PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ali Kessu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Clayton Bigsby (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Clayton Bigsby has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Kessu
vs
Bigsby

178 cm
21
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
170 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Likes ground

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ali Kessu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Clayton Bigsby!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Arvi Lind and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kessu has closed the distance and engaged Bigsby in a clinch.

Kessu manages to pull guard.
Kessu looking to hit a scissor sweep but Bigsby is one step ahead there.
Bigsby trying to control the position from guard on top but Kessu is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kessu pulls Bigsby in close to his closed guard and prevents Bigsby from doing any damage or advancing position.
Bigsby wants to pass the guard but Kessu is keeping the position.
Bigsby trying to control but Kessu is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kessu controls Bigsby momentarily but Bigsby frees himself.
Bigsby trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bigsby throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Bigsby gets caught flat footed, as Kessu shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Kessu avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Bigsby is trying to keep Kessu in close.
Bigsby keeping moving, preventing Kessu from controlling successfully.
Kessu throwing strikes but missing.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kessu wants to control from the top but Bigsby keeps moving.

Kessu drops back looking for a leg! Bigsby is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Bigsby manages to kick Kessu off! Kessu jumps back into Bigsby's guard.
Kessu trying to control but Bigsby is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kessu lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Kessu shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Bigsby's guard.

Kessu gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Kessu gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Kessu lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Bigsby backwards.
Bigsby stalls.

Kessu jumps guard.
Bigsby looking to pass the guard.
Kessu trying to keep a closed guard but Bigsby is proving a slippery customer.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kessu is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Bigsby is stalling in the full guard.
Bigsby looking to pass the guard.
Bigsby trying to control but Kessu is working from the bottom.
Bigsby is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Kessu is on top in guard.
Kessu preventing the sweep.
Kessu trying to control the position from guard on top but Bigsby is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Kessu avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Kessu is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Bigsby looking for a sweep. Not yet Bigsby, not yet.

Bigsby is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Bigsby working a defensive guard here.

Bigsby has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Kessu can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ali Kessu dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Kessu tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Bigsby swivels and escapes.
Kessu shoots for a takedown but Bigsby saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Kessu slips a jab and a cross from Bigsby.

Kessu feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Kessu postures up.

Bigsby working for a triangle but Kessu defends it easily.
Bigsby keeping moving, preventing Kessu from controlling successfully.
Kessu stopping the sweep attempt from Bigsby.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Bigsby trying to control the position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bigsby is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Bigsby looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Bigsby keeping moving, preventing Kessu from controlling successfully.
Bigsby 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.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Bigsby misses with a takedown

and Kessu counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Kessu.
Kessu trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Bigsby doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kessu trying to control but Bigsby is working from the bottom.
Bigsby keeping full guard, as Kessu tries to pass.
Kessu lands a couple of digs.
Bigsby has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Kessu advances position into side control!
Bigsby is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Kessu trying to control the action but Bigsby is working from the bottom.
Kessu tries to move to mount but Bigsby blocks the move with his legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kessu trying to control the position but Bigsby is working away.
Bigsby is trying to improve his position.
Bigsby is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Kessu takes the fight into the clinch.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Kessu.
Kessu is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Bigsby gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ali Kessu. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kessu looking to stall.
Bigsby lands a nice elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Bigsby goes for a takedown in the clinch but Kessu prevents it.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Kessu drags the fight down to the ground.
Kessu wants to sweep but no luck.
Kessu is pulling down on Bigsby's head. It's preventing any offense from Bigsby, at least for the moment.
Bigsby forces his way into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ali Kessu dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Bigsby shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Kessu but Kessu pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Kessu closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Bigsby to the mat! Bigsby manages to get full guard.
Bigsby can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Kessu controls the pace.
Kessu wants to control from the top but Bigsby keeps moving.
Kessu stays in close to Bigsby's body and controls the position.
Bigsby 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.
Kessu controlling from the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Ali Kessu just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Bigsby fails with the takedown
and Kessu makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Bigsby sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.

Bigsby feints and as Kessu raises his hands in defense, Bigsby changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Bigsby distracts Kessu with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Kessu manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Bigsby manages to get himself to full guard.

Bigsby working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Kessu doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Kessu manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Kessu trying to control but Bigsby is working from the bottom.

Kessu stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Bigsby doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Kessu counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Ali Kessu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Clayton Bigsby.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kessu is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Bigsby!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bigsby is looking to improve his position but Kessu isn't that keen on the idea.
Bigsby wants to hold on but Kessu pushes him away.
Bigsby is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Kessu looking to control but Bigsby is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Bigsby has given up his back here.
Bigsby turns into Kessu and is now in his guard.

Kessu looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Bigsby passes into half guard.

Kessu is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Bigsby pulls his head out easily.
Bigsby is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Kessu is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kessu is working hard here to advance position.

Bigsby working for a guillotine from mount but Kessu is in no mood to give up.
Kessu wants to control but Bigsby is having none of it.
Bigsby can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Kessu is looking to escape.
Kessu tries to lock up and control but Bigsby gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Bigsby throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Kessu is looking to get to half guard.
Kessu is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Kessu is looking to improve his position but Bigsby isn't that keen on the idea.

Bigsby wants to finish this one by submission but Kessu is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Bigsby.
Kessu keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Bigsby scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Kessu?

Bigsby looking for a guillotine from mount but Kessu is having none of it.
Bigsby can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Kessu is looking to escape.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ali Kessu showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Kessu has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ali Kessu!