PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Killian Kirbb (ranked 5318 p4p, 4596 weight class) and Raine Rockford (ranked 457 p4p, 421 weight class). Raine Rockford will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Kirbb
vs
Rockford

180 cm
25
157
1 - 3 - 0

180 cm
19
165
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Killian Kirbb!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Raine Rockford!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Jack Bonds and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rockford slips under a jab.
And Rockford tries to counter it with a takedown but Kirbb pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Rockford misses with a takedown attempt
and Kirbb counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Rockford shoots in looking for a takedown. Kirbb tries to sprawl out of it but Rockford keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Kirbb manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Kirbb fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Rockford has his takedown stuffed
and Kirbb counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Killian Kirbb has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Raine Rockford.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Rockford.
It looked like Kirbb was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Rockford.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kirbb scores with a punch to the head.
Rockford dives in and grabs Kirbb's left leg, looking for a takedown. Kirbb pushes down on Rockford's head and hops out.
Kirbb throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Rockford sees it coming and avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rockford's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Kirbb connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Rockford scrambles back to his feet.
Kirbb slaps away a takedown attempt from Rockford, before circling back to the center of the mat.
We've been hearing reports that Kirbb has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Kirbb takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Kirbb lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Rockford.
Kirbb swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kirbb throws a leg kick
and Rockford counters with a two punch combo.
Rockford thuds his right hand into Kirbb's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Kirbb throws a sloppy head kick and Rockford moves out of range easily.
Rockford closes this distance looking for a takedown but Kirbb circles away.
Rockford tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Kirbb swivels and escapes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kirbb connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Rockford's hands.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kirbb just misses with a punch to the body.
Kirbb throws a body kick that misses.
Rockford shoots in looking for a takedown but Kirbb manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Rockford's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Kirbb does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Rockford slips under a jab.
Rockford drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Kirbb defends it well.
A punch combination from Rockford misses.
Killian Kirbb seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kirbb swings for the body but Rockford moves out of range.
Rockford dives in for a single leg takedown but Kirbb sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Rockford wants to clinch but Kirbb slips to the side

and Kirbb counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kirbb controlling the action here.
Rockford makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Rockford.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kirbb stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rockford swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kirbb sitting in guard here, content to control.
Rockford keeping full guard, as Kirbb tries to pass.
Rockford looking for a sweep. Not yet Rockford, not yet.

Kirbb is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Rockford is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Rockford has escaped and now he's on top!

Kirbb trying to control the position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Rockford stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kirbb swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Rockford is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Rockford slips nicely into half guard.
Kirbb avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Rockford.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Rockford missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Rockford trying to control the action but Kirbb is working from the bottom.
Kirbb is looking to improve his position.
Rockford is trying to control the action in half guard but Kirbb is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Rockford has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Kirbb keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Kirbb holds on, trying desperately to control.
Kirbb tries to hold on but Rockford postures up.
Poor strikes thrown by Rockford there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!

Rockford is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Kirbb to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Kirbb shrugs it off.
Kirbb wants to hold on but Rockford pushes him away.
Kirbb is trying to escape the mount.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Rockford trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Kirbb wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Rockford.
Kirbb wants to hold on but Rockford pushes him away.
Kirbb on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Kirbb tries to get out of the position.

Rockford is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Kirbb has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Kirbb is working to get back to half guard.
Kirbb wants to hold on but Rockford pushes him away.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Rockford throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Kirbb because Rockford loaded up on that one.
Rockford avoids the attempt from Kirbb to control.
Kirbb is trying to reverse the position but instead Rockford has taken his back - oops!

Rockford has his arm under Kirbb's chin here. Game over son! Rockford squeezes tightly and Kirbb is forced to tap out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 8:53 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Raine Rockford!
A victorious Raine Rockford thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.