PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Johann Kessler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Macaulay Culkin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kessler comes into the arena with Coal Chamber - Burgundy blaring out of the sound system. Culkin has chosen Already Dead as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Kessler
vs
Culkin

181 cm
31
179 lbs
23 - 12 - 0

182 cm
24
175 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 23 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Johann Kessler!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Macaulay Culkin!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Alec Ball and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kessler takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

Kessler closes the distance and pushes Culkin back into the cage.
The referee calls for Kessler to work.
Kessler with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
A short body shot lands from Culkin as the two fighters clinch.
Kessler holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Kessler tries to land a knee to the head but Culkin blocks with his arms.
Culkin tries to break free but Kessler pushes him back against the cage.
A knee to the head by Kessler.
Kessler misses with a body punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kessler stalling the fight.
Culkin wants to get back to striking at distance but Kessler won't allow it.
Kessler trying to land knees to the body.
Culkin prevents a body shot from Kessler.
Kessler lands a knee to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Culkin blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Culkin is trying to break the clinch but Kessler is controlling him.

Culkin manages to break the clinch.
Crunch! Kessler slams his shin into Culkin's torso.
Culkin works Kessler's body with a nice hook.
Culkin tries to work over Kessler's front leg with a kick but Kessler checks it.
Kessler lands with an uppercut that bounces Culkin off the cage and back into range.
Kessler pushes Culkin away with a front kick.

Kessler forces Culkin back against the cage and clinches.
Kessler displaying some good clinch control by pressing Culkin up against the cage.
Kessler lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A short body shot lands from Kessler as the two fighters clinch.
Culkin is trying to force a seperation but Kessler has the dominant position.
Kessler unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Kessler misses with a punch on the inside.
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!
Kessler misses with the head strike.
Culkin prevents a body shot from Kessler.
Kessler has Culkin pressed against the cage.
Kessler misses with the head strike.
Kessler lands a nice knee to the body.
Kessler missing with knees to the body.
Kessler is stalling here.

Culkin breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kessler moves into range and clinches up with Culkin.
Kessler slowing the pace effectively.
Kessler lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Culkin.
Kessler tries to land knees in the clinch but Culkin avoids the damage to the body.
Kessler tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Kessler misses with a knee strike.
Kessler lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Culkin or not.
Still in the clinch, Kessler scores with a nice short uppercut.
Culkin has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Kessler seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Culkin can turn it around.
Kessler tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Culkin avoids it.
Kessler unloads a knee to the mid-section. Culkin lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Kessler is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Culkin is defending well for now.
A short right from Kessler on the inside.
Kessler missing with knees to the body.
Kessler misses with some punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kessler keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Culkin's efforts to push away.
Kessler manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Kessler tries to work over Culkin's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Kessler tries to throw a body punch but Culkin avoids it by throwing Kessler back against the cage.
Kessler lands with a short shot to the head.
Culkin tries to circle away but Kessler has him pinned against the cage.
Kessler gets through Culkin's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kessler misses with a knee to the head.
Kessler keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Culkin's efforts to push away.
Kessler tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Culkin's elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johann Kessler dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Kessler connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

Kessler pushes Culkin up against the cage in a clinch.
Kessler is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Culkin is defending well for now.
Kessler misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Culkin.
Johann Kessler has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Culkin is trying to break the clinch but Kessler is controlling him.
Kessler stalling.
Culkin wants to break the clinch but can't.
Culkin tries to circle away but Kessler has him pinned against the cage.
Kessler tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Kessler throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Culkins head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Culkin tries to break the clinch but Kessler is controlling the position.
Knees to the body from Kessler.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Kessler.
Culkin is trying to force a seperation but Kessler has the dominant position.
Kessler misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Culkin.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kessler lands a shot to the body.
Culkin tries to circle away but Kessler has him pinned against the cage.
Kessler tries to throw a body punch but Culkin avoids it by throwing Kessler back against the cage.
Kessler is struggling to control the position.
Kessler misses with a hook to the ribs.
Kessler missing with knees to the body.
Culkin blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Kessler goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Culkin has had enough of the clinch but Kessler keeps him there for the moment.
A hook to the body from Kessler.
Kessler lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Kessler is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Culkin can do to turn this around?
A short right from Kessler.
Kessler tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kessler tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Kessler misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Stalling in the clinch from Kessler.
Culkin wants to break free but Kessler has control.
Kessler throws a head punch that misses.
Kessler keeps control of Culkin as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Kessler tries to work over Culkin's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Culkin wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Kessler has him pressed against the cage.
Kessler misses with a knee to the head.
A bit of stalling here from Kessler.
Culkin is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Kessler misses with a body punch.
Kessler stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kessler misses with a knee strike.
Kessler stalling.
Culkin is trying to push Kessler away but Kessler has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Culkin blocks an uppercut.
Culkin tries to break free but Kessler pushes him back against the cage.
Kessler goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Kessler keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Culkin's efforts to push away.
Kessler holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Culkin has had enough of the clinch but Kessler keeps him there for the moment.
Kessler will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Culkin up against the cage.
Culkin blocks an uppercut.

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.
Kessler doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Kessler pressing his opponent against the cage.
Kessler looking to throw knees to the head but Culkin is blocking nicely.
Kessler lands a hook to the side of the head.
Knees in the clinch landing for Kessler.
Kessler lands a hook that snaps the head of Culkin backwards.

Culkin escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kessler feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Culkin's calf.
Macaulay Culkin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kessler tries to close the distance and clinch but Culkin swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Kessler drives through with a takedown into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johann Kessler dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Kessler has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
A looping hook to the body misses from Culkin. Kessler does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kessler darts in trying to clinch
letting Culkin counter with a right hand.
Kessler fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Kessler fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Culkin, pushing him back against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kessler.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kessler misses with a knee to the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Culkin.
Kessler missing with knees to the body.
A right handed body shot lands from Kessler.
Kessler will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Culkin up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kessler tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Culkin takes a shot to the head.
Kessler tries to land a knee to the head but Culkin blocks with his arms.
Culkin wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Kessler misses with a punch to the body.
Culkin is trying to break the clinch but Kessler is controlling him.
Culkin working hard to break the clinch.
Kessler working aggressively here.
Kessler has Culkin pressed against the cage, preventing Culkin from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Come on Kessler - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Kessler misses with a body punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kessler.
Kessler is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Culkin is defending well for now.
Kessler misses with a punch to the body.
Culkin is trying to break the clinch but Kessler is controlling him.
The referee calls for Culkin to work.
Kessler misses with a punch to the body.
Kessler can't find room to land a body shot as Culkin controls the action.
Kessler lands with a left to the head.
Culkin avoiding damage as Kessler throws knees to the body.
Kessler swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Culkin being controlled against the cage.
Kessler swings wildly with an uppercut but Culkin uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Culkin tries to break the clinch but Kessler is controlling the position.
Culkin wants to break free but Kessler has control.
Stalling in the clinch from Kessler.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Kessler.
Kessler misses with a knee to the head.
Kessler stalling the fight.
Kessler misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Kessler pushes Culkin back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Kessler.
Kessler misses with a punch to the body.
Kessler scores with a shot to the side of Culkin's head.
Kessler tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Culkin managing to block the knees to the body from Kessler.
Culkin tries to break free but Kessler pushes him back against the cage.
Culkin has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Kessler missing with knees to the body.
Kessler tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Nice body punch from Kessler - that landed with a thud.
Culkin is trying to break free.
Kessler lands a left hand.
Culkin avoiding damage as Kessler throws knees to the body.
Culkin is trying to break the clinch but Kessler is controlling him.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Culkin blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Kessler goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Macaulay Culkin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A frustrated look appears on Culkin's face as he tries to break the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Johann Kessler showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Kessler, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Yves DeLean scores the fight 30:26
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 30:26
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Johann Kessler!
Johann Kessler thanked the fans post fight for their support.