PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mikkel Kessler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johan Cruijff (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Kessler
vs
Cruijff

225 cm
21
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

210 cm
18
260 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Mikkel Kessler!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Johan Cruijff!
The judges for this bout are Summer Carpenter, Damien Edna and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kessler checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Kessler misses with a few strikes there.
Cruijff misses with a takedown
and Kessler counters with a series of strikes. Cruijff will be more careful next time no doubt.
Cruijff gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Kessler counters with a three punch combo that has Cruijff backing up. Cruijff nods at Kessler to acknowledge the strikes.
Kessler throws a nice looking combination but Cruijff bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Kessler ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Cruijff fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kessler throws a series of punches but Cruijff moves out of range.
Cruijff fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Mikkel Kessler has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Johan Cruijff.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kessler throws a nice looking combination but Cruijff bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Sloppy strikes from Kessler. Those never looked like landing.
Kessler tries to bum rush Cruijff with a series of wild strikes but Cruijff uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
The fight stays on the outside here - Cruijff looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kessler really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A left and a right from Kessler both land. Nice combination.
Mikkel Kessler seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cruijff with a lazy takedown attempt
and Kessler counters with a left and a right that stings Cruijff.
Kessler misses with the combination.
Kessler misses with a series of wild punches.
Cruijff walks into a straight right hand from Kessler.
Cruijff shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Kessler as he avoids it easily.
Kessler misses with a double jab

and Cruijff moves into the clinch.
Kessler is looking to break free of the clinch but Cruijff has double underhooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kessler is trying to force a seperation but Cruijff has the dominant position.
Cruijff goes for a takedown attempt but Kessler pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Mikkel Kessler is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Cruijff dodges the punch combination from Kessler.
Cruijff shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Kessler sprawls well. Kessler wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Cruijff gets slowly back to his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cruijff showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kessler.
Cruijff slips a jab and a cross from Kessler.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruijff tried to score with a low kick but Kessler checks it.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Kessler!
Kessler takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Kessler looks to land a combination but Cruijff avoids it well.
Danga de danga de dang - Kessler scores with a four punch combination!
Cruijff is trying desperately to land a takedown but Kessler is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Cruijff.
Kessler is breathing heavily.
Kessler misses with a two punch combination.
Cruijff showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kessler.
Kessler throws a nice looking combination but Cruijff bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Cruijff tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Kessler manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Kessler displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruijff tries to clinch up but Kessler circles away and keeps his distance.
Kessler fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Cruijff lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Kessler has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Kessler and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Some wild striking there from Kessler.
Cruijff doesn't manage to clinch there - Kessler circles away.
Cruijff fails with a takedown attempt.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Kessler!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cruijff shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Kessler but Kessler pushes him off and we're back to square one.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cruijff avoids a punch combination nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mikkel Kessler dominated that round.
That's time! Kessler's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Good leg kick by Cruijff there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Kessler throws a right and a left that Cruijff avoids nicely.
Cruijff looks for a takedown but Kessler sprawls well.
Kessler misses with the combination.
Cruijff with a poor takedown
and Kessler counters with a three punch combo that has Cruijff backing up. Cruijff nods at Kessler to acknowledge the strikes.
Cruijff tries to clinch there but Kessler circles away.
Mikkel Kessler is winning the standup battle so far.
Kessler blocks a low kick nicely.
Cruijff fails with the takedown
and Kessler cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Mikkel Kessler has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Johan Cruijff.
Kessler throws a series of punches but Cruijff moves out of range.
Kessler is working the combinations to good effect here.
Kessler misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No joy there for Kessler, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Kessler fails to land with a series of punches.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Cruijff dodges the punch combination from Kessler.
Cruijff dives in and grabs Kessler's left leg, looking for a takedown. Kessler pushes down on Cruijff's head and hops out.
Kessler throws a right and a left that both miss.
Cruijff wants to clinch.
Kessler throws a right and a left that both miss.
Kessler rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Cruijff moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Cruijff misses with a takedown attempt
and Kessler counters with a one-two to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kessler stuffs the takedown.
Kessler looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Cruijff throws a low kick but it's checked well by Kessler.
Cruijff fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kessler fails to land with a series of punches.
Cruijff tries for a takedown but Kessler circles away easily
and Kessler counters with a two punch combo.
Cruijff throws a nice outside leg kick.
Cruijff tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kessler swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Cruijff is looking to clinch.
Kessler throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Kessler misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
That kick from Cruijff tenderised Kessler's leg. Kessler is trying to keep his angry face on.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Cruijff.
Nice sprawl there from Kessler as Cruijff shoots in.
Kessler throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Cruijff.
Cruijff shoots in looking for a takedown but Kessler manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Cruijff's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Kessler works over Cruijff's head and body with a nice combination.
Cruijff tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Kessler looks to land a combination but Cruijff avoids it well.
Kessler fails to land with a series of punches.
Cruijff tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kessler swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kessler misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruijff with a poor takedown
and Kessler cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Sloppy strikes from Kessler. Those never looked like landing.
Sloppy strikes from Kessler. Those never looked like landing.
Kessler throws a nice looking combination but Cruijff bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Cruijff fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Kessler avoids it really well and circles away.
Kessler closes the distance and lands a one-two.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Cruijff gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Kessler is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
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 Mikkel Kessler will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Kessler throws a series of punches but Cruijff moves out of range.
Kessler misses with a two punch combination.
Kessler is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Kessler fails to land with a series of punches.
Kessler misses with a wild combination.
Kessler throws a series of punches but Cruijff avoids them all with ease.
Kessler throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Cruijff.
Kessler throws a right and a left that both miss.
Kessler misses with a double jab.
Cruijff lands a nice leg kick that just misses Kessler's sensitive parts.
Kessler leaves Cruijff with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Cruijff shoots in but Kessler avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruijff shoots in for a takedown but Kessler shows good takedown defense.
Mikkel Kessler has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Johan Cruijff.

Cruijff drives through and clinches with Kessler against the cage.
Cruijff is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Kessler gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Kessler manages to break the clinch.
Sloppy strikes from Kessler. Those never looked like landing.
Cruijff takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Cruijff dives in and grabs Kessler's left leg, looking for a takedown. Kessler pushes down on Cruijff's head and hops out.
Mikkel Kessler is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kessler swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Cruijff shoots in looking for a takedown. Kessler tries to sprawl out of it but Cruijff 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruijff avoids a punch combination nicely.
Cruijff fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Kessler throws a nice looking combination but Cruijff bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Cruijff moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Cruijff tries for a takedown but Kessler sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Kessler lands a two punch combo.
Kessler misses with the combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kessler scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Kessler slaps away a takedown attempt from Cruijff, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Cruijff has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Kessler moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

Kessler gets tackled into the cage by Cruijff. Cruijff maintains the clinch.
Cruijff tries to pull guard but Kessler holds him up against the cage and eventually Cruijff drops back down to his feet.
Cruijff is trying to break the clinch but Kessler has him pressed against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kessler looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Cruijff wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Kessler has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Cruijff is trying to pull guard but Kessler has him pressed against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Kessler's face as he tries to break the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mikkel Kessler showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Kessler, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Summer Carpenter scores the fight 30:27
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 30:27
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mikkel Kessler!
A victorious Mikkel Kessler thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.