PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Michael Kelso (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe D (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Kelso
vs
D

190 cm
29
217 lbs
15 - 13 - 0

225 cm
23
213 lbs
10 - 11 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Very strong

ADCC Champion
Basic striking
Powerful

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 15 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Michael Kelso!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Joe D!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Thiago Cunha and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

D closes the distance and clinches.
Kelso looking for a takedown.
D displaying some good clinch control by pressing Kelso up against the cage.
Kelso wants a takedown but no success here.
Kelso blocks an uppercut.
D is pressed up against the cage. Kelso has hold of a leg and is looking to drag D down to the mat. D avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael Kelso. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kelso tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. D manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

A momentary lapse in concentration from D enables Kelso to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. D manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
D throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Kelso tries to free his leg and advance position but D is retaining full guard.
D is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
D working a defensive guard here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

D looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's one minute gone in the round.
D trying to control the position here.
D keeping moving, preventing Kelso from controlling successfully.
D avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Kelso working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Kelso postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
D is trying to keep Kelso in close.
Kelso trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

D looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Kelso trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

D looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Kelso has picked D up and slammed him! D can't keep hold of the triangle and Kelso manages to pass to side control!
Kelso lands an elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kelso wants to control but D is keeping him busy.
Kelso creates some space and throws a big elbow, but D sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
D gets back to half guard.
Kelso has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
D avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Kelso.
D tries to roll over but Kelso keeps him under control.
Kelso scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Kelso trying to control from half guard but D is working away.
Kelso scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
D trying to control here.
D wants to improve his position but Kelso is controlling well.
Kelso looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
D makes his way to full guard. A much better position for D.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
D is trying to keep Kelso in close.
Kelso scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Kelso scoring with punches to the head and body.
D trying to keep a closed guard but Kelso is proving a slippery customer.
Kelso trying to control the position from guard on top but D is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
D working a defensive guard here.
D is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Kelso content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Kelso in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
D trying to keep a closed guard but Kelso is proving a slippery customer.
Kelso wants to control from the top but D keeps moving.

D escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Kelso gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Kelso might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Kelso lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
D looking to control.
Kelso trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kelso accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Kelso is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

D working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Kelso doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Kelso manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Kelso postures up and lands a big shot to D's brow.
D looking to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Kelso dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Kelso keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Sloppy strikes from Kelso. Those never looked like landing.

D moves into range and clinches up with Kelso.
The referee is keeping an eye on D - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
D throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Kelsos head.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
The referee calls for D to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Joe D.
Kelso goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.

D gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Kelso to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Kelso is in close to D's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Kelso working some strikes from top position.

D looking for a guillotine here but Kelso defends easily.
Kelso missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Kelso working some strikes from top position.
Kelso wants to pass the guard but D is keeping the position.
D is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Kelso with a flurry of punches that miss.
Kelso lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kelso avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Michael Kelso overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kelso pushes down on D's leg and manages to get into half guard.
D tries to get to full guard but Kelso has control of the leg.
D trying to control here.

Kelso is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
D tries to roll over but Kelso keeps him under control.
Kelso works his way into side control.
D tries to bench press Kelso off him but Kelso keeps the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
D regains half guard.
D manages to get to full guard.
Kelso trying to control the position from guard on top but D is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

D is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Kelso is aware though and is defending well.
Kelso postures up.
D is breathing heavily.
Kelso in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Kelso forces his way into half guard.
D avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Kelso.

Kelso is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and D defends it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
D won't allow Kelso to pass to mount.
Kelso wants to control but D is keeping him busy.
Kelso prevents D from improving his position.

D is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Kelso pulls his head out easily.
Kelso throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
D gets full guard.
Kelso tries to free his leg and advance position but D is retaining full guard.
D working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kelso.
D looking to control.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Kelso being controlled here momentarily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Kelso dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Kelso throws a looping overhand right but D ducks down to avoid it.

Kelso feints and as D raises his hands in defense, Kelso changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
D keeping full guard, as Kelso tries to pass.
D looking to control.
Kelso throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as D works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Kelso postures up in D's guard and throws a big left but D blocks it.

D is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
D not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Kelso with a flurry of punches that miss.

Kelso thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
D controlling Kelso's posture.
D takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

D looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
D not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Kelso lands a couple of decent looking shots.
D is trying to control the position but Kelso postures up.

D has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Kelso can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
D working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kelso.
Kelso wants to control from the top but D keeps moving.
Kelso lands a couple of digs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Kelso trying to control but D is working from the bottom.
Kelso postures up.
Kelso cracks D with a solid left hand.
Kelso looking to pass the guard.
Kelso works over D with some ground and pound from guard.
D looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
D preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Kelso passes into half guard.
D wants to control but Kelso is keeping busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

D actively working from the bottom here.
Kelso takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

D is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Kelso pulls his head out easily.
Kelso moves into full mount! D won't be happy about that!

Kelso has hold of D's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and D manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Kelso lands a heavy elbow.
Kelso landing strikes from the mount.
Kelso landing strikes, looking to finish!
BOOM! Kelso connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Michael Kelso is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kelso landing shots from mount.
D in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
D tries to lock up and control but Kelso gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Kelso lands a heavy elbow.
Kelso lands a big elbow.
D is bucking up trying to escape but Kelso cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kelso lands a big elbow.
Kelso landing strikes, looking to finish!
Kelso lands a heavy elbow.
Kelso prevents D from getting the reversal.
Kelso working the ground and pound effectively.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kelso connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Joe D has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
D is looking to improve his position but Kelso isn't that keen on the idea.

Kelso jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… D is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by D and Kelso has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Kelso showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Kelso, 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 30:27
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 30:27
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Kelso!