PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jesse Dirk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Amir Verdune (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Verdune has chosen Remember the name as his entrance music. 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.

Dirk
vs
Verdune

187 cm
21
215 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

187 cm
27
215 lbs
7 - 8 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Good elbows
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jesse Dirk!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Amir Verdune!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Elvis Blanc and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dirk misses with a right hand
and Verdune counters with a nice uppercut.
Dirk swinging wildly here.
Dirk throws a leg kick that is checked
letting Verdune counter with a right hand.
Dirk misses with a hook to the body
and Verdune counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

It looks like Jesse Dirk has been cut.
Dirk avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Dirk throws a predictable looking body shot
and Verdune counters with a straight right hand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Dirk misses with a right hand
and Verdune connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A shot to the liver by Dirk. Beautiful body shot.
Dirk works Verdune's body with a nice hook.
Dirk misses with a body shot
letting Verdune counter with a right hand.
Verdune takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

It looks like Amir Verdune has been cut.
Dirk throws an off balance right hand
and Verdune counters with a straight right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dirk misses with an uppercut
enabling Verdune to counter with a crisp jab.
Dirk misses with a lunging right hand
and Verdune counters with a three punch combo that has Dirk backing up. Dirk nods at Verdune to acknowledge the strikes.
Dirk with a poor takedown
letting Verdune counter with a right hand.
Dirk misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Dirk throws a lazy uppercut
letting Verdune counter with a right hand.
Dirk throws a lazy uppercut

and Verdune counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Verdune.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Verdune just misses with a elbow thrown towards Dirk's brow.
Dirk content to slow the pace in the clinch.

Dirk is trying to trip Verdune. He has hold of a leg but Verdune is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Dirk persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Verdune wants to stand but Dirk is controlling the position.
Verdune avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Verdune throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dirk looking to sit in guard and control but Verdune gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Verdune won't allow Dirk to sweep him here.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Verdune accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Verdune lands a couple of digs.
Verdune working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Verdune with a flurry of punches that miss.
Verdune must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Dirk is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Verdune cracks Dirk with a solid left hand.
Verdune cracks Dirk with a solid left hand.
Dirk is trying to hold Verdune in close to prevent damage but Verdune has managed to pass into half guard.
Dirk is controlling Verdune's position as best he can from this difficult position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dirk regains full guard. Nicely done.
Dirk manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Verdune is wriggling around trying to escape.
Dirk lands with some strikes.
Verdune tries to hold on but Dirk pushes him away.
Dirk looking to control but Verdune is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Dirk lands a heavy elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dirk can't control as he wanted to and Verdune manages to get the fight back to his half guard.
Verdune makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Verdune.
Dirk is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Dirk scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Verdune keeping moving, preventing Dirk from controlling successfully.
Verdune tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Dirk scoring with punches to the head and body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Amir Verdune dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Dirk avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Dirk throws a combination that misses
and Verdune connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Dirk throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Verdune counters by clinching up.
Verdune looking to throw knees to the head but Dirk is blocking nicely.
Verdune lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Dirk works on Verdune's body with a couple of short punches.
Verdune lands a hook that snaps the head of Dirk backwards.
Dirk goes for a takedown in the clinch but Verdune prevents it.
A hook to the body from Dirk.
Dirk blocks the elbow strike.
Verdune scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Dirk blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Dirk lands a body punch.
Verdune with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Dirk controlling the action here for a moment.
Verdune throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Verdune is breathing heavily.
Verdune working aggressively here.
Dirk on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Dirk manages to break the clinch.
Dirk misses with a shot to the body

and Verdune counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dirk controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Verdune throws a strike but Dirk avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Dirk manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Dirk working Verdune over with strikes here.
Dirk is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Verdune can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
A nice elbow there by Dirk.
Dirk landing strikes, looking to finish!
Verdune really wants to buck Dirk off and get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dirk connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Dirk content just to control the position here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Verdune keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Dirk is landing with some decent strikes but Verdune is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Dirk working the ground and pound effectively.

Dirk goes for an armbar but Verdune turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Verdune.
Dirk preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dirk not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Dirk trying to strike off his back.
Verdune thows a big elbow that misses.
Dirk seems keen to control Verdune's posture.
Dirk is trying to keep Verdune in close.
Dirk utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Verdune keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Dirk's head.
Dirk bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Verdune's guard.
Verdune is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Verdune looking for a sweep. Not yet Verdune, not yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Dirk stands up over Verdune, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Verdune keeping full guard, as Dirk tries to pass.
Verdune 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.
Dirk trying to control the position from guard on top but Verdune is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Dirk 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.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Verdune preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jesse Dirk dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Dirk's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Verdune moves into the clinch successfully.
Verdune has Dirk pushed against the cage.
Verdune tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Verdune misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Verdune missing with knees to the body.

Dirk gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Dirk lands a nice short elbow.
Dirk throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Dirk lands a nice short elbow.
Jesse Dirk overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Dirk is keen to just control but Verdune is a slippery customer.
Dirk throwing shots but Verdune is blocking nicely.
Verdune is staying active underneath Dirk, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Verdune tries to roll over but Dirk keeps him under control.
Dirk is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dirk missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Nice strikes from Dirk there.
Dirk landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Dirk lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Verdune is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Dirk seems to be looking for submissions.
Dirk throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Dirk thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Verdune's head.
Dirk looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Verdune keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Dirk is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Verdune is pressing down on Dirk's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Dirk is stalling in the full guard.
Verdune is trying to keep Dirk in close.
Verdune looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dirk trying to control but Verdune is working from the bottom.
Verdune is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Dirk is controlling him.
Verdune takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Verdune keeping moving, preventing Dirk from controlling successfully.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Dirk tries to score with a low kick but Verdune moves his leg out of the way.
Verdune walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
A lazy body kick from Dirk
letting Verdune counter with a right hand.

That's four 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.
Dirk lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Verdune circles away quickly and effectively.
Dirk swings away with a body shot that misses
and Verdune counters with a series of strikes. Dirk will be more careful next time no doubt.
Dirk rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Verdune counters with a series of strikes. Dirk will be more careful next time no doubt.
Amir Verdune is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Verdune has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Dirk.
Verdune wants to clinch.
Verdune might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Verdune blocks a jab.
Dirk shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Verdune counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jesse Dirk showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Dirk has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 29:28
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jesse Dirk!