PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jesse Kim (ranked 3353 p4p, 25431 weight class) and Zander Fisher (ranked 232 p4p, 365 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Kim
vs
Fisher

150 cm
25
145
0 - 1 - 0

220 cm
25
145
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jesse Kim!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Zander Fisher!
The judges for this bout are Percy O'Donnell, Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kim connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Fisher's hands.
Kim throws a shot from downtown. Fisher moves away and avoids it.
Kim misses with a hook. Fisher ducked under it nicely.
Fisher moves out of range as Kim strikes.
Fisher bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Fisher scores with a body shot.
Kim throws a jab when Fisher was well out of range.
A countering left hand to the body from Fisher misses.
Kim connects with a crisp jab.
Kim throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Fisher holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Fisher pulls Kim into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fisher keeping full guard, as Kim tries to pass.

Kim got a little sloppy there for a moment and Fisher has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Kim has managed to get both his arms back between Fisher's legs - danger averted.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Fisher can do anything to dispel that myth.
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!
Fisher controlling Kim's posture.
Fisher is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fisher 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.
Kim is looking to stand up but Fisher won't let him.
Kim has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Kim preventing the sweep.
Fisher controlling Kim's posture.
Kim looking to sit in guard and control but Fisher gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Kim is trying to keep Fisher in close.
Fisher sitting in guard here, content to control.
Kim knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Fisher on the ground.

Fisher drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Fisher jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Kim looking to hit a scissor sweep but Fisher is one step ahead there.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kim wants to stand but Fisher is controlling the position.
Kim 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.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Kim throws a lazy uppercut

and Fisher counters with a single leg into guard. Kim didn't expect that.
Kim looking to control but Fisher passes into half guard.
Kim trying to hold on to Fisher's head to control him but Fisher postures up.
Kim is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fisher sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Kim defending well though.
Fisher trying to mount his opponent but Kim defends it.
Fisher wants to stand up but Kim is controlling the position.
Well, if Fisher is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kim is trying to control but Fisher manages to pass to mount!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Zander Fisher dominated that round.
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.

Kim throws an off balance right hand

and Fisher holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

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

Fisher working for a triangle but Kim defends it easily.
Fisher controls Kim momentarily but Kim frees himself.
Fisher tries to land a sweep but no joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kim trying to control the position from guard on top but Fisher is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zander Fisher has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fisher tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Fisher not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kim wants to control from the top but Fisher keeps moving.

Fisher had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Kim defends it easily.
Fisher has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Kim is working Fisher over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Fisher is trying to control the position but Kim postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Fisher manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Kim manages to get himself to full guard.

Fisher with a flurry of punches that miss.
Kim looking to control but Fisher passes into half guard.
Kim tries to roll over but Fisher keeps him under control.
Kim misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Fisher throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Kim trying to control here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Kim is looking to improve his position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Fisher uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kim.
Fisher is looking for the big counter here.
Jesse Kim is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Fisher closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Fisher lands in his opponent's guard.
Fisher is looking to stand up but Kim won't let him.
Fisher is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kim is trying to hold Fisher in close to prevent damage but Fisher has managed to pass into half guard.
Fisher wants to get back to his feet.
Fisher wants to free his trapped foot but Kim is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Kim is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Fisher pulls his head out easily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Fisher stalling.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Zander Fisher showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Kim's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Fisher ducks under a wild hook from Kim.
A big right from Kim misses.
Kim misses with an uppercut.
Kim is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Fisher defending well as Kim loads up on a big left hand.
Fisher avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Kim looks to land a right hand but Fisher moved out of range.
Fisher is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Fisher bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Fisher moves out of range of the strikes.
Kim sets himself, and Fisher steps forward looking for the clinch! Kim avoids it this time.

Fisher forces Kim back against the cage and clinches.
Fisher has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Kim avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Fisher's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fisher looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Kim thows a left - swing and a miss!
Kim misses with an uppercut.
Kim misses with a looping left.
Fisher slips a straight right by Kim.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kim throws a hook but Fisher avoids it easily.

Fisher clinches up with Kim and pushes him back against the cage.

Fisher breaks from the clinch.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Kim enables Fisher to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Kim manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

Kim has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Fisher is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Fisher breaks the clinch.
Kim defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Fisher.
Kim waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Fisher.
Fisher avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Fisher uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kim.
A big left from Kim misses.
Fisher tries to counter by closing the distance.
Fisher slips a straight right by Kim.
Kim throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Kim loads up on a big right hand but Fisher slips the punch.
And Fisher tries to counter it with a takedown but Kim pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Jesse Kim seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fisher ducks under a wild hook from Kim.
Jesse Kim is winning the standup battle so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kim throws out a loose jab but Fisher uses good head movement to avoid it.

Fisher closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Fisher lands in his opponent's guard.
Kim looking to control.
Kim is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Fisher is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Fisher pushing down on Kim's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Fisher thows a huge punch but Kim dodges it nicely.
Kim trying to hold on to Fisher's head to control him but Fisher postures up.
Still in half guard, Fisher seems content to control.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kim trying to control from the bottom.
Fisher is taking a breather. Kim says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Kim stuffs the takedown.
Jesse Kim has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zander Fisher.
Kim bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Fisher's head backwards.
Kim throws the left hand but Fisher avoids the punch easily.
Kim throws a hook but Fisher blocks it.
Kim waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Fisher.
Kim throws the left hand but Fisher avoids the punch easily.
Kim throws out a loose jab but Fisher uses good head movement to avoid it.
A jab from Kim misses.
Fisher fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kim looks to land a left hand but Fisher moved out of range nicely.
Kim is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Fisher's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Kim swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Kim misses with a looping right.
Kim misses with an uppercut

and Fisher counters with a nice double leg into side control. Kim won't be happy with that.
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!

Fisher is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Kim has escaped the position, nice work there.
Kim is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Fisher is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Kim knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jesse Kim showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Fisher has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zander Fisher!