PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Martins Verdins (ranked 3048 p4p, 3407 weight class) and Arthit Kittisak (ranked 101 p4p, 109 weight class). Arthit Kittisak will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Verdins
vs
Kittisak

200 cm
27
295
4 - 3 - 0

225 cm
25
300
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

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 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Martins Verdins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Arthit Kittisak!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Percy O'Donnell and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Verdins decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Kittisak wants to get back to his feet.
Verdins is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Kittisak tries to kick Verdins off but Verdins keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Verdins is looking to take a break and control but Kittisak is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Kittisak pushes Verdins off looking to stand but Verdins dives back in and keeps control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Kittisak is in trouble now - Verdins has advanced to mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kittisak bucks up and throws Verdins to the side - he's got back to his feet. Great escape!

Kittisak moves into the clinch.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Kittisak just misses with a elbow thrown towards Verdins's brow.
Kittisak missing with knees to the body.
Verdins blocks an uppercut.
Kittisak tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Verdins avoids it.
Kittisak misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Verdins.
Verdins tries to break the clinch but Kittisak is controlling the position.
Kittisak tries a knee to the head but Verdins blocks it.
Kittisak tries a body shot but Verdins blocks it.
Kittisak tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kittisak goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Kittisak looks winded!
Kittisak throws a knee to the head but misses.
Kittisak letting Verdins take a breather here.
A head punch on the inside from Kittisak fails to land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kittisak misses with a knee strike.

Verdins works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
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!
Verdins works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Verdins slows the pace down in half guard.
Verdins tries to pass to full mount but Kittisak defends it.
Kittisak is trying to stand.
Verdins lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Verdins stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Verdins misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Kittisak throws a low kick, looking for Verdins's leg but Verdins calmly moves out of range.

Kittisak gets caught flat footed, as Verdins shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Verdins drops back looking for a leg! Kittisak is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Kittisak manages to kick Verdins off! Verdins jumps back into Kittisak's guard.
Verdins throwing strikes but missing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kittisak keeping moving, preventing Verdins from controlling successfully.
Verdins pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kittisak is keeping the position for now.
Verdins is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Verdins seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Kittisak for as long as he can get away with.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Kittisak is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Verdins presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Arthit Kittisak will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Verdins closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Kittisak did well to prevent Verdins getting side control.

Kittisak manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Verdins tries a head kick but it misses.
Nice sprawl there from Verdins as Kittisak shoots in.
Verdins misses with a takedown attempt
and Kittisak counters with a one-two to the body.

Kittisak closes the distance and pushes Verdins back into the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Verdins pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Kittisak has taken the fight to the clinch.
Verdins could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Verdins stalls.
Verdins wants a takedown.
Kittisak scores with a shoulder strike.
Kittisak misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Verdins.
Kittisak is breathing heavily.
Verdins takes a knee to the side of the body.
Kittisak pushes Verdins back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kittisak lands a right hand that snaps the head of Verdins backwards.
Verdins avoiding damage as Kittisak throws knees to the body.
Kittisak misses with a punch to the body.
Kittisak throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Kittisak lands a left hand.

Verdins pulls guard.
Martins Verdins overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Verdins is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Verdins might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Kittisak stands and steps away. Verdins gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Kittisak shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Verdins as he avoids it easily.

Verdins rushes Kittisak and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Verdins lands a knee to the body.
Kittisak misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Verdins is trying to pull guard but Kittisak turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Martins Verdins. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Verdins unloads a knee to the mid-section.

Verdins breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Kittisak has taken the fight to the clinch.
Verdins has been working on his balance at Shadow Warriors, so perhaps that has help him stuff some of the takedown attempts by Kittisak.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A short uppercut from Kittisak.
Kittisak misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Verdins.
Kittisak doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Verdins breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kittisak wants to clinch up but Verdins keeps it at a distance.
Verdins lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Kittisak at a distance.

Verdins looking to score a takedown here. Kittisak is defending well but Verdins drives through and ends up in Kittisak's guard.
Kittisak is looking to stand back up but Verdins counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Kittisak.

Kittisak pushes Verdins off but Verdins dives into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here as Verdins stalls from top position.
Kittisak wants to get back to his feet.

Verdins is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Kittisak has escaped the position, nice work there.
Kittisak tries to escape but Verdins is in control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Verdins stands up.
Verdins looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Kittisak is fending him off so far but Verdins persists. Nope, Kittisak circles away and we're back to standing.
Verdins throws a series of punches but Kittisak moves out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kittisak looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kittisak lands a head kick!
Verdins tries to score a power double leg takedown but Kittisak sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Verdins somewhat.
Verdins misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Arthit Kittisak will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Kittisak has closed the distance and engaged Verdins in a clinch.
Kittisak with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Kittisak missing with knees to the body.
Verdins is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Verdins avoiding damage as Kittisak throws knees to the body.
A right hook to the body lands for Kittisak.
Kittisak makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Verdins fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Still in the clinch, Kittisak scores with a nice short uppercut.
Verdins looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Kittisak.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Verdins jumps guard and drags Kittisak to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Kittisak decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Verdins, up you get!
Kittisak wants to clinch up but Verdins keeps it at a distance.
Verdins shoots and misses
and Kittisak counters with a one-two to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kittisak blocks a head kick by Verdins.
Kittisak is looking for the big counter here.
A good leg kick by Kittisak.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Verdins takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Verdins looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Kittisak is fending him off so far but Verdins persists. Nope, Kittisak circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Martins Verdins. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Kittisak clinches with his opponent.
Kittisak tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Verdins avoids it.
Kittisak is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Verdins is defending well for now.
Kittisak struggles to land a body shot inside as Verdins controls his hands.
Kittisak has a couple of punches blocked by Verdins.

Verdins breaks from the clinch.
Kittisak fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Kittisak tries to clinch but Verdins is having none of it.
Verdins feinted with a counter takedown.

Verdins scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Check out the look on Verdins's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Kittisak wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Verdins cracks Kittisak with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Kittisak wants to get back to his feet but Verdins drags him back down.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kittisak wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Kittisak is looking to get back to his feet here but Verdins is keeping cool and he's managed to take Kittisak's back.

Verdins patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Kittisak is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Verdins lands a punch that was close to the back of the head but the ref thinks it's OK.

Verdins has his opponent's back but Kittisak is looking to stand. He manages to get to his feet and shakes off Verdins.
Kittisak tests Verdins's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Verdins closes the distance and clinches up with Kittisak, looking for a takedown. Verdins pushes Kittisak against the cage but Kittisak circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Kittisak tries to clinch but Verdins moves out of range.
It looked like Verdins was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Kittisak.
Kittisak misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Verdins closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Verdins tries to pull guard but Kittisak holds him up against the cage and eventually Verdins drops back down to his feet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Verdins has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Kittisak avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Verdins looking for a takedown.
Martins Verdins has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Arthit Kittisak is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Kittisak throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Verdinss head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Arthit Kittisak comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Kittisak winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Arthit Kittisak!