PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Johann Kessler (ranked 2859 p4p, 366 weight class) and Macaulay Culkin (ranked 4503 p4p, 493 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Kessler might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Coal Chamber - Burgundy. Culkin is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Already Dead. Johann Kessler has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Kessler
vs
Culkin

181 cm
34
179 lbs
27 - 14 - 0

182 cm
26
175 lbs
4 - 3 - 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 27 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Johann Kessler!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Macaulay Culkin!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Dillan Fox and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Culkin throws a nice looking combination but Kessler bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Kessler clinches.
Kessler lands a nice uppercut.
Kessler has Culkin pushed against the cage.
Culkin has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Culkin on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Kessler throws a head punch that misses.

Culkin breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kessler takes one to the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Culkin connects with a body shot that sends Kessler's belly button to the back.
A slow jab from Culkin misses its intended target.
A cross from Culkin lands.
Culkin on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Kessler misses with a body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Culkin looks to land a left hand but Kessler moved out of range nicely.
Culkin pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Culkin gets caught napping as Kessler dives in and scores a takedown. Culkin manages to retain guard.

Culkin kicks Kessler off and gets to his feet.
Culkin throws a series of punches but Kessler avoids them all with ease.
Culkin avoids the head kick by Kessler.
A punch combination from Culkin misses.
Kessler throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Culkin lands with a nice body punch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Culkin uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Kessler has time to react.
Kessler fails with the takedown
and Kessler takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kessler lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Culkin lands a nice looking body shot.
Some wild striking there from Kessler.
Kessler doesn't manage to clinch there - Culkin circles away.

Kessler pushes Culkin up against the cage in a clinch.
Culkin prevents a body shot from Kessler.
Kessler tries to throw a body punch but Culkin avoids it by throwing Kessler back against the cage.
Kessler with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Kessler has Culkin pushed against the cage.
Kessler swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Kessler has a couple of punches blocked by Culkin.
Kessler tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Culkin can't break the clinch.
Kessler struggles to land a body shot inside as Culkin controls his hands.
Culkin blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Culkin is trying to break the clinch but Kessler has him pressed against the cage.
Kessler misses with a short punch on the inside.
Culkin blocks a body shot from Kessler.
Culkin has had enough of the clinch but Kessler keeps him there for the moment.
Kessler throws a knee to the head but misses.
Kessler fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kessler.
Kessler misses with a punch to the body.
Kessler with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Kessler effectively controlling the action here.
Kessler throws a punch but it's blocked by Culkin.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kessler is stalling here.
Kessler lands with a right to the head.
Kessler lands with a short head shot on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Kessler fails to land.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Kessler obliges.
Culkin is trying to break the clinch but Kessler is controlling him.

Culkin pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Kessler connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

Kessler scores with a takedown into Culkin's guard.

Culkin uses the cage to get back to his feet.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kessler lands a front kick.
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 Johann Kessler will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Culkin waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Kessler.
Kessler keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kessler throws a head kick that misses.

Kessler has managed to clinch.
Culkin wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Kessler lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Kessler misses with a knee to the head.

Culkin breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Johann Kessler seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Some wild striking there from Culkin.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Culkin looks to score with a jab to the body but Kessler is just out of range.
Culkin misses with a looping right.

Kessler closes the distance and clinches.
Culkin looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kessler misses with a body punch.
Kessler misses with a short punch on the inside.
Kessler works on Culkin's body with a couple of short punches.
Kessler misses with a hook to the ribs.
Kessler throws a head punch that misses.
Kessler throws a punch but it's blocked by Culkin.
Culkin looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Kessler lands a hook that snaps the head of Culkin backwards.
Kessler doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Kessler lands an uppercut.
Johann Kessler has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Kessler lands a right hand that snaps the head of Culkin backwards.
Culkin blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Kessler misses with a body punch.
Culkin blocking some punches.
Kessler stalling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kessler tries to throw a body punch but Culkin avoids it by throwing Kessler back against the cage.
Kessler tries a body shot but Culkin blocks it.
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 misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Culkin.
Kessler tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Kessler tries to throw a body punch but Culkin avoids it by throwing Kessler back against the cage.

Culkin breaks from the clinch.
Kessler throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Kessler shoots in looking for a takedown but Culkin manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Kessler's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Kessler throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Kessler throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
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!
Culkin throws a shot from downtown. Kessler moves away and avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kessler fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kessler fails in his attempt to clinch.
Culkin misses with a hook to the body

and Kessler counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Kessler.
Kessler goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Kessler lands with a left to the head.
Kessler goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Culkin blocks an uppercut.
Kessler tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Kessler misses with a body punch.
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 throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Culkin blocks it with crossed arms.
Culkin blocks a body shot from Kessler.
Kessler misses with a punch to the body.

Culkin breaks from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kessler tries to close the distance and clinch up but Culkin swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Culkin rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kessler moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Culkin jabs Kessler to the body, keeping him at a distance.
A thudding body kick lands there by Kessler!
Culkin lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Kessler backs up against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kessler is trying hard to land a takedown here. Culkin sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Culkin will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Kessler wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.

Kessler shoots in and bounces Culkin off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Culkin manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Culkin circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kessler uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Culkin.
Kessler shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Culkin but Culkin pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Culkin takes a swing at Kessler's ribcage but misses.
Kessler seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Culkin bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Kessler's head backwards.

Kessler clinches up against the cage.
Kessler keeps control of Culkin as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Kessler looking to slow down the pace here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kessler tries to land knees in the clinch but Culkin avoids the damage to the body.
Culkin wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
A left hand lands to the body for Kessler.
Stalling in the clinch from Kessler.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kessler tries a body shot but Culkin blocks it.
Kessler with a knee to the head.
Kessler fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Kessler misses with a punch to the body.
Kessler struggles to land a body shot inside as Culkin controls his hands.
Kessler misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Culkin.

Culkin pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Kessler dodges the punch combination from Culkin.
Culkin scores with a jab. Kessler acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

Kessler has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kessler lands a nice shot to the body.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kessler.
Kessler tries to throw a body punch but Culkin avoids it by throwing Kessler back against the cage.

Culkin's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Culkin with a hook.
Kessler tries to clinch up but Culkin circles away and keeps his distance.
It seemed like Culkin was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Culkin scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

Kessler is rocked!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kessler tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Culkin rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kessler moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Kessler throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Kessler pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kessler staying out of range there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Culkin tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kessler was well out of range. Poor timing from Culkin.
Culkin scores with a hook.
Kessler cracks the inside of Culkin's front leg.
Kessler throws a head kick but Culkin moves out of range.
Despite the aggression on Culkin's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Kessler tries to clinch up.
Culkin avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Culkin looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Kessler misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Macaulay Culkin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kessler scores with a kick to the body.
Kessler uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Culkin.
Kessler avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Culkin throws a lazy right hand but Kessler sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Macaulay Culkin seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kessler goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Nice defenses there by Culkin.

Kessler forces Culkin back against the cage and clinches.
Kessler tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Kessler throws a head punch that misses.
Kessler tries a knee to the head but Culkin blocks it.
Kessler lands a body shot in the clinch.
Kessler misses with a knee strike.
Kessler misses with some punches.
Kessler keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Culkin's efforts to push away.
Culkin blocks a body shot from Kessler.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Macaulay Culkin.
I think Kessler has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Ian Loll scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 29:29
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!