PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jethro Rayner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thomas Kirshaw (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Rayner
vs
Kirshaw

179 cm
29
165 lbs
14 - 5 - 0

180 cm
25
166 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
KO power

Good wrestler
World class MT
Powerful

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 14 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Jethro Rayner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Thomas Kirshaw!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rayner throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Kirshaw thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Rayner if he has to take too many more of those.

Kirshaw bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Rayner tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Kirshaw trying to control the position but Rayner is working away.
Kirshaw tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Rayner tries to bench press Kirshaw off him but Kirshaw keeps the position.

Kirshaw thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Rayner tries to improve position but can't.
Kirshaw wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rayner keeps working.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kirshaw tries to advance to mount but can't.
Rayner is looking for a sweep.
Rayner is working hard here to advance position.
Kirshaw creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Check out the look on Kirshaw's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Rayner tries to bench press Kirshaw off him but Kirshaw keeps the position.
Rayner taking punishment in the form of punches.
Kirshaw sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Rayner is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rayner is trying to get back to half guard.
Kirshaw is looking to take a break and control but Rayner is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Rayner is looking to regain half guard here but Kirshaw keeps moving and retains side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kirshaw is staying tight to Rayner's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Rayner is looking for a sweep.

Kirshaw decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Kirshaw scores with a takedown into Rayner's guard.
Kirshaw must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Rayner is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Kirshaw defends well.

Kirshaw avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Kirshaw controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rayner is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Kirshaw is aware though and is defending well.
Kirshaw being controlled here momentarily.

Rayner working for a triangle but Kirshaw defends it easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kirshaw trying to control the position from guard on top but Rayner is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Kirshaw dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Rayner misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Kirshaw counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Rayner fails with an attempt to clinch.

Kirshaw looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Kirshaw sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Rayner trying to control but Kirshaw postures up.
Kirshaw seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Rayner does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Kirshaw tries to stand but can't do so whilst Rayner controls his leg.
Rayner regains full guard. Nicely done.
Kirshaw trying to control the position from guard on top but Rayner is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rayner had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Kirshaw defends it easily.
Rayner has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Kirshaw has passed into side control.
Rayner stops Kirshaw from passing to mount.
Rayner is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Kirshaw's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Rayner gets full guard.
Rayner 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kirshaw tries to stand but Rayner is controlling from the bottom.
Rayner looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kirshaw is one step ahead there.

Rayner escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Kirshaw gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Rayner keeping moving, preventing Kirshaw from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kirshaw won't allow Rayner to sweep him here.
Kirshaw trying to control the position from guard on top but Rayner is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Thomas Kirshaw was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Rayner takes a swing at Kirshaw's ribcage but misses.

Rayner fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Kirshaw to the ground. Rayner is now in Kirshaw's guard.
Kirshaw looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rayner is one step ahead there.
Kirshaw working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rayner.
Rayner working some strikes from top position.
Rayner with a nice head shot there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rayner trying to control the position from guard on top but Kirshaw is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rayner throws a big right hand that misses.
Rayner in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Rayner won't allow Kirshaw to sweep him here.
Kirshaw keeping moving, preventing Rayner from controlling successfully.
Rayner working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Kirshaw's head.
Rayner trying to control the position from guard on top but Kirshaw is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kirshaw is looking to sweep but instead, Rayner has passed into half guard.
Kirshaw is looking to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Jethro Rayner will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Rayner misses with a jab to the body

so Kirshaw counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Kirshaw wants to control from the top but Rayner keeps moving.
Rayner bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Kirshaw's guard.
Kirshaw utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Rayner working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Kirshaw utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Rayner thows a big elbow that misses.

Kirshaw working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Rayner doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Rayner manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rayner accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rayner looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kirshaw is one step ahead there.
Kirshaw wants to control from the top but Rayner keeps moving.
Kirshaw pushes down on Rayner's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Rayner actively working from the bottom here.
Rayner tries to get to full guard but Kirshaw has control of the leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Rayner is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Kirshaw pulls his head out easily.
Rayner tries to get to full guard but Kirshaw has control of the leg.

Kirshaw is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Rayner has managed to free his arm - good work.
Thomas Kirshaw has got the better of the ground game so far.
Rayner trying to hold on to Kirshaw's head to control him but Kirshaw postures up.

Kirshaw escapes and gets back to his feet.

Kirshaw closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Rayner quickly recovers to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rayner trying to control here.
Rayner tries to get to full guard but Kirshaw has control of the leg.
Rayner wants to sweep but Kirshaw has passed to side control!

Kirshaw decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Rayner throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Rayner tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Rayner misses the body punch
and Kirshaw counters with a three punch combo that has Rayner backing up. Rayner nods at Kirshaw to acknowledge the strikes.

Rayner gets caught napping as Kirshaw dives in and scores a takedown. Rayner manages to retain guard.
Kirshaw takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kirshaw tries to free his leg and advance position but Rayner is retaining full guard.
Rayner lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Kirshaw!
Kirshaw is in a horrible position here. Rayner smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Rayner trying to control but Kirshaw is having none of it.
BOOM! Rayner connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Rayner breaks from Kirshaw's wrist control and lands an elbow.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rayner trying to control but he's not successful this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thomas Kirshaw comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Kirshaw has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thomas Kirshaw!