PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between John Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryan Kesler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thomas's entrance music is Devil went down to Georgia. A fine choice. The crowd seem to be enjoying Kesler's choice of entrance music: Cancer Bats - Deathsmarch. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Thomas
vs
Kesler

188 cm
25
194 lbs
16 - 5 - 0

182 cm
24
200 lbs
17 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Heavy handed

5th Round Clothing
West Coast Apparel

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, John Thomas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ryan Kesler!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Bruno Lombardi and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thomas throws a leg kick but Kesler moved away.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.

Kesler closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Thomas did well to prevent Kesler getting side control.
Kesler controlling the pace.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thomas wants to control but Kesler is keeping busy.
Well, if Kesler is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Thomas wants to control but Kesler passes into side.
Kesler in side control, just content to control the action for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kesler trying to control the action but Thomas is working from the bottom.
Kesler slows the pace down.
Kesler is looking to take a break and control but Thomas is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Ryan Kesler was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Kesler misses the shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Thomas throws a lazy right hand but Kesler sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Kesler takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

Thomas moves into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kesler misses with a punch on the inside.
A shot in the inside from Thomas.
Kesler goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Thomas is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Kesler lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Thomas or not.
Kesler lands a shot to the body.
Kesler lands a body punch in the clinch.
Kesler throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Thomas tries to throw a body punch but Kesler avoids it by throwing Thomas back against the cage.
A short body shot lands from Kesler as the two fighters clinch.
Thomas is breathing heavily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kesler lands an uppercut.
Kesler throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Thomas blocks a body shot from Kesler.
A frustrated look appears on Thomas's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Good body shot from Kesler.
Kesler pushes Thomas back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Kesler lands a left hand that snaps the head of Thomas backwards.
Kesler scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Nice body punch from Kesler - that landed with a thud.
Kesler cracks Thomas with a nice body shot.
Kesler scores with a hook to the body.
Kesler lands a shot to the body.
A short right from Kesler on the inside.
A body shot lands from Kesler.
A right handed body shot lands from Kesler.
A hook to the body from Kesler.
Kesler lands a nice uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kesler working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A short right from Kesler on the inside.
Nice body punch from Kesler - that landed with a thud.
A left hand lands to the body for Kesler.
Kesler lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Kesler lands a hook that snaps the head of Thomas backwards.
Kesler stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Kesler tries to work over Thomas's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Thomas misses with a body punch.
Kesler tries to work over Thomas's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Thomas doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Thomas is trying to break the clinch but Kesler has him pressed against the cage.
Kesler misses with a punch to the body.
Kesler lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Kesler is leaning against Thomas and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Kesler softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Good body shot from Kesler.
Kesler lands a body shot.
Kesler lands a shoulder strike.
Kesler lands a body punch.
Kesler works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Kesler lands a body punch in the clinch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kesler lands a body shot.
Kesler lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Thomas.
Still in the clinch, Kesler scores with a nice short uppercut.
Good body shot from Kesler.
A right hand to the body from Kesler.
Nice body punch from Kesler.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Kesler dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Kesler scores with a jab to the jaw.
Thomas misses with a looping left.
Kesler has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Thomas throws a hook but Kesler blocks it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kesler misses with a body kick.
Thomas throws a hook but Kesler blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas swings widly with a right hand
and Kesler counters with a nice low kick that buckles Thomas's knee momentarily.
Thomas throws a right hand that misses
and Kesler counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Thomas lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Kesler slips a jab from Thomas.
Thomas misses with a two punch combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A slow jab from Thomas misses its intended target.
Thomas connects with a solid leg kick.
Kesler scores with a hook to the body. Thomas takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Thomas, as that shot connected.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kesler.
Kesler misses with a hook
and Thomas makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Kesler moves out of range as Thomas strikes.
A punch lands to the side of Kesler 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Thomas throws a low kick but it's checked well by Kesler.

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.

Thomas instigates a clinch.
A short right from Kesler on the inside.

Thomas pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Nice defenses there by Kesler.
Thomas lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Kesler backs up against the cage.
Thomas shoots for a double leg takedown but Kesler sprawls well. He's pushed Thomas's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Thomas looks to land a combination but Kesler avoids it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Kesler showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Kesler throws a sloppy head kick
and Thomas counters with a nice leg kick.
Kesler checks the leg kick.
Thomas swinging wildly here.
Kesler swings widly with a right hand
and Thomas counters with a nice uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kesler stuns Thomas with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Kesler tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kesler throws the kick towards the body but Thomas avoids it.
Kesler throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Thomas counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
A shot to the body from Kesler misses
and Thomas counters with a stiff right hand.
Thomas thows a leg kick but Kesler checks it
letting Kesler counter with a right hand.

It looks like John Thomas has been cut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas lands a two punch combo.
Thomas throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
A swing and a miss from Thomas.
Thomas rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Kesler counters with a right hand to the body.
A low kick from Thomas misses

and Kesler counters with a shoot takedown. Thomas fights it but they end up in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thomas working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Kesler doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Kesler manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thomas wants to improve his position but instead Kesler has moved into half guard.
Kesler not doing much here.
Thomas trying to control here.

Thomas looking for a kimura from the bottom but Kesler passes into side control!
Thomas tries to buck Kesler off but Kesler is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Kesler tries to advance to mount but can't.
John Thomas has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kesler happy to just control the position for now.
Kesler's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Thomas tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Thomas manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Nice strikes from Thomas there.
Kesler trying to control here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ryan Kesler comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Kesler 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 Jorge Garcia scores the fight 26:30
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 26:30
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ryan Kesler!