PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Adam Mirovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kieran McCloskey (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Mirovic
vs
McCloskey

200 cm
22
280 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

186 cm
21
247 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Tends to cut

Syndicate Drugs

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Adam Mirovic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kieran McCloskey!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McCloskey will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Mirovic shoots in and bounces McCloskey off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mirovic won't allow McCloskey to get back to his feet.
Mirovic trying to control but McCloskey is working from the bottom.

McCloskey throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Mirovic escapes and throws McCloskey's legs to the side, diving into side control!
McCloskey is pushing Mirovic's head away, looking to escape. Mirovic manages to hold on to the position though.
Mirovic is looking to take a break and control but McCloskey is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCloskey is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Mirovic has just dragged him back down to the mat.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Mirovic looks frusrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
McCloskey throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

McCloskey looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Mirovic!
McCloskey avoids the attempt from Mirovic to control.

McCloskey is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!

Mirovic clinches up against the cage.
McCloskey prevents a takedown attempt there.
McCloskey tries to break the clinch but Mirovic is controlling the position.
McCloskey wants to get back to striking at distance but Mirovic won't allow it.
Mirovic trying to land knees to the body.
McCloskey lands a nice elbow.
McCloskey drops down looking for an ankle pick but Mirovic pulls his leg out and moves away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mirovic shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has McCloskey pinned against the cage. McCloskey gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Adam Mirovic. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mirovic is breathing heavily.

Mirovic looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

McCloskey looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

McCloskey is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Mirovic pulls his head out easily.
Mirovic trying to control the pace.
McCloskey is trying to stand.

Mirovic stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Horrible takedown by McCloskey or perhaps it was just good defense by Mirovic which made him look bad.
Mirovic misses with a few strikes there.
McCloskey darts in trying to clinch

and Mirovic counters with a nice double leg into side control. McCloskey won't be happy with that.
McCloskey takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Mirovic will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Mirovic decides to stand back up.

McCloskey feints and as Mirovic raises his hands in defense, McCloskey changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

McCloskey is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Mirovic is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Mirovic has escaped and now he's on top!
McCloskey is trying to keep Mirovic in close.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mirovic trying to control the position from guard on top but McCloskey is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
McCloskey wants to get back to his feet but Mirovic is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
McCloskey throwing short punches from the bottom.

McCloskey working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Mirovic doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Mirovic manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem. Mirovic landing some decent shots from guard.
McCloskey working a defensive guard but Mirovic manages to pass into side control anyway.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
McCloskey struggling a bit here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Adam Mirovic dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

McCloskey closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - McCloskey lands in his opponent's guard.
McCloskey looking to pass the guard.
Mirovic wants to stand up but McCloskey is controlling him.
McCloskey must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Mirovic manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Mirovic trying to control but he's not successful this time.
McCloskey is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Mirovic trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCloskey tries to lock up and control but Mirovic gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Mirovic wants to control the pace but McCloskey is squirming around nicely.
Mirovic is really struggling to control McCloskey but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Mirovic takes McCloskey's back.
McCloskey rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
McCloskey tries to kick Mirovic off but Mirovic keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
McCloskey wants to get back to full guard.
Mirovic stops McCloskey from getting back to his feet.

Mirovic is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so McCloskey is just riding it out for now. Mirovic eventually gives up the hold.

McCloskey actively working from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Mirovic trying to mount his opponent but McCloskey defends it.

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

McCloskey decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Mirovic has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. McCloskey is working away from the top position though.

Mirovic is defending against the submission attempts here by McCloskey.

McCloskey is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mirovic trying to control here.
Mirovic is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
McCloskey not landing any meaningful shots this time.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Mirovic gets caught flat footed, as McCloskey shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
McCloskey prevents Mirovic from getting back to his feet.
McCloskey stopping the sweep attempt from Mirovic.

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.
McCloskey missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
McCloskey tries to free his leg and advance position but Mirovic is retaining full guard.
McCloskey preventing the sweep.
McCloskey keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Mirovic's head.
McCloskey won't allow Mirovic to sweep him here.
Mirovic wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

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

McCloskey scores a takedown into full mount!
Mirovic slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
McCloskey throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Mirovic makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Mirovic.
Mirovic looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kieran McCloskey showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

McCloskey with a poor takedown
and Mirovic counters with an outside leg kick.
Mirovic misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
McCloskey keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

McCloskey closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

McCloskey stands up.
McCloskey keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Adam Mirovic. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mirovic tries for a takedown but McCloskey sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
McCloskey with a poor takedown

and Mirovic counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in McCloskey's guard now.
Mirovic postures up.

McCloskey uses the cage to get back to his feet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mirovic doesn't manage to clinch there - McCloskey circles away.

McCloskey drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

McCloskey is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Mirovic has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mirovic manages to get back to half guard.
Mirovic slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
McCloskey trying to control the position from guard on top but Mirovic is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

McCloskey stands and steps away. Mirovic gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
McCloskey shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Mirovic counters with a slapping leg kick.
Mirovic fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
The fight stays on the outside here - McCloskey looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Mirovic.

McCloskey closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - McCloskey lands in his opponent's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mirovic looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
McCloskey is looking to stand up but Mirovic won't let him.
McCloskey wants to control from the top but Mirovic keeps moving.
Mirovic controlling McCloskey's posture.

McCloskey stands and steps away. Mirovic gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCloskey is looking to clinch but Mirovic is avoiding it.

McCloskey scores with a takedown into Mirovic's guard.
McCloskey wants to pass the guard but Mirovic is keeping the position.
Mirovic can't keep his opponent in guard - McCloskey advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
McCloskey is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Mirovic!
McCloskey tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Mirovic swivels and escapes.

McCloskey gets the takedown into side control.
McCloskey tries to stand but Mirovic is controlling his head.
Mirovic struggling a bit here.
McCloskey tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
McCloskey is putting a hurting on Mirovic here, landing some big shots from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCloskey tries to stand but Mirovic is controlling his head.
Mirovic sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

McCloskey is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Mirovic doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time McCloskey.
Mirovic controlling the position for now.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mirovic has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. McCloskey is working away from the top position though.

McCloskey is looking for a kimura but Mirovic is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for McCloskey to get the leverage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kieran McCloskey comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think McCloskey 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kieran McCloskey!