PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Maik Masiina (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ali Kessu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Masiina comes into the arena with Run this town blaring out of the sound system. Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Masiina
vs
Kessu

180 cm
20
170 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

178 cm
22
170 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Prefers ground

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Maik Masiina!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ali Kessu!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Tarja Halkonen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck for Kessu with that takedown attempt.
Masiina is looking to clinch but Kessu is avoiding it.
Kessu keeps the fight on the outside.
Masiina with a lazy takedown attempt
and Kessu counters with a leg kick.
Kessu lands a head shot.

Kessu pushes Masiina up against the cage in a clinch.

Masiina jumps into guard, dragging Kessu to the mat.
Kessu trying to control the position from guard on top but Masiina is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kessu must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Kessu tries to free his leg and advance position but Masiina is retaining full guard.

Kessu has gone for a leg lock! Masiina slips out almost immediately though and dives into Kessu's guard.
Kessu punching to the body, from the bottom.
Masiina trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kessu not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Kessu throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Kessu uses the cage to get back to his feet.

Kessu changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Masiina looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Masiina is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Kessu cracks Masiina with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Kessu works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Kessu working away.
Kessu prevents Masiina from escaping the position.
Kessu working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kessu passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Masiina!
Kessu looks gassed!
Kessu unloading with bombs!
Kessu lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Masiina hang on?
Masiina can't escape the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Masiina sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

Kessu is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Kessu wants to lay and pray for a moment but Masiina keeps working.
Masiina wants to improve his position but Kessu is controlling well.
Kessu landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kessu thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Masiina wants to control but Kessu is keeping busy.
Kessu works his way into side control.
Masiina sneaks back into half guard.
Masiina makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Masiina.
Kessu stopping the sweep attempt from Masiina.

Masiina working for a triangle but Kessu defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kessu throwing strikes from guard but Masiina blocks nicely.
Masiina has a closed guard, preventing Kessu from standing up.
Kessu postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Masiina is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Masiina bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Kessu's guard.

Kessu throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Masiina prevents Kessu from getting back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ali Kessu dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Masiina forces Kessu back against the cage and clinches.
Masiina jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Kessu walks away with a smile on his face. Masiina gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Kessu fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Masiina manages to avoid it.

Kessu shoots in and bounces Masiina off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Masiina working for a triangle but Kessu defends it easily.
Masiina keeping full guard, as Kessu tries to pass.

Kessu avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kessu throws and elbow that misses. Masiina uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Kessu's guard. Nice move by Masiina!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Masiina throwing strikes from guard but Kessu blocks nicely.

Kessu has his foot on Masiina's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Masiina works his way back into a safe position though.
Masiina won't allow Kessu to get back to his feet.

Kessu has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Masiina is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Kessu.

Masiina is trying to get an arm triangle but Kessu is defending well.
Masiina controls the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kessu is pushing Masiina's head away, looking to escape. Masiina manages to hold on to the position though.

Masiina is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Kessu is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Masiina is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Kessu is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Kessu striking from the bottom but nothing landed.
Kessu tries to bench press Masiina off him but Masiina keeps the position.

Masiina looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Kessu manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Masiina tries to roll over but Kessu keeps him under control.
Masiina is trying to maintain the position but Kessu is very close to passing his half guard.
Kessu stalling.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Masiina trying to control from the bottom.
Kessu working over Masiina with some ground and pound. Masiina looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Kessu thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Masiina trying to control from the bottom.
Kessu 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.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Masiina scores with a crisp jab that stopped Kessu in his tracks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Kessu moves in looking to clinch but Masiina pushes him off.
Masiina wants to clinch up but Kessu keeps it at a distance.
Masiina tries to clinch

and Kessu counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Kessu throwing strikes but missing.

Masiina looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Masiina looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kessu is one step ahead there.
Kessu pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Masiina is keeping the position for now.

Masiina working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Kessu doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Kessu manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
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 Maik Masiina will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Kessu fails with the takedown
and Masiina counters with an outside leg kick.
Masiina moves in looking to clinch but Kessu pushes him off.
Ali Kessu is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Kessu drives through with a takedown into guard.
Kessu tries to free his leg and advance position but Masiina is retaining full guard.
Masiina tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Kessu trying to control but Masiina is working from the bottom.
Kessu is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Masiina wants to stand and escape but Kessu is having none of it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Masiina looking for a sweep. Not yet Masiina, not yet.
Kessu throwing strikes but missing.

Kessu avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kessu stopping the sweep attempt from Masiina.
Masiina has momentary wrist control but Kessu slips an elbow through the middle.
Masiina wants to sweep but no luck.
Kessu lands a couple of digs.
Masiina keeping moving, preventing Kessu from controlling successfully.
Kessu in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Kessu landing some decent shots from guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
A slapping body kick lands there for Masiina.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Masiina has Kessu pushed against the cage.
Knees in the clinch landing for Masiina.

Masiina breaks from the clinch.
Kessu avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Kessu scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Masiina is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Masiina sneaks back into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kessu wants to free his trapped foot but Masiina is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Masiina regains full guard. Nicely done.
Masiina is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Kessu is looking for a sweep. Masiina is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Kessu trying to control from the bottom.
Masiina passes the guard and advances to mount!
Kessu really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Masiina scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Kessu?
Kessu manages to regain half guard. Good work.

Kessu looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Kessu actively working from the bottom here.
Kessu tries to roll over but Masiina keeps him under control.

Masiina seems to be working for a kimura but Kessu defends the submission attempt.
Kessu makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Kessu.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Maik Masiina.
I think Masiina has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight for Ali Kessu!
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight for Ali Kessu!
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight as a draw!

Ali Kessu wins by majority decision!