PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Gus Bradley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aatos Kesti (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Bradley
vs
Kesti

165 cm
29
140 lbs
15 - 5 - 0

169 cm
21
144 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Great elbows
Very strong

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

KAISER Nutrition (160!/220$)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Gus Bradley!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Aatos Kesti!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Johanna Lukiainen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sloppy strikes from Kesti. Those never looked like landing.
Bradley bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Kesti blocks a head kick by Bradley.
The fight stays on the outside here - Bradley looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Kesti scores with a takedown into Bradley's guard.

Bradley looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Kesti postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Bradley wants to sweep but no luck.

Bradley has his foot on Kesti's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kesti works his way back into a safe position though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kesti throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Bradley works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Kesti passes Bradley's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Bradley has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Kesti is working away from the top position though.
Kesti is nestled in close to Bradley, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kesti lands with a punch from half guard.
Kesti throwing shots but Bradley is blocking nicely.
Kesti lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Kesti missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Kesti thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Bradley moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Bradley looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kesti is one step ahead there.
Kesti postures up in Bradley's guard and throws a big left but Bradley blocks it.
Kesti trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Kesti stands up over Bradley, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kesti in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Kesti throws a big elbow that misses.
Kesti must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Bradley looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kesti is one step ahead there.
Kesti working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Bradley throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Bradley tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Kesti dives in and scores a takedown into Bradley's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kesti connects with a couple of short punches.
Kesti is working Bradley over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Kesti avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Kesti postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kesti tries to free his leg and advance position but Bradley is retaining full guard.
Kesti chips away with some ground and pound.

Kesti got a little sloppy there for a moment and Bradley has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Kesti has managed to get both his arms back between Bradley's legs - danger averted.
Kesti postures up.
Kesti chips away with some ground and pound.
Kesti looking to pass the guard.
Kesti working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Bradley looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kesti is one step ahead there.
Kesti trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Bradley is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Kesti working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Kesti throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Kesti misses with a takedown attempt - Bradley sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Bradley is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Kesti.
Bradley misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Bradley tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Kesti manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
We've been told by Bradley's head coaches at Grappling Pro Helsinki that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Kesti shoots in looking for a takedown but Bradley manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Kesti's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
A head kick from Bradley lands but Kesti takes it in his stride.
Kesti has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.

Kesti bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Bradley can't do much from the bottom here.
Kesti sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Bradley is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Bradley wants to get back to his feet but Kesti drags him back down.
Kesti connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Bradley some visible discomfort.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aatos Kesti dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Bradley throws a head kick but Kesti moves out of range.
Kesti throws a nice looking combination but Bradley bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Kesti 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.
Kesti loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Bradley is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Kesti scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Bradley looking for a sweep. Not yet Bradley, not yet.
Kesti is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Bradley can't keep his opponent in guard - Kesti advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bradley has hold of Kesti's hands but Kesti slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Kesti landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Kesti is pressing down on Bradley's thigh, looking to free his foot. Bradley is holding on for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bradley is looking to escape.
Kesti is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

Bradley looking for submissions off his back.
Kesti lands with a punch from half guard.
Kesti lands with a punch from half guard.
Bradley blocking the ground and pound attempt from Kesti.
Kesti lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Kesti lands with a punch from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bradley wants to control but Kesti is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Kesti prevents Bradley from improving his position.
Bradley won't allow Kesti to pass to mount.
Kesti working Bradley over with strikes.
Kesti throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Kesti has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Kesti wants to free his trapped foot but Bradley is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Bradley trying to control here.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Bradley scores with a nice right hand.
Bradley looks to score with a jab to the body but Kesti is just out of range.
Bradley walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Kesti checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Kesti is looking for the big counter here.
Bradley throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kesti gets the takedown into side control.
Kesti cracks Bradley with a big right hand but Bradley just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Kesti is putting a hurting on Bradley here, landing some big shots from side control.
Kesti working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Bradley wants to control but Kesti postures up.
Bradley sneaks back into half guard.
Bradley avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Kesti.
Kesti drops an elbow to the side of Bradley's head.
Bradley wants to get back to his feet.
Bradley is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Kesti scores with a couple of nice shots.
Bradley taking some punishment here, with Kesti in his half guard.
Bradley is looking for a sweep. Kesti is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kesti throwing shots but Bradley is blocking nicely.

Bradley looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Bradley flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Kesti lands a nice short elbow.
Bradley wants to control but Kesti is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Kesti winds up and cracks Bradley with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Bradley is looking to control Kesti's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Bradley avoid being mounted?

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Kesti decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kesti thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aatos Kesti showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Bradley lands with a kick to the temple. Kesti shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Kesti avoids the body shot from Bradley.
Kesti feints the counter takedown.
Bradley swings for the body but Kesti moves out of range.
Kesti tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.

Kesti fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Bradley sprawls well initially but Kesti persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Bradley moves into full guard.
Kesti postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Kesti throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Kesti throws a big right hand that misses.
Kesti keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Bradley's head.
Kesti stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Bradley swivels though and keeps the full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bradley seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Kesti working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kesti working some strikes from top position.
Bradley avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Kesti throws a big right hand that misses.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Kesti drives through with a takedown into guard.
Kesti keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Bradley's head.
Kesti cracks Bradley with a solid left hand.
Bradley wants to get back to his feet but Kesti is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Bradley preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Kesti connects with a couple of short punches.
Kesti works over Bradley with some ground and pound from guard.
Kesti throws a big right hand that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bradley is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Kesti is aware though and is defending well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kesti passes into half guard.
Kesti is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Kesti is thwarting Bradley's attempts to control the position.
Kesti frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Kesti lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Kesti lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Kesti lands a heavy elbow.

Bradley is rocked!
Kesti postures up and throws a couple of big shots that have Bradley in real trouble here! The ref calls for Bradley to improve his position which he doesn't do, so the referee has no choice but to end the fight due to the strikes!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Aatos Kesti!