinch.
Kessler takes a knee to the side of the body.
Kessler misses with some punches.
Kessler trying to land knees to the body.
Kessler missing with knees to the body.
Kessler working aggressively here.

Harris pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Harris tries to score with a low kick but Kessler moves his leg out of the way.
Harris pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Harris throws a big shot that misses.
Kessler tries to land a body kick

and Harris counters with a leg kick then a big left hand that sends Kessler down! Harris is looking to finish but Kessler is intelligently defending himself.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kessler looking to hit a scissor sweep but Harris is one step ahead there.
Harris would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kessler wants to sweep here but Harris controlling him for the moment.

Harris gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Kessler moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Kessler moves out of range of the body kick from Harris.
Kessler tries to clinch up but Harris circles away and keeps his distance.
Harris misses with a few strikes there.
Kessler tries to clinch but Harris moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kessler tries to clinch up but Harris circles away and keeps his distance.
Kessler lands a right hook to the body.
Kessler throws a leg kick that is checked
and Harris counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Kessler tries to clinch up but Harris circles away and keeps his distance.
Conor Harris seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Harris throws a nice looking combination but Kessler bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Harris throws a series of punches but Kessler avoids them all with ease.
Kessler goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Kessler attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Harris scores with a leg kick.
Kessler throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Kessler checks a leg kick.
Harris misses with a jab, cross combination.
Harris swats away the attempt to clinch by Kessler.
Harris with a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kessler is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Harris attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Kessler lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Kessler lands a nice shot to the body.

Kessler moves into the clinch successfully.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Kessler.
Harris blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Harris using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Harris blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Kessler looking to throw knees to the head but Harris is blocking nicely.

Harris's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Harris on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Kessler tries to clinch there but Harris circles away.
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 Conor Harris will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Nice uppercut there from Kessler.
Harris lunges at Kessler with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Kessler's hand.
Harris swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Harris sets himself, and Kessler steps forward looking for the clinch! Harris avoids it this time.
Conor Harris is winning the standup battle so far.
Harris ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Harris throws a solid leg kick but Kessler takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Harris.
Harris lands a nice shot to the body.
Harris throws a 1-2 combo that connects squarely on Kessler's jaw, knocking him onto his back! Harris dives in looking to finish as Kessler flails his arms in a desperate attempt to block Harris's strikes! Harris is raining down hammerfists and the ref stops it! Kessler's desperate flailing just didn't constitute intelligent defence. Some people will probably question the ref's decision but Kessler was definitely hurt and the ref saved him from taking unnecessary punishment. A fighter's safety is paramount in this sport.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:30 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Conor Harris!