PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Josh Kirkland (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hank Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Kirkland might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to My Life Be Like- by GRITS. Josh Kirkland has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Kirkland
vs
Taylor

192 cm
21
264 lbs
6 - 3 - 1

205 cm
20
250 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Solid boxing
Big right hand

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

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 6 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Josh Kirkland!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Hank Taylor!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Yves DeLean and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taylor misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Kirkland misses with a right hand

and Taylor counters with a crisp one two that drops Kirkland! Taylor thinks about following him to the mat for a moment but instead steps back and waves Kirkland to his feet! Kirkland is in big trouble!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Kirkland decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Taylor is trying to get back to full guard.

Kirkland is trying to work for a kimura but Taylor is defending well.

Kirkland is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Taylor is just riding it out for now. Kirkland eventually gives up the hold.
Kirkland has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Kirkland jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Taylor is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Taylor and Kirkland has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Taylor prevents Kirkland from improving position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kirkland thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Kirkland tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Taylor is looking for a sweep.
Taylor parries the strikes from Kirkland easily there. Kirkland is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Taylor to escape.
Taylor defending against the ground and pound.
Taylor tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Kirkland lands a decent elbow from side control.
Kirkland tries to advance to mount but Taylor denies him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kirkland is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Taylor is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Taylor can do anything to dispel that myth.
Taylor is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Kirkland is trying to get an arm triangle but Taylor is defending well.
Kirkland in side control lands a decent elbow.

It looks like Hank Taylor has been cut.
Taylor wants to control but Kirkland postures up.
Taylor really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Kirkland. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Kirkland scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Taylor to see if he's OK.
Kirkland tries to move into full mount but can't pass Taylor's legs.

Kirkland tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor tries to buck Kirkland off but Kirkland is having none of it.
Kirkland postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

Kirkland is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Taylor has escaped the position, nice work there.
Kirkland has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Taylor!

Kirkland working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Taylor can't do much from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kirkland creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Taylor sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Taylor is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

Kirkland is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Taylor defends it well.
Kirkland looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Taylor trying to control from the bottom.
Kirkland prevents Taylor from improving his position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Taylor is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Kirkland is trying to work for a kimura but Taylor is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Josh Kirkland will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Hank Taylor's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Kirkland shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Taylor is trying to defend but Kirkland finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Kirkland thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Kirkland looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Taylor with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Josh Kirkland overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Taylor is looking to control Kirkland's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Taylor avoid being mounted?
Kirkland throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Kirkland moves nicely into side control.

Kirkland is trying to get an arm triangle but Taylor is defending well.

Kirkland is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Taylor is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor regains half guard.

Kirkland wants to work for an arm triangle but Taylor is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Kirkland is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

Kirkland seems to be working for a kimura but Taylor defends the submission attempt.

Kirkland is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Taylor defends it well.
Taylor tries to roll over but Kirkland keeps him under control.
Kirkland wants to free his trapped foot but Taylor is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor is looking to improve his position.

Kirkland is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Taylor keeping control of the position.
Taylor is looking to improve his position.
Kirkland thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Kirkland wants to pass to mount but Taylor is defending the position.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kirkland throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Kirkland is nestled in close to Taylor, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

Kirkland is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Kirkland tries to pass to full mount but Taylor defends it.
Kirkland missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Kirkland thows a huge punch but Taylor dodges it nicely.

Kirkland is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Kirkland looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Taylor avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Kirkland.
Kirkland drops an elbow to the side of Taylor's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kirkland is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Taylor still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Taylor has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
Kirkland sneaks back into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Kirkland looking for submissions off his back.
Taylor is trying to control the action in half guard but Kirkland is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Taylor is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Kirkland has managed to free his arm - good work.
Taylor is pressing down on Kirkland's thigh, looking to free his foot. Kirkland is holding on for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Kirkland dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Hank Taylor's cut.
That's time! Kirkland's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Kirkland throws a poor cross that misses
and Taylor counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
No luck for Kirkland with that takedown attempt.
Kirkland throws a right hand that misses
and Taylor counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Kirkland thinking.
Taylor misses with a two punch combination.
Josh Kirkland seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Oooooh!!! Taylor has knocked Kirkland down with a huge combo! Taylor steps away and waves a wobbly Kirkland back to his feet! This one might not go much longer!

It looks like Josh Kirkland has been cut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Taylor lands a big head kick that sends Kirkland tumbling to the mat! Taylor takes a step backwards and waves Kirkland back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Kirkland is rocked!
Taylor lands with a nice body kick.
Oh Kirkland is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Hank Taylor is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Taylor catches Kirkland with a right, a left, a right. It's raining punches and Kirkland forgot an umbrella! Another punch and he's down. This one is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:30 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punches). Hank Taylor!