PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rauta Kansleri (ranked 316 p4p, 46 weight class) and James Neil (ranked 762 p4p, 112 weight class). Kansleri comes to the cage accompanied by U.D.O. - Heart of Gold. Neil comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Allman Brothers Band - Midnight Rider kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! 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.

Kansleri
vs
Neil

192 cm
28
193 lbs
18 - 8 - 0

183 cm
25
193 lbs
10 - 5 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Bullet Proof System
Aspire Clothing

Aspire Clothing

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 18 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Rauta Kansleri!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, James Neil!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Jonathan Paton and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kansleri tries to score with a low kick but Neil moves his leg out of the way.
Kansleri lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Kansleri fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Neil with the counter takedown but Kansleri avoids it easily.
Kansleri throws a looping overhand right but Neil ducks down to avoid it.
Neil tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Kansleri uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
We've been informed that Neil has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Kansleri throws a head kick but Neil moves out of range.
Kansleri misses with a right hand

and Neil counters with a single leg into guard. Kansleri didn't expect that.

Kansleri has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Neil has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
I was talking to Kansleri's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kansleri misses with some punches.
Neil is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Neil lands a left hand that snaps the head of Kansleri backwards.
Neil tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Neil blocking some punches.
Neil blocking some punches.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kansleri.
Kansleri lands with a short shot to the head.
Neil scores with a nice hook to the head.
Neil tries to pull guard but Kansleri won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Neil blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Kansleri breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kansleri looks to land a left hand but Neil moved out of range nicely.
Kansleri lands a jab to Neil's midsection.
A leg kick checked by Neil.
Kansleri scores with a punch to the head.
A chopping leg kick lands by Kansleri.
Kansleri lands with a cross.
Neil moves away from the strike by Kansleri.
The fighters circling - Kansleri throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Neil doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Kansleri cracks the inside of Neil's front leg.
Kansleri swinging wildly here.
Kansleri thows a left - swing and a miss!
Neil is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neil has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Neil there as he acknowledges the shot.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Neil works Kansleri's body with a nice hook.
Kansleri scores with a jab to the jaw.
Kansleri throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Kansleri throws a big shot that misses.
Neil drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Kansleri defends it well.
Kansleri throws a body shot but no joy.
Rauta Kansleri is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kansleri throws the left hand but Neil avoids the punch easily.
Neil lands a nice looking body shot.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Kansleri, as that shot connected.
Kansleri throws a lazy right hand but Neil sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Neil takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Kansleri looks to score with a jab to the body but Neil is just out of range.
Kansleri changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A lazy left from Kansleri finds it's target.
Kansleri connects with a right hand. Neil shakes it off.
Neil moves out of range as Kansleri strikes.
Neil with the counter takedown but Kansleri avoids it easily.
Kansleri throws a quick inside leg kick.
An inside leg kick lands from Kansleri.
Rauta Kansleri seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Neil blocks a low kick nicely.
And Neil tries to counter it with a takedown but Kansleri pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Neil bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Neil feints the counter takedown.
Kansleri looks to land a right hand but Neil moved out of range.
Neil checks a low kick from Kansleri.
Kansleri looks to throw the jab but Neil is out of range.
Kansleri buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Kansleri throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Neil on the side of the head.
Kansleri lands a leg kick that knocks Neil off balance momentarily.
Kansleri attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neil connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kansleri dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Kansleri loads up on a big right hand but Neil slips the punch.
Neil feints the counter takedown.
Kansleri is looking to chop away at Neil's legs.
Neil throws a nice outside leg kick.
Kansleri is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Kansleri misses with a hook.
Kansleri throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Kansleri misses with a straight left.
Neil blocks a jab.
Neil changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
A telegraphed right hand from Kansleri misses the target.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kansleri smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Neil lunges at Kansleri with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Kansleri's hand.
Neil throws a big shot that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rauta Kansleri dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Neil checks the leg kick.
Kansleri is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Neil can do to turn this around?
Kansleri throws out a leg kick but Neil moves out of range and Kansleri only half commits.
Kansleri throws a solid leg kick but Neil takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Kansleri.
Neil moves out of range of the leg kick from Kansleri.
Neil keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kansleri.
Neil avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Neil tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Kansleri misses with an uppercut.
Kansleri misses with a leg kick.
Neil feints the counter takedown.
Kansleri moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kansleri fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Neil checks it well.
Kansleri throws an overhand right that lands on Neil's shoulder, as Neil tries to avoid the shot.
Kansleri lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Nice defenses there by Neil.
Neil changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Neil throws an off balance right hand
and Kansleri counters with a nice uppercut.
Kansleri lands a jab to the nose.
Kansleri connects with a leg kick. Neil looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Kansleri loads up on a big right hand but Neil slips the punch.
Neil throws a right hand that misses
and Kansleri counters with a head kick.
Neil throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kansleri sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A telegraphed right hand from Kansleri misses the target.
Neil throws a head kick but Kansleri moves out of range.
A punch combination from Kansleri misses.
And Neil tries to counter it with a takedown but Kansleri pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Neil bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Neil with the counter takedown but Kansleri avoids it easily.
Kansleri scores with a jab. Neil acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Kansleri throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Kansleri misses with a looping left.
Neil changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Neil blocks a jab.
Neil drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Kansleri defends it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kansleri will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Neil keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Neil loads up on a big right hand but Kansleri slips the punch.
Neil throws a front kick aimed at Kansleri's knee but Kansleri avoids it well.
Neil takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
A punch lands to the side of Neil 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Good work by Neil as he checks the leg kick.
Kansleri swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Kansleri misses the jab.
Neil drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Kansleri defends it well.
Kansleri on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Kansleri lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Neil backs up against the cage.
Kansleri throws a low kick but Neil moves out of range easily.
Rauta Kansleri is winning the standup battle so far.

Neil darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Neil missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Neil lands strikes from half guard.
Kansleri tries to kick Neil off but Neil keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Neil has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Kansleri manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Neil moves away from the strike by Kansleri.
Kansleri lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Kansleri looks to land a left hand but Neil moved out of range nicely.
Neil tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Neil ducks under a wild hook from Kansleri.
Kansleri misses with an uppercut.
Kansleri swings widly with a right hand

and Neil counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Kansleri!
Rauta Kansleri overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kansleri is trying to get back to his feet.
Neil trying to control the action but Kansleri is working from the bottom.
Neil tries to score with some ground and pound. Kansleri controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neil is chipping away with strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Neil scoring with punches from side control.
Kansleri is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Neil is controlling him well.

Kansleri explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!

Kansleri tries to sprawl but Neil drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Ground and pound from Neil.
Neil wants to control but Kansleri is keeping him busy.
Neil thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Kansleri's head.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Kansleri pushes Neil off looking to stand but Neil dives back in and keeps control.
Neil not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Kansleri blocking the ground and pound attempt from Neil.
Kansleri is trying to stand up here but Neil is controlling him well.
Neil thows a huge punch but Kansleri dodges it nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rauta Kansleri dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Neil ducks under a wild hook from Kansleri.
Kansleri thows a left - swing and a miss!
Kansleri connects with a solid leg kick.
Kansleri looks to throw the jab but Neil is out of range.
Kansleri pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Neil is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Neil keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kansleri.
Kansleri throws a shot from downtown. Neil moves away and avoids it.
Neil drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Kansleri defends it well.
Neil throws a sloppy head kick and Kansleri moves out of range easily.
Nice uppercut there from Kansleri.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Some bone on bone action there as Neil checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Kansleri misses with a head kick.
Kansleri tries to score with a low kick but Neil moves his leg out of the way.
Neil changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Kansleri throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Neil tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A chopping leg kick lands by Kansleri.
A slow jab from Kansleri misses its intended target.
Neil is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Neil looks to land a body kick but Kansleri moved away.
Kansleri throwing a counter right hand but Neil manages to avoid it.
Neil throws a head kick but Kansleri moves out of range.
A big right from Kansleri misses.
Kansleri's corner calls for a 1-2. Kansleri obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Kansleri sizes up Neil with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Nice defenses there by Neil.
Neil checks the leg kick.
Neil throws a body shot but no joy.
Nice cross by Kansleri.
Kansleri just misses with a punch to the body.
Kansleri throws a leg kick but Neil checks it.
James Neil has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kansleri checks a low kick from Neil.
Kansleri throws a leg kick but Neil sees it coming and moves out of range.
A telegraphed right hand from Kansleri misses the target.
Kansleri throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Kansleri connects with a crisp jab.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kansleri throws a leg kick but Neil sees it coming and moves out of range.
Kansleri walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Neil checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Kansleri lands with a thumping leg kick.
Neil has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Kansleri digs a good hook to Neil's body.
Neil moves forwards but Kansleri connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Neil is looking to land body kicks.
Kansleri misses with a two punch combination.
Kansleri chopping away at his opponent's legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A good leg kick by Kansleri.
Kansleri misses with a leg kick.
Neil throws a hook to the side of Kansleri's head but Kansleri sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Neil throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Kansleri stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Neil throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kansleri lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Kansleri throws a nice outside leg kick.
A jab from Kansleri misses.
Kansleri attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Kansleri just misses with a punch to the body.
Neil throws a sloppy head kick and Kansleri moves out of range easily.
Kansleri connects with a leg kick. Neil looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neil lands a nice looking body shot.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Neil will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Kansleri swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Kansleri throws a leg kick which misses Neil's front leg but catches the back leg as Neil tries to avoid it.
Kansleri connects with an inside leg kick.
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!
Kansleri scores with a nice head shot.
Kansleri chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Neil can pounce on him.
Neil throws a jab but it's blocked by Kansleri.
Neil stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Kansleri.
Kansleri lands an overhand right.
Kansleri throws a leg kick that misses.
Kansleri throws a shot from downtown. Neil moves away and avoids it.
Kansleri scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Neil keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
And Neil tries to counter it with a takedown but Kansleri pushes his down on his head and steps out.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rauta Kansleri showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Kansleri, 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 John Kavanagh scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rauta Kansleri!
After the fight, Rauta Kansleri was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.
James Neil spoke after the fight, saying 'No comment.'.