PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kasper Kessler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Seppo Soturi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Soturi has chosen Insomnium - Down With the Sun as his entrance music. Kasper Kessler has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Kessler
vs
Soturi

185 cm
22
180 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

180 cm
22
170 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Improved boxing
KO power

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Determined

Hell's Balls Fightwear

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kasper Kessler!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Seppo Soturi!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Arvi Lind and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Soturi slips a jab and a cross from Kessler.
Horrible takedown by Soturi or perhaps it was just good defense by Kessler which made him look bad.
Soturi shoots in looking for a takedown. Kessler tries to sprawl out of it but Soturi keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Kessler manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Soturi fails to land the takedown.
Kasper Kessler has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Seppo Soturi.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kessler takes a swing at Soturi's ribcage but misses.
Kessler will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kessler throws a right and a left that Soturi avoids nicely.
Kessler scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

It looks like Seppo Soturi has been cut.
Soturi looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Kessler is fending him off so far but Soturi persists. Nope, Kessler circles away and we're back to standing.
Soturi fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Soturi looks to land a body kick but Kessler moved away.
Soturi looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Soturi closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Soturi lands in his opponent's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Soturi is working Kessler over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Soturi wants to control from the top but Kessler keeps moving.
Soturi wants to pass the guard but Kessler is keeping the position.
Soturi won't allow Kessler to get back to his feet.
Kessler on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Kessler tries to get out of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soturi throws a big right hand that misses.

Kessler pushes Soturi off and gets back to his feet.
Soturi fails with a takedown attempt.
Kessler connects with a crisp jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Kessler, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Soturi ducks under a wild hook from Kessler.
Kessler rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Soturi moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Kessler misses with a double jab.
Kasper Kessler is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kessler throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Soturi.

Soturi shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Soturi was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Kessler is in a horrible position here. Soturi smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Kasper Kessler will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Seppo Soturi's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Soturi shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Kessler but Kessler pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Kessler swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Kessler will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Horrible takedown by Soturi or perhaps it was just good defense by Kessler which made him look bad.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Soturi ducks under a wild hook from Kessler.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soturi looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Kasper Kessler has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Seppo Soturi.
Kessler misses with a hook. Soturi ducked under it nicely.
Kessler misses with a two punch combination.

Soturi shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Soturi trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Soturi wants to control from the top but Kessler keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soturi throws and elbow that misses. Kessler uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Soturi's guard. Nice move by Kessler!
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Soturi is on top in guard.
Soturi makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Soturi is looking to work some ground and pound but Kessler has wrist control.
Soturi in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Soturi throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Kessler working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Soturi.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soturi throwing strikes from guard but Kessler blocks nicely.
Soturi missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Soturi throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kessler works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Kessler swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kasper Kessler is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Soturi darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Soturi throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Soturi not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Soturi landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Soturi thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Kessler's head.
Soturi thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Kessler's head.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Soturi sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Kessler defending well though.
Soturi thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Kessler's head.
Soturi thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Kessler's head.
Kessler knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Soturi on the ground.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Soturi drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Soturi working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Kessler's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Seppo Soturi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Seppo Soturi's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Soturi shoots in but no luck this time.
Kessler looks to score with a jab to the body but Soturi is just out of range.

Soturi scores with a takedown into Kessler's guard.
Soturi throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kessler works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Soturi accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Kessler wants to stand but Soturi is controlling the position.
Soturi thows a big elbow that misses.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soturi throwing strikes from guard but Kessler blocks nicely.
Soturi postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Kessler keeping full guard, as Soturi tries to pass.
Kessler preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Soturi trying to control the position from guard on top but Kessler is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Soturi distracts Kessler with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Soturi throws a strike but Kessler rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

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

Soturi shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Soturi was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Soturi putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Soturi is landing with some decent strikes but Kessler is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Soturi landing shots from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soturi in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
The referee warns Kessler that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Kessler blocking the ground and pound.
Soturi is in the full mount, landing strikes.
A nice elbow there by Soturi.
Kessler is bucking up trying to escape but Soturi cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Soturi fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Soturi working Kessler over with strikes here.
Soturi is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Kessler can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Poor strikes thrown by Soturi there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Soturi working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Soturi working the ground and pound effectively.
Soturi looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Kessler really wants to buck Soturi off and get back to his feet.
Soturi has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Soturi in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Soturi cracks Kessler with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Soturi looking to finish Kessler with some ground and pound. This is bad for Kessler!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Soturi throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Kessler because Soturi loaded up on that one.

And that's the end of the fight!
Seppo Soturi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Soturi 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Seppo Soturi!