PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between niklas kastberg (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marcio Kempes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

kastberg
vs
Kempes

185 cm
18
166 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

178 cm
18
175 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, niklas kastberg!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Marcio Kempes!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kempes decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
kastberg trying to control from the bottom.
Kempes wants to pass the guard but kastberg is defending well.
Kempes content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
kastberg is looking to improve his position.
kastberg keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
kastberg wants to get back to full guard.
Kempes trying to control from half guard but kastberg is working away.
Kempes content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
kastberg doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Kempes counters with a single leg into guard. kastberg didn't expect that.
Kempes throws a big right hand that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kempes is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Kempes prevents kastberg from getting back to his feet.
Kempes is stalling in the full guard.
kastberg trying to control the position.
kastberg keeping moving, preventing Kempes from controlling successfully.
kastberg controls Kempes momentarily but Kempes frees himself.
Kempes trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Kempes misses with a takedown attempt

and kastberg counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Kempes tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kempes has his foot on kastberg's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. kastberg works his way back into a safe position though.
Kempes looks gassed!
kastberg is working Kempes over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Kempes is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
kastberg trying to stand up but can't free himself from Kempes's guard.
Kempes is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Kempes is looking to take a break and control but kastberg is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Kempes not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Kempes not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
kastberg tries to kick Kempes off but Kempes keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kempes works his foot free and advances to mount.
Kempes putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
kastberg sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
kastberg is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Kempes's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Kempes's back!
kastberg is trying to stick to Kempes's back but Kempes is turning into kastberg. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in kastberg's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Kempes.
Kempes throws a strike but kastberg rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
kastberg wants to control from the top but Kempes keeps moving.
kastberg won't allow Kempes to sweep him here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

kastberg is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
kastberg trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kempes preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Kempes looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
kastberg dodges the punch combination from Kempes.
kastberg looks to clinch

so Kempes counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
kastberg looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kempes is one step ahead there.
kastberg throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Kempes gets a takedown into half guard.
kastberg trying to hold on to Kempes's head to control him but Kempes postures up.

Kempes is sneakily working for an arm triangle but kastberg sees it coming and defends easily.
kastberg trying to control from the bottom.
Kempes lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Kempes throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
kastberg avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Kempes.
kastberg is trying to stand.

kastberg kicks Kempes off and gets back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

kastberg closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Kempes is not content to let kastberg control the position.
Kempes misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Kempes makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Kempes.
Kempes looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Kempes wants to sweep here but kastberg controlling him for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
kastberg is stalling in the full guard.
kastberg is fighting to break Kempes's control of his arms but Kempes is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
kastberg preventing the sweep.
Kempes keeping full guard, as kastberg tries to pass.
Kempes tries to land a sweep but no joy.
kastberg looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kempes bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in kastberg's guard.

kastberg looking for a guillotine here but Kempes defends easily.
Kempes postures up.
Kempes is pushing down on kastberg's leg trying to pass to half guard. kastberg is fighting to maintain full guard but Kempes has managed to sneak the leg through.
Kempes is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
kastberg on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
kastberg trying to control here.

Kempes is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so kastberg is just riding it out for now. Kempes eventually gives up the hold.
Kempes seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kempes not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Kempes wants to control but kastberg is keeping him busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcio Kempes showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. This is the final round!

kastberg tries for a takedown but Kempes circles away easily

and Kempes counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Kempes scoring with strikes to the body and head.
kastberg trying to control here.
kastberg is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Kempes trying to control from half guard but kastberg is working away.
Kempes keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
kastberg trying to control but Kempes postures up.
kastberg is refusing to be controlled, as Kempes sits in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kempes thows a huge punch but kastberg dodges it nicely.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Kempes closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
A lull in the action here.
You can see the frustration on kastberg's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Kempes looking to punish the body of his opponent here but kastberg is avoiding damage well.
The ground and pound from Kempes seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Kempes throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and kastberg works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Kempes trying to control the action but kastberg is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

kastberg looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Kempes is tying to control. kastberg wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Kempes scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Kempes working the ground and pound.
kastberg is trying to improve his position.
kastberg tries to control but Kempes manages to take his back.
Marcio Kempes is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
kastberg is trying to stand back up.
Kempes lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.
Kempes is riding his opponent, not letting kastberg buck him off.
Let's hope that Kempes has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
kastberg is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Kempes controlling the positon.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Kempes tries to get the hooks in deep but kastberg pushed the leg off.
kastberg trying to control the action but Kempes just sinks the hooks in.
kastberg is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marcio Kempes comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Kempes 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marcio Kempes!