PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mike Chester (ranked 4460 p4p, 4347 weight class) and Kalani Kekoa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Chester
vs
Kekoa

190 cm
18
210
0 - 0 - 0

167 cm
18
201
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Good kicks
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Mike Chester!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Kalani Kekoa!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, James Ackerman and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kekoa tries to clinch there but Chester circles away.
Sloppy strikes from Chester. Those never looked like landing.

Kekoa instigates a clinch.
Chester is trying to drag Kekoa to the mat but Kekoa just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Chester tries to score a body lock takedown but Kekoa shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Kekoa 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.

Kekoa jumps into guard, dragging Chester to the mat.
Chester wants to control from the top but Kekoa keeps moving.

Kekoa throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Chester has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Kekoa is proving hard to escape from.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kekoa looking to hit a scissor sweep but Chester is one step ahead there.
Kekoa working a defensive guard here.
Chester trying to control but Kekoa is working from the bottom.
Chester stopping the sweep attempt from Kekoa.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Chester has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Chester accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Chester lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Chester as Kekoa shoots in.
Kekoa is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

Kekoa rushes Chester and presses him up against the cage.
Chester drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Kekoa gets the underhooks and prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Chester. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Chester is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Kekoa is defending well.
Chester with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Kekoa wants a takedown.
Chester has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Chester blocks the elbow strike.
Kekoa leaning against his opponent.
Kekoa is trying to drag Chester to the mat but Chester just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Chester tries to work over Kekoa's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chester looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Kekoa tries for a takedown. No joy.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Chester as Kekoa tries to tie him up.
Chester drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Kekoa gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Chester jumps guard but Kekoa turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Kekoa blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Chester working hard to break the clinch.
Kekoa throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Kekoa is trying to drag Chester to the mat but Chester just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Kekoa is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Chester is defending well for now.

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

Kekoa forces Chester back against the cage and clinches.
Chester tries to pull guard but Kekoa forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Kekoa wants to break free but Chester has control.

Chester pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Kekoa has eaten all the pies!
Chester fails with a takedown attempt.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kekoa swats away the attempt to clinch by Chester.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Kalani Kekoa will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

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

Kekoa explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Sloppy strikes from Chester. Those never looked like landing.
Chester fails with a takedown attempt.
Kekoa throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Chester throws a nice inside leg kick.

Kekoa closes the distance and clinches.
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!
Kekoa wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Chester is trying to maintain a safe position but Kekoa gets an underhook and turns Chester into the cage.

Kekoa drags the fight down to the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Chester accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Chester looking to pass the guard.
Chester seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Chester throwing strikes but missing.
Kekoa lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Kekoa trying to control but Chester is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Kekoa prevents Chester from getting back to his feet.
Chester looking for a sweep. Not yet Chester, not yet.
Kekoa throws a big right hand that misses.
Kekoa postures up.
Kekoa trying to control but Chester is working from the bottom.
Chester wants to get back to his feet but Kekoa is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Kekoa won't allow Chester to sweep him here.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

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

Kekoa has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Chester off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kekoa stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Kekoa wants it to stay on the feet.
Despite the aggression on Kekoa's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Chester tries to bum rush Kekoa with a series of wild strikes but Kekoa uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Good leg kick by Chester.
Chester fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Chester. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Kekoa clinches up against the cage.
Chester can't break the clinch.
Chester is trying to drag Kekoa to the mat but Kekoa just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Kekoa looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kekoa's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Chester tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kekoa paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Chester fails with the takedown.
Kekoa looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Chester is fending him off so far but Kekoa persists. Nope, Chester circles away and we're back to standing.
Chester changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Kekoa misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Chester clinches.
Kekoa prevents a body shot from Chester.

Kekoa has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Chester uses from the top position.
Kekoa 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.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kalani Kekoa showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Chester fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kekoa tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Chester manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Kekoa lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Chester shoots in for a double leg but Kekoa sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Chester leaves Kekoa with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Chester seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Mike Chester is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Chester. Kekoa shrugs it off though.
Chester throws a series of punches but Kekoa moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Chester closes the distance and pushes Kekoa back into the cage.
Kekoa wants to take the fight to the mat but Chester manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Chester is trying to maintain a safe position but Kekoa gets an underhook and turns Chester into the cage.
Kekoa prevents the takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A frustrated look appears on Chester's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Kekoa is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Chester is defending well for now.
Kekoa is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Chester tries for a takedown but Kekoa manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Chester. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Chester jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Kekoa walks away with a smile on his face. Chester gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Kekoa drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Chester knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Kekoa on the ground.
Chester struggling a bit here.
Kekoa misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Chester tries to bench press Kekoa off him but Kekoa keeps the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kekoa wants to control but Chester is keeping him busy.
Chester trying his best to control but Kekoa has mounted him.
Kekoa has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Kekoa thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Chester blocking the ground and pound.
Chester tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Chester is squirming around, avoiding Kekoa's attempts to control the action.
Chester tries to reverse the position but Kekoa maintains control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chester tries to hold on but Kekoa postures up.
Kekoa trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Chester on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Chester tries to get out of the position.
Kekoa prevents Chester from getting the reversal.
Kalani Kekoa has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kekoa with good strikes from the mount here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chester tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Kekoa swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Chester is now in Kekoa's guard. A big mistake from Kekoa there, giving up the dominant position!
Kekoa looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Kekoa takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Chester slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Kekoa is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Kekoa is working for a submission of some sort.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kalani Kekoa comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Kekoa winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight 28:30
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 27:30
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kalani Kekoa!