PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mitka Boycheck (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jack Kessler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Boycheck comes to the cage accompanied by Парус. Kessler has chosen Yattering - Chase of Thoughts as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Boycheck
vs
Kessler

180 cm
40
204 lbs
22 - 24 - 0

185 cm
31
203 lbs
19 - 14 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 22 - 24 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mitka Boycheck!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jack Kessler!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Viktor Lagutenko and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Boycheck goes for a double leg but Kessler avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Kessler continues to drive forward.
Boycheck dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Kessler. That did some damage!
A big left from Boycheck misses.
Boycheck throws a looping overhand right but Kessler ducks down to avoid it.
Boycheck jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Kessler thuds a left hand into Boycheck's body.

Boycheck feints and as Kessler raises his hands in defense, Boycheck changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Kessler working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Boycheck.
Kessler looking to hit a scissor sweep but Boycheck is one step ahead there.
Kessler is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Kessler looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Boycheck wants to control from the top but Kessler keeps moving.
Kessler bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Boycheck's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kessler throws a big elbow that misses.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Boycheck avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Kessler trying to control the position from guard on top but Boycheck is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Boycheck working for a triangle but Kessler defends it easily.
Boycheck has momentary wrist control but Kessler slips an elbow through the middle.

Boycheck looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Kessler has picked Boycheck up and slammed him! Boycheck can't keep hold of the triangle and Kessler manages to pass to side control!
Boycheck manages to work his way to half guard, despite Kessler's best efforts.

Boycheck looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Boycheck has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.

Boycheck is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Kessler pulls his head out easily.
Boycheck is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kessler is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Kessler lands with a punch from half guard.
Boycheck keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Boycheck wants to get back to full guard.
Kessler lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Kessler looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Kessler looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kessler is nestled in close to Boycheck, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Kessler looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Boycheck is trying to get back to full guard.
Kessler working the head and body with strikes.
Boycheck taking some punishment here, with Kessler in his half guard.
Kessler trying to control the action but Boycheck is working from the bottom.

Boycheck looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Kessler landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Boycheck is staying active underneath Kessler, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Boycheck trying to control but Kessler postures up.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Kessler working his ground and pound in the gym. So far it seems to be working well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kessler tries to pass to full mount but Boycheck defends it.
Boycheck is trying to get back to full guard.
Kessler lands with a punch from half guard.
Boycheck is looking to improve his position.
Kessler scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Boycheck is looking to get back to full guard here but Kessler has managed to pass to side control instead.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kessler trying to control the position but Boycheck is working away.
Kessler grinds an elbow into Boycheck's temple.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jack Kessler dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Boycheck avoids a kick to the body.
Kessler has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Kessler bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Mitka Boycheck is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Kessler.
Kessler lands a leg kick that knocks Boycheck off balance momentarily.
Boycheck turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Boycheck takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Some wild striking there from Boycheck.

Boycheck shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Kessler napping and manages to drive through into side control!
You can see the frustration on Kessler's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
An elbow from Boycheck crashes against the mat.
You can see the frustration on Kessler's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Boycheck thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
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!
Boycheck wants to control but Kessler is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kessler regains half guard.
Boycheck working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Kessler has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Boycheck is working away from the top position though.
Jack Kessler has got the better of the ground game so far.
Boycheck with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Boycheck tries to pass to full mount but Kessler defends it.
Kessler tries to roll over but Boycheck keeps him under control.
Kessler has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Boycheck is working away from the top position though.
Kessler has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Kessler wants to get back to full guard.

That's two 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.
Boycheck throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Kessler tries to get to full guard but Boycheck has control of the leg.
Kessler keeps trying to improve his position.
Boycheck trying to pass the guard but Kessler defending well.
Kessler wants to get back to full guard.

Boycheck is looking for a kimura but Kessler is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Boycheck to get the leverage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Kessler manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Kessler wants to sweep but no luck.
Boycheck lands a couple of elbows.
Kessler keeping moving, preventing Boycheck from controlling successfully.
Kessler avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Boycheck is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Boycheck turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Kessler throws a right and a left that both miss.
Kessler scores with a spinning back kick!
Boycheck looks to land a combination. Kessler sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Boycheck steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Kessler. That one must have hurt.
Boycheck shoots in but Kessler avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Kessler connects with an inside leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Boycheck on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.

Boycheck looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kessler trying to control from the bottom.
Boycheck has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Boycheck raining down hammerfists from mount.
Kessler slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Boycheck seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Kessler wants to improve his position but Boycheck is controlling well.
Kessler avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Boycheck.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mitka Boycheck 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!

Boycheck fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Kessler plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Boycheck uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kessler.
Boycheck is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

Kessler closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Boycheck did well to prevent Kessler getting side control.
Boycheck trying to hold on to Kessler's head to control him but Kessler postures up.

Boycheck is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Kessler pulls his head out easily.
Kessler stalling.
Boycheck trying to control from the bottom.
Boycheck is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Kessler is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Kessler working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Boycheck is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Kessler pulls his head out easily.
Boycheck moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Kessler is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Kessler throwing strikes from guard but Boycheck blocks nicely.
Kessler trying to control but Boycheck is working from the bottom.

Boycheck throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Boycheck is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Kessler is working Boycheck over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

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.
Boycheck wants to sweep but no luck.
Kessler pushing down on Boycheck's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Boycheck looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Kessler seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Boycheck does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Boycheck has a hand on Kessler's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Kessler takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Kessler cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Kessler is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Boycheck is looking to get to half guard.
Kessler landing shots from mount.
Boycheck working to try and regain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kessler working away from the top, dropping strikes.

Boycheck is rocked!

It looks like Mitka Boycheck has been cut.
Boycheck taking shots to the head.
Oh Boycheck is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Boycheck is looking to get to half guard.
Boycheck seems to have got his legs back now.
Kessler working Boycheck over with strikes here.
Boycheck is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Kessler trying to control but Boycheck is having none of it.
Boycheck keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Boycheck in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Kessler has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Boycheck's face.
Kessler putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Boycheck tries to hold on but Kessler pushes him away.
Boycheck is looking to get to half guard.
Kessler with shots to the head and body - Boycheck looks very uncomfortable down there.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Boycheck tries to reverse the position but Kessler maintains control.
Boycheck is squirming around, avoiding Kessler's attempts to control the action.
Kessler unloading with bombs!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Kessler cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

And that's the end of the fight!
Jack 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 28:29
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jack Kessler!
A relieved looking Jack Kessler thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.