|
|
PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kenji Okabe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kasper Kessler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kessler is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Black Eyed Peas - I Got A Feeling. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?
 |
|
 |
| 177 cm
28
181 lbs
20 - 8 - 0 |
|
185 cm
33
180 lbs
22 - 7 - 0 |
Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Granite chin |
|
Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank |
|
| |
|
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
20 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kenji Okabe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
22 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Kasper Kessler!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kessler keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Okabe avoids the body shot from Kessler.
Kessler walks into a straight right hand from Okabe.
Kessler misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Okabe.
Okabe chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Kessler can pounce on him.
Kessler moves out of range of the strikes.
Okabe slips a jab and a cross from Kessler.
Okabe connects with a looping right hand.
Okabe swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Okabe drops his hands momentarily and Kessler takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Kessler misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Okabe counters with a lovely straight right hand!
The fighters circling - Okabe throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Okabe misses with a wild body shot.
Okabe throws a looping overhand right but Kessler ducks down to avoid it.
Okabe throws a body punch but Kessler moves out of range.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Okabe tries for a takedown but Kessler sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
A right-left combo lands from Kessler.
Nice uppercut there from Kessler.
Kessler closes this distance looking for a takedown but Okabe circles away.
Okabe scores with a jab to the head.
Okabe takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Okabe has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Kessler.
Okabe looks to score with a jab to the body but Kessler is just out of range.
Kessler slips under a jab.
Okabe keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kessler takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Okabe changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Kessler tries to avoid it but Okabe manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Kessler to the ground. Kessler escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
A bone on bone clash there as Okabe blocks the leg kick.
Kessler waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Okabe.
Kessler misses with a body shot.
Kessler throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Okabe lunges at Kessler with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Kessler's hand.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Kessler, as that shot connected.
Kessler avoids the body shot from Okabe.
Kessler throws a leg kick which misses Okabe's front leg but catches the back leg as Okabe tries to avoid it.
Okabe thows a body shot but no joy.
Kessler stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kenji Okabe. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kessler shoots in and gets a takedown into Okabe's guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kessler accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Okabe keeping moving, preventing Kessler from controlling successfully.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Okabe tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Kessler trying to control but Okabe is working from the bottom.
Kessler seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Okabe keeping full guard, as Kessler tries to pass.
Okabe wants to stand up but Kessler is controlling him.
The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Kasper Kessler wasn't active enough on the ground.
Okabe throws a shot from downtown. Kessler moves away and avoids it.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Okabe just misses with a punch to the body.
A slapping leg kick lands for Kessler.
Okabe looks to land a right hand but Kessler moved out of range.
Jab from Okabe.
Kessler is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Okabe rather than just go for the knockout.
Kessler just misses with a punch to the body.
Okabe looks to land a right hand but Kessler moved out of range.
Okabe lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Kessler circles away quickly and effectively.
Kessler takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Kessler lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kessler stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Kessler wants it to stay on the feet.
Kessler tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Okabe was well out of range. Poor timing from Kessler.
Okabe stuns Kessler with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
A close round but Kasper Kessler will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.
Okabe throws a hook to the side of Kessler's head but Kessler sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Kessler misses with a jab, cross combination.
Kessler looks to land a combination but Okabe avoids it well.
Kessler fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Okabe to the ground. Kessler is now in Okabe's guard.
Kessler stands up over Okabe, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Kessler is fighting to break Okabe's control of his arms but Okabe is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Kessler wants to control from the top but Okabe keeps moving.
Okabe has Kessler pulled in close to control his posture.
Okabe keeping full guard, as Kessler tries to pass.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Kessler passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Okabe is pushing Kessler's head away, looking to escape. Kessler manages to hold on to the position though.
Okabe parries the strikes from Kessler easily there. Kessler is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Okabe to escape.
The strikes coming from Kessler are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Kessler trying to control the position but Okabe is working away.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Kessler just content to control the position.
Okabe is trying to get back to half guard.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kessler tries for a kimura but Okabe is defending well.
Okabe is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Okabe wants to get back to his feet.
Kessler trying to control the action but Okabe is working from the bottom.
Okabe is being controlled here.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kessler is looking to take a break and control but Okabe is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Kessler throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Kessler in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Okabe being controlled for a moment.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kessler is putting a hurting on Okabe here, landing some big shots from side control.
Okabe struggling a bit here.
Okabe is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Kessler's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Okabe has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Kessler is working away from the top position though.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kessler is working for an americana but Okabe has been sneaky and has managed to get back to half guard, whilst Kessler was thinking about the submission.
Okabe lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Kessler!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Kasper Kessler 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. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.
Kessler wants to slow Okabe down by chopping away at his legs.
Okabe uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kessler.
A slapping leg kick lands for Kessler.
Kessler keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Okabe.
Kessler lands a leg kick that knocks Okabe off balance momentarily.
Okabe 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.
Okabe looking to pass the guard.
Kessler tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Kessler pulls Okabe in close to his closed guard and prevents Okabe from doing any damage or advancing position.
Kessler working for a triangle but Okabe defends it easily.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Kessler trying to keep a closed guard but Okabe is proving a slippery customer.
Okabe pushes down on Kessler's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Kessler regains full guard. Nicely done.
Kessler is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Okabe has his hands clasped together around Kessler's back. He's all about the action.
Kenji Okabe has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kessler takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Okabe is trying is best to control the position here.
Okabe is looking for a sweep. Kessler is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Kessler is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Kessler not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Kessler throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Okabe is staying active underneath Kessler, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Kessler lands a nice short elbow.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Okabe has his hands clasped together around Kessler's back. He's all about the action.
Okabe blocking the ground and pound attempt from Kessler.
Kessler is trying to control the action in half guard but Okabe is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Kessler is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Okabe is trying to get back to full guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Kessler thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Okabe wants to control but Kessler is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Okabe crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Kessler - the referee stops the clock and Okabe gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Kessler. Okabe manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Okabe misses with a double jab.
Okabe lands with a nice body punch.
Kessler dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
A big left from Okabe misses.
Okabe ducks right into an uppercut from Kessler.
Kasper Kessler is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Kessler stuffs the takedown attempt from Okabe. Okabe gets slowly back to his feet.
Kessler lands with a nice body punch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Okabe walks into a jab.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Kessler throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
And that's the end of the fight!
Kasper Kessler comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Kessler 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kasper Kessler!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
|
S |
C |
G |
|
energy
A | B |
|
hype
A | B |
|
pop
A | B |
|
mgr
A | B |
|
FIGHT
RATING
50% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
