PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Nikola Katic (ranked 5272 p4p, 4277 weight class) and Risi Kassel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Risi Kassel is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Katic
vs
Kassel

167 cm
18
137
0 - 1 - 0

152 cm
18
142
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Nikola Katic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Risi Kassel!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Andrew Berry and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kassel keeps the fight on the outside.
Katic tries to clinch up.

Kassel drives through with a takedown into Katic's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Katic escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Kassel gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Kassel tries to free his leg and advance position but Katic is retaining full guard.
Katic wants to improve his position but instead Kassel has moved into half guard.
Kassel should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Katic is trying to control but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kassel seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Katic does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Kassel has eaten all the pies!
Ground and pound from Kassel.
Kassel looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Katic with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Katic taking some punishment here, with Kassel in his half guard.
Katic knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Kassel on the ground.
Kassel wants to lay and pray for a moment but Katic keeps working.
Katic is looking for a sweep. Kassel is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Kassel is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kassel seems to be looking for submissions.
Katic is refusing to be controlled, as Kassel sits in half guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Katic is looking to clinch but Kassel is avoiding it.

Kassel has Katic up against the cage in a clinch.
Kassel stalls.
Katic on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Katic looking to slow down the pace here.
Kassel wants to break the clinch but can't.
Katic is trying to stall.
Kassel is trying to break the clinch but Katic has him pressed against the cage.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Katic.
Katic stalling in the clinch.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Nikola Katic.
Kassel avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Kassel looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Katic!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Katic is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Kassel off and has taken his back!
Katic just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
Kassel wants to escape the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kassel is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Katic will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Kassel looks winded!
Kassel turns into Katic and is now in his guard.

Katic working for a triangle but Kassel defends it easily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Risi Kassel dominated that round.
That's time! Katic's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

The fight stays on the outside here - Katic looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Katic tries to close the distance and clinch but Kassel swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Katic tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kassel paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kassel is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Katic tries to clinch there but Kassel circles away.
Katic tries to close the distance and clinch but Kassel swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Katic shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Kassel manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Kassel has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Katic can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Katic passes into half guard.
Kassel has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Katic not doing much here.
Katic is looking to advance position but Kassel won't allow it.
Katic trying to control the pace.
Katic tries to pass to full mount but Kassel defends it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Katic is taking a breather. Kassel says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Kassel wants to get back to his feet.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Kassel works his way to full guard. Good work.
Katic controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Kassel is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Katic is controlling him.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Kassel is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Katic doesn't manage to clinch there - Kassel circles away.
Katic tries to clinch up.
Katic closes the distance and clinches up with Kassel, looking for a takedown. Katic pushes Kassel against the cage but Kassel circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Kassel unleashes a big counter combination but Katic bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Katic shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Kassel counters by clinching up.
Katic controlling the action here for a moment.
Katic prevents a takedown attempt there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Katic has Kassel pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Kassel manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nikola Katic. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Katic is looking for a takedown.
Katic is looking to take this one to the mat.

Kassel jumps guard and drags Katic to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Kassel is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Katic showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Risi Kassel showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Kassel stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Kassel wants it to stay on the feet.
Kassel misses the jab.
Kassel keeps the fight on the outside.
Katic moves in looking to clinch but Kassel pushes him off.

Kassel clinches up with Katic and pushes him back against the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Kassel wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Kassel manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Katic is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kassel keeping moving, preventing Katic from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kassel looking to hit a scissor sweep but Katic is one step ahead there.
Katic trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Katic controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Kassel is on top in guard.

Kassel takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Kassel trying to control the position from guard on top but Katic is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kassel won't allow Katic to sweep him here.
Katic is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Katic is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Kassel is aware though and is defending well.
Kassel wants to control from the top but Katic keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kassel looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Katic!
Kassel tries to stand but Katic is controlling his head.
Katic is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Kassel off and has taken his back!
Katic controlling well, preventing Kassel from escaping the position.
Kassel keeps trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Katic controlling from the back.
Kassel is trying to break free.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Can Kassel hold on?! Katic is landing more strikes to his hapless foe.
Nikola Katic has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Risi Kassel is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Katic is persistently looking for the submission but Kassel is defending it well.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Risi Kassel.
Well Kassel has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 James Atkins scores the fight 27:30
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Glass scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Risi Kassel!