PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Eksem Von Ketler (ranked 1618 p4p, 176 weight class) and Haislan Garcia (ranked 1347 p4p, 148 weight class). Von Ketler comes into the arena with Bonecracker- Shocore blaring out of the sound system. 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.

Von Ketler
vs
Garcia

166 cm
33
153 lbs
24 - 13 - 0

175 cm
29
155 lbs
16 - 7 - 1

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 24 - 13 - 0, fighting out of New York, Eksem Von Ketler!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Haislan Garcia!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Wagner Zegers and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Garcia swats away the attempt to clinch by Von Ketler.
Von Ketler throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Von Ketler is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Garcia.
Von Ketler misses with a takedown attempt
and Garcia counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Von Ketler lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Von Ketler avoids the body shot from Garcia.
Garcia looks to throw the jab but Von Ketler is out of range.
Von Ketler with a poor takedown
and Garcia counters with a low kick, right behind Von Ketler 's knee.
Garcia keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Von Ketler tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Garcia manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Garcia takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Garcia on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Garcia tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Von Ketler is able to avoid easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garcia throws a low kick but Von Ketler moves out of range easily.
A swing and a miss from Von Ketler.
Von Ketler throws a hook but Garcia avoids it easily.
Von Ketler throws a lazy uppercut
and Garcia counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Garcia lands with a right hand.
Von Ketler punishes Garcia's body with a nice straight punch.
Von Ketler misses with a body shot.
Von Ketler missing with a left hand there. Garcia was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Von Ketler misses with a body shot.
Garcia throws a jab when Von Ketler was well out of range.
Garcia looks to land a combination. Von Ketler sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Von Ketler fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Garcia avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eksem Von Ketler. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Von Ketler ducks under a wild hook from Garcia.
Von Ketler misses with a hook. Garcia ducked under it nicely.
Von Ketler misses with a few strikes there.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Von Ketler clobbers Garcia with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Garcia on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Von Ketler closes the distance looking to clinch
and Garcia makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Garcia cracks Von Ketler with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Von Ketler scores with a body shot.
Von Ketler swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Von Ketler misses with a left hand
and Garcia counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Eksem Von Ketler seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Von Ketler has a takedown stuffed.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garcia throws a leg kick which misses Von Ketler's front leg but catches the back leg as Von Ketler tries to avoid it.
Von Ketler throws a low kick but Garcia avoids it.
Von Ketler tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Garcia counters with a nice uppercut.
Von Ketler moves away from the strike by Garcia.
Von Ketler is looking to clinch.
Garcia finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.

Von Ketler darts in and clinches Garcia up against the cage.
Garcia lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

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

Von Ketler scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Garcia's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Garcia is looking to regain half guard here but Von Ketler keeps moving and retains side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Garcia manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Garcia is looking to advance position but Von Ketler won't allow it.

Von Ketler actively working from the bottom here.
Von Ketler wants to get back to full guard.
Von Ketler gets back to full guard.
Garcia is stalling in the full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Haislan Garcia will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Garcia throws a leg kick but Von Ketler moved away.
Von Ketler throws a jab when Garcia was well out of range.
A jab lands there for Garcia.
Von Ketler is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Von Ketler moves away from the strike by Garcia.
Von Ketler misses with an uppercut. Garcia saw that one coming.
Garcia has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Garcia lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Garcia throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Garcia looks to throw the jab but Von Ketler is out of range.
Von Ketler tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Garcia manages to circle out of the way.
Von Ketler misses with a double jab
and Garcia counters with a straight right hand.

Von Ketler decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Garcia keeps control of the position for the meantime.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garcia is trying to control but can't.
Garcia keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Von Ketler is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Garcia is refusing to be controlled, as Von Ketler sits in half guard.
Von Ketler working over Garcia with some ground and pound. Garcia looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Von Ketler misses with a head shot. Garcia uses the momentum to regain guard.
Von Ketler trying to control but Garcia is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Garcia wants to sweep here but Von Ketler controlling him for the moment.
Von Ketler is fighting to break Garcia's control of his arms but Garcia is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Von Ketler is in close to Garcia's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Von Ketler working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Garcia is adopting a defensive guard.
Von Ketler working some strikes from top position.
Garcia not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Von Ketler is working Garcia over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Von Ketler keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Garcia's head.
Garcia trying to keep a closed guard but Von Ketler is proving a slippery customer.
Von Ketler landing with the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garcia looking to hit a scissor sweep but Von Ketler is one step ahead there.
Von Ketler trying to control the position from guard on top but Garcia is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Von Ketler chips away with some ground and pound.
Garcia manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Von Ketler manages to get himself to full guard.

Von Ketler is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Garcia pushes down on Von Ketler's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Garcia is thwarting Von Ketler's attempts to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Von Ketler is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Garcia slows the pace down in half guard.
Von Ketler is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Garcia performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Von Ketler looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eksem Von Ketler 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!

Von Ketler jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Garcia.
Von Ketler throws an off balance right hand
and Garcia counters with a thumping low kick.
Von Ketler throws a hook but Garcia avoids it easily.
A shot to the body from Von Ketler misses
and Von Ketler takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Garcia avoids the body shot from Von Ketler.
Garcia misses with a straight left.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Von Ketler loads up on a big right hand but Garcia slips the punch.
Haislan Garcia seems to be getting the better of the standup.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Von Ketler.
Garcia misses with a wild body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garcia stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Garcia wants it to stay on the feet.
Garcia looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Von Ketler uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Garcia.
Haislan Garcia is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Garcia swats away the attempt to clinch by Von Ketler.
Von Ketler takes a swing at Garcia's ribcage but misses.
Von Ketler swings widly with a right hand
enabling Garcia to counter with a crisp jab.
Von Ketler keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Garcia.
Von Ketler with a lazy takedown attempt
and Von Ketler takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eksem Von Ketler. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Garcia turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
A slapping leg kick lands for Garcia.
Von Ketler changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Von Ketler tries to move into range but Garcia moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Von Ketler throws the left hand but Garcia avoids the punch easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Garcia throws a poor cross that misses
and Von Ketler counters with a straight right hand.
Von Ketler falls off balance throwing a combination
and Garcia counters with a straight right hand.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Garcia bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Von Ketler tries to clinch but Garcia is having none of it.

Von Ketler closes the distance and pushes Garcia back into the cage.
Von Ketler misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Garcia.
Garcia cracks Von Ketler with a nice body shot.
Von Ketler tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Garcia's elbow.
Garcia working aggressively here.
Von Ketler pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Von Ketler lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Von Ketler misses with a punch to the body.
Garcia scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Garcia works on Von Ketler's body with a couple of short punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garcia blocks a body shot from Von Ketler.
Garcia misses with a hook from the clinch.
A short right from Von Ketler.
Garcia can't find room to land a body shot as Von Ketler controls the action.
Von Ketler throws an elbow that misses.
Garcia tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Garcia trying to land knees to the body.
Garcia misses with a hook to the ribs.
Von Ketler lands a body punch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Von Ketler.
Garcia lands a hook to the side of the head.
Our sources have told us that Von Ketler has been working on his elbows in the gym.
Garcia misses with the head strike.
Garcia scores with a shoulder strike.
Von Ketler throws a head punch that misses.
A right handed body shot lands from Garcia.
Garcia misses with a punch to the body.
A right handed body shot lands from Garcia.
Garcia throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Von Ketlers head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Garcia lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Von Ketler.
Von Ketler throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Garcia tries to work over Von Ketler's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Von Ketler lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Garcia blocks a body shot from Von Ketler.
Garcia dodges an elbow strike from Von Ketler.
Garcia misses with a body punch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Garcia.
Von Ketler lands an uppercut.
Nice elbow from Von Ketler.

Von Ketler escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Sloppy strikes from Von Ketler. Those never looked like landing.
Von Ketler steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Garcia. That one must have hurt.
Von Ketler shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Von Ketler tries to clinch up
and Garcia counters with a nice uppercut.

And that's the end of the fight!
Haislan Garcia comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Garcia has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Nard Betker scores the fight 29:28
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Haislan Garcia!
Haislan Garcia spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.
Eksem Von Ketler spoke after the fight, saying 'Didn't hurt'.