PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kasper Kessler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hulohot Yokohama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kessler's entrance music is Black Eyed Peas - I Got A Feeling. A fine choice. Yokohama has chosen Metallica - All Nightmare Long as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Kessler
vs
Yokohama

185 cm
29
180 lbs
17 - 4 - 0

178 cm
25
177 lbs
19 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
KO power

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Heavy handed

:: Happy Pills ::

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Kasper Kessler!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Hulohot Yokohama!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yokohama lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Kessler misses with a lunging right hand
and Yokohama counters with a nice low kick that buckles Kessler's knee momentarily.
Yokohama fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Kessler.
Nice uppercut there from Kessler.
Kessler throws a predictable looking body shot
and Yokohama counters with a stiff right hand.
Yokohama throws a leg kick
and Kessler counters with a nice leg kick.
Kessler takes a swing at Yokohama's ribcage but misses.
A low kick from Yokohama misses
and Kessler counters with a right hand to the body.
Kessler throws a sloppy head kick
and Yokohama counters with a straight right hand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kessler closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Yokohama avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Yokohama takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Kessler swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Yokohama connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Yokohama displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Kessler throws out the jab.
Yokohama misses with a lunging right hand
and Kessler counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Yokohama thinking.
Kessler misses with an uppercut. Yokohama saw that one coming.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yokohama misses with a left hand

and Kessler counters with a single leg into guard. Yokohama didn't expect that.
Yokohama is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Kessler stays in close to Yokohama's body and controls the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kessler throwing strikes but missing.
Kessler is looking to work some ground and pound but Yokohama has wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kessler loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Kessler is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Hulohot Yokohama wasn't active enough on the ground.
Yokohama rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
letting Kessler counter with a right hand.
Kasper Kessler seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kessler dives in and grabs Yokohama's left leg, looking for a takedown. Yokohama pushes down on Kessler's head and hops out.
A punch lands to the side of Kessler 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Yokohama looks to score with a jab to the body but Kessler is just out of range.
Yokohama misses with a right hand
enabling Kessler to counter with a crisp jab.
Kessler scores with a nice head shot.
Yokohama is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Yokohama misses with a straight right.
Kessler misses with a body shot
and Yokohama counters with an outside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kessler misses with the combination.
Kessler throws a nice inside leg kick.
Yokohama looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Yokohama swings and misses with a shot to the body

and Kessler counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Kessler scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Yokohama managing to control the position.
Kessler is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kessler looking to pass the guard.
Kessler thows a big elbow that misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kessler engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Kessler throws a lazy right hand but Yokohama sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Kessler on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Kessler lands with an uppercut that bounces Yokohama off the cage and back into rage.
Yokohama takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Hulohot Yokohama seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kessler throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Yokohama attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Yokohama looks to throw a body kick
and Kessler connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Kessler is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Kessler scores with a spinning back kick!
Kessler thows a leg kick but Yokohama checks it
and Yokohama counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
A low kick from Yokohama misses
and Kessler counters with a straight right hand.
Yokohama stuffs the takedown.
Yokohama throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kessler shoots for a double leg takedown but Yokohama sprawls well. He's pushed Kessler's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Yokohama throws a poor cross that misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
A jab from Yokohama finds it's way through Kessler's defenses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yokohama misses with a hook

and Kessler counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Yokohama's guard now.
Yokohama not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Yokohama looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Kessler slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Yokohama tries to bench press Kessler off him but Kessler keeps the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kessler is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Yokohama is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Kessler looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Yokohama is avoiding damage well.
Yokohama managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Kessler.
Kessler wants to control for a moment but Yokohama uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Yokohama is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Kessler's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Kessler's back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yokohama has the hooks in. Kessler is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Kessler is trying to get back to his feet but Yokohama has full control of the position and if anything, Kessler has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Kessler rolls, trying to escape but Yokohama keeps control of the position.
Kessler wants to control his opponent's hands but Yokohama gets his hands free.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Kessler is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Kessler is working hard here to advance position.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
Kessler is really stuck here.
Yokohama gets his hands free as Kessler looks to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Kasper Kessler will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Kessler ducks right into an uppercut from Yokohama.
Kessler throws a predictable looking body shot
and Kessler takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Yokohama thows a leg kick but Kessler checks it
and Kessler counters with a one-two to the body.
Kessler swings away with a body shot that misses
and Yokohama connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Yokohama turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Kessler swings for the body but Yokohama moves out of range.
Kessler moves away from the strike by Yokohama.
Yokohama looks to throw a body kick
and Kessler counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Yokohama walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Kessler checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Kessler misses with an uppercut
and Yokohama cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Kessler throws a leg kick
letting Yokohama counter with a right hand.
Yokohama takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Kessler misses with a takedown
and Yokohama counters with a left to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kessler misses with a lunging right hand
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Kessler takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Yokohama misses with a leg kick
and Kessler counters with a series of strikes. Yokohama will be more careful next time no doubt.
Yokohama ducks under a wild hook from Kessler.
Kessler takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Kessler throws a leg kick
and Yokohama counters with a slapping leg kick.
Kessler takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Kessler misses with a body punch
and Yokohama counters with a nice uppercut.
Yokohama goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Kessler lands a nice looking body shot.
Yokohama tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Kessler with a poor takedown
and Yokohama counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
An inside leg kick lands from Kessler.
Kessler slips under a jab.
Kessler with a lazy takedown attempt
and Yokohama connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kasper Kessler. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Yokohama missing with a left hand there. Kessler was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Kessler moves forwards but Yokohama connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A low kick from Yokohama is predictable there
and Kessler makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Yokohama throws a lazy uppercut
and Kessler counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Yokohama throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Kessler counters with a single leg into guard. Yokohama didn't expect that.
Kessler wants to pass the guard but Yokohama is keeping the position.
Yokohama controls Kessler momentarily but Kessler frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kessler trying to control the position from guard on top but Yokohama is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Yokohama wants to sweep here but Kessler controlling him for the moment.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Yokohama is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Kessler is controlling him.

Hulohot Yokohama has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Yokohama swings widly with a right hand
and Kessler counters with a right hand to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Kessler moves out of range of the strikes.
Kessler with a poor takedown
and Yokohama counters with a nice kick to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Yokohama thows a left - swing and a miss!
Hulohot Yokohama is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kessler on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Yokohama. Yokohama obviously looking to wear him down.
Kessler cracks the inside of Yokohama's front leg.
Nice shot lands for Yokohama.
Yokohama swings widly with a right hand
and Kessler counters with a right hand to the body.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Yokohama, right into the meat.
Kessler misses with a shot to the body
and Yokohama counters with a body kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kessler staying out of range there.
Yokohama scores with a crisp jab that stopped Kessler in his tracks.
Kessler closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hulohot Yokohama comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Yokohama 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Hulohot Yokohama!