PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Johann Kessler (ranked 3163 p4p, 385 weight class) and Macaulay Culkin (ranked 4636 p4p, 506 weight class). Kessler comes to the cage accompanied by Coal Chamber - Burgundy. Culkin comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Already Dead kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Kessler
vs
Culkin

181 cm
34
179 lbs
27 - 14 - 1

182 cm
26
175 lbs
4 - 3 - 1

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 - 1, 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 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Macaulay Culkin!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Dillan Fox and Alec Ball.

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.
Culkin misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Culkin misses the jab.
Kessler lands with a good body shot.
Kessler tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Culkin paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Culkin changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

Culkin gets caught flat footed, as Kessler shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Culkin pushes Kessler off and gets back to his feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kessler thows a left - swing and a miss!
Culkin throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Kessler.
Culkin throws a nice looking combination but Kessler bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Kessler wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Culkin fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Kessler throws a body punch but Culkin moves out of range.
Culkin looks like he wants to counter punch here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kessler throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Kessler takes a swing at Culkin's ribcage but misses.
Johann Kessler seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kessler goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Kessler misses with the body kick
letting Culkin counter with a right hand.
Culkin looks to land a combination but Kessler avoids it well.
Kessler looks to clinch
and Culkin counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Kessler closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Kessler creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Culkin sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Culkin is pushing Kessler's head away, looking to escape. Kessler manages to hold on to the position though.
The ground and pound from Kessler seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Kessler working the ground and pound from side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kessler lands a decent elbow from side control.
Kessler prevents Culkin from escaping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kessler wants to control but Culkin is keeping him busy.
Kessler in side control lands a decent elbow.
Kessler is looking to take a break and control but Culkin is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Culkin managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Kessler.
Culkin regains half guard there - taking advantage of Kessler's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Kessler slips a nice elbow through Culkin's hands, connecting with Culkin's forehead.
Kessler wants to lay and pray for a moment but Culkin keeps working.
Kessler is looking to advance position but Culkin won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kessler throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Culkin scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Kessler manages to mount him!
Culkin wants to try and get back to his feet.
Kessler fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Kessler with a couple of short strikes.
Kessler unloads with some shots from mount but Culkin bucks and avoids them well.
Kessler trying to control but Culkin is having none of it.
Kessler raining down hammerfists from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kessler working the ground and pound effectively.
Kessler connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
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 fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Kessler scores with a couple of good head shots there.
A nice elbow there by Kessler.
Kessler working the ground and pound effectively.

Culkin is rocked!
BOOM! Kessler connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Culkin is still in real trouble! Can Kessler finish him?
Kessler thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Culkin seems to have recovered his senses.
Kessler won't let Culkin get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Culkin in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Culkin tries to buck Kessler off but he can't manage it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johann Kessler dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Culkin fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kessler manages to avoid it.
Culkin misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Kessler drops down looking for a counter takedown but Culkin sprawls and moves away.
Donk. Culkin catches Kessler right on the button with a cross.
Kessler connects with a body shot that sends Culkin's belly button to the back.
Kessler feints and then cracks Culkin's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Culkin down.
Kessler shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Culkin as he avoids it easily.
Culkin now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Kessler shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Culkin but Culkin pushes him off and we're back to square one.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Culkin! But no joy.
A punch combination from Culkin misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Culkin keeps the fight on the outside.
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 thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Culkin if he has to take too many more of those.
Culkin fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kessler forces Culkin back against the cage and clinches.
Kessler throws a knee to the head but misses.
Culkin is looking to break free of the clinch but Kessler has double underhooks.
Kessler misses with a punch to the body.
Kessler lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Culkin or not.
Kessler has Culkin pressed against the cage, preventing Culkin from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Kessler misses with some punches.
Culkin blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Culkin has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Kessler with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Kessler misses with a hook to the ribs.
Kessler holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Kessler lands with a left to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Culkin is trying to break free.
Culkin blocks a body shot from Kessler.
Kessler tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Kessler misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Culkin wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Kessler has him pressed against the cage.
Kessler throws a head punch that misses.
Culkin's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Kessler working aggressively here.
Kessler tries a knee to the head but Culkin blocks it.
Kessler controlling the action here for a moment.
Kessler lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kessler has a couple of punches blocked by Culkin.
Kessler lands a hook that snaps the head of Culkin backwards.
Culkin's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
A short right hand to the side of the head by Kessler.
Kessler manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Kessler is struggling to control the position.
Kessler lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Culkin backwards.
Kessler misses with a knee strike.
Culkin is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Kessler using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Culkin has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
A frustrated look appears on Culkin's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kessler tries a body shot but Culkin blocks it.
Culkin prevents a body shot from Kessler.
Kessler lands a right hand.
Kessler swings wildly with an uppercut but Culkin uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kessler tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kessler can't find room to land a body shot as Culkin controls the action.
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.
Kessler goes for a body shot 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.
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 short left from Kessler.
Culkin tries to break free but Kessler pushes him back against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johann Kessler dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Culkin looks to score with a jab to the body but Kessler is just out of range.
Kessler lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Kessler tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Culkin throws a counter combo.
Left hook, right uppercut from Culkin.
Culkin takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Culkin slaps away a takedown attempt from Kessler, before circling back to the center of the mat.
As Kessler backs off Culkin throws a huge counter combo but Kessler manages to avoid it all.
Culkin misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kessler ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Culkin moves away.
Kessler is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Culkin can do to turn this around?
Donk. Culkin catches Kessler right on the button with a cross.
Culkin lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
A slapping body kick lands there for Kessler.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Culkin throws a right hand that Kessler ducks under and follows up with a left that Kessler also avoids with ease.
Kessler tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Culkin manages to circle out of the way.
Kessler misses with a shot to the body
and Culkin counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Kessler is rocked!
Kessler lands with a nice body kick.
Kessler tries to close the distance and clinch but Culkin swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Culkin throws a series of punches but Kessler avoids them all with ease.
Kessler attempts a counter takedown but Culkin avoids it well and moves away.
Donk. Kessler catches Culkin right on the button with a cross.
Culkin looks for the body kick but Kessler saw that one coming.

Kessler gets a clinch.
Johann Kessler has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Culkin is trying to push Kessler away but Kessler has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Kessler with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Kessler fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
The referee is keeping an eye on Kessler - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kessler.

Culkin's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kessler tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Culkin was well out of range. Poor timing from Kessler.
Some wild striking there from Culkin.
As Culkin tries to get set, Kessler tries to push him back and clinch up but Culkin manages to avoid the attempt.
Culkin misses with a looping left.
Kessler is looking to counter punch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kessler works Culkin's body with a nice hook.
Kessler tries to clinch up.
Culkin throws a nice looking combination but Kessler bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Kessler has closed the distance and engaged Culkin in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kessler tries to land knees in the clinch but Culkin avoids the damage to the body.
Kessler misses with a body punch.
Kessler misses with a hook to the ribs.
Kessler misses with a punch to the body.
Culkin is trying to break the clinch but Kessler has him pressed against the cage.
Kessler lands a hook that snaps the head of Culkin backwards.
Kessler tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Culkin is trying to break the clinch but Kessler is controlling him.
Kessler working aggressively here.
Kessler prevents Culkin from breaking the clinch.
Kessler goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Kessler throws a punch but it's blocked by Culkin.

Culkin breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kessler fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Macaulay Culkin seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Culkin misses with the combination.
Culkin lands the left hand.

Kessler darts in and clinches Culkin up against the cage.
Culkin takes a knee to the side of the body.
Kessler scores with a knee to the head.
Kessler tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Culkin's elbow.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kessler tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Culkin's elbow.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Culkin.
Macaulay Culkin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Culkin letting Kessler take a breather here.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Johann Kessler.
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 Robert Douchet scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 30:27

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