PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Johann Kessler (ranked 1820 p4p, 251 weight class) and Vlad Putin (ranked 2574 p4p, 336 weight class). Kessler comes to the cage accompanied by Coal Chamber - Burgundy. Putin comes into a darkened arena with his song building. IAMX - Happiness kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Vlad Putin was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Kessler
vs
Putin

181 cm
33
179 lbs
27 - 13 - 0

183 cm
28
175 lbs
12 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Knockout power

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 27 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Johann Kessler!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 11 - 0, fighting out of New York, Vlad Putin!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Ian Loll and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kessler closes the distance and pushes Putin back into the cage.
Putin landing knees to the body.
Putin creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Kessler's defenses.
Putin lands an elbow inside.
Nice elbow from Putin.
Putin looking to throw knees to the head but Kessler is blocking nicely.
Putin gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Putin looking to throw knees to the head but Kessler is blocking nicely.
Putin missing with knees to the body.
Kessler misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Putin lands a knee to the body.
Kessler tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Putin avoids it.
Kessler blocks an elbow strike.
Kessler scores with a shoulder strike.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Putin prevents a body shot from Kessler.
Putin softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Putin.
Kessler avoids a wild elbow strike from Putin.
Kessler lands a body shot in the clinch.
Kessler misses with a body punch.
Putin lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Putin throws an elbow but it misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kessler takes an elbow to the forehead.
Kessler gets through Putin's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
A shot in the inside from Putin.
A knee to the head by Putin.
Kessler trying to land knees to the body.
Putin scores with a knee to the head.
Kessler misses with a knee to the head.
Kessler misses with a punch to the body.
Putin misses with a knee to the head.
Kessler fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Kessler tries a body shot but Putin blocks it.
Kessler avoiding damage.
Putin lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Kessler backwards.
Kessler tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
A knee to the head by Putin.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A nice right hand lands inside from Kessler.
A nice right hand lands inside from Putin.
Kessler throws a knee to the head but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Putin tries a knee to the head but Kessler blocks it.
Putin misses with a body punch.
Putin using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Kessler has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Still in the clinch, Kessler scores with a nice short uppercut.
Putin tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Kessler avoids it.
Putin prevents a body shot from Kessler.
Kessler tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Putin avoids it.
Kessler pushes Putin back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Kessler misses with a punch on the inside.
Putin connects with a knee to the head.
Kessler with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Kessler working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Kessler misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Putin.
Kessler tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Putin's elbow.
A hook to the body from Kessler.
Kessler tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Putin tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
A head punch on the inside from Kessler fails to land.
Putin with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kessler misses with a punch to the body.
Putin looking to throw knees to the head but Kessler is blocking nicely.
Putin looking to throw knees to the head but Kessler is blocking nicely.
Kessler misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Putin.
Kessler has a couple of punches blocked by Putin.
Kessler can't find room to land a body shot as Putin controls the action.
Kessler is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Putin is defending well for now.
Kessler tries to throw a body punch but Putin avoids it by throwing Kessler back against the cage.
Kessler is trying to maintain a safe position but Putin gets an underhook and turns Kessler into the cage.
Putin misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Kessler.
Kessler swings wildly with an uppercut but Putin uses good head movement to avoid it.
Putin lands a good knee to the midsection. Kessler won't want to take too many of those.
Kessler misses with a punch on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kessler.
Putin misses with a hook to the ribs.
Putin lands an elbow inside that Kessler shrugs off.
Kessler tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Putin lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Putin lands a knee to the body.
Putin pushes off an throws an elbow but Kessler leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Putin is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Kessler is defending well for now.
Kessler blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Kessler throws a punch but it's blocked by Putin.
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 struggles to land a body shot inside as Putin controls his hands.
Kessler tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Knees in the clinch landing for Putin.
Putin struggles to land a body shot inside as Kessler controls his hands.
Kessler misses with the head strike.
Putin on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Kessler avoids the elbow strike from Putin, against the cage.
Putin scores with a shoulder strike.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Putin working Kessler over with knees to the body.
Kessler is breathing heavily.
Putin lands a knee to the head.
Putin lands with a short shot to the head.
Kessler looking to slow down the pace here.
Putin has thrown a lot of knees so far in this fight and we're lead to believe that's something he's been working on the gym prior to this fight.
Putin is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vlad Putin dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Putin moves into the clinch successfully.
Kessler misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Kessler throws a punch but it's blocked by Putin.
Putin looking to throw knees to the head but Kessler is blocking nicely.
Putin utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Putin tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Kessler avoids it.
Putin lands a hook to the side of the head.
Putin lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Putin lands a knee to the head.
Knees in the clinch landing for Putin.
Putin landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Kessler dodges an elbow strike from Putin.
Putin lands an elbow inside that Kessler shrugs off.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kessler is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Putin is defending well for now.
Kessler lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Putin avoiding damage as Kessler throws knees to the body.
Putin takes a knee to the side of the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kessler swings wildly with an uppercut but Putin uses good head movement to avoid it.
Putin with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Putin lands an elbow inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kessler.
Putin landing knees to the head.
Kessler is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Putin is defending well for now.
Putin tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Kessler avoids it.
Putin comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Putin misses with a knee to the head.
Knees to the body from Putin.
Putin lands a damaging elbow.
Putin pushes Kessler back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Putin lands a knee to the head.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Kessler creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
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!
Putin misses with a knee to the head.
Putin lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Kessler.
Putin has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Kessler makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kessler is trying to maintain a safe position but Putin gets an underhook and turns Kessler into the cage.
Putin blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Putin crunches a lovely knee into Kessler's ribcage.
Nice elbow from Putin.
Putin blocks a body shot from Kessler.
Kessler swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Putin creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Kessler blocks an elbow strike from Putin.
Kessler takes a shot to the head.
Putin tries a knee to the head but Kessler blocks it.
Vlad Putin seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Kessler misses with a knee strike.
Kessler trying to land knees to the body.
Kessler misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Putin lands a shoulder strike.
Putin with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Putin lands a damaging elbow.
Putin crunches a lovely knee into Kessler's ribcage.
Putin misses with a knee strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A knee to the head by Kessler.
Kessler lands with a left to the head.
Putin lands an elbow just above Kessler 's eye.
A bit of stalling here from Kessler.
Putin unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Kessler lands with a short shot to the head.
Kessler blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Putin lands an elbow just above Kessler 's eye.
Putin comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Kessler tries to work over Putin's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Kessler struggles to land a body shot inside as Putin controls his hands.
Putin lands an elbow inside that Kessler shrugs off.
Kessler is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Putin connects with a nasty looking knee right to Kessler's face.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Putin with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Kessler tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Putin avoids it.
Putin managing to block the knees to the body from Kessler.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Putin as Kessler tries to tie him up.
Putin on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Putin misses with a hook to the ribs.
Kessler takes an elbow to the temple.
Kessler lands a hook to the side of the head.
Kessler looking to throw knees to the head but Putin is blocking nicely.
Kessler works on Putin's body with a couple of short punches.
Knees to the body from Putin.
Putin misses with a knee to the head.
Putin lands a hook that snaps the head of Kessler backwards.
Kessler taking a breather.
Putin throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Kesslers head.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kessler trying to stall but Putin improves his position.
Kessler tries to work over Putin's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Putin lands an elbow just above Kessler 's eye.
Putin gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

Kessler is rocked!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vlad Putin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Putin clinches with his opponent.
Putin throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Kessler blocks it with crossed arms.
Kessler swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Putin lands a damaging elbow.
Kessler trying to land knees to the body.
Putin lands a nice elbow.
Kessler can't find room to land a body shot as Putin controls the action.
Putin with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Oh Kessler is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Putin throws an elbow that misses.
Putin lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Putin looking to throw knees to the head but Kessler is blocking nicely.
Kessler misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Kessler tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Putin using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Putin lands an elbow that stopped Kessler in his tracks for a moment.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
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 is trying to maintain a safe position but Putin gets an underhook and turns Kessler into the cage.
Kessler takes a knee right on the jaw!
Kessler tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Putin's elbow.
Kessler goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Putin avoiding damage as Kessler throws knees to the body.
Putin doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Kessler working aggressively here.
Kessler is leaning against Putin and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Kessler seems to have got his legs back now.
Kessler misses with a punch to the body.
Kessler can't find room to land a body shot as Putin controls the action.
Putin lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
A short right hand to the side of the head by Putin.
Clinched against the cage, Putin lands a big elbow that drops Kessler! The ref dives in to save him from more shots - Kessler is complaining that he's OK but he was done.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:37 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Vlad Putin!
Vlad Putin took to the mic in his post fight interview and said 'I am not surprised, motherf**ker!'.